tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post2052470721962038366..comments2023-10-20T08:27:40.314-04:00Comments on male pattern boldness: Trend Watching: the Future of Home SewingPeter Lappinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-23949994674412518992010-12-03T19:33:05.794-05:002010-12-03T19:33:05.794-05:00Here in Iowa (US), quilting and crafting seem to r...Here in Iowa (US), quilting and crafting seem to rule. There is 1 store near me that has nice apparel fabrics. It's a small store, so the selection isn't large (nice but small). Otherwise it's Hancock's, Joann, and a number of quilting stores. Sewing classes also are for quilting usually. There are quilting groups I could join, but no groups for sewing garments that I know of.<br /><br />As other's have pointed out, many might think they want to learn to sew garments, but when they realize it takes time and effort to sew them *well*, they drop it. Or change to crafting, quilting or home dec. Not that it's easy to do those well right off, but those projects don't have the fitting concerns that apparel sewing has. What I mean is, yes, the curtains have to be made the right size, but they don'twant to move their arms without binding, and sit without the crotch... let's just say "getting snug".<br /><br />I gave up trying to sew clothing for quite a while because I thought it was just me (and my fault) that I couldn't sew anything that fit. People on the internet have let me realize it's not just me, and that it's not my fault that patterns don't fit right out of the envelope. I've learned alot from those who share their sewing, and realize there's still much I need to learn.JustGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08948391538309176039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-55483896649397899932010-11-30T18:08:02.045-05:002010-11-30T18:08:02.045-05:00That's fascinating, Ming. Thanks for sharing ...That's fascinating, Ming. Thanks for sharing your perspective!Peter Lappinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-71186711007657307272010-11-30T17:39:20.678-05:002010-11-30T17:39:20.678-05:00I live in S. Korea, about 45 minutes outside of Se...I live in S. Korea, about 45 minutes outside of Seoul. Home garment sewing is rare here, but there are a ton of tailors who make custom clothes. When RTW and custom clothes are so cheap, there isn't really any incentive to make your own. I see a lot of design students at the markets, but they will probably end up working in the industry and many probably don't sew outside of school. <br /><br />Fortunately for me, the Koreans are very into their outward appearance so the fabric markets in Seoul cater to an enormous clothing industry. I have been to the garment industry in NYC, textile town in Tokyo, seen the fabric market in Beijing... none of them come close to size/selection of the places in Seoul. Did you know the Samsung company makes high end wool textiles? Yes, the people who churn out flat screen TVs are famous for their fabrics here.<br /><br />Quilting is also more popular here among those who have machines at home or they do it by hand. Many of the American quilt fabric designers (Robert Kauffman, Alexander Henry, Ana Maria Horner, etc.) get their materials printed here because it's cheap and the quality of work is high.<br /><br />I take advantage of what is available here, the fabrics, the notions, and the well illustrated garment sewing textbooks at the bookstores (the Korean books are geared more for industry sewing, the Japanese books have a bigger home sewing market). <br /><br />Retail clothing selection is much greater than in the US and I don't think the consumers have as many problems fitting wise because a. most Korean girls (and guys!) are thin with few curves, and b. they can pay for someone to make custom clothes. It's just a different market.Mingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-6821045047043513682010-11-28T01:23:51.206-05:002010-11-28T01:23:51.206-05:00I'm also in Portland, OR. There are lots of se...I'm also in Portland, OR. There are lots of sewing folks here. More than anywhere I have been. Our Mecca is Fabric Depot (http://www.fabricdepot.com/), which I believe is the largest fabric store in the country. There are fashion shows and lots of places that upcycle clothes into other things. There have been three Project Runway winners from our area (Seth Aaron counts because Vancouver, WA, is actually a Portland suburb). I even have my own kilt-sewing business (www.KiltsByBuck.com). Like most places, the fabric shops cater extensively to quilters. Still, the Portland sewing and fashion scene is incredible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-68199536651312239402010-11-27T08:41:30.039-05:002010-11-27T08:41:30.039-05:00Hi calling from Oslo, Norway. There's a certai...Hi calling from Oslo, Norway. There's a certain interest in handmade and refashioned "designer" clothing here, but not many people sew. Chain store clothes are just too cheap and labour costs here in Norway are very, very high compared to all other parts of the world. <br /><br />If I were to invest here, it would be in a type of "designer cafe". An atelier where you could come with your friends, family or collegues to design your own one-of-a-kind garment or accessory under the guidance of a teacher. I would try to offer anything from teambuilder exercises for the workplace to childrens birthday parties. Also try to get designer talks, all kinds of happenings. It might work.Vibekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11647391507798021413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-49779291650769726132010-11-26T12:44:19.385-05:002010-11-26T12:44:19.385-05:00Hi Peter, hi all!
