I finished my linen blouse today. I am usually very critical about all results. It fits perfectly. I love the linen. It was a dream to handle and sew. I love the vintage lace trims and the buttons are little gems. So what is my complaint? The ruffle worked well, and the pattern had a fine way of working it in with the binding. However, I am not sure I would do the ruffle again. I am feeling a little ambivalent about this application. Why? Linen is one fabric that speaks its own language. Fine laces and antique buttons are a natural for embellishment, but with linen, its beauty and magical touch and weight speak volumes about being just there as it is. Natural beauty is easily recognized.
With that said, I think this would be a great summer blouse with a simple linen skirt or a pair of cropped pants and fun sandals and definitely a great necklace, but not pearls. Too demure. It needs to be offset with something more earthy.
About a week ago, I cut out this skirt. This is the front piece. I have had this for awhile. It is one that I purchased from Brigette Singh from a post I mentioned earlier. Maybe it matches the blouse too well. Maybe I need a little off-beat color. I will have to experiment a bit and see what prevails. I am trying to live out-of-the-box these days, so this will be experimental.
These are the buttons I chose. I think they are quite old. I pick up vintage and antique buttons on a regular basis, so when I open my box of buttons, I know something will sing with the color and the fabric. This was an easy decision.
This is the front with the ties hanging down. I love this pattern and will use it again. It is 10 years old, and this company is no longer in business. I believe it was originally a British company. I always loved their designs, and they had the most beautiful dresses I have ever come across. I have kept all their patterns because of the unique and feminine style.
Sometimes I will go to bed with a stack of patterns instead of my usual book. I cannot go to sleep until I read something that takes me to a better feeling in my mind and heart. Some days bedtime is easy. Other times, there is a need to find peace, a little comfort. Last night I took my patterns to bed. I have a routine for reading them. I will look at the date, the view of the one l like, the amount for yardage. Then I will take out the instruction sheet and study the pieces, the layout, and the changes I will make. When I am through putting the pieces back in the envelope, I am quite confident what fabric I will use and how I will alter the pattern. It is perfect for dreaming into the night as I turn the light off and hope for honest rest.
I have been thinking a lot lately about sewing, what it means to me now and really what it has meant to me since I was seventeen years old. It is not a small thing. It has been and is a huge part of my life, and as I get older, I am finding that, increasingly, it has become my serenity, my special and treasured part of each day. I am not romanticizing this. I absolutely love holding a piece of fabric in my hands and molding it into a garment, a quilt, or a curtain. It does not really matter what the end product, the act of sewing and creating has been a sustaining force my entire life. It is what I have turned to for joy, comfort, or release from sorrow. It gives me peace, a sense of security, and an immense joy in my constant craving for solitude, a quiet and yearning quest for the noise to stop, the noise in my head and the noise on the street. It rightfully has been a life-long love affair.
I showed this quilt so long ago, but it was my first and done in the early ’80′s. It was created in the middle of my sewing evolution as well as a transition from clothing to quilts. My next post will address the feminist issues that prompted this quilt and how I assimilated these revolutionary ideas into my life and how they have changed the women of the present generation, my daughters. Much has happened and transpired. There is a plethora of reading material on this subject. I will address my viewpoint from a more personal perspective and the importance of craft and hand-work.
the skirt= maybe do machine *embroidery* on the leaves and flowers, in brighter colors, just to give them more pow. [*straight stitch=back and forth*]
the buttons=ahhh.sommmmme.
the quilt= i love it!
patterns= i wish i could create with your passion.
fabric= i love the needle and thread and apply them to fabric. i think color is my passion.
Such careful observations you made. Yes, I think the embroidery would be a great touch. I love color too. I guess this is why I love Kaffe Fassett too and his colorful quilts, knits, and needlepoint.
The skirt is lovely as it is. Great fabric.
Selective embroidery would be great. Thanks Vicky!
Handstitch or silk ribbons would give more emphasis to certain parts of your body.
You could even applique flowers which have been embellished. Do you do pockets? Hem area perhaps?
If you want to add colour, consider tights or leggings and shoes.
I had not considered embroidery, but it would be a fun embellishment. I also love your idea about colored tights and shoes. Given my lack of time these days, that would seem a good solution too. Thank you for your always great ideas. I am beginning to think differently about how I dress these days.
Your blouse would go well as a lighweight jacket over a vest or t-shirt in the bottom half’s colors. Pink sil o for the floral skirt perhaps?
You’ve got me thinking!
I really like this idea of layering. I think that is a great idea to use it as a lightweight jacket over a vest or t-shirt. Floral skirt? Absolutely. I am drawn to anything floral, especially in the spring and summer.
