Book Review: The Re:Fashion Wardrobe

I discovered this book when I was leaving the library the other day. It was part of a display of new library acquisitions. The title grabbed my attention and the subtitle clinched it.

The Re:Fashion Wardrobe

Sew Your Own Stylish, Sustainable Clothes

by Portia Lawrie

I picked it up, flipped through it, and immediately understood what the author was doing. Portia Lawrie is showing us how to take "old" clothing from our closets, re-sale shops, and yard sales and turn them into garments that accommodate our personal style and fit properly: dresses from t-shirts, skirts from shirts, shorts from curtains, a quilted duster coat from a duvet(!).

What I especially like, is that the Lawrie's wardrobe concept is built around a capsule wardrobe. From the author:

"The most sustainable garment is the one that gets worn over and over again. We should be making clothes that earn their place in our wardrobes by working hard for years to come."

So what's a capsule wardrobe? "Capsules focus on incorporating good-quality garments that are versatile, coordinate well together, and fir the needs of individual lifestyles and personal aesthetics. . . Everything works together, and everything goes with something else. . . Quite simply, a capsule wardrobe enables you to achieve more with less."

In other words, not a hodge-podge of random items that I got just because they caught my fancy. The author goes on to teach the reader how to evaluate their current wardrobe, pick a palette, identify wardrobe gaps, and make a plan.

The next section discusses the secrets of secondhand shopping, how to do a burn test to identify fiber content, how to piece and combine different fabrics, over-dyeing, etc. Then comes tools and equipment, and after that, the projects. Eleven projects teach the concepts with clear instructions and pictures. Each project includes tips & tricks, and ideas for experimentation. The section closes with ideas for how to combine the garments into a variety of outfits. 

The last section teaches re:fashion techniques: how to make pattern templates, fitting, sizing garments up or down, deconstruction, plus a variety of sewing techniques; everything from bias tape facings to zippers and button holes. A glossary and index follow.

My style is not necessarily the author's style, but she provides information I can use to find my own way. I discover so many appealing items on the thrift store $1 rack, but too often they are the wrong size or too faddish for me to consider buying. And then I often ask myself, do I really need another flannel shirt? I think this book is going to help me find a sustainable style that suits me, and helps me make wise clothing choices in the future. 

Book Review: The Re:Fashion Wardrobe 

© July 2023 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Posts:

Wardrobe Dilemma: Inspired But Clueless

Capsule Wardrobe Analysis: Where To Begin?

Capsule Wardrobe: Identifying My Style

Loom Sneak Peek

As excited as I am about my new studio, one challenge is that it isn't very large. It's not quite 100 square feet and I'm finding it no easy task to find space for everything. Also it means there's no room for my wonderful (wonderfully large) Glimakra 60-inch, 8-shaft countermarche loom with a double back beam. I could probably set up the loom, but nothing else. So, I just accepted things they way they were.

I was happily surprised, then, when a dear and generous internet friend told me she'd give me a 4-shaft table loom, if I was interested. Was I? Oh yes! I immediately volunteered to pay for shipping and it arrived the other day.

Ready for assembly

It's a Rasmussen, made years ago in Seattle, Washington. The company later sold out to Montana looms, which is now out of business. So there's no source for a manual or other information. And I can't find much information about these looms online.

The reed is 24 inches and ten dents.

Once upon a time, stands were made for these looms, but since I'm very short on floor space, using it as a table top loom will be just fine. 

Considering it's been awhile since I've woven anything, the Rasmussen is the perfect loom for me. It will give me a chance to review and practice my skills with a simpler loom than my Glimakra!

Hopefully, I'll have something to show you soon.

© 2023 Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Post:

New Studio: Sneak Peek!

New Studio: Sneak Peek!

This is somewhat of a duplicate post. I've copied and pasted it from my homestead blog, but it needs to go here too because it marks the beginning of my return to my adventures in fiber and textile arts. 

After we bought our homestead, there was a lot of work to do. That included the 100-year-old house, which needed many repairs and energy updates. We've slowly been working on those over the years, and at last, we are finishing up the room that was my original studio. It became a storage room when we started serious remodeling on the house, and has been that way ever since. You can see everything we did to the room starting here, "Sewing Room?" The posts all link to follow our progress.

