Creative Musings

Having worked meticulously within the confines of a commercial pattern, I finally finished a jacket made from a kantha quilt I obtained from an Afghani merchant friend. I had great hopes for this jacket. It seemed a good choice of fabric and the pattern was exactly what I was looking for. However, upon finishing and trying it on, I realized that this really wasn't the pattern for me, at least not in this fabric. The pattern will work, but will require modifications. So, the jacket is quite charming and well made, but I will never wear it. This is a common theme for me. There seems to be a disconnect between what I like and what looks well on me. I use up more fabric that way. I will put this jacket up for sale and move on.

The next project I made from some linen I dyed this summer. The Asian style tunic came out splendid. I made some modifications to the pattern and it is well suited to my style.

I moved on to a vest I made from hand woven indigo dyed cotton I bought on my first trip to Laos. I got it from a Lienten village outside of Luang Namtha and chose to make a traditional Chinese style vest. I have made this pattern before and I didn't like it then and didn't like it this time so I took the seams out and began modifying the design. It took a lot of patching and cutting and shaping but I finally ended up with something that is very cute and works.

Then I tackled a 16th century pattern I made of a jacket worn by everyday people in the Netherlands and England...a sort of a "Cut Your Cote" style using the maximum amount of loomed fabric, very simple. I made some adaptations again and the result is a jacket is a jacket that I will definitely wear. I used another length of linen I dyed a couple of years ago and ended up having to piece the sleeves because I ran out of fabric. It looks like every seam was intentional. I faced the sleeves and front openings with some vintage cotton feedsack print I bought from Etsy and I just love it. I am contemplating an embroidered border of some sort. It would look just dandy!

My conclusion is that I am better at adapting and rescuing things than following strict pattern guidelines. I do well under pressure, whether in my writing or my cooking or my sewing. I just wish that instead of spending a lot of time making something and then having to take it apart and re-construct it, I could cut that part out and go right to the garment proper. Could it be that this is my "process"? If so, it is a tedious way to create, but the only one that seems to work for me.

Photos will be posted of these four garments.