Enchanted By Sewing Laurel Shimer

This month we return to San Francisco’s Summer of Love for more retro fashion inspiration. It’s another field trip ‘cast

I’ve been working pretty hard on non-sewing business. Still I love  blue-sky sewing. I’m always keeping an eye out for creative ideas I’ll put to use down the road. Last month and this, I’ve been getting future sewing inspiration from fashions straight out of the Summer of Love.

Last month,  I shared my response to denim fashions from the late sixties social movement known as The Summer of Love. The kind of  clothing on view in the Denimocracy portion of  the San Francisco de Young museum exhibit, we’re visited last month, still affects fashion we sew and wear today. This month we’re making a quick return to San Francisco to look at the part ethnic and historical clothing played in the fashion scene back in those days.
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http://deyoung.famsf.org/summer-love-art-fashion-and-rock-roll

http://digitalstories.famsf.org/summer-of-love

A denim-embellished, sewing inspiration, field trip to the San Franciso de Young Museum’s 50’th anniversary of the Summer of Love – at the de Young museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, about 4 miles away from the Polo Fields where the Summer of Love’s Human Be In was celebrated.
 
So just step on in to your time portal of choice and …. Let it all hang out….
 
- We’ll start with…Pensamientos Primeros: Hey, had you realized that this summer marks the 50’th anniversy of the Summer of Love in San Franciso? Wow – Far Out Sister!
 
- Entonces  Un excursion / Then a field trip - Join me for a short field trip to the Summer of Love !
 
- Y en Pensamientos Finales/And in Final Thoughts : A Perpetual Summer  
 
* * Resources * *
Xilocuatla - Nahuatl
 
http://www.mexicantextiles.com
 

I'm enchanted by silk.
Pensamientos Primeros/First Thoughts: What is silk and where might it come from? Exploring an historic Japanese Minka Folk House.
Technicos/Techniques – Furoshiki: A no-stitch creation from silk - Marriage of ancient Japanese practicality and art
Pensamientos Finales/Final Thoughts – Dreaming of a Superfluity of Silks in the Alcaiceria Bazaar of Granda Spain - home to the Alhambra Palace
~ ~ ~ Resources !~ ~ ~
What was the fibula reference?
http://meencantacoser.blogspot.com/2017/04/before-safety-pins-there-were-fibulas.html

1) Pensamientos Primeros/First Thoughts - Links
Silk was one of the Animal Fibers in this exhibit, which I loved, at the Met

http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/animal-fibers
http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/animal-fibers/exhibition-themes
http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/objects?exhibitionId={118765DF-EE1C-4F92-9606-27916C0763AB}

PUSH THE PLUS BUTTON to get more details
ALL OBJECTS shows pictures and text for all items in the exhibit

Other Two Parts of the "Secret Life..." Exhibit
http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/plant-fibers
http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2017/secret-life-of-textiles-synthetic
Peace Silk/No Kill/Cruelty Free - I have not studied this. Feel free to post what you know
https://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-fashion/new-silk-production-technique-does-not-require-killing-worms.html
http://thekindlife.com/blog/2012/09/alicia-silverstone-what-is-peace-silk/
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Continuado - The Minka House at Kew Gardens, England near Richmond, Easy Day trip from London
https://sequinsandcherryblossom.com/2013/01/06/silkworms-and-mortice-joints-the-minka-house-at-kew/
2) Furoshiki Sampling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W0BajFL6uQ
Furoshiki: A folded bag
https://youtu.be/Z9dbjzcmLBU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F74Dwe2BDFw
3) Pensamientos Finales - A Superfluity of Silks - The Alcaiceria, Granada Spain:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada/alcaiceria.htm
 

I’ve become more and more enchanted with altering patterns not only to make them fit me well, but also to add I-am-my-own-designer details to what I sew. A patch pocket a very basic pattern alteration project that doesn't take long and adds a lot to the garment I'm sewing. 

Patch pocket alteration is also great for  a first time pattern alteration project, or someone who’s returning to sewing and wants to feel they are adding their own touch to a commercial pattern. 

This month show I talk about how I altered and created a unique patch pocket for my Sukey blouse.

Pensamientos Primeros/First Thoughts: Blue Sky Sewing. How I might use a patch pocket to feel more like my own pattern designer or simply add practicality to my wardrobe and other things I sew and use. 

Technicos/Techniques: How I altered the patch pocket I made for my Sukey Shirt (I expect to blog and cast more about Sukey in the future)

Part three of my series about my 3-piece Mother-Of-The-Bride (MOB) outfit.
Wrapping up my MOB sewing project -sharing my experiences working on this ensemble.
It’s about- Planning, Patterns, Prick stitching , Perturbation, and Patience.
All 3 garment pieces have involved pattern creation or alteration.
Snapshot of This Month’s Show
- Pensamientos Primeros – Planning and Patterns
Recapping the history of my mob ensemble
a. Camisole slip - See my previous podcast - "A Camisole for the Mother of the Bride"
b. Modified Dirndl skirt
i. Modified dirndl is not the Heidi style traditional alpine look
It's NOT http://www.kaffeeundkuchen.co/home/guide-to-buying-and-wearing-a-dirndl
ii. It's NOT any of these fun skirts! http://vintagedancer.com/1940s/1940s-skirts/
iii. Back in the 80’s I remember a number of the suit patterns I sewed called the style of skirt I just made
a ‘modified dirndl’ – but I can’t find a link quickly. I’ll describe it
iv. What IS a modified dirndl?
1. Somewhat straight skirt
2. Not so straight that walking is inhibited
a. No slits or kick pleats needed
3. Wth a little gathered ease
4. Attached to a waistband
c. Lace over blouse
i. Kept under garments as narrow as possible. Lace blouse loose fit
ii. Downton Abbey inspired lace overblouse
1. Not straight hobbled skirt of Edwardian era

iv. Slightly below waist
v. Loose
vi. Scalloped lace ¾ sleeves and down the open front of blouse
vii. Hem of blouse maybe 3 inches higher than knee length skirt
- Technicos
- Pick Stitch and A hand-sewn zipper
- Pensamientos Finales -Perturbation and Patience
 

Spring Shirring:In this show I'm continue to share with you, some of my experiences working on my Mother-Of-The-Bride ensemble.

All 3 garment pieces involve  pattern creation or alteration.
Snapshot of This Month’s Show 
1) Pensamientos Primeros/First Thougths 

Shirring? Are we talking sheep? Thoughts on scissors,  shears, and the sewing technique known as ‘shirring’.

2) Entonces inspiración para fruncir/Inspiration for Shirring  

 
Museum portrait and wardrobe shopping

3) Y finalmente, Technicos /And finally 

 
Techniques that I’ve used for shirring
Note: Within the Inspiration Section, and at the end of the ‘cast,  I included travel notes for places I like to visit in San Francisco Golden Gate Park for fellow sewists who may be visiting, or to prompt other local sewists to share their own thoughts on this locale.