First of all, congratulation on...Hi Peter, hi all!<br /><br />First of all, congratulation on your great blog! You really touch on interessing subjects here!<br /><br />I live in Germany, in a 170.000 people town, where sewing seems to be boom! There are just three fabric shops(one is new and just for quilting fabrics) and two sewing machine service shops. They are always empty, when I go there, but twice a year the "Dutch fabric market", a sort of traveling market for fabric and related things to sewing, comes to the town and boy, how full becomes the market place! <br /><br />The Dutch fabric market visitors are most women, between 30 and 50. Mostly moms, who want to sew for their kids. There is also a community of arabic countries immigrant, which is always present too and the last, it is growing the numbers tennies and young women who, I can see, carry their own self-made bags and totes.<br /><br />XO<br /><br />Andrea from GermanyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-14012388331629445342010-11-25T17:22:55.008-05:002010-11-25T17:22:55.008-05:00I was born in 1952. My mother sewed most of our cl...I was born in 1952. My mother sewed most of our clothes when I was growing up,and I learned to sew in high school. I lived in a small town in Nova Scotis, where the shops only sold ugly clothes, so the most fashionable girls were the best sewers. Move the rest of this story to Queensland, Australia. I sewed for my daughter, and when she was a teenager she drew the clothes she wanted, selected the fabric (with my advice)but I had to make them for her. She recently finished a Fashion Design course at TAFE, and she has opened a little shop where she sells garments she and her friends have made and does custom work and alterations. My friends? They all say "I wish I could sew", not "Will you teach me to sew?"Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01471643987029247042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-72631613791995487982010-11-25T05:39:29.951-05:002010-11-25T05:39:29.951-05:00Hi All
Just thought you would like an update.....y...Hi All<br />Just thought you would like an update.....yes I did try the BurdaStyle groups, yes I found one near to me and YES, I got a reply from the co-ordinater, who says she is really not a group leader at all but just put her name up for contacts.<br /><br />The result when I mentioned the words to 'fit patterns'? <br /><br />Told to go and get private lessons on pattern cutting and fitting!<br /><br />If I knew where that was possible I would have tried long, long ago.<br /><br />And besides.........I can guess what the charge for anything like that would be, way beyond what I and any ordinary person could afford!<br /><br />Apparently she only sews craft items.(SIGH!)<br /><br />Anonymous UKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-88248906912048983162010-11-25T01:43:59.592-05:002010-11-25T01:43:59.592-05:00Most of the people I know (I'm from Melbourne,...Most of the people I know (I'm from Melbourne, living in Sydney) either don't sew, or have always sewed. I'm in the latter camp. <br /><br />Don't know too many who have taken it up, sad to say, although I have been instrumental in the odd child learning (and she is very odd, in the nicest way possible).Kapinnyhttp://www.thecraftorialist.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-18322132943931643382010-11-24T07:40:31.571-05:002010-11-24T07:40:31.571-05:00Dear Claire (aka Seemane). Shame that there is no ...Dear Claire (aka Seemane). Shame that there is no direct contact address for you. I would dearly have liked to email you privately.<br /><br />Yes I have tried THAT Forum. What happened? Nothing.........apart from receiving a very abusive private email because I was unable to offer anything more than a cup of tea, friendly chat, a cake or two.<br />Anonymous UKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-18948007251194582142010-11-24T07:19:03.244-05:002010-11-24T07:19:03.244-05:00The online sewing world totally needs something li...The online sewing world totally needs something like ravelry. I love you PR, for all you've taught me, but you're so hard for my super keen fledgling sewing babies to navigate.Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235341738044433500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-59666889105360747122010-11-24T06:54:23.532-05:002010-11-24T06:54:23.532-05:00To: Anonymous in the UK
Re: your looking for someo...<b>To: Anonymous in the UK</b><br />Re: your looking for someone to help you in person with fitting-issues / a sewing buddy, perhaps you might have some luck with this UK-based site <b><a href="http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">The Sewing Forum</a></b> ? :)Claire (aka Seemane)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05175575205044308437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-70323034332995715072010-11-24T04:51:59.978-05:002010-11-24T04:51:59.978-05:00Hi Peter & Friends,
