So, I made a skirt but now it’s too dark to take a photo of it so I’ll have to show you in the next post. Here’s a nice photo I took of some trees instead (we’re freezing our bums off here, I don’t know about you).
 |
| There were a million squirrels running about. Squirrels haunt me, they haunt me |
I started this year with a Secret List which I’m wondering whether to share or not, because I just have this feeling that the minute I make it official I won’t want to do it any more. There were a flurry of things around the internet in December about 12 things for yourself in 2012, (you could have a look at
this flickr group here, or
this group on Ravelry), so I made a list of 12 things (well, 12 things and a bonus) I would like to make for myself. Since I’ve now made one of them and am about halfway through another I might give you a small peek (I don’t think you’ll put me off, nice readers, I just worry as soon as I commit it to pixels I’ll go off the idea!).
 |
| Also, I have now spent all my wages in advance on a pair of deeply impractical shoes. So, all these things will be made from string and an old bedsheet |
Anyway, making things for myself has made me think about a couple of things. The first one is that when I make things for myself normally I tend not to value them, or, not quite not value them, but, I don’t mark them out as being of value, if that makes sense. So I don’t always finish things perfectly if they are just for me, and I wear them around the house and with hoodies. I wondered, though, with the 12 I’m (possibly) making: what if I finished them all nicely, sewed labels in, and wore them as if they were expensive designer pieces I’d bought from a shop, i.e. with accessories and makeup, gasp? How would that feel? How would it affect how other people saw them? So I am going to try that just as an experiment,
And the second thing is something that has always been an issue with me: I don’t want to make the things that it would be useful for me to have. I can’t tell you how strongly my taste in handmade things tends towards the dramatic, the one-off. What would be useful for me to have in my wardrobe is 3 more navy blue tshirts, a pair of trousers that fit, and a couple of fine-knit v-neck sweaters. Do you know what, though? I’ll just make what I’m interested in making, I’ll buy the plain things from TK Maxx if I need them, and we’ll see what happens. What use is a navy tshirt anyway without a huge circular shawl with skulls on to set it off? Exactly.
Posts
10 comments:
Oh exactly: don't waste your time making practical everyday stuff. That should be bought, like daytoday white knickers, saving the good stuff for the weekend :-D
I like both your ideas.
I was having a similar discussion to point number one recently with a friend in relation to something I was going to apply for- I was saying there was no way I would get it anyway, so I was just going to put a half arsed application in because you know there would be so many people applying, and it was such a prestigious thing etc etc...and she just said- if you're not going to do it properly, then don't do it, wait till next year and do it then.
and it had such an impact on me, this year I am going to do things properly, even if they are just for me
sorry that was a big rant, when I really just wanted to say I really like that you are going to make awesome stuff for yourself!
Have a nice weekend
I feel exactly the same way about putting resolutions to pixels. Good luck with yours.
I have the same problem with making announcements, sometimes ... It depends on my mood and the project, I guess. ;)
Love those trees, by the way!
And I totally have started doing more whimsical crafting this year, too. Meaning, to heck with making practical objects. It's not even true that I necessarily use practical objects more than dramatic ones — sometimes I end up getting more use out of my dramatic pieces than my practical ones, if I let myself get/make them when I really feel revved up about it. All part of that "listening to myself" thing, probably ... ;)
I get fed up because I have to make a lot of my clothes as I am very large and can't find the kinds of things i like in my size (and don't want to look like Evans woman). What I really want to make for myself is a bottle green velvet jacket with a fitted bodice and dramatically flared skirt. What I need to make for myself is a couple of shirts and a pinafore dress as my old ones have fallen apart. Boo. I say, go for the dramatic thing you won't find in any shop....
Vivianne, I am wondering about your weekend knickers now...
Grateful 4 Crochet, your friend is absolutely right, and this is something I tend not to do (I am queen of the half-arsed) - I shall ponder on that one, thank you for that.
PS good luck with it if you apply.
Thank you ;-).
Silver, this is very true - I'm not sure I use my dramatic things any less, either.
I actually would wear a bottle green velvet jacket all the time. Go for it girl ;-).
Post a Comment