First, I'm going to be one of those people...Feel free to skip ahead...this is a mini rant.
I hate how casual everything and everyone has become. I hate that the idea of "appropriate dress" for the locale and occasion seems non-existent. And no, it doesn't affect me or bother me directly. But still, call me Ms. Complaining McComplainerton.
Today I was asked again --seriously, I've been here 2 years. I don't dress casually!!-- why I was "so dressed up on a Friday". I have on my Burda 7136 chambray skirt and Lekala khaki skirt with a brown leather belt and sandals.
I do have on giant earrings :-D but no other jewelry.
I am not dressed up. I am not dressed up by any stretch of the imagination.
I honestly do get annoyed by the insistence that a skirt or a dress is automatically 'dressed up' (OMG!!! People's reactions to dresses is insane). A dress is one thing. You put on a single thing and you're done getting dressed! That makes dresses SMART AND AMAZING! Hahahaha! And it's one of the reasons I own so many! I know plenty of ladies who dislike dresses on principal, I get that. But dresses aren't dressy by sheer fact of being a dress. :whine:
/rant off
ANYWAY!
So you may have noticed in some photos that I'm sewing in a different area. DD moved out and I quickly (immediately) moved my basics to her bedroom which is across the hall from my bedroom, a few feet from the kitchen...such a WIN! This has made me realize that in the future, a basement sewing room won't work for me. Right now, my patterns and fabrics are still in the basement (her room is small) and that's okay. But I love the lighting and proximity to the rest of the house.
I decided that I am buying the Brother 2340CV coverstitch machine for my birthday! I've wanted one for-forever and watched some videos on it and am so, so sold. LOL!
I had a nice sturdy desk in the basement that is way too big 1) to lug upstairs and 2) for that bedroom so I set up the folding card table again. Well, the old house must've had more solid floors or something because now it shakes like crazy when the serger is going. I took to PR to ask what people sew on and got lots of suggestions but many were out of the (almost non-existent) budget.
For now I'm going to plan to paint the super sturdy but not attractive white pine desk with some chalk paint, it should be able to hold the serger and coverstitch just fine. And then I'll just need a table for the sewing machine. Tis the season of garage sales and closet clean outs!
I sewed a new dress, McCall's 7465, view C (blue). OhEmGee! LOVE. Can't wait to review this one!
This weekend I want to work on my Burda 6/2017 dress. And actually, I want to get caught up on my Burda Challenge! I've only sewn from March and April so far.
The weather is nice and I've been walking 3-4 days a week. I think I'll make the pants in capri length (will probably stop where the zippers are supposed to start). (01/2017)
I love these pants and have a lightweight linen/cotton blend that I think would be perfect for them! If you've seen this pattern 2/2017 #104, you've seen the weird butt flaps. I'm not doing those.
I really liked this top when it came out, despite Burda using poplin for it. There are tons on the Russian site and it's started to pop up on blogs. It's so cute! (05/2017)
This is the dress I'll be starting this weekend. (06/2017)
Yes, I know I had 10 dresses on dress-a-palooza. I've sewn 2 and another will be my birthday dress. Oh and the Sewaholic Saltspring! I want that so bad!! :) BUT, I had 4 tops on top-a-palooza and sewed all 4! Win!
Additionally, June plans were:
M6519 x2
Nettie x2Burda 2/2013
Burda 6/2017
V1501 skirt
B5760 skirt
I may not make the lace skirt although it is pretty early in the month. I've made the 2 tops and am down to 1 Nettie because of fabric. So see? I'm kinda-sorta on track! :-p
It's supposed to be HOT here this weekend so I may get more sewing done than I originally thought!
36 comments:
I can remember visiting with my grandmother and saying something about how I didn't have any church clothes with me. She said I was always dressed for church! Huh? Just because I wear skirts, those aren't automatically church clothes!
Congratulations on your new sewing area. I've got a few more years to go before I can get out of the laundry room!
The one thing about my oh so casual workplace is that maxidresses, maxiskirts and dresses are worn all summer long by the women and I love it! So I'm in my happy seasons...plus we have summer fridays so I work from home friday mornings, don't have to worry about that casual friday thing. However, I understand your frustrations. I had serious adjustment problems when I started and heard repeatedly that I could wear jeans...problem was I owned like 1 or 2 ratty pairs. LOL!