I'm in Florence, Ital...Hi Peter & Friends,<br /><br />I'm in Florence, Italy and noone sews here. I think because Italian women have, until recently, visited tailors for their clothes, noone has ever really sewed at home. Young people (that I know) are still shunning 'homely womens things' and there are few resources, supplies cost a bomb, 'vintage' is mostly seen as strange too. <br /><br />If you were to invest in the home sewing world i would suggest, as someone else did, for community creation, take a look at www.ravelry.com if you dont know it yet, it has done for knitters what myspace did for emos. <br />Love your writing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12964133673524424305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-62416090899920884982010-11-24T04:11:37.855-05:002010-11-24T04:11:37.855-05:00Thanks for whoever it was who posted the details a...Thanks for whoever it was who posted the details about Burda Style Groups. I have found that there is actually one in my area, however the last post regarding it was September 2009, the contact email address does seem work. Whether I get a favourable response or not remains to be seen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-14699406734836521982010-11-24T03:21:45.988-05:002010-11-24T03:21:45.988-05:00Hi Peter,
I'm sewing in South Africa and I ac...Hi Peter,<br /><br />I'm sewing in South Africa and I actually know quite a few people who sew. Friends and of course their moms/aunts/grannies. It's not a Huge community, but you definitely don't get treated like a freak because you sew. <br /><br />When I first started sewing in earnest 5 years ago, I found it very difficult to find fabric that was good quality. The fabric shops always seemed a bit empty. But for the last two years, the fabric shops are a hive of activity and you can find LOADS of delicious fabrics. Some of the shops have even had to move to bigger premises. It's great! <br />My only gripe is that I haven't found many sewing classes. We have a very small population that is online here, so such things are normally advertised at actual fabric stores or through word of mouth, which makes it harder to find out about. <br /><br />Generally though, home sewing seems to be on the increase.Francesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-72648860557492091812010-11-24T03:04:11.689-05:002010-11-24T03:04:11.689-05:00Hello all compulsive swewists out there!
I´m broa...Hello all compulsive swewists out there! <br />I´m broadcasting from a small town in Spain, where every lady over 45 owns a vintage singer. I have yet to find a home where there isn´t a sewing machine in the kitchen, wedged between the TV and the dishwasher. There are almost as many fabric shops as schools and grannies make the most amazing things for their grandchildren.<br />NOW, the sad thing is that thirty something women don´t know or don´t want to sew. The interest vanished overnight and all of my friends give their mums clothes to alter or cut outs from magazines to replicate "that dress" for them. The market for home sewers is directed to a rather "vintage population", with dull fabrics, over rickracketed children outfits any kind of notion you can imagine to sew a curtain. As an example, shops here don´t stock invisible zippers foots, as local seamstresses hardly ever use concealed zips.<br />I´m on a mission to change this but it takes time. I sometimes feel so out of place.<br />Well,sorry for my ramblings, but since you asked...<br />Thanks for your intelligent blog Peter.la inglesitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846723512560021966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-34893684601264737562010-11-24T01:42:48.818-05:002010-11-24T01:42:48.818-05:00I, too, am in Australia and have been sewing since...I, too, am in Australia and have been sewing since childhood (the outfit I was wearing in my kindie photo was self-made. A 5-year old sewing! My mum's wonderful - and patient!). <br /><br />I'm now attending sewing classes at my local technical college and it's fantastic to see rooms filled with eager and talented young people. (At 35 I'm the oldest student by far!) <br /><br />Having said that, the only people outside of my class that I know do sew are my family - sister, mum, aunts, cousins.<br /><br />I've had two friends ask me to teach them; each lasted the total of one lesson. They both had the idea that it would be a quick and easy skill to learn with immediate and enviable results. <br /><br />Which we all know is not the case!<br /><br />The other extreme is when people - strangers, work colleagues, acquaintances - are told I made my garment, having given me a compliment on it. The common response is for a person to firstly be flabbergasted, then dismissive of their own potential, telling me that they'd love to learn to sew but that it's too hard.