I like to write about fair choices here. Having less and exploring enough can inspire a curiosity about minimalism. An interest in waste reduction can lead to a quest for a zero-waste lifestyle. An increased awareness of health can lead to a devotion to organics and a personal connection to the farmers who grow our food. Exposure to the reality of garment worker conditions can ignite a passion for making fairer choices where they concern our own clothing.
It's exciting to connect our values to our actions. The ability to make changes in our personal behavior invigorates hope that greater change is possible.
These mini challenges are designed to get us started on...or take the next step in...what can seem like a great undertaking. Fair happens one choice at a time...right from where we find ourselves...not all at once.
When I shop for clothing, I think a lot about the skill and time that went into the making of the garment in relation to price. Because I sew and knit, I know what it takes to create a finished piece of clothing. I also know how much certain fibers can cost, because I've priced them in the pursuit of my own projects. I love making for so many reasons, including the fact that it informs my fair ready-to-wear shopping.
Each of us is capable of making a piece of clothing...yup, every one. Our clothes are made by human hands. In this age of mechanization, it can be surprising to remember that each garment we put on our bodies has been touched by many hands along its development from seed (hopefully a seed rather than a oil rig) to plant to fiber to fabric to dying to cutting to sewing to store shelf. I think it's important + enlightening for each of us to realize how much work goes into even one part of this process.
It would be interesting to plant flax or cotton...or shear a sheep...or spin fleece...or weave cloth...or dye fabric. Any of those things are possible and many "regular" people do them at home. Today, however, the challenge is simply to make a piece of clothing...to take some fabric or yarn and manipulate it into a wearable garment. The fabric can come from a piece of clothing in the donation bag or an old sheet...or new materials can be purchased, if preferred. I guarantee that anyone can take this challenge. No knowledge of sewing or knitting is required. No sewing machine is required, although a couple of inexpensive (or borrowed) tools might be necessary. (I don't think that it hurts for anyone to own a needle and a spool of thread. It's unnecessary for anyone to throw out a shirt when a button falls off.)
This post is quite long already, so I'm going to stop here. If you'd like to take this challenge and already know someone with the skills to teach...let them know that you'd like a lesson. If this challenge makes you shake your head in disbelief of its possibility...come back tomorrow. I'll have lots of ideas for how to get started. You can do this, I promise!
Love,
Jane
It's exciting to connect our values to our actions. The ability to make changes in our personal behavior invigorates hope that greater change is possible.
These mini challenges are designed to get us started on...or take the next step in...what can seem like a great undertaking. Fair happens one choice at a time...right from where we find ourselves...not all at once.
When I shop for clothing, I think a lot about the skill and time that went into the making of the garment in relation to price. Because I sew and knit, I know what it takes to create a finished piece of clothing. I also know how much certain fibers can cost, because I've priced them in the pursuit of my own projects. I love making for so many reasons, including the fact that it informs my fair ready-to-wear shopping.
Each of us is capable of making a piece of clothing...yup, every one. Our clothes are made by human hands. In this age of mechanization, it can be surprising to remember that each garment we put on our bodies has been touched by many hands along its development from seed (hopefully a seed rather than a oil rig) to plant to fiber to fabric to dying to cutting to sewing to store shelf. I think it's important + enlightening for each of us to realize how much work goes into even one part of this process.
It would be interesting to plant flax or cotton...or shear a sheep...or spin fleece...or weave cloth...or dye fabric. Any of those things are possible and many "regular" people do them at home. Today, however, the challenge is simply to make a piece of clothing...to take some fabric or yarn and manipulate it into a wearable garment. The fabric can come from a piece of clothing in the donation bag or an old sheet...or new materials can be purchased, if preferred. I guarantee that anyone can take this challenge. No knowledge of sewing or knitting is required. No sewing machine is required, although a couple of inexpensive (or borrowed) tools might be necessary. (I don't think that it hurts for anyone to own a needle and a spool of thread. It's unnecessary for anyone to throw out a shirt when a button falls off.)
This post is quite long already, so I'm going to stop here. If you'd like to take this challenge and already know someone with the skills to teach...let them know that you'd like a lesson. If this challenge makes you shake your head in disbelief of its possibility...come back tomorrow. I'll have lots of ideas for how to get started. You can do this, I promise!
Love,
Jane
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