I find that I do some of my best thinking when I’m doing something else. In this case, running is absolutely a time when my mind starts to wander toward problem solving. The problems to be solved seem endless – How do I get colleagues/customers to do what I need them to do? Where should I start cleaning the house (hint: the upstairs bathroom)? how much more is that guest house going to cost? You get the drift. Fortunately, today I let my mind start trying to solve the “What to do in 2013” problem that we’ve been discussing. I managed to get a good hour of contemplation in while jumping over fallen trees, avoiding mud puddles and spying a bobcat. I didn’t even trip/fall. Win!
So, Lynn – you talked about scarves. I thought a lot about scarves, but I also know that I rarely wear them. I like the idea of them. I like making them. But, I don’t wear them, so they’re not really a finished product for me. I could talk myself into them being samples, but that’s still not going to be satisfying. I also thought about bags – but I have *one* bag that I love and use all the time. Those lovely friends that have multiple purses and change the purse with the outfit? Unfathomable. And not going to happen. They’d be pieces that would sit around and not get used. Though, I could see them as repurposed scarves! :-)
I finally landed on vests. I *like* vests. I have two three handknit vests – one handspun – and I wear them often. And the fabric commitment is small enough that I could easily make sufficient fabric for a vest within a short period of time. Also, vests are supposed to be “eclectic”, right? Like a jacket but not something you put on/take off all day. Plus? Buttons. What more can I say?
Next weekend is another Palm Springs weekend – but this time just Jeane and me. It’s too close to the holidays for Suzanne (she’ll be there *this* weekend to get “caught up”) and Barbara’s out of vacation days so it’s just the two of us. Slopers, muslins and maybe starting a joint article for Handwoven. I’m going to bring up this idea when I’m down there and see what she thinks. If I decide to go that route, then we can start making a pattern for a vest. I like the idea of having a “Control” – which would be the pattern – and using that to decide how I like fabrics, colors, etc. And it’d also tell me where I need to be in terms of cloth width, yardage, etc. There’s also opportunity for embellishment with embroidery, inkle- or tablet-woven bands, the whole nine yards. Lots of cloth structures would be fun – Monk’s Belt, Overshot, Twill. Lots of fabrics – wool, silk, linen, cotton. I don’t think that one a month is reasonable (and that’d be a LOT of vests!) but one a quarter, I think, would be doable. And that would mean a drawing, then a sample, then a finished garment.
Separately, there are specific home-front projects that I want to do and that includes a rug for the studio, curtains for same, and some blankets. The Big Bag of Columbia/Mohair worsted 2-ply may become blanket and rug yarn, we’ll see.
So – what do you all think about vests? Also, the fabric and sewing learning from the cloth should help be step left-ward to a jacket, right-ward to a shirt/tunic. Or even to a coat/skirt/etc.
Yup, it already feels good. Maybe I can get one done before the holidays …
I hear you on trying to settle on a useful end product and I think vests are just the ticket for you. There are lots and lots of fabrics that would work as vests. For me, I’m realizing that I may want to back off of usable end products, at least in part, and just sample some of the weave structures (or yarns, or colors) that I’m fascinated by. I’ll try to get up a post on the Virginia West samples I bought yesterday; they are pulling my mind in wild new directions – which is exactly where I want to go – so I think one of my larger goals for 2013 may be to assemble a book of samples that interest me.
Back to you: Yep, vests, at least to start. That makes a lot of sense given where I sense you want to go. And that reminds me: where do you want to go with this? Write some more on that. You’ve said you want to weave and sew garments – why? Because they are usable? Because you can’t find commercial clothing you like? Because you like exploring fabric that’s suitable for clothes? What’s your motivation here?
Yeah, lady, just what are you trying to do, anyway? :-)
Usable, for me, is better than not useable. I’ve always been overly practical and wanting to be able to do something with a product is just part of what is satisfying about craft. That said, I don’t generally like what I find when I shop for clothes. I find them uninteresting and poorly made. And, if I start looking at more higher-end garments (fabrics, finishing details), then they simply don’t fit.
Given that they’re banning nudity out here (have you been following that story?) it seems pretty important that I have clothes. So, off we go. And I like the fiddly details of pressing seams, easing in sleeves, even top stitching. Now that I’ve had a taste of it, I want to do more. And being able to do something, start to finish, is just wonderfully satisfying. As you well know.
Heck, if I get really good at this, maybe I start selling vests. Could be fun!
Perfect! Focus!
As you know, kimonos did that for me, but they are not for everyone. Scarves could, or shawls, or blankets, but vests are a great garment, unisex and very wearable, could even be a market-able garment in your booth, and are a good outer-garment over purchased clothing like cotton shirts and jeans. Not as much fitting, many style choices (have you seen Diane Erickson’s patterns?), long vests for elegant, short vests for daytime, perfect to wear to weaver-gatherings, great for sample fabrics, great for all kinds of weave structures and colorways, suitable in any weather…shall I go on?
:D!
It sounds like you approve! And yes, so many options. V-necks, boat-necks, Nehru collars, even shirt-like collars! And they can be pieced, not pieced, whatever.
I also really like the fact that I don’t *have* to mess with sleeves if I don’t want to. Yes, as a “canvas”, I feel like I’ve hit upon something. Lots of room for exploration but a unifying and flexible baseline to tie the whole thing together.
Does this mean I may become that Crazy Vest Lady ™? And, there’s dying of silk and cotton and whatnot for lining. Remind me where I should go to buy a bolt of something white? You know. For Science.
I look like crap in vests. It’s that short and round thang I have going. (Yeah, yeah, I hear you – long vests, long vests)
maybe you need to invite yourself along one of these weekends when I’m with Jeane. We’ll whip up something for you that looks *good*. Ridiculous orange floral print muslins notwithstanding, you see.
And I totally get that vests are not for everyone. Vests are for ME! Pick what’s right for you. I want more jackets, but I think that’s too much to ask for the first time around. For now, vests. Happy vests.
You look great in vests – moar vests for Diane! And if your weekend with Jeane weren’t way the hell on the other side of a big country, yeah, I’d be there. Which reminds me: Is there a sew/dye week/weekend in the works? I have a 2013 calendar now; I can start filling in the blanks.