Growing up my mother made a lot of my clothes and her own. As a widow with five children, she needed to cut corners where she could. My mother was an amazing seamstress and I remember thinking when I was very small that everyone had beautifully made clothes. As I got older, I learned to sew myself, I remember distinctly when sewing stopped being something that everyone did. Ready to wear clothes became cheaper and sewing seemed to be too much work. But the sewing gene is strong. In college I made a lot of my clothes, but when I left school and started working it seemed easier to buy things off the rack. Being young and slim, I didn't have the fit issues that would plague me later on, but I was always a little disappointed with the middle of the road clothes in the store.
In my thirties I became a mom and it seemed only natural to make my little girl's clothes. It was in sewing for my daughter that I came to understand why those clothes of my childhood meant so much. They were love notes. My mother made beautiful clothes for her daughters not just out of thrift, but out of love. I realized that my mom sewed for us long after it was cheaper to do so. I remember specific dresses she made and how special they made me feel. Now I am a grandmother, and when my little grand baby was born I automatically took out my sewing machine again. I hadn't sewn a lot for years, but now I am hooked as I never was before. I'm not sure quite how it happened, but sewing for my granddaughter reminded me of the pleasure of wearing something that really fits and is beautifully made. Around that time I took a trip to Ghana where I fell in love with the textiles. It seems I am back just in time to catch the sewing craze. There are sewing and craft studios and clubs everywhere. And now that I live close to New York, I have easy access to the garment district. A dangerous proposition if there ever was one.
Come back from time to time and check out what's going on in the studio. I'd love to hear from you.