I am never more pragmatic than when a man tells me I can’t do something. Can I physically lift the same weight? No. Will I try out of spite? Absolutely.
That's one of the reasons I bearly drink. When I was about sixteen one of my bosses friends made a comment that no one could make it to 21 without drinking. So I did.
That reminds me of the time the only-to-the-curb delivery guy hung around to watch how my (former) husband and I were going to be able to maneuver our new wood stove into the house so I demonstrated by lifting one side while the husband slid the dolley under, then pushing from underneath while he steered it up the steps. One of us was a weight lifter. It wasn’t him. 😉
My job is relatively physical and I get so mad when people insinuate that I (or women) can't do whatever task because it's too heavy. I've started to just do the heavy lifting (literally) whenever I can, both to show them and to get stronger. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm significantly less likely to get hurt than my male colleagues because I'm so much more aware of my body because of years and years of pain and weakness, so I know pretty well where my limits are.
As someone who works in a male dominant field (space engineering) the act of knitting or sewing feels so healing. It uses the same skills I often use at work (I like to remind people that knit patterns are written the same way computer programs are) in a way that is so much more grounded and associated with femininity. It reminds me that I am allowed to contain multitudes
On the topic of patterns = programming, I've perso noticed that STEM-trained hobby seamstresses progress really fast and discussed this with a FR sewing vlogger and she thinks it might be the structured approach that gives an edge. Your comment reminded me of this exchange.
Knitting/fiber art patterns are like procedural code (instructions in a clear order). There may be variables such as size, but you can simply plug those actual values in and the program/pattern will tell you what to do accordingly. Instructions like "do x until some condition y" is a very common instruction in patterns and programs
@@yaycaffeine is completely correct. They are referred to as for loops and are one of the first things you learn for any programming language. Finding out this information was actually the reason that I learned to knit because I figured I already knew how to program and I was looking for something to ground me in the real world during the start of the pandemic
Consider also dying or overdying clothes, I do that all the time. Had a stain on my white cotton jumper, no bother - dyed it purple, didn't like it and now it's navy. Did this with yarn as well multiple times, both wool and cotton yarn, it's so much fun. Now, there could be some issues with fabric dyes (like dylon) and their chemicals, I am not sure about that, but I know that there are natural fabric dyes as well that are more eco friendly. Definitely worth a shot!
Yes I do that too :) whenever I don't know what color to buy, I buy a white garment to dye later on. I also overdyed clothes that had a color that did not really fit me, e.g. I dyed a dusty olive green dress that washed me out to a darker, more warmer and richer olive green.
Suggestions from a long-term sewer for that last square: - Sew an invisible zipper. - Pattern match a seam. - Sew a shirt with collar and buttons. - Alter a pattern to fit. (I love vintage patterns but they are often not my size in the charity shop.) - Find ways of using the scrap fabric. I have found that challenge with sewing your own clothes is knowing the colours and styles that suit you because you can’t try it on until it is too late. I’ve made perfectly fitting dresses that looked ghastly because I chose the wrong colour or style for me. Have fun and good luck!
Leena saying about getting off-screen by the means of crafting right when I am knitting my heart away whilst binging her content is just cherry on top of an irony cake
Maybe the final slot on the bingo card can be making a collar or something whimsical that suits your style and can instantly transform a rather boring outfit into something fun
Nice! Jenna Phipps has recently done a thrift flip video where she made a collar, and then wrote and released a free pattern for it, if anyone’s interested!
Katrine Marçal in 'Mother of Invention' gives this beautiful example of how *soft things* (like sewing textiles) can and ARE technology, through a wonderful story of the women behind the very first spacesuits (that took as much engineering as any other component of such a mission) who by the way were experts in fabric structure because they made bras and stockings. but sexism prevents us from seeing it. Love this challenge for you, you are so ready!!
As someone on a very similar journey both in sewing and my wardrobe, something I've discovered recently that may help with that "something is missing" feeling that may help you too! It's about how important it is to design clothing you make with the WHOLE OUTFIT in mind, not just the individual garment -- having such a huge number of specifically mix and match pieces seems to be a pretty modern thing, and I think the side effect of that is that we tend to put together things that "work" together, but (quite literally) aren't made for each other (or for our bodies for that matter). It's like the difference between collaging and painting when our goal is to create a specific result -- it's a lot harder to get the exact silhouette, texture, contrast, composition of an outfit that suits your body and vibe when working with pre-constructed building blocks that then have to come together in whatever way they will mash together instead of constructing all of those pieces at once with the intention of them being worn together. Like pieces of a puzzle, except we usually have pieces from a bunch of different puzzles and are trying to make them fit, and then feel disappointed that it doesn't look like the picture on the box. I've been on a very exciting journey to create a closet where I have a look-up chart so I never have to use brain power ever again in order to get dressed in something that feels great aesthetically AND comfortably to wear -- on the X-axis of the look-up chart is style/vibe of the day (ie: sunshiney, cozy, punk, etc) and on the Y-axis is temperature (mainly in 10 degree chunks). I personally have 5 style categories and have discerned 7 temperature categories -- each temperature category is differentiated by how many layers of clothing you need to feel comfortable, (so for example 71-80 is short sleeves and bottoms, 51-60 is long sleeves and bottoms, 41-50 is long sleeves and bottoms and long johns). This way I just go "It's exactly 35 degrees and I wanna feel sunshiney today" and boom I have the PERFECT outfit already ready to go. Can you tell that clothes are a big bottleneck of stress in my life LMAO The best part is that I used average temperature data from the climate I live in to figure out how frequently each of those temperature categories appear throughout the year so that I can calculate exactly the number of outfits I need for a complete wardrobe. I live in a climate with an even distribution of all 4 seasons, so 5 categories occurred for 2 months and 2 categories (the extreme weather of 90< and 30>) occurred for 1 month. This also has truly shown me how few clothes I actually need. I only need five sweater weather outfits for the frequency that I go out, re-wear clothes, and do laundry. FIVE. And you know what, I *have* five sweaters! But I have been struggling to have enough to wear this winter because you know what I don't have? Five OUTFITS that include these sweaters. Like three of them are so so cute, but there are no outfits I can make with them that have the silhouette that I like, so I don't wear them, and I only wear this one white sweater -- and you know why? because I MADE A PINAFORE AND PANTS COMBO SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SWEATER and it's KILLER and I'm SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS YEEHAW
TLDR: when designing garments to make this year, try designing the full outfit for it instead of just a top on its own or a bottom on its own -- you can even use garments already in your wardrobe in the outfit and design the completed outfit around it!
