I think there are two kinds of sewists.
There are those who start with a specific garment or a pattern in mind and those who start from fabric.
I am a fabric sewist. I love to touch fabric, appreciate its distinct characteristics, and listen to it when it tells me what it wants to be.
I am always particularly excited when a classic fabric makes its reappearance on the fashion scene. Last fall it was corduroy. This spring and summer, continuing a trend we saw last year, it is linen.
Linen my favourite fabric to sew. It stitches beautifully and presses so well. And speaking of pressing now the Empire is gone no one irons linen much any more and most linens I work with now I pre-wash and line dry before cutting, press the first time I wear them and don’t worry about touch ups after that.
There’s a story here.
At the beginning of every new season blog post I am pretty sure I begin with saying the same thing.
This last year, strange year that it has been, I have fallen in love with bamboo fabrics. Maybe hard times increase the need for feeling something soft. Maybe it was time for me to focus on a new fiber and learn about it. I don’t know.
Every spring Jalie releases a new batch of patterns, and every year I see more and more of what I would describe as wearable basics/classics in the line. I generally pick a few patterns to try and after I see other sewists
My mother used to talk about car coats – loose thigh length half coat/ half jacket suitable to dashing out of the house on errands – which in my life most often means driving down to the Fabricville at the bottom of my street for supplies.
Some folks start a project with a style or pattern in mind first. I start with a fabric and work backwards.
When I saw this amazing bright red light boiled wool with the embossed flowers, all I could think of was car coat.
Of all the new Jalies I made this spring I think I had most fun making the Michelle summer dress.
I made the new Jalie Simone wide-legged pants and the Gisele round neck top as a set for comfortable travelling.
This fall I decided to get practical. I travel a lot with family all spread out and decided that I really needed something I could wear en route and still wear around when I arrive.
This spring I decided to try something new, totally inspired by a fabric.
Like most women one of my aims with my sewing is to make sure I always have something to wear for whatever I do.
On my recent trip to San Francisco I knew exactly the jacket/coat I needed, both there in the misty mornings and at home in the windy and wet days here in Halifax.
I have to say I was thrilled when Jalie patterns appeared at my local Fabricville. I have long been a huge Jalie fan and it was so nice to know that I can now just go down to the bottom of my street to buy them – no more taping printed letter sized sheets together, no more waiting for the patterns to come in the mail.
I usually start a project with a pattern in mind, but this time started with the news cycle and a fabric.
Lately I have had the bright idea of actually sewing clothes that I would wear everyday, be comfortable in, and go together. An outfit.
