While working on my latest upcycling project, to convert a silk dress into a two-piece set, I had a lot of thoughts and emotions turning up about the process.
What was it, that I did so far?
cut the dress...
...secure the sip
...copied the pattern of a trousers for the bottom of the two-piece
...got rid of laces
...sewed some trousers (waaay to big)
...tried to turn it into skirt-trousers, trousers underneath with the silk wrapping around as a skirt.
It somehow worked but didnt fit at all.
Why am I sewing?
As far as I remember I always enjoyed to “make” things, create, design imagine. I like my days best when I did something “productive” in that sense. Even though I do not have to come up with a tangible thing at the end of the day, it could also be an idea, a thought or a conversation that opened up new doors and perceptions.
Could I say I enjoy it more to create things than consuming them? Definitely.
Since I was very young, I always had the desire to make my own clothes. I remember when I was a kid, making myself clothes that would fit my fantasy on what kind of character of any book or story I was into. Mostly I wasn’t fully satisfied with the result, a lack of patience used to be the reason for it in many cases.
Over years I explored different skills and ways to express my creativity. I did a lot of painting and drawing. Nevertheless, I never gave up the crafting part, sewing, or building different objects.
Until two years ago when I got stuck, thanks to all the borders that where closed. Which, nevertheless, it turned my plans upside down, turned out as a huge inspiration in the end. Because thanks to all the time I had, I could finally dig out the idea of sewing my own clothes and fully immerse in learning that skill, since I had no distraction, nowhere to go and not much else to do.
Funny enough the first thing I made was trousers, lol, something I am still learning a lot about. They turned out wearable though, and I still have them, even though I can’t say that I am wearing them very often. For my defense I do have a very good reason for it, which is, that I have no idea what to combine them with…
Shortly after that I went into upcycling, first because I love the idea behind it (using old clothes to make something new) and second because I was limited in the amount of fabric I had (not just the borders also the shops where closed).
In that sense I can resume that since I started sewing, I already set my focus on two different ways of starting the process.
There are for sure many different reasons to start a new project. As many as there are reasons to abandone them again.
One is I that I make the garment I want to wear, the other is creating and designing something resonating to me through the concept, fabric or idea.
The upcycle of this silk dress is surely about the first reason.
It is hot, I realize I have no shorts, alias I have nothing to wear. Which makes me sew, in underwear (since nothing to wear hahaha) waiting for the clothes to be finished so I can finally leave the house dressed.
Not really the most sustainable way of working on anything, that’s what I learned.
The later it got the more I got impatient. And baaam made a lot of mistakes, then tried to fix them quick and easy which lead to more mistakes. Until I found myself with a huge row of super small stitches to reopen, if I wanted to fix the problem.
I gave up, choose some different clothes and left the house, nevertheless.
Leaving gave me this time to reflect. Realizing that starting a project because I want to wear the clothes, I imagined that day by the evening isn’t the way I can keep up a constructive and resonating workflow.
Makes me thing, I should sew winter clothes in summer and vice versa. So, like that I am sure not to fall for the same trap again.
Instead, I should sew for other people.
Or just separate creating-for-myself, from creating-my-brand.
Coming back to the #wip process, don’t you worry, I am not giving it up. I am just going to start again, making sure I have something to wear and nothing to get impatient about it.
I do have some shorts now, so it could actually work:) (buying some 2euro secondhand trousers and just cut them, made it in the end, with a lot less frustration and way faster result)
Thank you for the time and the space for me to share my thoughts and the process with you!! Have a very lovely week, and see you around!
(all photos are taken by me)
I wrote this before but it is still valid: I find it so interesting to hear about your drive, inspiration about the „why“ behind the sewing and creating. And to be honest I felt a tad bad about myself, because I only sew because I am greedy and want clothes (moooooorrrrrreeeeee want mooorrrreee). I super seldom sew for others, only for my husband or my mother :-D
But even better to have a glimpse of your thought process and the glimpse behind the scene. I love the playfulness you have with sewing, that you are inspired to simply work it out (instead myself: researching like crazy to make it perfect in the shortest amount of time and effort… which never works)
I am always impressed and surprised how your sewing will turn out in the end, and even if you yourself are sometimes not satisfied with the fit, treading about your process is always worth it <3
Thank you @neumannsalva!!!! I am very glad you enjoy all the thoughts and background I am sharing about the work, I must say I enjoy to do so myself, I like the way it makes me keep up with my thoughts or learning process (that otherwise I would probably forget or not acknowledge at all), a bit like a diary:)
And I appreciate your way of replying to it💕
Congratulations @kesityu.fashion! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
Your next target is to reach 4500 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Wow wow wow this amazingly superb
thank you!!:)
I love this post, dearest @kesityu.fashion - your writing is much like my own thoughts and process... I have a huge collection of secondhand clothing, and the garments seem to come and go as favourites; sometimes I'll suddenly think 'Oh my, that is never going to get worn!' and then I spontaneously chop it up for a cushion cover ;-D
And my commitment to the #wip challenge seemed really feasible, but then I got on with #diywip and was immersed in dust and rubble for some time - very incompatible with sewing or painting time!
My doll is fully solid now though, and I am not sure if I will decorate her with stitching or find some way to sew her features more distinctly in her face... Thank you for your inspiration, in your calming photos and colours, and your beautiful organic approach to your creative flow.... mmmmmmm. :-D
I am glad my thoughts are getting understood:) I have to say I also feel you getting distracted from one by the other, sometimes it gets overwhelming if you have so many different projects at the same time (as diy renovations and then sewing and any other thing you might want to ad)...
Its always a pleasure to read your lovely comments💕
Mmm - I am enjoying the process of fully inhabiting my creative 'chaos', which is actually just how Nature creates! All my projects naturally find their equilibrium and Right finishing time - it just gets hard to go along with others' deadlines, which don't fit into my rhythms ;-D hehe - I love our biodiversity! :-D Creative blessings dear friend.
If there is one thing that is a bit tedious, it is unpicking, however, it must be done to achieve our goal.
Thats how it is I guess:) we have to live with it...