Remember in January, when I shared that I had joined a mentoring program at the Textile Center? It occurs to me now, I haven't said much more about it. We've had a couple of large group meetings, I've been meeting one-on-one with my mentor, and the proteges have been teaching each other as well. At the end of last week, I got to spend two glorious days devoted to draping -- learning to use a dress form to create patterns in three dimensions (as opposed to flat patterning, which is what I've done my whole life).
I had a lot on my plate going into it, didn't really give it much thought other than that draping was something I should learn. I don't know that I ever thought it consciously, but I guess I assumed it would be a bit tedious. So I don't say those days were glorious lightly.
I learned how to fit a rectangular piece of muslin onto a dress form to create a bodice. I learned to take that muslin and make it into a paper pattern. I learned to drape from scratch, with only fabric and ideas in hand (whether the idea is a picture in your head or one torn from a magazine). I learned to use a dress form like a three-dimensional design wall. I learned why sleeve patterns are that particular shape. I learned the best way to make a pattern from an existing garment. I learned to pin a piece in-progress onto the form, stand back & make adjustments...or change my mind...or just admire. I learned that all of it was fun.
And more than that, a community was formed, if only for a couple of days, with other like-minded artists. Years ago, I visited the studio of our instructor, Anna Carlson, during an art crawl in St. Paul. I've often thought that was the first seed planted in my brain about wearable art. So it was a pleasure to meet her, and learn about the transitions in her own career. (After years in fashion design, she's working on an MFA in graphic design. Isn't that fabulous? I love stories of reinvention.)
Linda, another participant, commented that she has challenged herself to wear something every day that she has made herself -- whether a piece of jewelry, a scarf, or a garment -- as a means of being confident in her own self-expression. I kept dwelling on that idea all morning until I realized that I have been waiting to achieve a critical mass of handmade garments before I make them a part of my daily life. I was drawn to hand-stitching in the first place because everything about it seemed a perfect match for me -- comfortable, easy to care for, expressive, flattering, sustainable, portable, meditative. But I've also been stockpiling, building up a wardrobe, waiting for the day when my closet is full of my own handmade things and little else. Guess what? I don't really have to wait. I could start today.
I need to learn how to make my own clothing patterns. 1) Duplicate my favorite shirt 2) make a dress like the one in the catalog I can't afford. I live in Peoria, Illinois ... I'm pretty good at learning things from books ... do you have recommendations? Or is there a mid-west pattern making conferencing coming up somewhere???? I'm not a sewing professional, just a crafty mom who needs more personal style in my life!
Posted by: Jennifer | Apr 18, 2011 at 10:41 AM