I’ve been sewing lots. Here are a few pieces:
First, Peter’s Retro Shirt (listed at Homesewn).
Just these last couple days I’ve worked up Winter Wool Pants #001 and #002 (#003 are on the way!):
They are beautiful pants – wool, and lined in silk – designed in every way for comfort, ease of movement, and durability. If your kids are as active as mine, I guarantee these will be a quick favorite.
So. Tomorrow through Sunday I am going to have a booth at the Schafer Meadows Fiber Festival, hosted at the Elma Fairgrowds. It would mean a lot to me if any locals reading this would stop by and talk to me and see my stuff. I’ve worked my tail off to create a booth and put together some literature on what I’m about and what my portfolio entails. The Fiber Festival is amazing in its own right, with all sorts of local talented artisans (mostly knitting, wool, spinning, carding, crotcheting-based) coming out of the woodwork!
The hours of the event are Friday, Noon – 5pm; Saturday, 10am – 5pm; and Sunday, 11am – 4pm.
I thought a lot about buying a space at my first-ever trade fair, or whatever you want to call it, as I am not able to make the time commitment of a full-time business but I definitely would enjoy more exposure. My current goals as a seamstress include pursuing my craft with all my heart, being able to purchase and explore higher-end fabrics and materials, making parents/carers and their children deliriously happy over their most favorite garment of all time (Phoenix put on the brown pair of wool pants – lined with silk and built with knee gussets and a low-bulk super-soft waistband! – and said, “These are MARVELOUS pants. You should make every kid a pair!”), stretching myself creatively, finding a community of garment-makers (quilters and crotcheters and knitters abound), and sharing my skills with those who appreciate them (including teaching!).
Anything you can do to support me is appreciated. It’s hard out here for a stitcher, competing with massive corporations, sweatshop labor and the abuse of environment and peoples for the bottom line. True also that many would like to experience the joy of learning how to create – but so few make the time.
Kelly, those are GORGEOUS!!! Do you make adulty sized stuff? I hate (HATE!!) buying clothes – especially shirts – at stores. Nothing fits. I would far and away prefer to throw business at friends than at strangers.
Regards,
David
The red tag on the shirt is great. Where did you find them? I can’t wait to visit your booth!! I’ll see you in a couple of hours.
Everything looks great, but then again I kind of expected that, since you set such a high bar for quality in your sewing. Where did you find such gorgeous wool?
If you’re up for it, I’m contemplating a road trip to Portland to visit the Mill End Store and anywhere else there that has good fabric. If you’d want to come, let me know.
@David
Thank you for the compliments! I do indeed sew for grownups. I’ve made a few things that the adults (just like the kids I sew for) say are the best-fitting and most sturdy garments they’ve had! What kind of shirt are you thinking?
@Diplordia
The cards were from MOO I believe. Ralph and I designed them, (obviously, to some familiar with it) stealing the design composition from the British WWII poster; the back has all my contact info. Thanks for your visit out at Fiber Fest!
@Jen
Thank you! The wool, I got the red 100% wool from Joann’s and machine washed and dried it, changing the hand a bit. The pinstripe… I believe that was onsale at Fabric.com. Both are wool flannels. ZOMG I would love to visit the Mill End Store. I’ve also heard good things about Fabric Depot. If and when you plan a trip, let me know. If my schedule is open I would definitely like a trip!
@Jen