I think the little ruffle is perfect. It does not detract from the natural beauty, it only adds a sweet bit of femininity. Is the blouse a pull-over? I cannot see that it actually opens at the front. Maybe the little tie is hiding the closure. I think your blouse and that skirt fabric were simply born to be together!
And I love what you said about sewing having become your serenity. The only sewing that I do is to sew patches on things, and I find that the minute I sit down with needle and thread and begin to stitch, the whole world seems to slow down all around me, and I go back in time to a quieter, simpler time. It’s as if I go back to “the time of the grandmothers.” xo Kari
It is hard to see from the photos that the blouse does open and is not a pull-over. It is funny how two fabrics from two different times of purchase can seem so well matched. I was quite surprised when I pulled the skirt fabric out and looked at it with the linen.
Yes, to sew by hand is definitely a meditative and relaxing practice. I think this is more true as one gets older. It is funny how we naturally want to slow down as we age. I guess we need to conserve energy as we move along into the day!
Oh, I forgot to say! I love your quilt from the 80′s and I am really looking forward to hearing more about the ideas and events that led you from there to here. I am fascinated with where we all begin in the process of becoming who we are. I love seeing the similarity in your color palette from then and the colors in your blouse and skirt fabric now! xo Kari
I guess in many ways this is related to the wonderful post that you did this week. I think it is a subject that seems to generate all kinds of thinking and memories for so many. Thank you for the prompt, Kari.
It’s so interesting to me to think about how differently we might all accessorize and change this outfit. Thinking a lot about how life style, location, and taste all impact wardrobe choices. I’d probably end up wearing a blouse like that with a denim skirt for the most part. Probably red shoes.
Love the fabric for the skirt. And…it is so evident that sewing is important to you, through the details and how carefully put together the things you make are.
I have to say I would definitely feel great with a denim skirt and red shoes with that blouse. I think denim and red shoes go well with just about everything, come to think of it. But it is true that where we live, how we live, how we feel (or see ourselves) all seem to have an influence on our wardrobe choices. A few years back, I used to go on morning walks with a friend who always wore a skirt. I loved that about her because I always wore some boring exercise pants.
That quilt is stunning. The design elements are riveting. I derive a similar feeling of peace when I hold a piece of fabric. I try to let the fabric tell me what it was to become. I am making much to esoteric, when it really is pretty basic.
The buttons are petty special. You make it seem so fun.
For someone who makes some of the most beautiful handbags I have ever seen, you definitely have an affinity to textiles and the language they speak. I don’t think any of this is basic. I truly think some people just know these things and are drawn to them because of that. I recall once trying to communicate with my mother why I loved a certain piece because of its hand, its tactile quality, and she had no idea what I was talking about. It definitely is another world for those who have an instinct for this.
Oh I just love that you take patterns to bed with you for your bedtime reading!
I enjoy reading instructions- patterns, recipes, etc- and imagine performing all the steps, improvising, etc.
Well we would probably make good roommates, but I am sure we would have patterns and books and clippings scattered everywhere. I think part of this enjoyment is derived from the thrill of imagining something completed. Obviously, you can envision like I can. Sometimes, the end result is not always the same as the dream, but without the dream or the vision, then it would be less exciting to get started in the first place. Funny, too, I used to think my husband would make fun of me for bringing stacks of patterns to bed, but he never even seems to notice. I guess he knows me pretty well by now.
Taking patterns to bed! Oh my i wouldn’t sleep allnight, i would be sewing in my dreams. Bedtime reading i understand very well but for me it has to be something soulsoothing.
You did a very fine work on your blouse. I too love linnen very much.
What do you think of white or brown pants?
XXXm
Funny that you mention the stimulation of pattern reading in bed. I am that way with magazines on blogging for some reason. But I do love to take a lovely book to bed. In fact I can never sleep until I have read awhile before turning out the light. They say that if you have problems sleeping that taking books to bed is not a good idea because it stimulates the mind too much. I have never been able to adhere to that advice whether I sleep well or not. Books are meant to be taken to bed (and sometimes patterns)!
I love the idea of white pants! Thank you.
your work is exquisite…. you should be famous.
Oh my dear jude…for someone who is an artist is every sense of the word, I hardly know how to accept this. But thank you for this generous comment.
I was interrupted yesterday. I was unable to say how impressive your blouse is and how I believe you will love wearing it. I also like the fabric that you showed for the skirt. Linen looks so fresh and prepared for whatever life presents. When I look at someone in linen, I always have the impression that this person knows all her lines as well as everyone else’s lines in life. I know that isn’t so but linen is such a commanding fabric. Wear it in health!
