In Progress: things I'm making and listening to!

I didn't quite finish the project I'm working on quickly enough to be able to share today - but it's just over halfway done! Maybe next week... I'm really enjoying the colour of this fabric and think it will be a fun dress when complete. I have this dress and one more on my July list, and I'd like to be able to complete them. Somehow I always think that life will be a bit slower in the summer like it was when you were a kid and had the whole summer off...that never happens now ;) 

I have been listening to some interesting things while sewing, though, and thought I'd share a few in case you're looking for something to keep you busy while you work, too. 

There is a series called Textile Talks on Youtube that I really enjoy. It's easy to watch while sewing and inspiring too! They describe it as "Textile Talks features weekly presentations and panel discussions from the International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Surface Design Association.". They interview artists, have themed presentations, and more, all about textile arts. I've just been watching one on text in textiles, something I'm very interested in. There is a huge back catalogue of these talks so you would be able to find many of interest, I'm sure. 

I've also been catching up on the podcast Haptic & Hue, which is a very calm, relaxed and informative podcast all about textiles and history - it's just fabulous if you haven't listened before. 

For specifically sewing content, I enjoy listening to the Seamwork podcast for a lot on wardrobe planning and style, to Sew Organised Style for features on people in the sewing world including Sew Over 50, and also Stitchery Stories for some embroidery talk! These all keep me company in the sewing room, where I only wish I could spend more time lately ;) 

What are some of your favourites? 

Small Yardage Patterns

Just a few days ago, the Sew and Tell Podcast was talking about small yardage patterns. They defined "small yardage" as those items that can be sewn up with under 2 m. of fabric, useful considering we are mostly sewing from our stashes these days! 

I enjoyed the podcast, and their many suggestions. You can see the full list at their podcast show notes page.  A couple of their suggestions are on my 2020 To-Sew list, like the Antero Shell Top or the Cielo Top. But there are also quite a few that I have in my own stash that fit this category, and are great to make with less than 2 m. of fabric. So here are my own suggestions. 

The La Brea Tee by Halfmoon Atelier 

This one is great because you can make it in either knit or woven, and it uses about a yard, plus bias tape if you choose to use it. It gives two different looks for one easy pattern! Here is my woven version.

 

Kwik Sew 3559

My standard knit top, this can be made with about 1-1.5 m., if you cut it at shirt length and not dress length. I've made a bunch of these. This one will have to be in your stash already though, as I'm pretty sure it is out of print. You may find it online somewhere though! 

Sorbetto Top by Colette 

This old standard is still useful! I've made quite a few, and it is a great free pattern. You could use any of the many, many camisole/tank patterns out there in the sewing world though, whichever is a favourite for you. Most of them use barely a yard.

Sutton Blouse by True Bias 

This is a lovely top, great design and fit. I can't understand why I haven't made more of them! I've made one for myself and one for my mom, and think I'll get it out again and make another this year. It has lovely finishing details (mine has an added scarf from the leftovers). It uses between 1.5 - 2 m. depending on size.

Lindy Petal Skirt by Itch to Stitch 

 

This free pattern is wonderful! It is a great use for small pieces of knit and I wear mine a ton. The shape is flattering and comfortable. It is a quick sew as well. It uses from 3/4 - 1 1/4 y. depending on size. 

There are probably a whole bunch of Big Four small yardage patterns in my stash that I could try next, and I know I have a handful of small yardage indies printed and waiting for their turn on the table. The Harvest Boxy Top by Peppermint Magazine, the Five Points Blouse by Jennifer Kempler for Sew News, or the Justine Skirt by Ready to Sew (only 2 m.) are all awaiting my attention.

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You might also want to sew from scraps, and piece together some of your stash remnants to make something new. I have a whole post about scrappy projects here

Want to make soon!

Or take some inspiration from this great Burda patchwork jacket by Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow. Making a copy of that is now on my wishlist!

Do you have any favourite small yardage patterns that you go back to often? If you have more suggestions, please share them! I'm always looking for new ideas for my stash fabrics. Hope you are finding sewing a relaxing and helpful habit during these unsettled times, like I am. 

