Some thoughts and reflections from sewing.
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My 6 Favourite Vegetables to Grow in the Garden
I always grow a combination of flowers and edible plants in my garden, but over the years I have dedicated more time and effort to growing different vegetables and learning how to best take care of each kind. One of the most exciting things about growing vegetables is seeing how they flower and fruit and seeing how that fruit grows from such a wee version of it’s plump and juicy final form. Though I’ve been gardening and sewing for many years, I only recently started to appreciate their similarities.
Making a Vertical Lettuce Garden out of a Wooden Pallet
It’s spring! And I’ve found myself trading some of my sewing projects for some garden ones. I experience all four seasons where I live, so when the spring temperatures bring warmth all I can do is get excited for my favourite season: the summer! One reason why I love the summer is that I get to garden. I love being outside in the sunshine. I love how rewarding plants are to grow and vegetable gardening in particular is always a fun project. One of my favourite garden elements are vertical lettuce walls. First, they are a great use of space, which is a big win when you have a little backyard. One lettuce plant can offer multiple harvests and the ability to cut fresh lettuce as you need it a lovely summer luxury. Finally, the lettuce garden is really pretty, especially when a few flowers or other plants are included. As far as the construction goes, the project can come together in just a couple of hours and can last years.
Making My Own Pattern from Shorts in My Closet
When I started to sew clothes, I some of the first pieces I made were from my own wardrobe. Part of this was to ease myself into the intimidating world of professionally graded patterns and ultimately, this was great practice to understanding how pattern pieces are constructed into 3D garments. As I’ve sewn more, I’ve learned that this practice is known as “rubbing off ready-to-wear” or the “rub-off technique”. Whatever the term is, the idea continues to be appealing to me for many reasons. It’s economical for my hobby, I purchase fewer fast fashion pieces, and it helps me practice some technical skills. Here is how I make patterns from existing clothes in 4 stages.
Listening is Not Enough
I was planning on making some shorts this week and writing about my pattern but I have been distracted. My heart breaks because loving lives were lost and families were broken in Atlanta, Georgia. The handling of these shootings - by the media, the police, and social media -- has been upsetting. Since Tuesday, I have been thinking a lot about the commitment to racial justice and education I saw literally everywhere last June and my own life experience. I appreciate that learning about race is a personal journey and it takes time to understand and process. I am learning too and through the experiences that I share, I hope you'll recognize why it is difficult to extend grace and patience to learning and listening when there are always opportunities to act.
Adding a Gathered Shoulder to a T-shirt
I made some basic alterations to a pattern to raise the difficulty of a shirt pattern I was working on. I decided to lengthen the sleeve piece and add a gathered shoulder, which forced me to learn how sleeves are patterned and constructed. When I first looked at flat sleeve pieces, I was confused. What part was sewn to the shoulder? What edge became the cuff? How do I sew these curved shapes? I share that info and the steps I took to adapt a knit sleeve pattern and pin a gathered shoulder.
Sewing Knit Fabric: Basics and Best Practices
Part of my preparation for sewing my first knit pattern was a bunch of research to help me understand the types of knit fabric available as well as some best practices for working with stretchy fabric. This post includes background information on knit fabrics, including: how fibres (fibers) are constructed into fabric, the types of knit fabric, how to identify the selvedge edge, warp threads, and weft threads, as well as the basic tools and techniques you’ll need to start.
DIY Fabric Postcards for Valentine’s Day
I made some DIY postcards to send to some of my family and friends for Valentine’s Day. This project was quick, inexpensive, and is another great use for fabric scraps. Who doesn’t love receiving mail? Especially when it’s a punny card chosen specifically for you or sent for no reason in particular other than to say hi. In addition to summarizing the 4 steps involved in this project, I reflect on why cards are such a lovely gesture.
Beyond Function: A History of Quilt Making
Months before I wrote this post, I searched for an example of quilt making that incorporated old clothes in a similar way to the t-shirt quilts I made. I found one article that describes how Siddi (African Indian) make quilts from saris and old clothes. Though my research satisfied my initial curiosity, I had so many other questions about the history of quilts and their makers. My initial research has only scratched the surface on the writing that exists around quilts but this post broadly explores the meaning and value of quilts. Artists and projects mentioned include: Harriet Powers, Bisa Butler, and the women of Gee's Bend, and the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Sewing 101: A Frugal Start with Knits
When I decided to venture into wearable clothes making, I was hesitant to purchase fabric I hadn’t yet worked with. Before I made a significant investment, I found some inexpensive ways to get started and build my confidence. This is a post with some suggestions for getting started, including some of my favourite free resources.
An Introduction to Fabric in 3 Infographics
I figured that the best way to make progress towards my long-term goal of garment making is to understand the most basic fundamentals, including fibre (or fiber) type, construction or assembly of these fibres, and the characteristics determined by composition and construction. The information in these photos and photo captions is sourced from Episode 27: Fabric 101 of the Love to Sew Podcast.
