The Princess Leia costume is finished. I tried to take some photos of it, but a white robe on a hanger is well, um, boring. I'll make sure to get one of Jane wearing it. Adding a hood to an angel's gown took a little creative thinking on my part, but I got it done (on the first try!) and the finishing looks good. It fits her well and she is happy – I can't really ask for more than that!
All the costume making following the garment sewing in NYC following a finished quilt got me thinking. Making begets making. It is so much easier for me to create when I am already in that mode. And, hey, even if some of the things I am making (Halloween costumes, ahem), aren't my most creative work, or heck, even very exciting, they do keep me on that making path. I lost sight of this at some point. While having this blog has been a great place to share what I like to do, I often get bogged down by the idea that everything I make needs to be super creative, or outside the box, or even just really, really cute. I'm letting go of this idea. I want to sew, knit, cook, make because it is what I like to do. I want to enjoy making for making's sake.
That said, I made this Tova top yesterday. It's too small. I'm still going to finish it and then make another, one size bigger. This one will go to a friend.
I LOVE THAT FABRIC!!!!!
ACCKKKK!! I just got my pattern yesterday and can’t decide which size to cut out….. The fabric is LOVELY! Can I ask the particulars?? [email protected]
All I could think when I read about making for the sake of making was, “AMEN to that!”
Lucky friend! Making for the sake of making is what’s it about. I’ve made about 5 scarves in the last week ’cause that was my speed.
I hear that! Making for making’s sake. I like it.
Tova just arrived in my mailbox yesterday; such a beautiful presentation. I am so excited to start, and now I am pondering making a muslin first. Any thoughts? I’m a little torn as to what size to make. I would really love a little more info on your experience. beautiful fabric!
what a bummer that this one doesn’t fit – it’s gorgeous in that fabric!! I’m in the middle of making my 4th Tova – this one as a dress out of wool. Such a great pattern!
OOOhhh I hate it when that happens! But you’ve got a very lucky friend with a fantastic gift to look forward to. I made one of my Tova’s in crinkled gauze (was wearing it at weekend sewing) and I think it was really nice – made it kind of stretchy. It’s also inexpensive fabric – which is a big bonus. What you’re showing here looks beautiful.
You must do what you want to do. It doesn´t mind if it is cute or super wow, it´s what you have been thinking about, or what you need or what you want. I agree with you in the “making for the sake”. I am working in that at the moment: I clean all the house, cook, wash etc. and dedicate to sew for two hours a day, it doesn´t matter if I have a lot of work. It´s just something inside that makes me “to make, to create”. I don´t know what is a Tova and I´m going to google it.
Amen to the making! And I looove that fabric!
Thanks Laura! I remember you saying that top was a tova. How's the silk one coming?
It is a great pattern and I was on the fence if I'd need one size or the other, so it's really my own fault. I bet a wool dress will be beautiful!
I completely recommend making a muslin. I am a 38" bust (in all knitting patterns and commercial sewing patterns) and the L is just barely too small in the bust for me. My guess is that the sizes are combined for the smaller of the two number sizes (for example, the L is 10/12 and I'd guess it's closer to a 10). Hope that helps!
i keep learning this lesson, time and again. maybe the whole making business is one big work in progress?
size aside, the workmanship looks so, so lovely, erin. here’s to tova #2…
yes! to it all!
I just wanted to say that even if you don’t feel like it is super creative, there are people out here that are at awe with someone that can even sew a hood… Just saying. Thank you for showing inspiering things.
I commented quickly on this photo on flickr, because I had to run off and buy the pattern while it was still available!
You’re totally right. Making begets making. It’s hard for me to get back in once I’ve gotten out, but when I’m in, I’m just rolling along.
I've had this pattern for a long time (I bought it when she first offered it) and when I saw that it was up for sale again, I quickly ran and bought the smaller size so I can make the girls a dress or top each (Kate is already 5'1"- the xs will totally fit her).
thanks anne!
yes! one giant work in progress!
I so agree with you. For me it becomes this cycle of “can do”. “If I can sew clothes than I should be able to handle installing that new light in the hallway – how hard can electrical be ? Threading my serger was way more complicated”. I find that now I measure other projects up to my sewing projects. That answers the question I bet we all here – “Isn’t it just cheaper to buy it?”
That top looks lovely! You are going to have a very happy friend!
If you don’t mind my asking, what is the fabric you used? I’m just getting into garment sewing for myself (for the kiddos I just use whatever, mine are young enough still that it will be stained in about 5 minutes anyway!) and am having such trouble picking out fabrics. Do you use quilting cottons for your tops or stick with shirting or voiles? Any advice (quick, of course) would be really appreciated!
I come to your blog for a lot of things-your cooking, your honesty, your sewing and as someone who is trying to teach myself how to pattern make clothing of any sort I love your blog. You may not think it is really creative or impressive, but it definitely is to someone who doesn’t know how to do it and it is so helpful. Thank you for posting what you do and the issues you have because it helps! 🙂