Do We Have Too Many Clothes?

Not my picture, but it easily could be. And I'm just one person!

I had a weird epiphany recently. It involved me not really wanting any more clothes or fabric. Which, I know, is so strange. Let me explain.

When I was growing up (and even now when I go home), and I was bored my mother, sister, and I would all load up and go shopping. Even a few years ago, whenever I got really upset about something, if I went into a store and found a cute dress or shoes or whatever, I would buy it and feel so much better. (Plus, new, cute things!)

But when I decided I wanted to move from Chicago to New York, I had to cut my shopping expenses down. Way down. And when I got to New York and was getting paid nothing (literally nothing - it was an internship), I completely eliminated shopping. Completely! Do you know how difficult that was?

But I did it. And it was nice because even when I got a decently paying job, I was in that mindset of, "Do I really need to drop this much money on this dress?" Sometimes the answer was an emphatic yes, but most often, the answer was no. I didn't really need it.

My solution to being broke and liking nice things and have an excessive amount of free time on my hands was to take up sewing. But I have a new problem!

I go into fabric stores and buy the prettiest and softest fabric I can find. And then I bring it home where it sits in a bag on the floor of my craft room. I'm essentially collecting fabric. So I've banned myself from buying fabric until I get on those untouched fabrics.

But that's not really what sparked the epiphany. That's just background. It was this:

1. A friend commented that I wear the same dress over and over again. And it's true. I generally only wear the same 3-6 dresses every day. I have a closet full of clothes that I rarely use.

2. I'm not really into trendy clothes. I prefer simple, classic, clean lines. They're easier to make and I have a bunch of patterns to help me do this. So why do I obsess over finding more patterns and newer things? I'm not even into them!

3. I read somewhere recently (can't find it or I would link!) that the average closet size in America is now the size of what used to be the average sized bedroom. That's so ridiculous!

4. I read this article about problems with the Salvation Army. It essentially outlined that because clothing is moderately cheap, everyone tends to buy a lot of it. It had statistics like 1 in 4 women own 7 pairs of jeans, but she only wears 4 of them regularly. Which is basically backed up by my own closet of dresses that I rarely wear. BUT THEN it talked about how there is too much clothing for thrift stores. So much so that they're shipping most of our unused clothing to poorer continents like Africa, which I know isn't new, but what IS new is that because the countries they were going to in Africa are becoming more developed and less poor, they're encountering the exact same problem we are, which is that there are too many clothes.

So what's happening to our discarded clothing? I'm sure it will all end up in a land dump somewhere.

But it really bothers me, not only because it's so wasteful, but because we're spending so much money on items that we never use. I've traded unwanted, cheap clothing for fabric that sits collecting dust. Yes, I WILL turn that fabric into curtains, but when? It's been there for the last few weeks. How many more will it take?

Perhaps I'm also disgusted with my procrastination and not just potentially wasting money. But regardless, I'm not interested in spending lots of money on things that I just realized I don't really need.

What do you guys think? Have you ever thought about this before? Am I overthinking it?

Finished: Anime Costume

My sister's costume is finished! The only thing left is that she might dye her hair blonde, but that's not really crafty, is it? (Unless she does it at home, which I'm 99% sure she won't.

Just to remind you, this is the character she's copying.

This is where she was when I left. Click here to see how we made it.

This is the backpack she decided to make after I showed her how simple sewing can be!

                                         

And here's the finished outfit! How cute is she?! She made everything except the socks and the hat, though she did dye the blue stripes on the socks herself, and she had to alter the hat because when it arrived, the sizing was all wonky. I'm so proud!

(Also, ignore the mess in the background. My mom is redoing her closet!)

DIY Skull T-Shirt

While I was home on vacation, my brother walked over with a stack of men's white tshirts, sized large, and handed them to me.

Somehow, even though I'm not a man, nor am I into oversized white tshirts (that coincidentally fit him), he was convinced that the shirts were mine and had somehow ended up in his room. He was returning them. I laughed and gave them back, but then, of course, I ran across across a site explaining how to make a skull tshirt. And you guessed it! I needed a large, white tshirt.

