My New Favorite Resource: The Library!

As I started to delve into finding patterns for myself I, of course, tripped headlong into Pinterest where I found some really interesting online pattern retailers. But I also pinned some patterns found in books. With my trusty, rusty library card I did some searches and came out with a few new books in my request list.

THIS MEANS! That you can rent pattern books from the library and make copies of the pattern pieces kept in the envelope in the back! What a terrific discovery! I feel like I've been telling everyone who will listen this week about my new-found favorite part of the library. (Note: I will be following this up with a How To on copying patterns from books)

I had kind of forgotten the section of the library that had coffee table books detailing the careers of fashion designers but as I browsed I also found more pattern books, auto and biographies of designers, treatises on gender and fashion, and several books by Tim Gunn!

I am certainly obsessed! This photo is just one of several similar piles. Have you found anything as useful or empowering at the library?

Brittany

Back in the hot seat again!

I am not the kind of girl who thinks you need to wait until New Years Eve to make a big change. But I do like to use the new year to fine tune my hobbies. A few years ago I made it my goal to read a book a week. Which seems ambitious but it helped me assess how I was using my free time. Like "Hey Brittany, how long have you been on facebook? Do you think this time would be better spent with your nose in a book?"

The stack of fabric waiting to be pants and jumpers!

So I have decided that this year I want to make and alter more of my own clothes. I have done pretty well buying clothing from thrift stores and altering them to fit my figure but I have seriously slacked on the alterations that ended up in a pile in my closet-re: loose buttons, worn spots, broken zippers. And I cannot ever remember the last time I made something from scratch for my closet!

I've decided to blog through 2017 to keep myself honest and to remember what I learned! Let's be honest 365 days is a long time. I'll certainly forget stuff!

I started by pinning like crazy! I posted pictures of fashion I dig with no patterns under Get Dressed! and pictures of fashion with patterns under Sew What. I bought a few of those patterns that haven't any buttons or zippers. Let's start easy! And they are mostly wrapped garments and jumpers. I've got specific tastes.

I'm so jazzed! I have already stacked the To Sew list! 

BK