lol we are PSYCHIC. I am trying to establish a relationship with my sewing machine but so far we are frenemies. I don’t love it like I love tying slipknots!! but I do feel you about all this.. I’ve been wanting some mid-length super flowy skirts for the summer but they’re sooo expensive and the patterns are either too femme or too boring for me, so I’m gonna try making some (with an elastic waistband it is literally the easiest pattern ever, just 2-3 yards of fabric cut in half and sewn together). I also found some videos of ppl adding crochet to their t-shirts, and I have a sick tie-dyed shirt that’s too small but sooo cool so I was thinking of cutting up the sides and adding crocheted mesh panels to widen it!!!?? also palazzo pants! I wanna make palazzos in really crazy patterns! but I hate measuring and I can’t count bahahaah
I had been debating if I wanted to write more about sewing, especially after my big giant writing on my old thesis on personal style and I feel like this is a sign to go for it.
Learning to sew and coming back to it after some years has always been one of the most liberatory practices of my life and if I could figure out how to do it more I would!
It’s so great to start with stuff you have and work from there, I’m happy to provide any resources if you ever need them.
Oh and I also hate things around my assumed waist (it is also higher).
This whole post made me smile! I would love for you to write more about it - not because I’m into sewing but because I love the energy around a “new beloved”.
Oh and your dress - amazing! I love that you included a video!
I ALSO had a sewing special interest that lasted me about a year. I tend to cycle through special interests. I loved it while it lasted. I sewed shirts, dresses, skirts, pants. There's an amazing online sewing subculture. I miss it. But then I had kids (youngest are still 2) and sewing is an expansive hobby. I don't have the space or the freedom from little fingers to do it now. But I still have all my tools (and bins full of fabric I never got to in the attic), and I'm counting on coming back to it one day.
This is so cool!! I fell headfirst into visible mending two years ago, because of a single beloved pair of jeans that kept wearing out. To keep them in my closet, I taught myself darning, basting stitches, some extremely simple embroidery, and am currently working on sashiko. I've brought these skills to mending and embellishing different articles of my own and friends' clothing, with the goal of preventing them from being replaced before necessary.
Making my OWN clothing has always been intimidating to me (I don't have much interest in learning to use a sewing machine, which is pretty essential as you point out!) but I LOVED your patchwork dress so much. I'm filing it away for some-day.
I’ve been sewing a lot recently too. I got sick of spending my money on poor quality clothes that don’t fit. I love being able to pick fabrics that I like the feeling of, and making stuff that actually fits my body (I have a really long pelvis and high hips so high waisted stuff is so uncomfortable). And I love being able to make things that don’t have itchy seams and labels. I can make things that are perfect for my neurodivergent brain and body, and since it’s my favourite colour, I love making things in green.
I’d given up on jeans a long time ago, but I’m making my first pair now, and they fit perfectly around the waist but have loads of room everywhere else. Once you have a few basic techniques a whole world opens up for you.
Also I’ve been thinking about this more since I wrote it, and I think that trying to find clothes and nothing fitting, feeling good or reflecting who I am, was just another thing that made me feel like I don’t belong in the world. So making something for myself is sort of like proof that I can belong, I know what’s best for me and I feel best when I’m given the freedom to choose for myself.
Marta, I went down a YouTube rabbit hole after reading your post. I found this channel, who I guess collaborated with the channel The Stitchery, and found some inspiring things! Maybe I’m into petticoats now???
Omg yes! I watched another collab with Charlie from the Stitchery with Jillian Evie and now I NEED to learn how to spin! And weave! And all the things!! But definitely petticoats!!!!
OMG Martha, that Mrs. Dalloway shirt/dress is awesome, but the twirly dress brought me so much joy just to see the video! Your creations are inspiring as is your post, thanks for sharing and for encouraging us to give sewing a try.
I recently de-boxed my sewing machine (received as a wedding present nearly 10 years ago) to let my 8-year old take a couple lessons to learn to sew, which she had been requesting for two years. We are not converts yet but I loved reading about your experience and hope that she and I both log more hours building our skills and finding our style and comfort there. So far, my favorite part has been ripping seams of outgrown kids’ clothes to use as fabric—I agree with you, so meditative!
Hi! What a great way to ask for audience engagement, and I am happy to read that. Yeah sewing sounds empowering, and so does crochet. I would be so proud to crochet myself a jumper... but starting small first.
Your shirt-skirt combinations really expanded my sense of what's possible with sewing projects! And so very *you* to resuscitate clothing that not quite serving its purpose and combine it into something not before seen. What a great on-ramp to learning a new skill. I hope I find a hands-on calling to have a love affair with!
