The Shopping Trip

Yesterday, thanks to the Christmas generosity of my in-laws, I made a trip to Jo-Ann's to get ready for my first project of the new year. I purchased several patterns for $1 each, some new needles, thread, seam tape, a new blade for my rotary cutter, marking transfer paper, a HUGE mat for rotary cutting and 1.5 yards each of red and white rayon fabric. The sales plus a 15% off coupon meant that I got it all for less than $75. The mat was the bulk of the cost, but I'm hoping that it will get good use this next year.

I then walked next door and checked out Thread's Easy Guide to Sewing Tops and T-Shirts, Skirts and Pants to learn more about sewing knits. I've decided for the first project to make a few variations on a basic knit top. I've never sewn knits successfully before. I figure if they turn out a bit wonky I can just wear them under sweaters for the winter, right? 

I'm pre-washing the fabric right now and can't wait until tomorrow to start cutting and marking. Why the wait? Well, I want to participate in a contest called "One Pattern, Many Looks" on the Pattern Review website. I figure the camaraderie with other contestants will help me stick to it this month. I have no hope of actually winning the contest. I'll consider myself a winner if I actually get a decent looking entry submitted before the deadline at the end of the month.

I must admit my glee at all my new fabrics and tools makes me wonder if this project will really help curb my consumerist appetites or just whet them. Time will tell.

Thinking About 2013

Have you started thinking about your New Year's resolutions? I have. A lot. Between much-needed weight loss and our recent move to a colder climate, I had to do some significant wardrobe shopping this past fall. I took it as the perfect opportunity to reevaluate my style. After five years of fulltime Mom-on-the-go status, I'm sorry to say that my clothes were just a bit tired, ill fitting and flat out worn out. So I started looking at blogs for inspiration for honing my style for the next phase in life.

Well, I fell down a rabbit hole, so to speak. I happened upon a fabulous  blog called The Vivienne Files which advocates having a smaller but more functional wardrobe based on a core of neutral colors and silhouettes with a splash of accent colors. The simplicity of such a wardrobe really appealed to me as did the polished aspirations of the final look. I also appreciated that, unlike several other fashion blogs I perused, it didn't focus on trends but on developing your own personal style.

Through that site and others, I found recommendations for two books: Overdressed: the High Cost of Cheap Fashion and Deluxe. Each book deserves at least a post of their own...which I intend to do later. But my take away from each was that:

1. The quality of ready-to-wear, even those on the higher end of the price scale, has declined significantly. Most clothes are throw-away quality these days.
2. The appetite for newer, trendier, cheaper clothes has led to significant degradation of the condition of those who make our clothes--people.
3. Knock offs are worse than "disposable clothes." They fund all sorts of atrocities and terrorism and are merely signifiers to an era of luxury that no longer exists.

So after much thought and consideration, I've decided to take on a new challenge for 2013: I am going to stop buying clothing altogether AND make my own clothing as needed. I may make a few exceptions for things that would truly be difficult for me to make: socks, shoes and tights come to mind. But I'm committed to even complex items like lingerie, swimwear, and outerwear. 

What do I hope to gain from this project? Several things. Better sewing skills for sure. I need to master the full bust adjustment (FBA) and would love to learn to draft my own patterns. But also solidarity with those craftspeople who manufacture my clothing: perhaps with a renewed acceptance to pay more for fair trade and quality projects. I want to jump off the ever rapidly spinning trend cycle that seems to produce more dissatisfaction and waste. I'd like to have pride in my own work, and the freedom to make clothes that truly fit my body. I'd like to delight in fashion without becoming a slave to it. Is that even possible I wonder? Most of all, I'm interested to see what unexpected things come out of such a project. 

Will I make it? I don't know. Will it be fun to try? Absolutely! Will it be fun to read about? You tell me!