I am new to sewing, just started last year, and I am feeling a little lost. When I began, the plan was to remake all of Mimi G‘s OOTD makes because She Slays! But somewhere along the way I ran into blog inspiration after blog inspiration after McCall’s sale, after Butterick sale, and created very many “To-Sew” lists, aka WIP (works in progress). These “To-Sew” lists have now become mini capsule collections that I hope to one day conquer, one day.
Pattern: Mimi G Off The Shoulder Dress
Modifications: shortened skirt to above the knee and added bra-friendly shoulder straps
Cut to the most recent shah-leng (challenge) circling the inter-sewing-webs, the Thrift Store Refashioning Challenge. In this challenge, you buy clothing from a thrift store, redesign it and re-sew it into something you would love to have in your closet. For those of you who don’t sew or know what a thrift store is, am sorry for you. Sewing and thrift stores are fun.
So as I made my weekly rounds through the sewing blogs of yore, I saw this challenge pop up more and more. I really enjoy the posts and can’t imagine how an argyle sweater can be a chic office pencil skirt. (You better werq Ms. Sheilaz lol).
I never felt the need to join the challenge myself because as I previously stated – “To-Sew” lists are abundant. But while reading Myra from 1SimpleInspiration, something spoke to me that made me re-think my sewing journey. Myra wrote: “I had my reservations only because I don’t like doing alterations and taking apart some of the clothing to refashion them made me a little apprehensive.”
Pattern: created new pattern from skirt portion of RTW skater dress
Modifications: added invisible zipper
I have these same apprehensions about the challenge and sewing in general. I have to say I feel very ignorant when it comes to sewing techniques and what work’s best for what fabric. And fabric stabilizer, when do you use it? Should I ALWAYS interface my seams? Only side seams? Only seams with zipper applications? I understand these learning curves come from experience and blah blah blah but I want those lessons now damnit! Excuse my impatience lol.
I think joining this challenge would help me learn all the little tricks that I feel ignorant to. The process of taking apart the garments to then rebuild will hopefully give me some of that sewing experience I want. So the new plan of action in my sewing journey is to join the Thrift Store Refashioning challenge BUT my thrift store will be old, unworn clothing in my closet. Attire that I no longer wear because they no longer fit or fit weirdly in the first place but I kept it because: clothing.
My challenge will go past the month and will also count as my MAGAM (Make A Garment A Month Challenge) that I am now including myself in lol. I plan on making the blog my accountability partner, making sure I post each thrift store purchase and refashion. I am hoping to reach several goals which include making my wardrobe purposeful while gaining the knowledge needed to create the future “To-Sew” list capsule collections masterfully.
There is just so much inspiration out there in the sewing blog-osphere that I can’t thank all these wonderful ladies AND gentlemen for sewing, blogging, taking OOTD pictures and posting, making videos, snapping, gramming, tweeting, periscoping, and doing all that you do to keep new-to-sewing folks like me inspired.
Wangui
