Sometimes looking into your closet for your ensemble-de-jours can get a little depressing. It’s either too old or too new, too much or too little, too heavy or too thin. Let your creative side shine and pick up a new hobby. Making your own designs and styles can be fun and inventive. Erin Arsenault of Charlottetown, PE has written a fabulous workbook for beginner sewers. The designs are classic, but simple and can be altered to your very own style.
Erin wanted to keep the book, Stay-Stitched, as simple and straight forward as possible. The designs can be remade and restyled to suit your own idea of fashion. The skills within each project act as a building block that can be later rearranged, creating something entirely new from the clothes-making techniques you will learned.
“Tasks that seem scary, like making sleeves or a tailored pair of pants, are still a little scary, but you have the tools in front of you to do it!”
By referring to the illustrations and working out simple math equations, (although one does involve pi), you begin to understand how pattern pieces are made, where and how your measurements are applied to the design, and in what ways the garment comes together.
As well as gaining an understanding of fundamental design techniques, sewers are also given the opportunity to be thriftier with their projects. By making a lot of the elements themselves, like ties or bias tape, and using very basic supplies (no zippers!), you’re able to make a dress on a whim with very little preparation.
“That was an important element for me. If I have a dress in mind that I want to make, it’s usually for an occasion that evening. Sewing can be pretty impulsive and by having a set of designs made with materials easily found and available, you can create a new outfit in an afternoon,” Erin said.
Erin’s career has been a “mixed bag” so far. Stay-Stitched, is an expression of her personal interests and strengths or abilities…and even morals. She really feels this sort of knowledge is valuable and quickly becomes a necessity for a more self-sufficient existence. This is where the inspiration and idea came from for her new book.
“I’m increasingly driven towards a simpler life and the need to do things for myself. I found making my own clothing was a big part of it and a part that I could share with others. My mother taught me to sew, but I’ve never worked as a seamstress professionally, and I’m not sure if it would have helped or hindered my approach to this book.”
Her naivety of professional techniques allowed her to keep the designs simple and the instructions in plain speak, a way that would have appealed to her when she started sewing. Being able to pair her love of sewing to her love of art was a very convenient match!
“I was able to sketch out plans, do the technical stuff (measuring, math, planning) which I always found fun for some strange reason, test and create the garment, and then sketch out the finished pieces and directions. There wasn’t a part I didn’t love!”
The book is available now at the Green Man and The Bookmark for 20 dollars. In celebration of the book, the launch is at the Muse art space on December 10th, 211 Euston Street, Charlottetown. The event is from 7p.m. - 9p.m. For anyone who has never sewn before, they will have the chance to try a seam or even just a stitch on one of the machines available, using scrap fabric. There will also be items on display to show the steps in getting the finished results of a piece of clothing. Refreshments (wine and muffins!) will also be provided. This book, along with some ideas she has already had, will contribute to another, slightly more advanced book in the future.
PHOTO 1: In the dress is Michelle Hooper. She completed the Retro Dress (which kind of looks more like a Roman tunic when worn this way) out of a heavy purple stretch fabric like a stretch wool mix).
PHOTO 2: Becka Viau completed the Tote Bag. In the end she noticed a measuring mistake which resulted in one strap being longer than the other so she improvised and scrunched down the strap a few times and, by sewing across it, created holders for her sharpies! She used a light canvas for the bag and nylon webbing for the straps.
Article and photos submitted by Cassandra Bernard.