Love that you took over the DDs bedroom and I'm sure you'll find something suitable for the sewing machine from a garage/estate sale.
For tables, I always look on Craigslist and in thrift stores, pickings can be slim in LA, but something good comes along with some regularity. I bet you could find some good stuff up there. I struggle with light in my sewing area too. Good light makes such a difference. As for being dressed up, I wonder if people are responding to the fact that your clothes are made out of quality materials and fit you really well. That always makes someone look much more put together. And the quality of the fabrics and finishes has really deteriorated in RTW, so your clothes look fancy by comparison.
I wear a lot of skirts/skirts/tennis style with the occasional dress or shorts during the summer here in Fl.
People are always saying I look so put together or I'm dressed up & don't I have any casual clothes. Duh this is casual clothes do I have to look like a bum. When they find our I make many if the things I wear they are astounded that it's not some hi end boutique shop clothing lol. I wouldn't wear to church or a nice dinner what I wear out to buy groceries but
I've seen people dressed like that for those occasions. Guess I was raised in a different era
50-70's
Baa
I hear you! And the worst is when you tell them you made all the stuff you are wearing! They look at you like you have two pairs of eyes or a unicorn horn on your head jishhhhhh.
I am excited to see M7465! It looks like a great pattern! Congrats on your new sewing space, it really makes such a difference when you have your own nook for creating. I am in LOVE with the June Burdastyle!!!! I want to buy it, but have so many things on my plate for summer that I know I would never squeeze in the patterns I want. But, I will live vicariously through your Burda challenges, LOL!
Ah yes I totally get this. It's quite sad really that most women don't have the confidence to just wear a dress...just because! Personally I love that a dress can be warm in winter with tights and cool with bare legs in summer and just effortless dressing. Also, well done for taking over the bedroom!
It is sad that a lot of ladies think so little of themselves that they cannot celebrate themselves for the amazing people they are. I see it a lot in sewing though, ladies who are scared they are not prettier than the fabric they are cutting. I prefer a ponte knit dress any day over pants and then I wear my pretty aerosoles shoes with them and I am comfy, can eat, and walk around all day with no pain!
"...Complaining McComplainerton..." LMFAO!
I won't deny that occasionally I wear knit pants and a sweatshirt to run errands. Sometimes my body aches in ways that makes me side-eye anything other than comfy knits. On Wednesday, I decided to wear jeans and a nice shirt; it felt good to look decent. =P
I *just* pulled 7465 out to sew. Which version did you make?
I rarely comment....but I just had to..... I get that "you're always dressed up" comment too....smh....it's ONE piece....makes getting dressed so much easier...and faster!!!
EASY!! FAST!!! hahaha!
I made view C and really like it! I just realized I used the longer length. Which is just below knee length on me with a 1 1/4" hem.
Hahaha! I don't mind adding a disclaimer that I *could* just be cranky! :-p Well see, no reason to ache!!
Knit dresses are pretty much the best thing ever!!! And I adore ponte!
I am almost always urging someone to cut into the "good fabric"! :)
Exactly! Tights and boots with dresses are my favorite thing.
I can usually tell when someone is trying to figure out where on earth I got what I'm wearing. Sometimes I'll smile and say, "I made it!". :-D
I'm with you on the "dressed up" thing. I rarely wear pants any more, and even though I don't have many "every day" dresses, just wearing a skirt makes people look twice. I do enjoy looking more put together anyway :)
About the sewing set up, the minute I read "folding table" I wondered how on earth could anyone sew on a folding table! They will shake like crazy. I have an old, old desk that is my sewing table. One of these days I will paint it again...
Thank you!! Ha! I hope to get back on track by the time July ends as there is almost always a ton of stuff I want in the August/September/October issues!
Forgot to say, I take over my sons' bedroom when they are away at college, but I have to give it back over breaks/vacation. I just brought my sewing machine up to my bedroom now, and can sneak a few seams here and there :)
ugh! I hear the snide "dressed up" stuff a lot. Some co-workers made comments in front of my boss about me wearing dresses and she promptly told them to stop...that she didn't want me to change the way I dressed. Super appreciated!!