<br /><br />And we all know that isn't the case either!<br /><br />In terms of attracting new people to the art, I think reliable, close-by fabric stores are a must! I detest my biggest store - Spotlight - and the one small shop in town is lovely but limited in it's offerings. I don't think buying online is advisable for a new sewer - at least not without assistance. Having a helpful, friendly store with excellent fabrics and knowledgeable staff would certainly help interested people take the financial and commitment plunge!<br /><br />There's also the idea of a sewing lounge, where machines and cutting tables are set up and available for use for a small fee. Assistance is free. This is just ideal, I think, to help fan the sewing interest in people who don't want to lay down a lot of cash before knowing if they enjoy the pastime. <br /><br />The Thread Den in Melbourne is the organisation I'm thinking of:<br />http://www.threadden.com/about/the_sewing_lounge.html<br /><br />Peter, I love the topics you write about.<br /><br />Thanks for being so great!<br /><br />SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-50787483929688217482010-11-24T01:05:54.561-05:002010-11-24T01:05:54.561-05:00In Brisbane, Australia there is VERY little choice...In Brisbane, Australia there is VERY little choice in terms of stores for buying fabrics and notions. I have sewn all my life and my friends have always found it a bit weird (I even gave it up for about two years because I was embarressed).<br /><br />I don't know anyone else who sews as much as I do. On the up side, everyone loves the fact that I can make my own things.<br /><br />I think it's ready for a boom here, but it's just not happening yet.<br /><br />I really want to open my own haberdashery store! Argh! Would be so much fun!kathchownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184901366682036147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-31914322840299081832010-11-23T23:36:42.237-05:002010-11-23T23:36:42.237-05:00In Melbourne Australia sewing clothes is probably ...In Melbourne Australia sewing clothes is probably still a sport only for the truly dedicated, but it must be getting more popular. The 'Thread Den' venture has expanded from one place to two. They run classes, sell vintage bits and pieces and offer a 'sewing lounge' where you can buy time on a machine.<br /><br />And the 'Cloth Shop' classes where one brings a project and can get help with fitting tweaks or learn from scratch seem to be expanding too.<br /><br />Additionally there are now sewing magazines from the UK in my local newsagent, in addition to 'Threads' from the US and the local 'Australian Stitches'. So I think the market is growing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-69556713912013590182010-11-23T22:20:43.966-05:002010-11-23T22:20:43.966-05:00I'm in Adelaide, South Australia and before I ...I'm in Adelaide, South Australia and before I started sewing in earnest about a year ago, I used to really wonder how on earth the fabric store around the corner survived. I'm still not entirely sure, because they have an odd middle-of-the-road assortment that seems to cater to no market in particular. <br /><br />I agree with whoever up above said they'd put money into fabric, or at least a great fabric/sewing shop. I have fantasies about taking over my local shop and filling it with organic fabrics, linens, bamboo, hemp, japanese imports, japanese pattern books, Liberty tana lawns, AMH cotton voiles, independent designer patterns, top quality crafting materials e.g. feather cushion inserts, real wool felt, wool stuffing for soft toys. I order a lot of stuff over the internet but sometimes you would just like to get your hands on things to feel the quality, drape etc. Maybe I would also sell good quality refurbished old sewing machines.<br /><br />Then again, the market might be very very small here. I know a few other mums at school who do a bit of sewing, and I have one fanatic friend. Apart from that, er... I dunno. What are all the people doing with the horrible, horrible fabrics they're buying from Spotlight? There must be an awful lot of crappy sequinned costumes out there somewhere.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03255370960186659884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-85762431984321715722010-11-23T21:59:07.905-05:002010-11-23T21:59:07.905-05:00Peter, I really really hope you sort through these...Peter, I really really hope you sort through these comments and do a post on them...