The story of my wearable art jackets can be seen in the garments. They are my sewing story. Every detail purposefully stitched to reflect the one-of-a-kind designs. I like to use hand dyed fabrics because of the irregular color patterns and custom color combinations. The finished jacket is a story, an adventure in fabric and thread.
I need a lot of thread and the cheap stuff won't do. Thread disappears with every pump of the pedal. Like a magician gets rid of his fluffy, white bunny but instead of an empty top hat or scarf I have a constant flow of discarded, plastic spools littering my sewing space. Any one ever wish for an everlasting bobbin?
I love quality, handmade clothing. Each seam neatly planned and pressed. Blind hems finished with a fine hand stitch invisible to the average eye. Some details never noticed except to that of the conscientious tailor. Likewise to the handmade, antique quilt all puckered around tiny, uniform stitches. Tradition, technique and individual style told through the patches of fabric and patterns written in thread.
Sewing techniques can be perfected by practice and repetition. If you're willing to "work your fingers to the bone", fingertip flesh shriveling up while guiding yard after yard of fabric through the machine. Needles poking top to bottom in a rhythm with hands hovering under and over a lap hoop. Anything hand stitched shows the effort and character of the seamstress, no matter how rugged or precise the stitchery.
I can sew all day and all evening, but my shoulder will regret it. I finish a jacket, a blazer that took me all week to design and make and then I have an idea for the next jacket. Dye my fabric or buy my fabric, maybe both. Old technique, paper pieced or whole cloth with a hand quilted motif. Maybe something with fringe and raw edges...and my sewing adventure starts again.
I need a lot of thread and the cheap stuff won't do. Thread disappears with every pump of the pedal. Like a magician gets rid of his fluffy, white bunny but instead of an empty top hat or scarf I have a constant flow of discarded, plastic spools littering my sewing space. Any one ever wish for an everlasting bobbin?
I love quality, handmade clothing. Each seam neatly planned and pressed. Blind hems finished with a fine hand stitch invisible to the average eye. Some details never noticed except to that of the conscientious tailor. Likewise to the handmade, antique quilt all puckered around tiny, uniform stitches. Tradition, technique and individual style told through the patches of fabric and patterns written in thread.
Sewing techniques can be perfected by practice and repetition. If you're willing to "work your fingers to the bone", fingertip flesh shriveling up while guiding yard after yard of fabric through the machine. Needles poking top to bottom in a rhythm with hands hovering under and over a lap hoop. Anything hand stitched shows the effort and character of the seamstress, no matter how rugged or precise the stitchery.
I can sew all day and all evening, but my shoulder will regret it. I finish a jacket, a blazer that took me all week to design and make and then I have an idea for the next jacket. Dye my fabric or buy my fabric, maybe both. Old technique, paper pieced or whole cloth with a hand quilted motif. Maybe something with fringe and raw edges...and my sewing adventure starts again.