When one wears linen, lines and wrinkles are just part of the look, kind of my look now. It is such a memorable fabric to handle. I have to say, it is my favorite “hand” of all. I guess my second choice would be a Liberty of London cotton lawn. Once known, these two seem to have a way of finding a way into your heart.
I was going to say the skirt and blouse were beautiful, but I think “exquisite” is a more appropriate word as noted above. Now, for the “famous” comment, maybe it was you that our friend was referring to in the back of the bus in France. (Sorry for the inside joke). I can’t wait to see you in the outfit. You can carry it off so well whereas I always feel so crumpled in linen. Maybe someday I will learn the secret of standing tall and making the wrinkles look elegant.
Nancy
Oh, Nancy. You know that you were the “famous” one, always. But perhaps we like to run in the same company of branding. I do not think you would look the list bit crumpled. I think it simply is this, you like to look ironed and I don’t! I am so happy you came to visit and left a comment.
Your blouse is lovely and I love the little ruffled collar…it adds a touch of femininity.
I like all the ideas here in the comments…I agree with Deb G. it depends so much of the area you live in as to how you dress. I fell in love with the way the women from Northern California dressed when I went to the retreat in Los Gatos. I was able to buy several tops and a jacket there that one does not see in stores in my area of New Jersey.
I also love the way women dress in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico…I love denim and the whole Mexican and cowgirl look. Let me add that red shoes look good with any outfit
I also love sewing as long as it does not involve a sewing machine…I love the whole “Slow Cloth” experience. I will be taking Jude Hill’s next class…..I am so excited about that opportunity.
I have a lovely Bernina that helps me make curtains and pillows, spreads etc. I think the problem for me in making clothes for myself is that I do not follow directions well.
I hope Jude is not listening
I am very curious now about the way women in Northern California dress. How would you define this? I am trying to picture this, and primarily I think it is influenced by San Francisco, so I have a vision, but cannot be sure it is right or the way you saw it.
Yes the red shoes are essential to every woman’s wardrobe as long as one never thinks about what outfit they should wear them with….everything!
I like to sew on my machine lately. And this is fairly recent. I used to consider it a drudgery, and now I find it very peaceful and relaxing. I guess we can never guess how we will change in our feelings as we reach another age. I think that is kind of reassuring.
Your linen blouse is simply divine!
Linen is a summer favorite and the buttons…
well, they have turquoise beads…my absolute favorite!
I feel the same way about stitching. It has brought so much comfort to me in very difficult times. When there was no one
or nothing that comforted me; I found stitching to be my quiet, peaceful solace. Some of my better pieces have emerged at those times. And even in happier moments my stitching brings
me such joy.
Beautiful thoughts on what stitching means to you. Thank you for sharing this and being willing to bring such personal feeling and experience to this. I think many of us identify with this rich and deep knowledge, and yet what seems to be such a simple domestic expression.
Your linen blouse is classic, beautiful. Can’t wait to see you in it! I think the ruffles are perfect. But I can see what you mean about linen not needing any embellishment, it has so much character on its own. So maybe you can make a simpler version of the same pattern, so you can wear both, depending on your mood. I love what you expressed so eloquently about love of sewing. I feel that way too, but couldn’t say it so well as you! One time I had a boyfriend who worked on a dredger. He traveled from town to town along the Columbia River, following the dredge. I would come and visit him from time to time and stay in a funky little motel room for a week with him while he worked on the river everyday. I brought my sewing machine, my fabric and patterns, and made clothes in the motel room while he was at work. I was lonely in these little towns, but my sewing machine was all the company I needed. It is one of my favorite sewing memories. And I too still read sewing patterns in bed at night sometimes! I didn’t think anybody else did that! Phyllis, you are really getting to the heart of the matter in these recent blogs..you are going to your deep core of truth and your voice, your thoughts, your images, are becoming stronger and very powerful in a easy, gentle way. You are finding your song, darlin’!
I hardly know how to respond to your comment. I guess I do not take compliments easily, but I am very, very touched by your descriptions. My first thought is that if only I could truly live up to this. Thank you, Julia.
I have a similar sewing machine/motel story. When I was having marital problems, I decided to get away one weekend to Santa Barbara (I was living in Southern California at the time). I took my sewing machine with me to keep me company. Now, granted, I was not staying in a dull town, but my soul and spirit needed the solace and comfort of my sewing machine. I made a dress and came home wearing it! The marriage was not save, but my sanity was! I love your story even better, however, because the combination of the Columbia River and the dredge seems to scream for sewing therapy.