<br /><br />I'm kind of like you- I sew constantly, I blog about sewing, and also I teach sewing and I'm surrounded by hundreds of really talented sewists and quilters. I tend to lose perspective. I can count on one hand the people I know who don't sew. <br /><br />In two years of teaching, I've taken 500-800 (I'd rather estimate than go back through my records) from knowing nothing to a basic level of competence with patterns and sewing machines. My class numbers spike DRAMATICALLY in the Jan-Feb-March time frame, I figure I am someone's New Years' Resolution. There is a much higher demand for what I do than there was even when I started teaching, and it looks to be growing. <br /><br />I really think the internet has a lot to do with this. I know my own sewing has improved since I started posting on PR and blogging, and reading others' posts. It's hard to be a good sewist in a vaccuum.<br /><br />I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235341738044433500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-35915472960499250912010-11-23T18:59:27.592-05:002010-11-23T18:59:27.592-05:00There's a difference between making clothes an...There's a difference between making clothes and styling a garment that fits beautifully. Both are skills but the first only gets you half he way there. So I"m with all the peeps who put their money on fitting. We are liberated by the ability, not only to sew, but to sew beautiful things that fit us perfectly. That's the essence of chicness - of design.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-25937146294382247532010-11-23T17:37:39.037-05:002010-11-23T17:37:39.037-05:00Anonymous in the UK, and anyone else needing help ...Anonymous in the UK, and anyone else needing help or feeling lonely on the sewing front: the Burdastyle website started to encourage members to set up sewing groups in spring 2009. As far as I know they were meant to be get-togethers for sewing enthousiast. A place to talk about sewing and learn from each other.<br />I haven't really followed the developments but you can find a list of the groups of 2009 and links to a internet features to locate a group near you over here: <br />http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/join-a-burdastyle-sewing-clubLaurianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16602295642057814667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-61414465646035663442010-11-23T16:43:44.691-05:002010-11-23T16:43:44.691-05:00I have been a member of the Peninsula Wearable Art...I have been a member of the Peninsula Wearable Arts Guild (California) for over 10 years. We now have over 150 members, meet monthly, and a big part of our meetings is Show & Tell. You can find photos here http://penwag.org/photo.php We have fabulously creative and imaginative members.<br /><br />The best fashion fabric store around here is Britex in San Francisco, 50 miles away. Thai Silks is also a good source. Upholstery and quilting fabrics are easier to come by. I think most of us buy fabrics by mail, or pick them up while traveling.Wearinbeadshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18175752039767898951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-62600527137880101762010-11-23T15:26:56.176-05:002010-11-23T15:26:56.176-05:00I live in a very small town in western Montana. I ...I live in a very small town in western Montana. I have 2 friends that sew garments and know of a fair amount of quilters My sister also knows how to sew. We have one chain fabric store and one really hip independent store. But they are 50 miles from where I live.The chain store frustrates me to no end with their endless choices of fleece, and quilters cotton. ANd the other store while very fun and cool is small, so again, limited options. I end up buying almost all fabric online which as you know can be a miss sometimes.I think there has been a small resurgence in sewing with younger DIY types in my area.<br /><br />I think fitting is an issue for many. I have figured out my fixes and am lucky they are fairly easy, but I really think the pattern companies could maybe do a little more to help out ,like make more patterns with various cup sizes etc..And sometimes the instructions are so lacking that it would certainly intimidate the beginner. <br />The internet is a godsend for sure. It is such a great resource. I also knit and wish there was a sewing site like ravelry for sewists. <br />For myself, I like to stay on top of trends and cannot afford to buy what I like so I have to sew certain items like dresses or skirts. I hate wanting a certain color and style of something and not being able to find it in a price point I can afford. I know some people think that RTW is so much cheaper so why sew but I disagree, maybe t shirts are cheaper but I certainly save a ton by making some of my own clothes. <br /><br />All and all I love to sew and will continue to do it but frankly sometimes there is a lot of fuss I have to go thru to even complete certain projects. I have limited fabric selection locally(if you call driving 50 miles one way local)limited options for trims and other supplies etc. I feel slightly crazy ordering buttons from New York to finish a coat for example.maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912178296552987471noreply@blogger.com