Finally finished! My Version of Dedri Uys “Sophies Universe”.
Now I have to wash it gently and strain ….
You can find the free pattern on Dedris Website “lookatwhatimade.net.
Dresser-Gown
I made this gown from a piece of simple vintage linen and two embroidered items. One of them was a bit weird. It had one big circular cut-out on every small side. Maybe it was used as a runner for a dresser with pilars….I´m not quiet sure.
I didn´t change much. I just put on some color and used the embroidered items as they came.
Don´t dump- Donate!
Sometimes you get sewing items, you don´t want or need for yourself. Maybe it´s the wrong color or material or you don´t like the pattern…..Of course you could dump and forget it. Or just throw it in one of those recycling banks.
But in the majorty of cases, the things are to good to be dumped and if you choose the recycling bank, some of the fabrics end in rags or will be shipped to Africa.
It´s much better to donate.
I donate my things to a group of young girls, working on creative projects at school. It´s fun to see, what they are doing:
www.sew.it-your-self.blogspot.de – only German language
Their teacher is a talented scholar and zealous sewer. Her projects can be found on www.coudre-liaison.blogspot.de (also only German language)
So look around…Is there a group of creative people in your environment? Or a social department? A neigbour with low income but some children, who could use the things for handicraft work? Or someone in the DYS field?
The better way of shopping
A big second hand store …..NO, Shopping in a place like that is NOT glamorous. And I can promise, you won´t get that “luxury feeling” you find in one of those bright-and-shiny malls.
But I think, the question ist: What is more important? Glamour or sustainability?
Tunisian Crochet Jacket
Another jacket, made of silk and new wool in tunisian crochet.
Tale of the rag-princess
Once upon a time, there was a raggy-shabby-sewing princess, accursed by the evil queen of dress-codes, so she had to work in a dull office every day, wearing minimalistic sentence-suits. But one day she had enough and made herself a romantic rag-dress from a chinese tablecloth and some satin duvet cover, to show off her true nature. Then she walked around the office building with her head high. Unfortunally, her pinstriped co-workers all nearly collapsed, when they saw the magic dress she wore and as soon as they recovered, ran and complained to the boss.
Now the Boss (Prince Charming himself!) went to view the monster, got a nasty shock and ordered our poor rag-princess into his office immediately. He gave her exact order to put off this ridiculous eyeshocker and asked her, if she was totally out of her mind. In this situation, there was only one way to save herself from beeing sacked and further tortured with senseless questions: She had to put off the dress and marry him. (Which broke the curse!) But from now on he lived in wild and weird sewing-wonder-hell and really deserved it. And of course he never got an answer to his question.
The dress ended up in a dustbin, where I found it and shifted it for me, because a little bit of magic had remained.
There is more than one rag-princess on this planet. So boss beware!
Alternative Solutions on Feathers
Usually I avoid the use of feathers for my millinery. I don´t like the thought of birds beeing killed for my personal vanity. Let alone the captive breeding of birds under poor conditions. But sometimes the feathers come as a gift or are part of a lot with some other items for millinery. In that case I use them, but not with quiet conscience. Years ago, I got an antique feather embellishment from an old Lady. Actually it was a bellow with the skin of the bird still on it. I don´t think, I will ever use the thing. It is one of the examples for the killing of millions of exotic birds around 1900- Just for Millinery!
But there are alternativ solutions! Make your own feathers out of yarn, paper, woolfelt or collect feathers, the birds have lost during molt. Some hobby-breeders in the web sell those molt-feathers from their own birds.
For this hat I used a molt- feather from a whooping crane.
So if you decide to collect molt-feathers in your environment, fine…do it! But don´t forget to damp your loot under a cloth with a hot iron for sanitation!
Rag-Skirt
Some long, small rags and pieces from old clothing in different colours and textures can make an asymmetrical overskirt with an included bag on one side. I didn´t use a pattern, I took the scraps as they came and just made some small shape-corrections.
Some things need time
I ran out of yarn in the middle of this sweater. It was impossible to get some new skeins, all out of stock. So I had to wait two years, until I got something matching in a sale. I use only natural fibers, no sythetics, which made the task not easier. But now it´s one of my favourite sweaters.
Tablerunner-Camisole
A vintage table runner I turned into a camisole for summer or special occasions. First I dyed everything, cut it up on the sides to get short sleeves and on the back to get more space there. Then I added some old lace on as a collar and ribbon for a closure.