Today sewing is rarely taught in schools. Read why sewing is an lost art today.
- Learning How to Sew Was Mandatory
- Sewing Allows Customized Fit
- Taking Up the Art of Sewing Again
- Alterations
- Up-cycling and Re-fashioning: Sewing as an Art
- How to Make Vintage Dresses
- Conclusions
- Top of the World Style Linkup Party No. 260
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Learning How to Sew Was Mandatory
In high school, the girls had to learn how to sew. We were told that there are at least 4 reasons why to learn how to sew. The first project was to make an apron, which I found pretty useless. Even my granny did never wear aprons in the kitchen. The next project was a nightgown!
I bought a fabric that also could be worn also as a dress on the beach and on vacation. Being a PJ kind of gal, I did not like the idea of wearing a nightgown. Nevertheless, despite I did not like what we had to sew I liked to be able to sew. As a teenager I sew at least one dirndl type skirt each summer. Here in the US, this kind is called full skirt.
Sewing Allows Customized Fit
Despite I loved that sewing permits creating pieces customized for your body shape, I stopped sewing as an undergraduate. The reason was simple. I did not have a sewing machine in the dorms. When I was a graduate student my mom got a new sewing machine. She gave her old one to me and I took up sewing again despite having only one stitch option on this old sewing machine. Back then, I mainly produced pencil skirts as I always had difficulties finding some that had a perfect fit one my small hips. Other pieces were straight skirts for work and wide 1950s-inspired skirts for dancing (see next two photos). I stopped sewing again when I was working on my second PhD.

Taking Up the Art of Sewing Again
When we immigrated to the United States, I had to leave the sewing machine behind. The voltage and frequency of the European and American electricity differ. This meant I would have had to find a converter. Thus, it seemed easier to buy a new sewing machine in Alaska. Learn more on the history of the sewing machine.
While in the beginning of the Millennium, I made a lot of vintage inspired dresses and ethnic inspired clothing (see next photos for examples) as well as Halloween costumes, I mainly used it for alterations since I started blogging.






Alterations
Today my sewing machine is most often used for easy alterations. Being a petite gal, I have to adjust the hems of dresses and skirts most of the time. I don’t shy away from shortening a high-low hem maxi-dress.
However, I try to avoid alterations of jeans. To get the look right, one has to sew the old hem back on. This job is tricky especially when you have 16 oz weight denim. Sewing the old hem on is really an art when you want it to look like the original. I occasionally have to do it, when my husband bought a pair of jeans. I also shortened the hem of my denim dress.

Up-cycling and Re-fashioning: Sewing as an Art
Besides for alterations, the second most time, I use the sewing machine for up-cycling or refashioning projects. Old saris provide enough fabric for a dress or even jumpsuit. You can find an easy instruction how to upcycle a sari into a beautiful full skirt in the post at the link.
Other easy and quick refashion projects are to
- turn an old shirt into a great scarf of blouse.
The photos below show the results of some more difficult upcycling projects.


How to Make Vintage Dresses
I sew a couple of vintage dresses over time (see above photos for some examples). Here the problem is to get the cuts. If you are lucky to find an original one, be aware. They are very expensive. Thus, it may be worth you time to search for a reprint or ask older family members whether they still have old pattern or even pattern journals or books. There are also companies that specialize in selling vintage patterns. The cheapest possibility is to take an old piece apart that you found on a flea market or in a thrift-store. Then use it as a template for your sewing project.
If you need to make alterations of the pattern for fit, I can recommend this Ultimate Illustrated Guide to Sewing Clothes by Joi Mahon.

Conclusions
When I was a kid, my mom used to make our summer dresses because it was cheaper than buying. Not to mention we had unique custom-made pieces. Today, time is so precious and tight, and good fabrics, necessities plus cuts for sewing are very expensive. Even custom-tailored fashion like this Rita Phil skirt or customized clothing from online stores like eShakti are cheaper than making your own clothes. Thus, it seems that with sewing being more expensive than buying high quality clothes, it will become a lost art and seamstresses will become artists.


It is a question, whether upcycling may be able to keep the technique alive for more people than just artists and (then highly paid) professionals. The post at the link shares the secrets of making great clothes yourself.
Do you still sew some of your clothes? If so, what type of clothes do you sew? Let me know, I am curious.
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Top of the World Style Linkup No. 260
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