mermaidcamp

mermaidcamp

Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water

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Why Sew?

August 5, 2014 — 1 Comment

 

Alma Llanera

Alma Llanera

There are not many stores that cater to sewing today because there are very few people who know how to sew. I always enjoyed the selection process as well as the craft and fitting. Now I feel like a kind of special agent of fashion because I know how to sew.  You do reap what you sew.  You also wear what you sew.  It can be the best way to truly express unique fashion choices.  I like to wear something that nobody else has, or even has seen.  I also have a funny commemorative way of dressing that harkens back to days when I did long trips all over the place.  I would assemble my trip wardrobe with great care and anticipation, thinking about weather and activities.  Time permitting I would sew something for the trip that would make a debut on the road.  I liked to associate certain clothing with certain places where I thought they looked their best.  I no longer globe trot at such a pace, nor do I plan so many back to back obligations when I travel now.  My wardrobe is casual like it is at home, with few exceptions.

Last year when I attended a reunion party at my old junior high I sewed a special skirt in honor of the home economics teacher who gave me a D on my apron in seventh grade.  She was not in attendance, but I had something to prove when I went on a tour of my old school with my old classmates.  The skirt turned out okay and I had my triumphant secret moment in the hallway where Mrs. G had been the hall monitor daily.  I swished right by her imaginary self and let her know that I could sew.  This year when I attended a reunion party in Austin with a group who lived in Venezuela in the 1960’s I made a signature pair of pants.  I found some fabric with little skeleton cards portraying Day of the Dead figures.  Tucson has a very big celebration of this holiday each year, so I decided to make a pair of pants as a conversation piece about my home town.  The pants are fine, and on the first day in Texas I found a tee shirt that matched perfectly and had a purple longhorn, too.  I was stylin’ and not too hot since the pants were loose fitting cotton.  I received many compliments on them during my visit, and then wore them to the Venezuela reunion party.  It was National Dance Day and I was ready. Here I am singing and dancing in my fancy pants, which I will forever associate with this party.  While I don’t think it would be good to try to have your clothes match everything you do, sometimes it is fun. That is why I sew.

Create Your Own Fashion

July 22, 2013 — 4 Comments

For years I made most of my clothing and a lot of the items for my home, like curtains.  I have always had very specific fashion requirements that were fostered by my sewing mother.  She achieved greater skill and ability as a tailor, but I know I got the idea, and perhaps some talent, from her.  My parents went to conventions with petroleum engineers all over the world.  Months before the trip my mother would make outfits for the event that included matching hats and shoes.  She often looked like QEII with all the matchy-matchy.  She did have clothes from stores, but her best stuff in the 1950’s was made with her own hands.

Last year I started sewing again because I own a big stash of fabric and two machines.  I found that creating with fabric  makes me happier than ever.  I used to sew because it was a cheap and easy way to create my clothing; ironically, now supplies are much more expensive, making it much less of a bargain.  The satisfaction is in the choices at each step along the process.  I do not need to buy any fabric, but rather need to use all the leftovers I have collected.  This is like going through the fridge and deciding to make soup based on what you have. You decide what makes it delicious.  It will be exactly to your taste.

Color and pattern work together in creating a design.  My fabric stash offers many different weights and composition in fabric.  I selected them because they fit into a color palette that matches other items in my wardrobe. I have both woven and knit to use in my fall collection. I will start by making a wrap skirt to keep it simple.  I am not in the mood for zippers.  I am seeking fairly instant gratification. I also want to use  my stash without buying any more fabric or notions.  I own some great buttons, and should get them out to see what they might enhance. The creativity of working with fabric, notions, and design is endless.  Evolving hand made fashion is especially fulfilling to me.  I may take apart some old garments and reuse my favorite parts of them too. I admire all the upcycled fashion I see being used in new ways.  Even folks who don’t sew or have a machine can find really cool designs to create from knit fabric, like tee shirts. Join the fun for fashion that expresses the real you.