Random Threads # 34: buttons, 30 wears, and can you be too dressed up?

Time for another Random Threads post, it's been a while. The last one was in October and as usual I have a number of topics jotted down on a page in my notebook. Also as usual I have a couple of cryptic notes that probably made sense at the time but today have no meaning. Here's one "measuring suits". I wonder what I meant by that? Yes I resolved to write out my thoughts more clearly so weeks later I could remember - didn't happen:). We shall never know what that topic idea would lead to.

But the rest of my notes make sense so let's dive in.

30 wears:  I've seen this idea around for a while - the challenge to think about whether you will wear something at least 30 times before you purchase. It's a good contrast to fast fashion and the disposability of a lot of ready-to-wear, and takes a more sustainable view of our wardrobes. But what about if you make your clothes? I bet I have a lot of things I made that will never achieve 30 wears, and yet I have a lot of garments that I have kept and worn for upwards of 10 years, worn possibly hundreds of times. Do the two balance out? I'm not contributing to the landfill as so much of my handmade wardrobe is still in my closets, mostly because I can't bear to part with most of the things I've made. I've said before that I think something you wear to a special occasion or a party is almost like a costume - I'm not interested in perfect insides and want to sew those items up fast. And perhaps even pass them on to a friend so they can wear to a party with a different group of people. Coats and jackets - they get the long term treatment, sewn as well as I can, linings that will last, true investment pieces. I think the 30 wears idea is smart, particularly when it comes to shoes, belts, bags - those should be useful and I find the items that I buy thoughtfully and think about future wearings stand the test of time.

Spare buttons:  When you buy a shirt it often has a spare button, which I would snip off and stick in the button jar. And people so often give me the remainder from their closet clean out, which means I have a lot of orphan buttons. But what about when you sew a shirt. Think about all those aforementioned silk blouses and other shirts I'm wearing. Do you set aside an extra button in case you lose one. I'm starting to think I should. New idea is to make a card and attach 1 button each time I make a shirt with a short notation as to which shirt it goes to. For coats and jackets I always buy one extra button - often they are $ 5 buttons and if I lose one I want to be able to replace and not have to invest in a whole new set!




Dressy vs. casual style:  Do you find yourself sewing up things that are slightly too fancy for your day to day life but you want to wear them anyway? and then people ask the very annoying question "why are you so dressed up?"  I wonder if this is a distinctly American question or does it happen everywhere? I dress as my mood takes me, so sometimes I might be a little too dressed up for the occasion - but as stitchers we know the feeling when you've just finished an item and you want to wear it - whether or not the time is ideal. Lately I've been liking the feeling of silk blouses, and decided that I would wear them anytime - regardless of my day's activities. Perhaps this happens more in the winter - the very nature of summer clothes is more casual. And then there is that word fancy. I think this is a word that Americans can understand in the context - we would say things like "come over to eat on Sat, nothing fancy" or "the party was really fancy" or I want to look good but not too fancy" Am I overthinking this word? chime in and tell me if you know just what I mean. I've asked friends from around the world and I find it hard to make an exact translation - in England does fancy mean a costume occasion, and/or a desire?  And my Italian friends offer "elegante". I do love all things linguistic, whether word origin, usage or languages so maybe I just pay more attention that is warranted to this one.

Fashion and Politics intersecting perfectly to me: I happened to see the new Instagram ExcellentCoatsonIrritatedWomen the week that it started, and wow, this has given me a lot of glee over the last month. The profile pic kind of says it all (Nancy P in that fab Max Mara coat) but who knew there were so many great photos of inspiring women wearing great coats. Check it out.