Luckily, my brother was willing to part with one, though it became a battle! The website tells you to print out a skull shape and transfer it to the shirt, but where's the fun in that?

I had my sister trace my bra straps (since I had no intentions of going braless!) so that I could then draw the skull around them. I drew it in pencil, then cut it out.

It was pretty easy, but I ran into one problem: if the nose isn't pointy, but more rounded, it looks rather like a gorilla. And that's not cool. Ha, luckily it was an easy fix, though the skull face is still a little friendly, and I think the point is that it's supposed to be scary. Oh, well. I'm a friendly person, so I guess it works.

The other problem was that I'm pretty pale, and in order for the shirt to really stand out, I needed to wear a darker color underneath. I'm thinking of dying the shirt to a gray or black color so there's more of a contrast.

What do you think?

Visiting Home. Making Anime Costumes.

Sorry I've been out of commission for awhile! Part of it was that I was in a weird funk and didn't feel like creating anything (Does that happen to anyone else? Or just me?), but the other part of it was that I went home to visit my family and didn't really have time to post anything!

I was actually really excited to go home because I wanted to hit up Joann's Craft store because everyone talks about them. Luckily for me, they were having a sale on patterns when I went, so I grabbed 6 dresses I love and I'm so excited to start making them. (Add to the list, sheesh.)

Torturing the cat

Anyway, one of the goals of my trip was to teach my sister how to sew. She's been wanting to know just in general for hemming and things, but when she told me she was trying to find a costume for an anime con, I was like, "Gosh, just make one."

Concentrating!

We were originally going to buy some fabric, but Joann's didn't have the right types or colors (also, it was surprisingly the same price as here in NYC!). Luckily, my sister found the right colors at Target. We bought 3 XL men's shirts.

Our yards of fabric

I taught her how to draft a pattern, which I had only really done in my head before, and it turned out beautifully.

We had a few problems with the sleeves. I don't really get sleeves. They confuse me immensely, but somehow we figured it out, and they went on without any issues (after the 4th or 5th time).

Based on her new skills, she's made a backpack, and she's working on the hat part of the costume. I'm so proud of her!

Made without my presence. *sniff* I'm so proud.

Also, can I just say that having a huge counter top at the perfect height made this so much easier. Normally, I lay everything out on the floor, and it kills my knees (and my spirit). I definitely need to invest in some sort of cabinet or SOMETHING immediately.

The preliminary outfit!

Inspiration!

Finished: Oversized Bow that I have No Idea What to do With

Maybe not noticeable to anyone else, but I hate it.

So after I made my purse, I was a little distraught over the small white line where the thread was somehow exposed. I looked, but couldn't figure out how I managed to get one side right and the other wrong. So even though it's not really noticeable to anyone but me, I thought I would makes something to try and hide it. And what would be better than a bow, am I right?

In my head, I envisioned this cute little delicate bow that I could pin to my purse when I needed it and take off when I didn't. Instead, I got a massive oversized bow that's almost the same size as the purse.

It doesn't look bad pinned on the side, though you lose the pleating details.

The original post had it as a headband bow thing, but I'm not sure I can pull it off.

It certainly doesn't go across the back of the dress like I imagined.

Maybe I could add it as a detail to an outfit? ...Some outfit that maybe I haven't created yet?

Maybe a belt?

Maybe I could add to the back of something?

The boyfriend likes it best on my head. What are your thoughts? I think I like it on my backside the best. Now... I just have to figure out with what!

Finished (Kind of): Buttercup Bag

I've never been into purses. Growing up, I saw them as being difficult, not only because you had to carry them because girls can't carry wallets (or maybe my jeans were too tight?), but there was all the added pressure of making sure it looked good so you could fit in. Not that you could ever truly fit in when you're a teenager, but everyone wants to at least stress out about it and try, right?

Anyway, in college, I was left out because everyone started carrying designer bags. The affordable ones were SO UGLY and the ones I adored, were of course, way out of price range. But because I really wanted one, I ended getting a Coach bag as a gift for Christmas (thanks, ex-boyfriend's mom!). I carried it everywhere. I actually still have it and it held up pretty well. So maybe it is worth the money?

I was planning on a nice photoshoot
in the park, but it's been cold and rainy.
Forgive my appearance.

