A Garment A Week – My 2016 Challenge

 

A Garment A Week - Stitch Remedy

Hi! Welcome!  My name is Ruth.  I’m a Mum of three, living in Putaruru, New Zealand.

I work part time as a seamstress doing alterations and dressmaking.  I’ve been sewing since I was about 10, making dolls clothes and learning embroidery / hand sewing.  I took sewing classes as an option through High School and made all my Ball dresses with the help of my Mum.  My Mum was an amazing tailoress who passed on her passion to me.  She made so many of my clothes as a child and I remember her sewing everyday.  I also remember her telling me the story of handsewing the daisy lace onto the train of her wedding dress, the morning of her wedding, as she was getting her hair done!  She’d spent all her time sewing her Mum’s outfit, my Dad’s suit and her Bridesmaid that she’d run out of time for her own dress!  My Mum passed away in 2005 from breast cancer, when I was 22.  I wish I’d spent more time learning more from her.

I really want to improve my dressmaking and pattern drafting skills and the only way to do this is by practicing 🙂  No amount of reading and researching will make up for actually doing the sewing and drafting in this trade.  I have also found here in NZ it is increasingly hard to find people to learn from.  Almost all of the clothes sewing factories here have closed due to the cheaper cost of having things made offshore.  I learnt a lot working for a local designer for a few years and I’m learning everyday I work in the alterations business.  But I still want to know more!

The Challenge

My challenge to myself, is to create one garment, every week in 2016.

So I am in need of some Cheerleaders! Please like my Facebook page and send me some encouraging vibes.  You can also follow my inspiration and pin my garments on Pinterest 🙂  You can find all the A Garment A Week posts by searching ‘Garment’ in the search box in the top right hand corner.

I know it’s going to be tough sometimes, work, kids and my dance with anxiety often leave me exhausted but this is something I really want to accomplish.  Stitching, sewing, working with fabric challenges and calms me.  I find that sitting at my sewing machine aids in stress release, keeps my mind occupied and I love the accomplishment of finishing a garment.  

Stitching soothes my soul – Stitching is my Remedy! 

Here’s to improving my skill sets and increasing my wardrobe!

Edited to add – I DID IT!!

So super proud and excited to finish this challenge 🙂  Check out my final post on A Garment A Week  and drop me a line and let me know where I should go next?  I’m so stuck lol