Weekend Review: Wardrobe Crisis

Wardrobe Crisis / Clare Press

I picked up this book on sale, because of the relevant subject matter, and because I am already familiar with the author through her podcast of the same name. She interviews all sorts of people working in sustainability in fashion and it is fascinating.

This was her first book -- she has another new one that I'll be on the lookout for now, called Rise & Resist which goes more specifically into how people are standing up for better sustainable fashion and what you can do too.

This book is more of a history of the fashion world and how we've got to where we are. Clare Press writes like she talks -- light, breezy, with tangents and asides. I really like the style, but some readers do find it a little harder to follow than they expected. I felt like someone was just sitting down and talking to me and sharing a lot of stuff, and it seemed natural and unpretentious to me.

The chapters cover a range of topics, from the history of couture brands to that of supermarket retail tricks -- from materials and plastics and pesticides, to overproduction and cheap prices -- and how exactly our culture moved from fewer clothes that we took care of, to wear-once crap at places like H&M or in Europe, Primark, just as a couple of examples.

Press touches on a variety of topics and themes and so the narrative does flit around a bit in shorter chapters. I liked it and found it interesting and never dull. It's not just about the fashion industry and all of the environmental issues there, though it does cover that. It's also about the psychology of the consumer and how this brands both manipulate and profit from out of control consumerism. And it's also about history, and people, and possibilities.

I really enjoyed it. And I also enjoy Press' regular podcast on these topics, too, so if you haven't checked that out yet, do! It's the perfect combo, this book and the podcast, and once I get my hands on her newest book I'll let you know how that fits in too. 

Thrifty Sewing is in the Air

It seems that other people are also thinking about thrifty sewing these days. In the last couple of weeks some of my favourite podcasts have featured episodes about this topic, in one way or another.

Love to Sew's last podcast was about "Rubbing Off Ready to Wear". If you want to learn more about this technique of copying RTW which I've just been talking about in my last Weekend Review, check out their podcast and definitely check out the show notes, where they link to youtube videos, classes, and a great book by Steffani Lincecum, all on this subject.

Over at Sewing Out Loud, Zede & Mallory talk about thrift and resale resourcing this week. This mother & daughter team are always entertaining, and have lots to say about this subject. This time they are focusing on clothes and materials -- in earlier episodes they've discussed the pros & cons of  buying thrifted machines.

There are also many bloggers who are way more into to refashioning than I am -- one of my favourites is Jillian Owens, aka The Refashionista, though she's taken a much broader approach than just fefashioning clothes in the last while. And if you are interested in upcycling or refashioning, you can't miss Portia Lawrie's yearly Refashioners challenge. People are extremely creative!

Over on the Curvy Sewing Collective there's an article by Alyce R. that's a couple of years old but still super useful, full of tips on making the most of thrift store shopping & upcycling, especially for plus size women.

My thrift store tips?

1. Go often
2. Know the areas you are interested in & check those first (clothing, fabric, linens, crafts etc)
3. If you are planning on a thorough search, give yourself time
4. Look beyond the current incarnation of a piece of clothing to the fabric or the buttons, lace, etc. for reuse
5. Our thrift stores here in my area of Canada are not the kind of bargain outlets found in the US. That said, they are usually cleaner and more organized than a bargain bin last chance kind of store. If you're planning to dig through dollar bins, take safety gloves. 
6. Be open to serendipity! 
7. Wash your items prior to using them, whether clothing pieces or fabric finds. 
8. Have fun!

What are your basic tips, if you are also a thrifter?

MeMadeMay and Sustainability Thoughts

One of my goals for this MeMadeMay was to look at what I'm wearing and why, and to think about how I can make my wardrobe more sustainable in terms of fabrics bought, patterns made, etc -- how to use the best fabrics I can for my budget and not make clothes I'm not going to wear.

I've found that I do like almost everything I've ever made, and the few things that I haven't wanted to wear this month are now in line for refashioning/reusing or donating. So it has been a useful practice to pay attention to my sewing and clothes wearing habits!

In addition to paying attention to my own habits, I also read and listen to many things in the area of sustainable fashion. Here are some of my recent favourites.

