Red Cedar
More apocalypse, less angst
Post #3110: Bringing on the warmer weather
I’ve been posting the above hammock photo all over the place – as it is endlessly pleasing to me. On the weekend Brian got the side-yard re-mulched and installed hardware for the hammock in this spot (it was previously elsewhere but we have other plans for that space). It was warm enough Sunday afternoon that I spent a full hour in that hammock, reading a book (Mrs. Osmond by John Banville) and watching the little birds flit around. Once spring advances and the trees leaf out a bit more, that spot becomes very shady – making it perfect for the warm days of summer which are surely upon us.
I finished this top on the weekend – several hours of hand-sewing (those polka dots are sewn on) down. Black on black makes for very tired eyes, and I won’t be making that mistake again. This top is a riff on the Alabama Chanin techniques. I used a self-drafted pattern for the top, the polka dot template from the School of Making, and contrasting button/craft thread for the applique. For future projects like this I plan to use silk embroidery thread instead of the button thread – because I’m looking to move 100% biodegradable in my wardrobe and button threads are polyester (and stiff as hell). My next project will be the swing skirt in teal and gray – though I haven’t decided what contrasting fabric paint/thread I will use. I’m not someone who likes a whole lot of flash up top (I have issues with my bust line) – but I have been trying to use brighter colours and more pattern in bottoms to lighten up the wardrobe a bit from my tendency towards dark-hued garments.
I have another black tank top that is almost finished and just needs arm hole and neckline hand-finishing, so am well on my way to summer clothes. This is good news because temperatures are finally on the increase here. Though so far, I have tops for days and not nearly enough bottoms – so in addition to that swing skirt in the offing, I’ve just cut out the pattern for the Emerson Crop Pants (by True Bias) and hope to get those sewn this week. The fabric I’ve cut-out is more fall-weight (black twill) – but given the unsteady days of spring, they could get more wear on this side of summer than anticipated. If this experiment goes well, I’ll be making my next pair in red linen.
I’m hoping that by sewing for warmer weather – it will continue to be so. That’s how it works – right?
Post #3109: Sewing up the [wardrobe] gaps
I’m at a juncture where I have worn out most of my trousers. Four pairs of jeans and four pairs of black leggings – all on the verge of being cut up for rags (the leggings) or additions to quilting projects (the jeans). Knowing this, I had big plans a few months ago to sew pants – but then I chickened out and didn’t end up sewing any pants – but many knit-dresses instead, because those are easy and I had lots of knit fabric kicking around.
Because I am loathe to wear ready-made clothing these days (such poor quality), and there aren’t a lot of options in the thrift stores here (so much synthetic textile!) – this means that I have got to get on some sewing to close the wardrobe gap as we head into warmer weather.
Me-Made-May is coming up – something that’s been around for a few years but I have never consciously participated in. I think this year, I will get on board and use it as a chance to reflect on what is in my closet and be conscious about choosing sewing projects to fill the gaps. I’m also moving towards a wardrobe that does not include much in the way of synthetic textiles (save the odd lycra mixed in with cotton here and there) – because I am aiming for clothing that can eventually end its days in the compost. While I recognize this is a drop in the bucket in terms of textile pollution – the more I learn about the garment industry, the more I want to alter my relationship to the items I wear.
So my pledge starting now and through Me-Made-May is that I will:
- sew to fill wardrobe gaps (even though it’s a bit boring)
- pants
- knit tops out of black jersey
- knit tank tops
- underwear
- sew from fabric in my stash
- continue to finish UFOs
- wear one me-made garment or accessory each day in May
I have a couple of basics – black meditation dress, and a basic black top – cut out and ready to go. I plan to sew those this week, and then go back to the pants plan with a pair of Emerson crop pants made out of cotton twill. Those will also be black. It’s a bit of a dour sewing month – but this is what filling wardrobe gaps looks like at the moment. Fortunately I made some colourful tops this winter – that will help me through the season of transition without looking too much like I’m in mourning.
Post #3108: A smidge of colour theory on a cloudy day
It is so grey outside; let’s think about colour!
I came across this vintage colour wheel in the gift shop at the National Gallery in Ottawa last month – and immediately went online to see if I could find a version to print out for my studio. This work by Hilaire Hiler (1898-1966) pairs emotional resonance with colours, and also breaks down colours by group rather than primary/complementary. There is a whole system of thought behind this of course – but really, I just find this combination very pleasing to me. Although I haven’t done much in the way of textile art – I like the idea of bringing colour to the fore when I do, and this system is another dimension to work from. Of course, since Hiler, there has been tons of work done on colour theory and the psyche, primarily in support of the marketing industry – but his explorations in colour were groundbreaking and remain legendary to this day.
Post #3107: Sewing off the stash
I’ve been doing a lot of finishing and stash sewing lately in an attempt to clear some of the sewing room clutter. Case in point, the over-sized pillow that I finished earlier this week. The teal/red poppy fabric was originally an unfinished (and unflattering) attempt at a skirt, which I then sliced up into quilt squares several months ago – and now finally, it’s done!
The subject of the “stash” comes up frequently in discussions of knitting or sewing. Comparing myself with what I see online – my stash of fabric and yarn would likely be considered neither large nor small – but somewhere in the middle. And still, I don’t like what it represents – which is a tendency to purchase more than I can reasonably consume.
Whenever I start to sew or knit down the stash, I am confronted by how much time it takes to work each piece of fabric into something usable, never mind find uses for all the scraps. Given all the yardage in my collection, I would have to sew every day for a year to get through it all. And there is no way I could knit/crochet all the yarn I have – since knitting is much more time consuming. On the other hand, I like the ability to “shop” my stash when I have a gift to make, or I’m bored of the clothes in my wardrobe. To have nothing on hand would mean continual trips to town, or (more likely) waiting for mail order.
I think the balance is in bringing less material into my house, and ensuring that what I do bring in has some longevity so that even if it takes me a couple of years to use, it won’t feel like it’s from some other moment of my life. I’m also eliminating the purchase of material with Lycra or elastic elements, as I find that breaks down just from sitting around too long, plus it isn’t ultimately biodegradable.
So yes, I’m emptying the bins one project at a time. Progress is slow, but at least it doesn’t cost me anything to sew off the stash.
Post #3106: Basic black
I came to the city for a week of work and shows and have instead caught the flu or something like it. I am cooped up in the condo, too tired and achey to do much more than watch Netflix and knit.
My current project is just this side of boring, a black rectangle knit in stockinette which will be seamed and turned into a poncho once the knitting is done.
The patttern is the Easy Folded Poncho by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas and I made a version of it in the fall which I am in love with (and wear often).
Now I’ve decided to make a version of this for use at meditation retreats which necessitates the black yarn. As uninteresting as it is to knit, I will be very grateful to my hands come November when I have a week long retreat and need something warm to throw on when walking between the meditation and dining halls.
Red Cedar 