Finally, I'm finally able to unpack my boxes of equipment, yarns, and fibers, and turn this room into my very own creative space.

 

Trying to figure out where everything will go has been a challenge. I didn't realize how many boxes of yarns, fibers, and equipment I had, and I feel like I'm trying to put 20 pounds of potatoes into a 5 pound bag. Even so, I'm glad I didn't succumb to purge madness. Everything is so expensive nowadays, that I don't have to worry about buying much for the rest of my life!

Yesterday, I found several more boxes of weaving yarns and spinning fibers. They've been boxed away in the front bedroom, which has served as our other storage/catch-all room. I was rather dismayed to find that mice had made themselves at home in one of the boxes!

I think this is partly because we keep the room closed and the cats don't have access. More activity and the presence of humans and prowling cats would be an excellent deterrent. 

So progress is being made, albeit slowly. One of these days I'll have everything in place and give you a grand tour!

New Studio: Sneak Peek! © July 2023

by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related Posts:

Loom Sneak Peek

Studio Progress

A Tablet Loom

So, this is another project idea I got from Permies.com's SKIP merit badge program. It's in the textiles aspect, with the requirement of making a small loom capable of weaving a warp-faced fabric at least 2-inches wide. Examples include backstrap and tablet (or card) looms. I am intrigued by tablet weaving, so that's what I made.

One of the most common ways to make the tablets is with playing cards. I found some really cute cards at Hobby Lobby for under $2, so that's what I used.

The cards are trimmed to make squares.

Then a hole is punched near each corner.

The holes are labeled A, B, C, and D, and the cards are numbered. The width of the weaving is determined by the number of cards (warp ends). The weaving pattern is determined by turning the tablets (or groups of tablets) a quarter turn forward or backward.

I started with a sampler and so only measured about a yard of warp. I used a sugar-and-cream type crochet cotton for my first try.

I watched quite a few videos on threading the cards and thought it looked easy. When it came to doing it myself, however, I realized that various videos explained it differently and that some gave opposite directions! There's a difference in the weaving depending on whether the cards are threaded from the front or the back, which was sometimes discussed as left or right, or as S threading and Z threading. 

The more videos I watched, the more confused I became. I finally thought, 'you know what? I'm just gonna do this and at least I'll make a start and learn something! Then I can figure it out later.'

There are tablet weaving stands, but the easiest way to start is with the backstrap method. So, the only other things I needed were a small stick shuttle, a belt, and a ring to fasten the weaving to the belt.

Then it was time to give it a try and experiment. 

It wasn't as easy as the videos made it look, but I learned a lot. I'm definitely going to experiment more with this. I'll do a technical post on tablet weaving soon.

© 2023 Leigh's Fiber Journal

Related post:

Tablet Weaving Notes

Tool Roll for My DPNs

In anticipation of the outcome of our current house remodeling project, I'm trying to get some things organized and ready to go. Some of the things that badly need organizing, are my crochet hooks and knitting needles. My straight needles reside in a tall decorative can, which is fine. The size is embossed on the ends of the needles, so I can easily find what I need. 

My circular needles, crochet hooks, and double pointed knitting needles, however, are another matter. Mostly they reside in pencil cases, so that I have to hunt for what I need. The crochet hooks are easiest, because they too, have the size on the hook. The circs and DPNs, though, aren't labeled, so I have to use my needle gauge tool to figure out which is which. Plus, the DPNs are usually scattered everywhere, so finding enough to make a set is another chore. I needed a better system. 

That's when I learned about tool rolls. What a great idea, I thought. I can keep things organized, tidy, and easy to find. I started with my double pointed needles. 

I looked at a number of designs, but eventually figured out my own. A tool roll is basically a rectangle of fabric with pockets, that can be rolled up and tied into a compact bundle. 

One of the things I didn't realize, is how many DPNs I have. I have multiple sets of some sizes, but there are some gaps in my collection as well. The nice thing about a customized tool roll, is that the pockets can be made to suit. 

This will be home for my sizes US1 through 10. 

I left empty pockets for needles I need, and had enough space for a pocket for my needle gauge tool!

Folded, it looks like this...

And here it is rolled up and ready to tuck away in a handy place.

Besides being extremely useful, this is a great project for fabric scraps. 

One tool roll down and two more to go.

© 2023 Leigh's Fiber Journal