Podcasts: 

Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press
This podcast by Vogue Australia's sustainability editor is so good! Clare Press interviews a wide range of guests from fashion designers to brands to sustainable makers to the founders of Fashion Revolution, to name just a few. It really expands the understanding of how wide the push for sustainability is getting.

Conscious Chatter
A podcast "where what we wear matters", this one is hosted by a young woman with a background in journalism and international affairs, and focuses on sustainable brands, consumer habits, and wider issues in the field like women's rights, recycling, international conditions in the fashion world and so on.

Trashmagination by Carla Brown
While this isn't focused on the fashion world, it is a series of very short podcasts on recycling, reusing, and remaking things that are often considered to be trash. There are many references to fashion uses of trash, including events like Trashion Weeks.

Dressed  &  Unravel: a Fashion Podcast
Both of these fashion history podcasts are focused on designers, fashion movements and so on, but they've both looked at sustainability issues in some of their episodes. Plus just knowing how different fashion trends have come about sometimes helps to understand the background of massive fashion issues.

Books:

Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press 
Rise & Resist by Clare Press
Both of these books by the author & presenter of the Wardrobe Crisis podcast follow on with the same themes -- a look at the fashion industry in the first one, and a collection of essays and interviews with changemakers in the second one.

Overdressed: the shockingly high cost of cheap fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline 
This classic looks at fast fashion and our consumer habits and talks about ways to counteract the rapid movement of trends and buying and trashing our clothes.

Websites/Actions:

Fashion Revolution
This is the mother ship for questions of sustainable fashion and the call for transparency. Full of resources of all kinds, and best known for #FashRev week and the #WhoMadeMyClothes initiative.

Craftivist Collective
This movement uses craft and stitching as a protest delivery system; their Mini Fashion Statement project in particular looks at fast fashion and the fashion world overall


Do you have suggestions of titles of books or any podcasts that you love listening to that will help me along my learning journey? Is there a great website that you love that talks about this topic? Do you have any go-to tricks to help make your own sewing more sustainable? Please share!

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration Post Part II

Well, the Literary Sewing Circle has taken off this week! I am so happy to share this podcast interview with you -- one of my favourite things to listen to while sewing are all the great sewing podcasts, but I never imagined I'd be a guest on one of them 😀

Luckily, Lori and Helena at the Clothes Making Mavens wanted to chat about this project, so please do listen in and you'll hear about the original impetus to get this going, as well as more chat about other books and how sewing inspiration can be found in nearly any great book!

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And now for a different kind of inspiration -- after you've finished listening the conversation over at The Clothes Making Mavens, take a look at these runway fashions for some ideas for the fabulous things you could make once you draw your inspiration out of these pages. 

Continuing on with the circus theme, take a look at Dior Fall 2011 for some colourful and carnivalesque designs, including this classic Pierrot (as modelled by Karlie Kloss)

You might also find that you want to play with oversize circus tent stripes, like Gabriela Hearst seems to have done in her most recent collection 

Or take a look at this Victoria's Secret show from 2012, if you'd like to make something for "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" (ice block not included)

Turning to Mr. Dark himself, the Illustrated Man, take tattoos as your jumping off point and try using some tattoo inspired applique in your project, like Temperley London did in Fall 2016

Maybe you'll try a lace applique reminiscent of a black & white inked tattoo, as with this stunning Ralph Lauren piece from 2011 and try out your own Girl With A Dragon Tattoo look

You could wear an entire tattoo-sleeve-styled topper like Maison Martin Margiela's Spring 2014 "Artisanal Couture" line did

Or for a change, focus on the night sky, with added razzle dazzle from the Pandemonium Shadow Show, with one of these starry sequinned numbers from Jenny Packham's new collection

Stormy weather, lightning, wind and stormclouds might just mean a shimmering dress which recalls clouds in the moonlight, like something from Marchesa

And don't forget, if you ever need to hide from an ominous carnival's tattooed man and his dust witch sidekick in the library stacks, something like this Tommy Hilfiger dress might be just the thing for camouflage...

Do any of these spark a project idea? Do you have a favourite designer in mind to inspire you?

Keep reading...next Friday we'll have our first book discussion, right here on the blog, discussing things up to about half way through with an attempt not to post too many spoilers!