Anyway, it didn't work ALL the time because it was brown and purple and I needed something black as well! So I used up a gift card and bought a cheap-ish purse on Amazon. It served me well until I finally decided to toss it. I don't mind things falling apart, but this purse just looked so sad. Conveniently, a friend just gave me a Kate Spade purse to replace it.

Which is what I'm currently carrying until it disintegrates. But for some reason, I want to branch out and carry something else. It sucks only have 2 options. I like the bright red color of the Kate Spade bag, but sometimes I don't like carrying such an expensive purse. Or one that's that large.

I saw this purse on Pinterest, and I was immediately intrigued. Perhaps with my newly developed sewing skills I could make a purse? Plus, the pattern was free, so how could I go wrong? (Ha!)

It said it only used a fat quarter. At the time, I wasn't aware that was a proper sewing term, so I bought half a yard. I'd rather be prepared, just in case. Plus, I'm pretty sure I'm going to use all my scraps for SOMETHING. Just have to figure out what.

Anyway, as I was cutting and tracing, I had a revelation.

My fabric was muslin, and I couldn't use it. I was so upset because it's this bright green/blue color and I had visions of running around in the park with it. Regardless, I figured it would be good practice anyway, so I continued to make the bag, just very sloppily. When my matching thread ran out, I just used white. I didn't care that one of the handles' stitching was visible, or that the decoration flap wasn't finished, had holes, and just flapped back and forth. I was pretty proud of my first effort at a handbag.

Even though I sewed the other side of the strap to the seam allowance, somehow this side was wrong. And I couldn't figure out how to fix it! I was going to add a bow or something to hide it, but that didn't work at all.

My sad decorative flap. I thought about fixing it. Or maybe making it a little smaller, with better edges, and perhaps with some buttons, but then I just decided to remove it.

Then I had a friend over for dinner, and she looked perplexed when I explained my actions, and said, "This isn't muslin. Muslin isn't usually a color, anyway." Curses. Another friend confirmed.

So I went back and added some lining. I could have taken it apart and done it properly. But who's going to examine the inside of my purse, but me? So it looks a little nasty. I did try to take some silk and go around the exposed edges at the top, but that didn't really work.

A quick peek inside reveals some nice lining. (Also looks a little dirty, no?)

A closer look reveals my laziness. Sure, I could have taken it apart and added the lining properly when I found out it wasn't muslin, but where's the fun in that?

But generally, from the outside, it looks very cute, and it fit my wallet, book, and keys, so I don't really care.

However, when I carried it for the first time, it had some issues. The handles started to come loose and the zipper looked like it was also ready to jump ship. Luckily, it's an easy fix. I just wonder if there's a way to avoid that in the future?

One handle coming off.

Two handles coming off.

Something strange is happening with the zip. I blame my machine.  More on that later.

All in all, this was a pretty successful first purse, I'd say. Clearly I have some more work to do, but remember, I cut corners on this because I thought I would just throw it away. I can sew better this. I promise!

I REALLY want to get some heavy duty gorgeous fabric and make it into a fancy purse, but that will come in time. As for now, I'm happy to carry it around like this. Seems perfect for summer!

Updates!

Today was supposed to be a day of relaxing and picnicking and unveiling my latest dress and purse and announcing my next projects. None of that happened.

Waiting for the bf.

I was supposed to finish my dress last night, but I ended up having to work instead. It looks really nice and it's almost done, but somehow my calculations were off and I need to take off about an inch or so where the zipper is. I was going to do it this morning before the picnic, but then my boyfriend got a call to run into town to pick up something and I got a call to run over to my apartment to handle some business.

Try not to be blinded by my pale skin.

My business ended up being pushed so I joined my boyfriend in town. I can't even unveil my purse because it didn't match the dress I ended up wearing! (I know, I have so many real problems.)

In other news, I'm starting to look for other projects, and I think I've decided a full dress, maybe something like this?

I also joined the Pajama Party Sew-Along, but I'm not sure I'm going to finish by the 28th of April. It seems easy enough, and I DEFINITELY need to make a new pair of lounge pants, but I'm not sure I'll have the time. Hopefully!