navigator9
Well-Known Member
I know there must be others here who sew. I learned how to sew when I was a little girl, so that I could make clothes for my dolls. And in high school, I sewed almost all of my clothes, because I couldn't afford the things that I wanted, the things that my friends had. Back then, I felt sorry for myself, poor me, having to make those hip hugger bell bottoms, and that flower power A-line dress.
Now, I look back and thank my lucky stars that I didn't have things handed to me, that I was forced to learn how to do so much for myself. It forced me to be creative. These days, when I talk to people and they can't make their own drapes, or knit a pair of mittens, or can't bake bread, don't garden, have never installed a light fixture, can't fix things, I wonder how it's possible to get through life without developing some of these skills??? And I'm thankful for my life.
I digress. I started writing this because you guys got me started on Pinterest, and there, I discovered something so beautiful. I kept seeing a piece of this clothing, here and there on Pinterest, not knowing what the heck it was. Then, finally one of the comments referred to Alabama Chanin, and I looked it up. Alabama Chanin is a clothing line started by Natalie Chanin. It uses 100% cotton jersey, embellished with handwork done by local Alabama women, most of whom had lost their jobs in the textile factories there, due to the ecomomy. The clothing they make is crazy beautiful, and also crazy expensive. And worth every penny, when you consider the work that goes into it. Of course, it's not anything that I can afford, but......there are books, and patterns. Now that I've retired, and have time (as soon as all the work on my house gets done), these are the kinds of things I want to try. People kept asking me if I would get bored. HA! How can you ever get bored when there are so many new things to try? Anyway, if you've never seen anything by Alabama Chanin, they're some of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I've ever seen....take a look. Doesn't it make you want to pick up a needle and thread? They're all about hand work and attention to detail. I'm in love. They make my fingers itch.
Here are many examples of their designs on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=alabama+chanin&term_meta
And a couple of YouTube videos
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gh5vEEoDxk[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvv98JdiVLA[/ame]
Now, I look back and thank my lucky stars that I didn't have things handed to me, that I was forced to learn how to do so much for myself. It forced me to be creative. These days, when I talk to people and they can't make their own drapes, or knit a pair of mittens, or can't bake bread, don't garden, have never installed a light fixture, can't fix things, I wonder how it's possible to get through life without developing some of these skills??? And I'm thankful for my life.
I digress. I started writing this because you guys got me started on Pinterest, and there, I discovered something so beautiful. I kept seeing a piece of this clothing, here and there on Pinterest, not knowing what the heck it was. Then, finally one of the comments referred to Alabama Chanin, and I looked it up. Alabama Chanin is a clothing line started by Natalie Chanin. It uses 100% cotton jersey, embellished with handwork done by local Alabama women, most of whom had lost their jobs in the textile factories there, due to the ecomomy. The clothing they make is crazy beautiful, and also crazy expensive. And worth every penny, when you consider the work that goes into it. Of course, it's not anything that I can afford, but......there are books, and patterns. Now that I've retired, and have time (as soon as all the work on my house gets done), these are the kinds of things I want to try. People kept asking me if I would get bored. HA! How can you ever get bored when there are so many new things to try? Anyway, if you've never seen anything by Alabama Chanin, they're some of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I've ever seen....take a look. Doesn't it make you want to pick up a needle and thread? They're all about hand work and attention to detail. I'm in love. They make my fingers itch.
Here are many examples of their designs on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=alabama+chanin&term_meta
And a couple of YouTube videos
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gh5vEEoDxk[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvv98JdiVLA[/ame]
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