Stuff not yet blogged:  It sounds so trite to say that time is flying by but eek, where do the days go? And I really want to blog just about everything I sew, if only I could sit down and do it. In particular I'm really satisfied at the response to my posts on items I've sewn for my friend Heather. As I say in my sewing classes, everyone probably needs some adjustments on a sewing pattern and I think showing how I get a nice fit on a variety of styles for her is useful. By the way - if I haven't mentioned it before, she is about 5'2" tall. I would love to know how tall people are when I read their blogs or pattern reviews, it really shows how patterns look on various figures and heights. Anyway - here's a silk blouse I made for her in November, we didn't have a chance to take a photo of it on her but perhaps I should blog it - I think the pattern envelope is not really very inspiring but it has very nice lines and sewed up well. Vogue 9086. Plus plenty of options via the seaming for fit adjustments, always a bonus! And a built in hidden-buttonhole front closure which is a great way to learn how to do that clever technique.




Pants pattern poses: I love to see all the different variations on a pattern, on different body shapes, different fabrics etc. Thanks, Internet! But there are certain patterns that people rave about but to me they look slightly awkward in the photos - like they don't quite fit and if you stand a certain way it might disguise the fit issues. For the most part it's pants patterns where I notice this - I might as well get specific, it's those Persophene pants. A lot of what I can call a superman pose - hands on hips, feet apart. These pants have no side seam right? so not much shaping. Does it even matter? if the person likes how they feel that is the important thing. But it is interesting how the fashion pendulum swings from ankle squeezing skinny jeans to wide leg pants. Kind of fun to think what it might be 10 years from now, any predictions?

Coat muslin out of felt:  I happened to see a post recently where someone made their test garment for a coat pattern in felt. Genius! I think they sell cheap 60" wide felt at Joann's, so a low investment and it would behave more like a wool coat than thin muslin ever could. I might have to try this next time I'm doing a coat pattern.

Classes at Hello Stitch Studio: This spring will be two years since I started teaching classes at Hello Stitch - that went by fast as well. We have a bunch of great classes coming up, however I am sorry/not sorry to say that most of the classes in Feb are sold out! It must be something in the air for 2019, I think lots of people finally resolved to learn to sew their own clothes, with more inquiries than ever before. We are doing a Level 1: Learn to Sew Series, the February sessions are full but it will repeat starting in April. and we will also have a Level 2: Learn to Sew series which will be a bit more advanced, and include some work on pattern fitting, plus zippers. We're working on a class series that will focus on Sleeves - how to adjust for fit, tips and tricks for  how to sew in a beautiful sleeve, etc. So if you are interested in that let me know as we haven't finalized it on the schedule yet.
A lot of our classes now are based on a specific sewing pattern, which is a good way to focus on some specific techniques. Spring is approaching and we have spots open in the Wrap dress class in late March, and the Bondi dress in April. But I would say if you are interested in a class - it's better to sign up as soon as you can, we do a waitlist if they are full but no guarantee a spot will open up.

Still available: this upcoming weekend I'm doing the Ash jeans weekend workshop - there are some spots still open in this class. The pattern has really impressed me and I'm looking forward to seeing how it fits on a variety of people. Stone Mountain has the pattern and they have all kinds of great denim and kits if you want to buy everything you need at once. This is a 2-day class, with lunches included. So indulge yourself in a sewing weekend!  By the way - you can use any jeans pattern so if you already own a jeans pattern feel free to use that.



Up next - a slight sewing palate cleanser, as the wool blazer jacket for Heather is just about finished but waiting for a final try on from her, so in the meanwhile I started in on something from the December 2018 Burda magazine. That magazine taunts me - so many things in it I'd like to sew. (well that could apply to so many tempting things, reading blogs, looking at IG, talking with friends, they all make me want to sew something new and different)



This dress will have long sleeves and I'm not convinced on the zipper - will have to get the back attached and see if it's needed. Now I want a teal colored coat. See...always something trying to get on the to-sew list.

Stay warm everybody - sometimes I'm asked if I can even wear a coat here in California as it doesn't really get cold (not my words) anyway this morning at 8:00 am it was about 37℉ so to me that's cold. But by this afternoon it should be in the mid 60's ℉ so I guess I will shut up about the chilly weather. Eek, New England and the Great lakes - how do you survive???   Hang in there - spring is coming, soon I hope.

Happy January Sewing, Beth

Today's garden photo - reaching back to September when I had all kinds of dahlias blooming.