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Simple sewing is where it is at.

March 3, 2015 thecraftsessions

So I cleaned out my wardrobe last week and I had a few realisations. Not world changing revelations but interesting none the less. And they are all centred around point number 2 of The Craft Sessions Manifesto.

“Beautiful things can be made with very simple techniques and skills.”
— The Craft Sessions Manifesto

I truly believe this is true.

A large part of my wardrobe is handmade and I wear something handmade almost every day. What was interesting (when I pulled it all together after the cleaning out) was that it became clear that I rarely sew anything complicated. Very occasionally I will sew a skirt with a zip (I found 2 zips in total that I've sew in the wardrobe) or a shirt with a placket (the last one I made for my son was three years ago) but normally the trickiest thing I tackle is a gather. The takeaway from this is that simple sewing at it's simplest can take you a long way*.

  Please don't think my wardrobe actually looks like this normally. I wanted to show you the handmade top section rather than the everything jammed together in a total mishmash reality. 

Please don't think my wardrobe actually looks like this normally. I wanted to show you the handmade top section rather than the everything jammed together in a total mishmash reality. 

Without further ado, the realisations were;

1. All the tops that I've made that I love involve super simple sewing and about five patterns.

1a. Not relevant to you but relevant to me. I may have an issue with colour…..Ha! I mean c'mon. Look at that colour palate. It is getting rid-ic-ulous.

2. I realised that the things I sew actually involve a tiny number of skills. 

3. And that as a capsule wardrobe they are actually a "get good at sewing 101 post" waiting to happen. 

So on Friday I'll be posting "How to go from sewing a straight line to sewing a simple everyday wardrobe you love" in six easy steps*. And then I'll be back sometime in the following week to show you some superdooper simple modifications I make to make things fit my non-pattern-standard shape. The tricks will probably have actual dressmakers totally cringing, but they work like a charm. So hey - It's all good! - am I right or am I right?  

Felicia x

*if you are a fan of simple clothes.

P.S. I seem to be playing "idea snap" with Karen today - I'd already written this post when I went wandering around my favourite blogs on the weekend :). Maybe it is great minds think alike? She has some great ideas on a very similar topic in that post.

In Inspiration
← Around the traps - Get involved!Incidental craft in Europe - Part 2 →

Welcome! The Craft Sessions  aims to bring together people who craft for joy.  We are all about fostering a love of hand making and discussing the ways traditional domestic handcrafts have meaning and context in our everyday lives. I'm Felicia - creator of The Craft Sessions.


Thoughts On Craft
How To
Simple Sewing 101
Stash Less
I Made This
Inspiring
The RetreaT

Today there will be housecleaning (an all family event we do each week called “clean up Sunday”) and there will be mulching BUT there will also be #soulcraftalong and #terrapants. Believe the hype my lovely friends. These pants are awesome, comfortable and cool in all their 80s glory. I’m feeling like a champion who will  soon be doing a victory lap.
The fella is trying to tell me that he does not under any circumstances want elbow patches on his #hugosweater. I think he thinks his mates will tease him😎? It’s like this on both arms from mid-forearm to mid-bicep. What to do? #brooklyntweed #darning
And while I’m at it, do you have any thoughts about whether I should revive this #stash_less #pieceofsilver #frankensweater as my #soulcraftalong sweater? There are a billion more scraps of different blues and the transition I chose is a little #spaceinvaderwacky and it feels like a schmozzle. #binit ? #knowwhentofoldem #playon
Wet day darning on his store-bought sweater. I don’t know why this makes me feel like a champ. 👊🏼😎 #visiblemending
Today there will be housecleaning (an all family event we do each week called “clean up Sunday”) and there will be mulching BUT there will also be #soulcraftalong and #terrapants. Believe the hype my lovely friends. These pants are awesome, comfortable and cool in all their 80s glory. I’m feeling like a champion who will  soon be doing a victory lap. The fella is trying to tell me that he does not under any circumstances want elbow patches on his #hugosweater. I think he thinks his mates will tease him😎? It’s like this on both arms from mid-forearm to mid-bicep. What to do? #brooklyntweed #darning And while I’m at it, do you have any thoughts about whether I should revive this #stash_less #pieceofsilver #frankensweater as my #soulcraftalong sweater? There are a billion more scraps of different blues and the transition I chose is a little #spaceinvaderwacky and it feels like a schmozzle. #binit ? #knowwhentofoldem #playon Wet day darning on his store-bought sweater. I don’t know why this makes me feel like a champ. 👊🏼😎 #visiblemending

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 FREE Big Hearted Cowl Pattern

FREE Big Hearted Cowl Pattern

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