Patterns of Life
Have you ever heard that collecting fabric and quilting are really two different hobbies? I think the same can be said for art supplies/creating art, yarn/knitting or crocheting, and weapons/hunting. I have been reorganizing my sewing supplies and tools preparing to transition from mainly quilting to mainly garment sewing and have found that I have several robust collecting hobbies. The most recent discovery is a pattern-collecting hobby.
I have had my patterns stuffed into two bins, three drawers in one file cabinet, and two drawers in a different file cabinet. I decided to put them all into one big plastic tote, take them in my living room so I will not outof- sight-out-of-mind them, and sort through them. I’m proud to say they only sat there for maybe three or four days before I tackled the project and then it only took one day to complete it. They are all now organized by type into three drawers in one filing cabinet. One thing I learned is that I really have no reason to buy more patterns unless I want to take up sewing something like men’s suits (this will not happen). I believe I could create nearly anything I could dream up with the patterns I already have.
Sorting through the patterns sent me down a life-history rabbit hole. I have a few patterns from around the time I graduated from high school nearly fifty years ago and a bunch from the 1980s. One conclusion I reached is that I had really good, classic tastes back then, which means those clothes would fit in just fine right now, not that it matters much as I have always tended to wear what I like and feel comfortable in no matter what the current styles are. Being able to sew clothes is a big help if you would rather not be a “victim” of fashion cycles.
Recently my mother gave me an envelope of pictures of myself that she had collected over my lifetime. Much to my surprise, I could not remember when some of them were taken. I would have thought that I could remember based on hairstyles, clothes, settings, etc., but a few have stumped me. I could remember the specifics of each one where I was wearing something I had made, though.
There were no gaps in my memory as I looked through my patterns. I remember each of them that I had actually made, the fabrics, how many versions, and what was going on in life at the time. Sewing has been a part of my life for nearly the entirety of my life. Before I was old enough to sew, I remember my mother sitting at the dining table with her Singer Touch n Sew and sitting at the pattern book tables looking through those gigantic books..and occasionally hiding under the draped racks of fabrics.
I know many of you have similar memories, if not of your own sewing, then surely of your mother and/or grandmother sewing. I would love to hear your stories!