Please excuse me, but this is the most uninspiring photo that I have posted in some time. It is akin to watching the grass grow. I wanted to show you the layout of this skirt, how it is cut crosswise. It seemed the perfect pattern to accentuate the throw and its jacquard pattern. Actually, it fit the vintage textile in such a way that it seemed as if the throw and the pattern were meant for each. It is cut as one piece.
This is what I have left. It does seem a little poignant when I look at this, as if I have ruined an artifact, but I would like to think that I honored it by giving it new life. At least I felt a little justified when I began the first excruciating cut.
My only female cat often appears out of nowhere when she knows I am cutting a garment in the dining room….”Oh! She is there! I must attend to the cutting. I love to lay on the tissue and crumple it up”, or so I imagine she is saying as she leaps into place on the table.
Lauren, as she was called when I rescued her from the animal shelter, days from her demise, is quite remarkable. I can usually convince her of the importance of staying off the fabric until I finish cutting. Since she is a woman, I am sure this is why she is so sensitive to my efforts.
This is the skirt pattern. Nothing ever goes to waste when it comes to my collection of patterns. Many are older or vintage, and I use them as they are or alter them to suit my vision.
This is the skirt, all in one piece.
These are the pieces used, only #10 and #10A. The lining is cut identically as the skirt so there are no facings. I looked through a lot of patterns, and this one seemed the perfect one to use to accentuate the vintage textile and preserve its integrity. So the next step is the sewing, and that is my favorite part of the process. The cutting is always a challenge because of the cats, and I refuse to sequester them in another room. Cats and sewing simply fit like needle and thread or bread and butter. Besides, they are the best company one could hope to have, and invariably they will bless you with their purring, a sound that is so peaceful and comforting.
You haven’t ruined an artifact. You have given it new life. Languishing in a drawer isn’t always the best choice for things. Maybe preservation family or historical things which will be given to the next generation. Otherwise re-use or up-cycling seems to me to be the best solution. Even if you are not deseperate for a skirt, it still gives you a change. And a very fashionable one at that!
I suggest you have enough left over for a range of choices:
scarf, bag, embellishment or pocket on recycled on toning jacket, hat trim, corsage. I’m sure your other readers can think of more.
I like your philosophy. I think many things go to waste since they are not stored properly and then many family possessions get tossed away when a family is clearing out the estate. This is too bad. I hate to think all that has been lost over the years.
You had great ideas for the leftover pieces. The wool is so beautiful that I doubt a single piece will go to waste. It will be fun to entertain various projects.
Your cats are your lovely “guardian angels” making sure
all goes smoothly…even if they have to step all over everything : ) ….to make it smooth. The pattern is perfect
for the fabric and I was looking at what you have left of it.
Now you have lovely scraps for some other project and the memory of the shawl is “expanded”. Does that make sense?
Glad to see you back…missed you!
Great insight on all counts, the cats, and the memories. Many ideas to expand on here.
One of these days I will do a post on this female cat and how special and intuitive she is. Until then, I will compose it in my head.
Goodness me! As a ‘wanna-be’ sewer (I can make stuff but the technique is awful – it looks OK on the outside, but is really botched together ), all I can say is THANK YOU Phyllis! How wonderful to share the process with you step by step, and of course the gorgeous cats, and what a revelationl to see how un-complicated it is, a beautifully cut skirt from just 2 pattern pieces. I always remember my school sewing classes with dread, multiple pieces of tissue paper that made no sense, and a teacher with very little patience for my clumsy fingers… I look forward to seeing the finished skirt, and thank you again Phyllis, I may just get my courage up and have a go at up-cycling something similar for myself!
My eight grade sewing teacher was very bossy and mean, and I did not like her at all. It wasn’t until I was leaving for college that I really started to sew on my own. I think that freedom helped me. You must try and get back to this. You have such a great eye for style and you have so many incredible textiles to work with. I will be eagerly anticipating it!
i love the way you have shared the process here…. especially the first photo. and the one eared beauty.
The one eared beauty is full of dainty sweetness. I think she was owned by an older person who past away and she ended up in the animal shelter. I walked in to adopt a cat and asked which ones would be the least likely to be adopted. They took me over to her and to another cage with an all black kitten. I could kick myself today that I left the dear black kitten behind as I am sure they put her down. I should have taken both! I can’t bear to think of it!
Last night Hazel the cat was making flying leaps at what I was cutting out (I was down on the floor). They do add a certain excitement to creating.
Your top photo isn’t uninspiring in my opinion, it’s part of the story.
I know that if I did not have my cats around, cutting and sewing would simply not have the adventure that they give it. Thanks for the photo vote. I guess it is the process, not the color I was showing here.
I love the scraps! Letting them roost for awhile will let them talk to you about what else to become.
I had a cat like yours, Kitta Ma we called her, who had adopted my brother in the long ago.
Our cat got the chance to scatter paper last weekend when CollegeGirl had her ‘flashcards’ spread out on the floor. CG wasn’t too happy about it, but the cat was very pleased with herself!
I think your word is great! I will adopt it from here on when I want to let things gel (roost). We all need a little more roosting in our lives. No more snap decisions. They simply do not work as well. Cats have a higher intelligence and I like to honor their insight even though sometimes it seems a little scattered.
Can’t wait to she the finished product.
It will probably be another week. This skirt will have to be one of many layers in terms of sweater, scarf, top, leggings, great shoes. Any ideas or input will be taken seriously!
Your story is very interesting and I am a decided green…sewing has never been my strong suit.
The skirt on the pattern is a timeless style.
Lauren looks adorable…perhaps she is channeling Ralph.
Channeling Ralph…as in Lauren!! That is great! Well of course she is. I think he taught her grace and poise and indifference as well. I know she is telling me something. I need to do a post on her. She is a very remarkable and special cat!
I don’t mind at all.
I’m sitting here smiling because the womancat in my house loves stitching. She allways keeps me company when that thread is going up and down. She’s faster then me but i am more patient, so in the end i win.
XXXm
What a lovely story! I think there should be a dedication to our womancats on our blogs. Without their support, we would be faltering in our goals or at least less inspired. Perhaps they were seamstresses in another lifetime and they came back as soul mates and teachers.
I love getting to see this whole process, from the pattern to the forthcoming end result. I especially love your assistant! My boy cat Boo often sits in my boxroom with me, pretending he isn’t watching my every move. He is a rowdy little thing who, even at the age of thirteen, really prefers to chase toy mice with my husband. I love him very much, but I do miss his sweet sister, for she seemed to be all mine, she saw into my heart and soul. He is a boy and she was all girl. He is the first boy cat we have had, all the others have been womancats, and I do think there is a difference. When I was little I thought that dogs were boys and cats were girls! xo
I love the photos with the cat. I think the skirt will be wonderfully wonderful. And I think you have the most inspiring uninspiring pattern photo I have ever seen. I know the beauty that pattern will provide!