I'll admit it, I'm not the greatest seamstress. When it comes to being crafty, I barely pass as competent. Hand me a chicken or a goat on a halter, and you'll see a confident woman. But hand me a new Bernina 830 sewing machine and you'll get pretty much the same expression as dropping Granny Clampett in the cockpit of the
Millennium Falcon. So no, master crafter I am not. But even with my rudimentary understanding of knitting, needles, and thread, I've been able to whip up some clothes from scratch, and that has been a pretty damn satisfying experience. I've sewn up skirts and pajama pants, ponchos and mittens. Most of these projects have taken me less time than it takes to watch a favorite movie, and all of them have cost significantly less than their store-bought counterparts. When I realized I could custom-design my own spring line, I got hooked on sewing. Now I'm slowly adding more complicated patterns to my practice, and the big goal: to design my own cowboy shirt this year. We'll see if I can pull that off.
Like with anything, the more you do it, the more familiar you become. But a lot of people who would like to get started aren't really sure how. Luckily, recent books like Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe and Home Stretch have made sewing your own cool stuff accessible to all of us. These simple guide books cover all the basics and help brand-new fashionistas pick out their first sewing machine and understand fabrics. They also come with actual patterns in a little pocket in the back, so those blueprints for your first shirt or skirt is right there in your own hands. All this clothing talk may seem to side with the ladies, but many guys are learning the perks of making their own messenger bags and tailoring pants to actually fit them. So don't feel ousted because you're a guy. Truth be told, a guy who knows how to rev up a sewing machine is kind of sweet, at least to me it is.
Sewing aside, I also have been having fun with knitting. When you share your backyard with a flock of sheep, I think knitting is a prerequisite. My trio will be shorn for the first time this spring, and while I'm mildly nervous about how that's all going to go down, I'm looking forward to learning to spin their wool and make some sick Christmas presents with their wares. Just like with sewing, I'm no expert. But a friend taught me the basic knit stitch in about twenty minutes, and I now possess the chops to make a fine hat and scarf. If you have a weeknight and a knitting friend free, you could easily do the same. If you lack any knit-savvy acquaintances, you can also sign up for a class or learn through basic books, which is less daunting than it sounds. Take it slow, learn bit by bit, and soon you could be sporting that pea coat and merino scarf designed entirely in apartment 3B. Not too shabby.