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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Do You Appreciate the Garments You've Made?

I wore this little topper a lot this summer.  While we did get a heatwave in late July/early August, the warm weather took it's time arriving.  It also seemed to disappear all too quickly...making light layers needed earlier and longer.  However, as many times as I've grabbed this topper this summer, I've yet to make another one.


I was wearing it the other day and looked down at my sleeve hems. There was three rows of stitching to hold the hem down. Honestly, I was impressed that I took the time to make sure the hem was stable and it laid correctly.

I have to say this little topper is full of amazing construction details. I'm proud that it's worn often and has held up to the wearings. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever worn an older garment you've made and noticed a technique or pattern match that you did and had forgotten about?  Did the attention to detail inspire you or make you proud?

This is the Question of the Day so talk back to me!

...as always more later!


17 comments:

  1. What does it mean if this happens to me often? Hahaha!

    I do applaud my own work...because I know the effort and time that went into it.

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  2. Since semi retirement, I have had more time to sew for myself, but I still find older items that have survived the great sewing drought. My polar fleece jacket that I made with zippered pockets. They weren't on the pattern, but I felt that is was needed. I found the old pattern last month, and it still has the pattern piece that I made myself. Many of my suits and more formal work clothing was donated when I left the financial world, but I know I put a great deal of detail and care into them, so they would last.
    Love your topper, you should definitely make another.
    Barb

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  3. Like Nakisha, I feel like I do this a lot. I love being able to wear a mostly handmade wardrobe!

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  4. I really appreciate my handmade wardrobe when I mend purchased clothing for others. What a pretty topper!

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  5. I was just admiring my print-matching work on a knit top the other day. And I just spent the weekend swapping out my summer clothes for my fall and winter clothes. I rediscovered a lot of my old makes - some made me note things I need to try harder at next time. But others were like "Yeah!! I love this piece and now it's finally cool enough to start wearing again!"

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  6. I received a sweater pattern last fall in a Sewciety box, made it, and liked it so well that I made another for myself in a lighter sweater knit, which I wore throughout the spring and summer. It looks so complex, but was surprisingly easy! And, of course, I took a few extra steps which weren't in the instructions because I thought they would be "right". And, for me, they were. Your topper is really pretty! And you just caused me to figure out what to do with a piece from one of my bundles, so...Thank you, Carolyn, for the inspiration!

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  7. I self-drafted and sewed my wedding dress, umpty-ump years ago. Every time I drag it out of the closet to lend as an amateur theatrical costume or for some child's Halloween, I am glad I took the time to do "proper" techniques.

    For a garment that only had to hold up for one wearing of a few hours, it's lasted: 37 years and counting.

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    Replies
    1. I did the same for my wedding dress, and it's in a frame on the wall in the living room. Since I see it about gazumpty billion times a day, I'm glad I gave the design and construction some serious thinking so I don't have to wince when I walk by.
      You just never know which piece is the one that will need to last.

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    2. What a lovely story! A wedding dress is a better reminder of the day than a bunch of dead, dried flowers in a vase.

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  8. I'm definitely proud of my clothes that I sew but I don't really pay much attention to them afterwards. I know they hold up well since on average I wear them for a decade at least . I have a favourite skirt and blouse that are 18 years old and I still love them although the cotton lawn shirt is getting quite thin now.

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  9. I probably take it for granted more than I should. My favourites tend to be my hiking gear that I've drafted to knock-off Patagonia or Kuhl designs. Our local hiking shop started stocking Kuhl last year and I got to have a close look at the construction. I was appalled by the stitch quality. It is moments like this that I appreciate my sewing.

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  10. I sometimes am proud of my makes - I think the ones for others more than for myself. Jay's shirts and the print matching across the button placket and the pocket for example. I'm so happy I learned that. g

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  11. Your topper is beautiful, I would wear it all the time too!

    What a great question. The technique I appreciate the most that I see rarely in RTW is lace seam binding to finish off hems. It looks so lovely, a nice feminine detail, and it is on the inside, so only noticeable to me. It gives me a little thrill every time I wear a garment I have finished that way.

    I am also impressed with jeans I have made, though currently I don't have any (worn out) so I have to get to work on making some basic bottoms. Fortunately I have been collecting several bottom weights for this purpose.

    Every now and then I tally the ratio of me made to total clothing pieces hanging in my closets. I have only a few pieces of RTW left, and they will only be replaced with items I make. So I am proud of that proportion and the sheer volume. I don't wear some of the pieces enough, though. They take more care (ironing, specifically), or are a bit unique.

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  12. You always bring up the most interesting questions, Carolyn. I think we sewists are often too critical of our garments regarding them as imperfect and dwell on that rather than the amazing fit and finishes. We do need to pat ourselves on the back and give credit to our skill. Handmade garments need to be celebrated. Karen

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  13. More so now as I've moved to quality vs. quantity.

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  14. Sort of. I usually notice things I wish I'd done differently, like using the cover stitch on the hems of a few tops I made, but didn't because either I was scared of it (had just gotten the machine) or it was fighting me. Or I wish I'd have used a better lining (and have added inside pockets) in the coat I made years ago that still looks good outside, not so much inside. But on those tops I've made in the last few years, I do appreciate the so much better than RTW fit. SO happy I have a dress form. Or since I don't do dresses, fitting form would be more accurate term.

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  15. I had a very similar cardigan several years ago and loved it.. it was a tannish/linen and a soft pink fabric and it went with a lot of my clothes. I made several of them, but they weren't the same fabric as this special one. I looked high and low for more fabric like that, but never found it. I literally worn the special one out, so I think that part of appreciating a garment is loving the fabric. Gosh, I wish I still had that cardigan!

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