I love M7465...such a great little gem! Your sewing plans look great...but I love everything you make and could just follow along with your sewing queue. Congrats on the new sewing space and the coverstitch!!!!
Oh wow, so that's what "dressed up" mean. If that's the case, I am ALWAYS overdressed. I am obsessed with skirts and dresses. I saw the Burda 07/2017 top online this morning and instantly fell in love. I can't wait to see you're version.
yes another "dressed up" one here. I love dresses they are so easy to wear. and yes I've often been the one asked why I'm so dressed up. I always want to say why are you dressed so boringly? and the same old pants on some people are not a good look... Love that Burda dress, Burda PDF sale this weekend so I think I will indulge in that one. And that blouse, I just read that "football sleeves" are a new trend, kind of a full sleeve like that shows. You are ahead of the style!
I am not a dress girl. I wear mostly pants but I believe it's time to break out of that mold. In fact, I am currently working on McCalls 7562 (inspired by you!) which I look forward to wearing on those hot summer days.
I totally concur with your rant :) Going back maybe five years you couldn't even get away with wearing jeans on a Friday in my workplace - there was no such thing as casual Friday. Now you'll see jeans in the office every day of the week and don't even get me started on strapless or backless tops.
Congratulations on the new sewing space. When my daughter moved out I waited a year until she got into a permanent living situation. Now her room is my room. Love the light and the room to settle into--I was in a corner of the dining room.
Hahaha! Yes, it amazes me and I'm obviously not into today's casual dress.
Yay for your boss being awesome!!!
I can't wait to get that machine!!!!
Ah...my daughter goes to school locally but moved into an apartment near campus. But that proximity to the main living area is so nice!
It's HORRIBLE! LOL! So shaky!!!
I like feeling a bit more put together too.
I think the idea of "casual" now is just way, way, way different than my personal idea of casual!
I did hit a few thrift stores, but they just aren't that popular in my area. Not much that I could find. I bought an IKEA Linnmon/Adlis set up for only $15. I think that should be sufficient for my sewing machine. We'll see! :)
My workplace is "normal" casual too...meaning no one wears INAPPROPRIATE clothing to work (e.g. someone mentioned backless tops! OY!!!) I don't mind "normal" casual dressing...I just don't like to dress casually!! But I never ask someone why they have on capris and flip flops...why they gotta bother me!? LOL!!!!
My sewing machine is on a desk my daughter picked out of the garbage for me. Works great and price was right. It's French provincial white with gold trim. It works great tho!
Congrats on the new sewing space!
When I wear too many dresses in a row, I get asked if I've been going on interviews lol smh
also, that coverstitch is great! I got it on sale last year and it makes me smile :-D you're gonna love it!
I will add my agreement in with all the others that a dress is not an anomaly and when I wear them to work I receive similar comments. Funny enough when everyone realized that I make most of my dresses I began to receive a lot of high praise whenever I wore them! They are so fun to wear and I figure if I've put all that effort into making one it is definitely going into the work rotation!
I empathize. When I started my current job several years ago, of course the pecking order immediately set in as it always does. No problem. But when the workplace's most insecure individual called me out in front of the staff asking "why do you get so dressed up for work?" I answered back "it's what I do. You'll have to get used to it. " Of course in no time that changed to a respect for my way of dressing and my sewing and it was a non issue. I don't consider your outfit overdressed. You are perfectly dressed for a casual work day, IMO. I think the issue is more of Sloppy Friday and people mistake sloppiness with casual. Ugh.
I just finished refinishing some oak cabinets. I tried my usual painting method and wasn't happy. But with advice from my local Sherwin Williams, I painted the cabinets with two coats of Kilz, two coats of matte paint, and then two coats of matte finish water based urethane. It seriously looks like the same finish on the high end painted cabinets I've seen in the stores. Just a suggestion. Congrats on your new space and I hope it lasts as long as possible. Love your blog, BTW.
Congrats on your new sewing space. I used a mechanical machine (Bernina 930) on a plastic folding table without any problems. I got a newer computerized machine that bounced like crazy. I put a heavy table top from a home improvement store on top of the folding table. No more bouncing.
Post a Comment