Ladies By Design

The Cutting

On Wednesday last a gathering of girly descended upon Aunt Betty's house for sewing lessons. We have a few vintage aprons to finish from our last gathering that will soon be in stock at our Etsy Store. With one project out of the way, we are now working on a retro apron pattern by Taylor Made Designs. Aunt Betty purchased the pattern in South Carolina at the same time another one of our gals, Peggy, picked up the very same pattern in Houston. So, we decided it was project meant to be.

As you can see, I ended up taking more pictures than sewing but I'm going to get to work (I promise Mom!) In the meantime, Cristina made fabulous progress and completed her first darts. Janine, the youngest of us, is fast becoming a pro and picked out the coolest cupcake and poka-dot fabrics. Peggy encouraged us all by showing up even though she was still out of sorts from her recent trip to the hospital. Of course, Aunt Betty is guiding us all as the best seamstress/teacher in the metroplex.

As we cut our fabric I was reminded of the cutting that we all go through as Ladies By Design. Have you ever walked through aisles of beautiful fabric bolts? My Mom and Aunt Betty used to drag me to Britex, a famous fabric store in San Francisco that boasts four floors! Unlike mega craft stores washed out by ugly florescent bulbs, this store was cozy and brimming over with color, texture and glamorous materials. Sometimes I wince at the cutting of such beauty. However, the cutting is necessary for the creation of a beautiful garment that wouldn't be complete without just the right material.

Even though it was a simple sewing lesson, I was reminded of a deeper thread that weaves through the design of life. We are the material that must be cut into an image. Last spring I went through a cutting of sorts. It was not fun. I grieved for the pieces of me that fell away. I wondered how I could go on without the edges I was accustomed to. But as summer turns into fall, I am beginning to see past the threading and jagged edges of my new form. I am beginning to see an image forming with curves and darts in all the right places.

If you are familiar with being cut, I hope to encourage you. Don't resist the refashioning of your material. You are too beautiful to stay on the bolt. You were designed for beautiful garments. Trust me in this, the Designer is good and He has your best interest at heart! Trust in Him!

Sewing Ladies

I have always been surrounded by ladies who were passionate about sewing, crafting, quilting, and more. Twenty years ago I tried to master my little pink sewing machine but we didn't get along. I managed to produce a few 4H projects but in my heart I wanted to be riding bikes with the boys. Being girly just didn't seem to be as exciting and pink wasn't really my color.

Interestingly, Ladies By Design has turned into a gathering of girly on Thursday nights in Midlothian, Texas. It all started when Aunt Betty decided to restore and bling jean jackets. Ironically the jacket we rescued is accented with fuchsia. Yes, pink! Then Aunt Betty remembered a few vintage apron patterns tucked away in her sewing stash. Suddenly we had a gathering of women at her home with a desire to sew aprons...including me.

As it turns out, aprons are very popular. I had no idea how popular. Of course, the movie Julie & Julia certainly gave aprons a boost along with sophisticated cooking programs. By the time we learn how to piece together our aprons they may be out of style. But it's my hope that all things ladylike stay in style for good. For now we are just having fun gathering. I love it when one of us is baffled (like Traci was in this picture). It's not long before a more experienced lady has a solution. Corporate America calls it collaboration. We just call it sisterhood.

Our sewing comes second to laughing. Peggy and I have shared our horror stories when it comes to learning not so much what to do as what not to do. For example, when cutting a pattern "Don't cut outside of the black line!" And Peggy is an expert in ripping out seams. Her daughter, Janine, is passionate about sewing. She is a sixteen year old crafting genius. Part of the joy in gathering comes from sharing our lives from generation to generation. I am thrilled that Janine has far more confidence in her crafting abilities than I did at her age. I love being able to encourage her to stay true to what she loves and resist giving up like I once did.

Living as Ladies By Design is a challenge to embrace what may appear uncomfortable. For me it was easier to hang out with the guys. I still enjoy being a tomboy and getting dirty. Hanging out with the ladies was a scary and perplexing thought. That is until I gave it a try. I would have never thought I of all people would be a part of a sewing gathering but here I am. To top it all off, my mom was quite shocked when I called to tell her I was wearing hot pink nail polish. My how things change but that is living as Ladies By Design! I dare you to be open to change and be open to the ladies in your life if you aren't already. Keep an eye out for those around you who may feel uncomfortable hanging out with the gals. I'd bet that deep in their hearts they long for female companions as I once did. If you are in the South Dallas area and would like to sew with us please consider yourself invited! As you can see, you are welcome to come as comfy as you like...house slippers and all!