Sewing by hand - a slow fashion project
Sometimes a project is all about the outcome, sometimes it is about the idea. And other times it is all about the process, the way and how you get to the end, if there even is one.
This project seems to be off the later category: all about the process.
For so long I am playing with the thought of sewing by hand. At times romanticising it and at times I just have a horror of it.
How long will it take me to sew all those seams by hand?
Before I even started the project, I am already discouraged by the extra time it would take me to do all the stitches by hand. Instead of just pressing the gas pedal of my sewing machine down and let the needle run through the lines, as fast as possible.
But if I am honest, I should really leave that same old impatience aside. Or at least accept it and move on.
Yes, whenever I am having an idea, I want to see the result immediately.
Yes, every minute I work on the new garment I am idealizing how wo wonderful it will be to wear it.
And yes, the process always takes longer than expected.
I don’t need to produce, do I? Then I can also enjoy the process for what it is!
After all that you might wonder why I even wanted to sew by hand. Because I did. And it is not only the circumstances (traveling by bike through Europe), which leave me with no other choice. Than to sew by hand or not sew at all.
The later isn’t an option.
Isn’t it funny how sometimes we really have to impose the choice on ourselves? And only if there is literally no other option left, well take the ways that we knew all along would be beneficial, better or healthier.
In that case talking about hand sewing. Which I wanted to focus more on since ages, but given the option of not sewing by hand but with the machine, I'll always choose the machine. The faster way.
What I like about sewing by hand, is the slowness and mindfulness of the process. Every stitch can become some sort of a meditation exercise. And little distraction is possible. You’ll have to focus on the essential.
Meanwhile fancy sewing machines and other tools, such as stitching machines, serigraphy printing, lots of fabric… you name it, could distract from the actual skill you need to acquire to complete a piece. All the extras, make me lose the focus on what really inspires me.
And if I take off all the distraction, I am left with sewing by hand, with limited amount of fabric, threads and buttons.
Since weeks I carry the same fabric around with me. Slowly making my way through its upcycling process, I turned it into a top at first.
Later I decided that I would love to make it a two piece. And that’s where I knew, that I would have to sew more than just a few stitches by hand, if I wanted to ever get there.
I did the cutting first, that was easy.
Using my favourite bottom to copy the pattern.
Trying on cut again and repeat, for the top.
After that everything went back into the bags...
...until I sat on that bench in front of a church. In a little town somewhere in Italy. It is the middle of the day and therefore unbearably hot, which means my brain isn’t able to think that much at all. How should I pass my time?
Is this really the right moment to sew? Shouldn’t I just relax?
Or maybe I should stop finding excuses!
My first stitches are coming along very clumsy and unregularly.
Deciding to go for a French-seam-style, which means I sew first on the “good” side and then fold in the seams and sew it together again. Which will hide the first seam.
Like that I have some more time to practice my stitches...
...to my surprise and satisfaction, the top is already more of a two piece, than ever before.
There should be plenty of siestas to do so from now on. And now that I think of it, isn’t that the perfect romanticized picture of hand sewing in public. On a bench in the shade, overlooking a square, waiting for the heat to pass, one stitch at the time? Enjoying the process, moving slowly towards a result that doesn't really matter. Getting excited about all the different techniques I could try and learn along the way...
Thank you all to pass by once more and have a lovely week!
All photos and words are mine, written and taken by me in the last week.
Hmm Slow fashion, I haven't tried hand sewing in a long while, my inpatient self won't be able to deal ha ha, I did mostly hand sewing, during my early days of learning how to sew, I even enjoyed sewing with my hands compared to using a sewing machine then.
I admire you, you make seem like upcycling so much fun to do, unbelievable, you still made a two piece out of the blouse, so creative. Welldone.
Hahah well that same impatience I had (and still have) to deal with too!!
Thank you, thats awesome to hear:) Appreciate it!!
Maybe I should congratulate you for having the patience and determination of hand sewing your top.😊 While, I don't really have the patience like you do, but I guess, I wouldn't have a choice also if like you, I'm travelling (no sewing machines are available) and something that I should or very important that I need to sew. But most of the time, I'm bringing only my yarn and hook.
By the way, I like the photo of you posing behind the bushes. 🥰
Thank you, it wasn't easy to find the patience😅
I guess that is the moments I wish I had more skill in crocheting or knitting, probably the best ways to pass train rides or any waiting time while traveling...
And thank you again💜 thats very nice to hear!!
Aaaaaaahhhhhh, I LOVE IT dearest @kesityu.fashion !!
I feel such an affinity with you, as you are in Italy, and sitting on a bench, AND handsewing!! YES! Such beautiful observations you make, about how different it is to slow down and do it all by hand... I relate very much! Although I didn't follow patterns or a pre-held idea in my head, and so I haven't had much 'impatience to finish', I still have had moments of being all tensely over-excited to pull it together, especially when I am using the sewing machine!
My feeling into the garment as I am constructing it, and moving off of the machine and on to sitting somewhere else (sometimes outside of the house, to dissipate the tension built up in the sewing room!) also gives me the space to actually harmonise better with what I'm doing - to listen both to the fabric and to the sensory sense of what wants to come into being, as it were.... When I slow down, the holistic felt-imagining comes into my feeling-seeing, and I can move forward without making a tight or wrong move (even though I have little skill, relatively speaking!) and mostly can effortlessly bring the best garment out of the materials I'm working with.
I love seeing others who work so similarly to myself, as it expands my own experience and my feeling of what is possible - i.e. anything!!
I was obviously thinking of you too (hand sewing, outside in Italy) 😊
That is a very good and interesting point!! And I like how you call it "tensely over-excited" I consider using that therm instead of impatience... it's more constructive I find. As you say, maybe by slowing down and having all that space mentally and physically around, the pressure dissolves!
I actually realized that when I used to be in Art-School and the rooms and buildings where just waaay to big and whatever I was working on I always felt kind of hurried and closed in, even though I loved the projects. There wasn't enough room or simplicity.
It all fits together...
Thank you to share your thoughts💜
You inspire me to do some of my cross stitching again. I usually create presents for @fermentedphil, but I haven’t done it in some time unfortunately. I do love your posts, I envy your crafts!
Thank you so much!! Love to hear that:)
And what sort of things are you making?
If I see an illustration, for example, I would use the pic2pat website to make a pattern or make it myself. It is really simple stuff I make, but it takes time nonetheless ;)
I will make a post about it in the near future though!
I would love to see that! Simple or not doesn't really matter, as long as you enjoy it, it's all the same:)
This was me a long time ago when I was learning how to sew.
I made a complete outfit using paper and sacks, it was fun then because I was always afraid to paddle.
The manual sewing machine will never respond in the right direction which frustrated me even me.
Now the only thing I do with needle and thread is tacking of button and nothing else.
Paper and sacks? That sound like an awesome dress! Do you still have any photos of it?
I imagine it isn't really the most efficient way to do it all by hand:)
That was a long time ago... But i can try doing that even now, just for fun.
I really like the way you write so deep and precise, in a few words you condense very real feelings that we can identify with. Personally I loved your reflection on what it means to sew by hand, I love sewing by hand because I feel that I enter an extremely meditative and pleasant bubble, also, I feel more in control of the project. I really like how you explained your process for deciding between each method 💕
What a beautiful person you are 🌹 @kesityu.moda 🌹
Thank you so much, very lovely to read that it resonated and that you enjoyed it!!😊💕 ...that means a lot!
Indeed a meditative state and very calming, even just because there is no constant sound to it:)
💜
This amazing, i love your narrative.
Thank you!! Nice to hear you enjoyed it:)