Linda's Sewing History

Lindsay T asked for Sewing Back Stories:

I actually started sewing when I was 4 years old. My mom has a picture of me making doll clothes on her machine. My mom took me to a sewing store in the mall when I was about 8 for my first sewing class. It might have been a Hancocks. I made a pair of white corduroy pants which fit well and I remember wearing. (For the love of God, who makes corduroy pants for their first official sewing project?)

I made occasional outfits using my mom's machine until I was 12. I got attracted to miniatures and dollhouses and wanted a dollhouse for Christmas. My parents got me a sewing machine - my Singer Stylist. I was very disappointed!!! What an ungrateful snot. It turned out to be my best gift ever. I used that machine to make countless outfits including my wedding dress and 4 bridesmaids dresses until I got my Bernina 1630 in 1996.

My sophomore year at college I saw an ad for a seamstress for the school costume shop. I brought a couple of outfits I had made and was hired on the spot. (This turned out to not be much of feat. Not too many college kids can sew and if you could sew a straight line you got hired).

I learned to draft patterns and hone my sewing skills in the costume shop. I loved it. I sewed for all the shows (including ballets). I designed and sewed a couple of shows (Dracula and On the Verge).

I minored in costume design and majored in business.

I worked as a budget analyst when I got out of school and decided a wanted to go back to school to get my MFA in costume design. I learned draping, fabric dyeing, jewelry and shoe making and continued to work on pattern drafting, design and sewing skills. I hated it! Let's say I loved the sewing, designing and creating. I didn't like the people and decided the low pay just wasn't worth putting up with all the "artistic" personalities.

I went back to working in the "real world" with sewing as a hobby.

Some of my sewing projects include:

My wedding

Priest and Deacon vestments

Baptismal Gowns for Gus and Carl (and for 2 of my friends babies)

Very fancy costumes for the kids including Bonnie's Flamenco dress

I am very passionate about sewing but my time is very limited with 3 kids and a full time job. I just finished my masters in May and finally have at least a little bit of time.

New Year's Sewing Resolutions

Happy 2009!

1. Sew more! I wanted to resolve to sew 1 garment a week - but I'm guessin' that is not going to happen. I'll try to sew 2 garments a month. That's a total of 24 garments and I believe totally doable.

2. Use embroidery machine - at least see if it still works. For God's sake - I spent several thousand dollars on it...I resolve to embroider at least 2 items.

3. Sew more from the stash than you buy. Since I have already inherited a fabric stash - I personally know you can't take it with you. I don't have a concrete objective for this one.

4. Make a jacket. I haven't made myself a jacket in about 6 years.

5. Make a pair of pants. I have some great gray wool I want to use. I will probably have to trace a pair I already have. I have found that if a pattern fits my thighs - the waist ends in my arm pits. And somehow that is really hard to alter!

6. Make a knit top that I actually wear. I make them, but I'm never happy with them. I bought some knit "muslin" fabric so I really have no excuse.

7. Make a coat. I need a nice new one that fits.

8. Finish at least 2 of my partially done projects or give up and throw them out. There are many.

9. Sew at least 5 garments from BWOF. I think this is ambitious for me. I have been receiving and loving the magazine since August and only attempted one knit top which when sewn out, would have fit a woman about 50 pounds heavier than myself (ahhhh). Yes, I used the correct size for my measurements. It was way past altering and I just couldn't envision it working for me even in a smaller. I need to stop being a Burda lurker and actually sew something!

Happy Sewing to all in 2009!