I am getting tempted to do some quick weaving for clothing. Having just started a new job, I’m taking the opportunity to revamp my wardrobe. I rarely purchase clothing, because I absolutely hate clothes shopping, and as a result my summer work wardrobe is looking pretty tatty. I have already held my nose and made trips to various clothing shops, with mixed results. I’d really like some nicer clothes than what I’ve been finding.
So I am getting really tempted, after this sample warp is done, to toss on a 15 yard warp and weave myself a couple of simple handwoven short-sleeve blouses. Very simple – basically just a plain T-shirt, but in interesting colors and weave structures. Something that will qualify as “business casual” but which will still have the handweaver’s stamp. Bonus points if I can figure out how to combine this with samples for a Handwoven article about color.
But I have had plenty of temptations lately – earlier this week, I nearly bought a kiln for experimenting with metal clay! (I talked myself out of it at the last minute.) Why was I doing that? I need another hobby like I need a hole in my head! But my creative spirit goes in phases, and I’m clearly in an acquisitive, try-do-see everything phase, probably triggered by all the newness at work. My daily schedule is turned upside down, the rhythm of my life is disrupted, and anything is possible. (“It’s a magical world, Hobbes….let’s go exploring!”) The challenge over the next few weeks, for me, will be juggling my creative chaos as best I can, trying to keep some continuity in things while welcoming the new.
Easier said than done, of course. But at least it’s a fun ride!
Scanning-wise, I am now 2/3 done with the easy part – which is to say the scanning. I have scanned 40 of the 60 magazines, and have run the first thirty or so through the text-recognition software. The manual corrections, though, are slower, so I have only completed the first five issues of Prairie Wool Companion. It turns out that each issue only takes about half an hour to process, but it has to be done manually and after about two issues my eyes start glazing over, and I need to go do something else. It’s not hard, but it does require concentration.
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Ah, but think of the metal clay clasps and buttons you could create for your handwoven clothes. Grinning, running, and ducking.
I went through a precious metal clay phase, too. (Didn’t go so far as to buy a kiln.) I found that it was easy to make half-assed items, but to make items (buttons, clasps, jewelry findings) that would satisfy me & would pass muster in my gallery’s jury process would take more time than I was willing to put into learning & practicing.
making your own clothes is the only way to get what you really want. There was a time when I made ALL my clothes, bar underwear. I found a lovely little shirt pattern in “Folkwear” for “Rosie the Riverter” outfits and have made it about a million times. It is a very simple shirt and thus shows off the fabric. I still have at least one I did out of my own fabric…my mother tended to guilt-trip me out of things (-; she walked off with my all-time favourite because she liked it so much she cried when I told her she could have it.
ah, well. “honour thy mother,” takes many forms, I guess.
“riveter””
I like to have comfortable handwoven clothes to wear during weaving conferences. I look at the pants and maybe skirts that fit and are the right weight and then make tops to go with them. I look forward to seeing you at a future conference! I was thinking about CW 2012 in DC, but if you are going to Sweden in September it would be fun to have a new top to wear there.