Begin fashion design and dressmaking

marking this as ‘done’ but technically my goal was to BEGIN and I have….....so far my best piece has been a Santa suit for my brothers toy pig… just needs a few buttons and a bell for the end of his hat!!

I won’t have time to continue with classes next year when I am back studying, but I have learned enough to know I would like to come back to it in the future. And in the meantime, I can always dabble, take up the odd curtain, make the odd lavender bag…....

not recording my recent efforts on this goal!

Potted history: joined a dressmaking class, carpark under construction, frequent lugging of sewing machine through smokers outside local pub, many offers, few of them related to sewing, previously, frantic search for sewing machine, last heard of 10 years hence under the stairs, found machine minus pedal, cue desperate search for same encompassing my mothers house and the Singer sewing machine repair shop, VERY unhelpful man in same, lovely people in class, very, very patient teacher, problem with tension on machine, completed first masterpiece – cushion cover with fancy oxford edges, mother’s cat very pleased with same, currently cutting out ‘garment’ – long jacket with collar, and discovering what is meant by the term fuseable interface!!!

Okay. That’s this goal up to date!!!

I cut out and sewed by hand a full length gown (leine) and an overgown (ionar). They were both really simple in design, but I am rather patting myself on the back – I wore them both for three days, even put one of them in the washing machine yesterday, and they didn’t fall apart.

Sewing is a really satisfying thing to do. I could become addicted!

at various courses but none of them are quite what I want. Most of them offer to teach me how to sew a skirt complete with lining on a sewing machine. I am sure the knowledge gained would be useful, but somehow an a-line lined skirt in my measurements don’t fit in with my other goal of beauty and aesthetics.

I have a few good books on the subject, and a couple of gifted friends. Maybe I should learn by doing, rather than wait to be taught.