Seamstress Love

Yea! Another descriptive post to get the creative juices flowing.

This is about how I feel when I go through the design/sewing process. To me there is a certain unspoken language that seamstresses and designers have with fabric that is very hard to explain. Although parts of this may be cheesy, they are true to how I feel :)

Standing in the room, surrounded by bolts of fabric and notions; this is bliss. Taking the fabric and rubbing it between her thumb and index finger she determines the weight, the flow and the texture of the fabric. This is the one; the dark navy blue with hints of metallic steel gray silk charmuse. It feels like liquid softly brushing her fingers in a silent romance that can only be felt by a seamstress and her vision. She stares at the fabric, contemplating her next move. She gently holds the bolt of fabric as she walks around the store waiting for the spine-tingling sensation if inspiration to come to her. The ideas come flying all at once and she is bombarded with flashes of designs racing though her mind. Letting her thoughts settle, she decides to make the bulky bolt of fabric into an elegantly draped gown cut on the bias so that it hangs beautifully on the female figure enveloping her in pure luxury. She goes back to her studio in the city and begins to work gingerly with the four yards of fabric that she bought. Her heart flutters as she pins the fabric to her dress form. The vision comes more clearly now. Not only will it be a bias draped dress but it will have pleats across the bodice creating an X and a long, flowing skirt that touches the floor with its train and hem gradually coming up to right below the knee. She pins and pins the fabric, marking it and taking notes as she goes so she will be able to decode her own language. She plays with fabric for hours; she is in a Zen like state, calm and at ease. Finally, she sews. The whirl and wiz of the sewing machine is a sweet song that she hums along with while she works. The fabric does as it is told while she guides the pinned seams under the presser foot watching the blur of the needle pierce the fabric and create a small stitch. She takes her time to make sure the garment is perfect. She adds detailed stitching to the dress straps and finally puts in a zipper. She puts on the dress and runs to the mirror to assess her diligent work. Pleased with how it looks, she takes it off and hangs it in her room as art, waiting for the perfect event to come along and inspire her to wear it. Whether it be to classes or a cocktail party. The passionate affair is complete for now. It is time for another visit to the fabric store to fall in love all over again.