This is excellent! I took a few sewing classes last winter but have not had time to sew this summer. But I’ve collected some fabric and bedclothes from thrift stores and plan to get it all out this fall. All of the things you mention - size, sensory needs, designing specific items I have in my head - are all the reasons I want to make my own clothes. Glad you’re having fun!
lol we are PSYCHIC. I am trying to establish a relationship with my sewing machine but so far we are frenemies. I don’t love it like I love tying slipknots!! but I do feel you about all this.. I’ve been wanting some mid-length super flowy skirts for the summer but they’re sooo expensive and the patterns are either too femme or too boring for me, so I’m gonna try making some (with an elastic waistband it is literally the easiest pattern ever, just 2-3 yards of fabric cut in half and sewn together). I also found some videos of ppl adding crochet to their t-shirts, and I have a sick tie-dyed shirt that’s too small but sooo cool so I was thinking of cutting up the sides and adding crocheted mesh panels to widen it!!!?? also palazzo pants! I wanna make palazzos in really crazy patterns! but I hate measuring and I can’t count bahahaah
i would sew anything for you Jesse! we could even make patterns up!
I had been debating if I wanted to write more about sewing, especially after my big giant writing on my old thesis on personal style and I feel like this is a sign to go for it.
Learning to sew and coming back to it after some years has always been one of the most liberatory practices of my life and if I could figure out how to do it more I would!
It’s so great to start with stuff you have and work from there, I’m happy to provide any resources if you ever need them.
Oh and I also hate things around my assumed waist (it is also higher).
This whole post made me smile! I would love for you to write more about it - not because I’m into sewing but because I love the energy around a “new beloved”.
Oh and your dress - amazing! I love that you included a video!
I ALSO had a sewing special interest that lasted me about a year. I tend to cycle through special interests. I loved it while it lasted. I sewed shirts, dresses, skirts, pants. There's an amazing online sewing subculture. I miss it. But then I had kids (youngest are still 2) and sewing is an expansive hobby. I don't have the space or the freedom from little fingers to do it now. But I still have all my tools (and bins full of fabric I never got to in the attic), and I'm counting on coming back to it one day.
This is so cool!! I fell headfirst into visible mending two years ago, because of a single beloved pair of jeans that kept wearing out. To keep them in my closet, I taught myself darning, basting stitches, some extremely simple embroidery, and am currently working on sashiko. I've brought these skills to mending and embellishing different articles of my own and friends' clothing, with the goal of preventing them from being replaced before necessary.
Making my OWN clothing has always been intimidating to me (I don't have much interest in learning to use a sewing machine, which is pretty essential as you point out!) but I LOVED your patchwork dress so much. I'm filing it away for some-day.
I’ve been sewing a lot recently too. I got sick of spending my money on poor quality clothes that don’t fit. I love being able to pick fabrics that I like the feeling of, and making stuff that actually fits my body (I have a really long pelvis and high hips so high waisted stuff is so uncomfortable). And I love being able to make things that don’t have itchy seams and labels. I can make things that are perfect for my neurodivergent brain and body, and since it’s my favourite colour, I love making things in green.
I’d given up on jeans a long time ago, but I’m making my first pair now, and they fit perfectly around the waist but have loads of room everywhere else. Once you have a few basic techniques a whole world opens up for you.
Also I’ve been thinking about this more since I wrote it, and I think that trying to find clothes and nothing fitting, feeling good or reflecting who I am, was just another thing that made me feel like I don’t belong in the world. So making something for myself is sort of like proof that I can belong, I know what’s best for me and I feel best when I’m given the freedom to choose for myself.
I went all-in too. 🙃😊😉❤️
https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/bespoke-and-beautiful-tailoring-a?r=1d2z7x&utm_medium=ios
Marta, I went down a YouTube rabbit hole after reading your post. I found this channel, who I guess collaborated with the channel The Stitchery, and found some inspiring things! Maybe I’m into petticoats now???
https://youtu.be/6xHOnS4fK2c?si=Ekpeskdji1lCNhmv
Omg yes! I watched another collab with Charlie from the Stitchery with Jillian Evie and now I NEED to learn how to spin! And weave! And all the things!! But definitely petticoats!!!!
OMG Martha, that Mrs. Dalloway shirt/dress is awesome, but the twirly dress brought me so much joy just to see the video! Your creations are inspiring as is your post, thanks for sharing and for encouraging us to give sewing a try.
I recently de-boxed my sewing machine (received as a wedding present nearly 10 years ago) to let my 8-year old take a couple lessons to learn to sew, which she had been requesting for two years. We are not converts yet but I loved reading about your experience and hope that she and I both log more hours building our skills and finding our style and comfort there. So far, my favorite part has been ripping seams of outgrown kids’ clothes to use as fabric—I agree with you, so meditative!
Hi! What a great way to ask for audience engagement, and I am happy to read that. Yeah sewing sounds empowering, and so does crochet. I would be so proud to crochet myself a jumper... but starting small first.
Your shirt-skirt combinations really expanded my sense of what's possible with sewing projects! And so very *you* to resuscitate clothing that not quite serving its purpose and combine it into something not before seen. What a great on-ramp to learning a new skill. I hope I find a hands-on calling to have a love affair with!
So inspiring , thank you!! 😊
This is excellent! I took a few sewing classes last winter but have not had time to sew this summer. But I’ve collected some fabric and bedclothes from thrift stores and plan to get it all out this fall. All of the things you mention - size, sensory needs, designing specific items I have in my head - are all the reasons I want to make my own clothes. Glad you’re having fun!