What’s first, the fabric or the design?
Do you design a garment and then go shopping for the perfect fabric? Or do you collect fabrics that speak to you and then come up with an outfit to create out of the fabric, that you already own?
It is a bit of a circle, no end and no beginning.
Nevertheless, it seems, that my collecting abilities when it comes to fabric are very pronounced. Which ends in a bit of a mess and a burden, when you have no fix workshop where you can just pile up as much fabric for as long as you like.
Even though this set up sounds tempting, I wouldn’t want that anyway. I would probably drown in fabric if I was in a stable workshop situation.
Wondering what to work on next, the revelation. Basic trousers. You can never have enough of improving trousers-sewing-skills.
Even though there are some trousers projects I am very proud of, they are far from basic. Eighter dungarees or summer trousers, sweatpants…
But I still haven’t managed to sew the perfect basic trousers from scratch.
The plan is to alter and adjust a pattern that I printed out.
The pattern came in tons of A4 sheets.
That I cut the edges off.
Sticked them together.
Until I get a big sheet.
Then I cut out the actual trousers pattern.
I tend to go for the biggest size possible, like that I can adjust the pattern later. Bring it into the perfect form without having to re-add paper.
It’s about choosing the fabric for my prototype.
Therefore, I use one, I once bought on a flea market in France. I am not sure what I was thinking the fabric would be useful for.
Looking at it now, it gives me kitchen or hospital vibes. Eighter of which is inspiring me to work with it.
In fact, I did buy it rather for the ancient tag and handwriting on the roll.
What a reason to choose fabric?!
Or was I getting persuaded by the walls around, that are perfectly matching the green?
Anyhow there is a time and a place for everything.
The hospital kitchen fabric seems to be some woven cotton, that would serve me perfectly for the trousers prototype.
How liberating it felt to work with a fabric I do not particularly like. The whole stress about not being able to wait until you can try on the finished piece fell off.
Calm workflow.
Cutting out the pattern.
Realising that buying vintage fabric comes with some down sides. Rusty pins.
Figuring out the pockets.
Sewing everything together.
Unpicking everything that didn’t fit perfectly. (Behaveing like an adult)
Readjusting the patter.
And sewed it back together again.
I called one of my favorite linen trousers to aid, which is when I realized they had a huge hole. Bye-bye.
Luckily, I am about to make trousers.
Anyways they teached me another thing which I found pretty amazing.
Which is; placing an elastic around the waste and a strip to tighten. That would allow the size to be even more adjustable that with only an elastic...
...therefore, sewing some strips.
Indeed, I am very happy with the final fit.
But then I really couldn’t resist to come up with something made from the fabric leftovers.
And what better way is there to celebrate trousers, than to turn them into a two-piece?
A matching top it is so.
Some more sewing.
The two-piece feels amazing to wear, comfortable meanwhile the puffy sleeves make you feel like a princess...
...unfortunately, I won’t really wear that outfit, because it doesn’t fit into the colour theme of my wardrobe. Nor into my every day’s life.
A fancy pijama, that you wear while sipping some tea out of a flower porcelain cup. Sitting in front of a huge golden bathroom mirror, doing your hair up.
Or going to collect eggs from the chicken house in a straw basket. Then roam back to the kitchen, throwing some aprons over, before frying the eggs or baking a cake.
However, if you can relate to those scenarios. Or any other one that you think might fit around that outfit. I would be more than happy to send you the pieces, for as many hives as you like, to wherever you are.
Otherwise, I’ll ask some neighbours if I can borrow their chickens, to be able to wear the two-piece:)
It was a pleasure to have you around, thanks for stopping by! And have a lovely week!
All photos are mine taken by me.