What I Want to Make

What I Want to Make

I have previously underestimated how many factors affect what I want to and can indeed make. The first being physical space. Sewing is a space eating hobby. It gobbles up storage, table space and floor space. Sewing is physical. It's even more taxing to do without the proper set up - i.e. laying everything out and cutting on the ground is hard on the body. I know I have some hip dysplasia that means I will pay for it for days after I cut something out on the floor. 

Making used to feel constrained by access to material, knowledge and my own skill limitations. In the age of renewed interest in craft, its easier than ever to access interesting and high quality materials and information, which has been a really fun part of more people getting into fibre art hobbies. I am so much better at executing now that I was a decade ago! I have an awareness of my body, how to fit my own clothing, and the techniques I prefer that mean I am regularly able to get a finish I am satisfied with. I also have changed my relationship with what it means for something to look "home-made"- from worst case scenario, to a cherished imperfection. 

So now that I have access to materials, information and skills I need to make clothes - what do I want to make?

Fabric

This pre-quilted linen Nani Iro fabric is everything.

In my last post, I talked about the kinds of fabrics I want to wear, and this really drives the kinds of fabrics I want to work with... To some extent. I wear a lot knits, and specifically rib knits on top. I largely do not mess with knits when I am sewing. It's not that I can't, or I don't know how, I just do not enjoy the process. The stretch adds more variables than I can enjoyably contend with. I did make a very nice Wren Sweatshirt in 2024 (see terrible photo below), but I didn't really enjoy the **process**.

 

Similarly, I really am not into super fussy fabrics like satin or organza. I have cut them between paper. I have basted their seams. I have babied them with steam. It's just not my thing. 

What I do love - linens, wools, cottons, and noils. I love working with a stiff woven, or one that oozes drape, but it has to be able to hold its own. I have been getting into working with hemp, which has more strength than cotton and linen. I am especially interested in its applications for pants, particularly pants I wear on bikes. 

Yarn 

In the world of knitting, I am really loving non-superwash plush yarns. Though ironically the photo is of some cotton yarn for a summer weight project, I am really focused on yarns that are majority natural fibres, unless I am knitting socks. For socks, 1-2% nylon I find really stretches their longevity, and I find it an acceptable compromise to not stay exclusively with fibres that will biodegrade. 

Design

Okay - I love patterns that are elegant takes on normal things. Just a really thoughtfully designed pair on elastic waist pants is magical to me, especially when paired with a fabric with a fantastic texture. In my next post I am going to include what I am thinking of as my "focus" sewing patterns this year. 

For knitting, I have been focusing a lot on Japanese knitwear designers, which have the simple, interesting designs I like, but present some fitting challenges which I will detail in coming project posts (spoiler alert, being 5'8" and a 32G requires some adjustments).