Thinking about the divide between what I enjoy wearing, and what I enjoy making. – The Self-Made Wardrobe Week 36
The Self-Made Wardrobe is a project where I only wear garments I’ve made.
It’s a year long experiment in getting dressed without clothing labels –
it’s a year about noticing patterns, trying things, and observing what happens.
Day 246 – Friday, April 3rd
Archer button up shirt // black tank top // jeans
black scarf // black flats // various rings
Day 247 – Saturday, April 4th
deconstructed sweater // black sweater // black tank // cascading flowers skirt
black flats // various rings
Day 248 – Sunday, April 5th
hand knit sweater dress // black leggings
black scarf // various rings
Day 249 – Monday, April 6th
Versio sweater // black tank top // jeans
robot clock necklace // various rings // black flats
Day 250 – Tuesday, April 7th
boring black sweater // black tank top // jeans
bead crochet bracelets // long necklace // various rings // black flats
Day 251 – Wednesday, April 8th
purple sweater // black tank top // graphic silk circle skirt
long necklace // various rings // black tights // black flats
Day 252 – Thursday, April 9th
boring black sweater // black tank top // jeans
black scarf // robot necklace // bead crochet bracelets // rings // black flats
There’s a pretty huge divide between what I enjoy wearing, and what I enjoy making.
The clothes I like wearing, are basic, straightforward, wearable, subtle.
The projects I like making, are large, intricate, details, colorful.
These points are all true.
And yet, What is also true?
I love wearing my Versio sweater, which is in no way subtle.
I love making simple projects with exquisite details that no one will see.
I love wearing my purple sweater, which is not subtle either.
And my hand knit sweater dress – which I’d never have picked up if I hadn’t made it – but having made it, I like wearing it.
I loved making my graphic silk circle skirt, which isn’t loud or complicated, but is the only piece in my wardrobe people ask me if I’ve made.
I find hand sewing & stockinette in the round, both incredibly boring, and at the same time, meditative & immensely satisfying.
And what is also, also true?
If there is a venn diagram of what I enjoy making, and what I enjoy wearing:
– some projects live in one circle,
– some projects live in the other circle,
– some projects live in the center where the circles overlap,
– and some projects are sneaky, they live in one circle, but look like they belong in the other,
– and other projects look like they belong outside the venn diagram, while actually living in the center of it,
– and still other projects look like they would fit in perfectly, while actually living in the land of things I don’t like making or wearing.
And if that’s not enough confusion for a Friday morning, I don’t know what is.
sweater planning, skirt sewing, spinning, and bundles of shawls
Each Wednesday, I take stock of the projects I’m working on.
What I’m working on…
: planning a new sweater – I’m thinking a light, easy, breezy tunic. Simple to wear & simple to knit
: sewing a new skirt – just a waistband & miles of hemming to go.
: spinning – I started spinning the 2nd half of the yak/merino blend from a couple weeks ago.
: also! I took advantage of Ravelry’s designer bundle feature, so come browse through some bundles of brain bending shawl pattern & stunningly simple ones.
a case for waiting and watching – The Self-Made Wardrobe Week 35
The Self-Made Wardrobe is a project where I only wear garments I’ve made.
It’s a year long experiment in getting dressed without clothing labels –
it’s a year about noticing patterns, trying things, and observing what happens.
Day 239 – Friday, March 27th
black sweater // black tank top // graphic silk circle skirt
black tights // black shoes // pocket watch necklace // bead crochet bracelet
Day 240 – Saturday, March 28th
purple sweater // black tank top // jeans
black scarf // sneakers // various rings
Day 241 – Sunday, March 29
handknit sweater dress // black tank top
black leggings // black scarf // various rings
Day 242 – Monday, March 30th
black sweater // black tank top // jeans
black scarf // black flats // bead crochet bracelets // various rings
Day 243 – Tuesday, March 31st
purple sweater // black tank top // black maxi skirt
black tights // brown boots // black scarf
bead crochet bracelet // various rings
Day 244 – Wednesday, April 1st
Versio sweater // black tank top // jeans
black flats // robot necklace // various rings
Day 245 – Thursday, April 2nd
black sweater // black tank top // jeans
black flats // bead crochet bracelet // various rings
Sometimes, when I finish a garment and wear it for the first time, I suddenly see everything that isn’t quite right, all the things that could be better – and it’s tempting to rush in with a long list of complicated alterations.
Like with my jeans.
The minute they were done, I wanted to:
-Take in the waist.
-Take in this hips.
-Futz with the crotch curve.
-Redo the waistband, trying a different method.
– Try a new button.
-And add a 5th pocket (or a faux 5th pocket).
That was, two weeks ago.
And with two weeks of wear, now I want to:
– Take in the waist.
– Try a new button.
I’ll still need to redo the waistband to take in the waist, but I think taking in the waist will fix the issues I’m having with the waistband.
I originally wanted take in the jeans all the way through the hip, but they’re low rise enough that I think taking in the waist & making that alteration a long shallow taper will effectively do the same thing.
I have a hunch that taking in the waist (and therefore making the jeans sit where they’re supposed to sit) will eliminate or greatly diminish the futzing that needs to be done at the crotch curve.
And the 5th pocket can just wait for the 2nd version.
I probably wouldn’t have noticed much of this, without two weeks of wearing them as they are, and probably would have gone ahead with lots of fussy alterations.
It’s kind of like knitting with really messy balls of yarn – some tangles resolve themselves, some tangles you need to resolve – the tricky bit is figuring out which type of tangle you’re dealing with.