@@fromisabella I just catalogued all of my clothes into a digital wardrobe app to gather data about usage, but your outfit use case algorithm is next level 💫
It's so interesting because I was always a very mathematical, natural science girlie and starting sewing made me realize I also have a very artistic side that is more about aesthetic and colors than strict numbers 😊 now I don't believe in those boxes anymore, we can do anything we want to 😉
I'm right there with you! I started an online pattern drafting course last year and started making my own clothes. Love it!! Definitely a steep learning curve but my hatred for clothes shopping is the motivation I need to make and wear my own. Don't have it? Make it! The one issue I need to tackle is fabric shopping. I'm good at buying clearance fabric and sale fabric, and I know I will absolutely sew it all versus people who collect fabric in quantities they will never be able to sew in their lifetime, but I still feel conflicted about it. It's a scary level of fun to buy and fantasize about it, but sometimes it takes a year or longer to sew it up so maybe I should have passed it up and waited for next years sales? Good luck to you! It's going to be awesome!
Leena, I did this for 2 years! I bought nothing new except essentials like underwear and socks. I only bought second-hand thrifted clothing when necessary. I made a few pieces myself when i couldn't find second hand. It was such a useful exercise, and I only intended to do it for a year but found myself carrying on for another year. It instilled fabulous habits of sustainability when it comes to fashion, and I save a great deal of money. Now, I allow myself to buy new items when needed, but I probably do that maybe 3 times per year max. Good luck!!
Thanks, Leena, for talking about this. I think that a lot of us who consume only or mostly second-hand or sustainable fashion find ourselves in the same pattern as before: buying for the sake of buying, and even "guilt-free" because it's second-hand/ethical! You're definitely inspiring me to face a reality I've been choosing to ignore because I love buying vintage and second-hand clothes so much🥲. Looking forward to following you on this challenge, and I will try and shift my mindset in 2024 to make things instead of buying them. 💪
Avid knitter here. For sock knitting, i recommend Kate Atherly's "custom socks: knit to fit your feet". She also teaches sock classes in person, so if you get the chance to attend one and can afford, that's even better. You *can* get patterns for socks that are generally sized but socks are very particular, or i think they are, anyways. I don't like them to bunch up, or be too long in the foot, and if the heel is wrong they feel weird. There's math involved, as you knit a swatch first, then do some calculations based on your foot measurement, but the end result is SO worth it. I prefer to knit them toe-up (starting at the toe) because you can try them on as you go. Other tips: my first socks I used a cotton yarn that was dense and those socks actually hurt my feet. I could feel the stitches when i walked. So do get sock weight yarn, preferably wool (cotton also doesn't have much memory, so it will tend to get bigger over time). I avoid super wash (coated) wool and nylon content because of the environmental impacts, but that just means i wash on gentle cycle in a delicates bag (or hand wash) and line dry. I haven't felted any of my socks as long as i don't put them in the dryer.
Oh, yes! 100% agree that socks - even no show - must be wool. Also, on the washing, you can wear wool socks multiple times before washing and the washing is super easy. I do like to dry mine on sock blockers but that’s probably kind of extra on my part. 😅
@@Shetooktothewoods I've never tried sock blockers, but mostly cuz my feets are small and the blockers all look too big. :) but I have a pair that i accidentally semi felted that would benefit. They still fit, they're just quite close-fitting now haha! And yeah! I don't necessarily wash my socks after one wear. It'll depend on what i did in them.
@@Shetooktothewoods Are your sock blockers plastic? I've heard horror stories of wood+wet socks. Sock blockers are designed for display purposes only (originally).
This is something I'm trying to get better at - buying non-superwash/ nylon sock yarn. But I absolutely love knitting socks, it's so meditative and once you learn the "recipe" for your feet, you don't even need a pattern!
Love the topic of internalised gendered roles when it comes to thinking of oneself as a "practical" person. So many girls and women think they can't build/ fix things. We've got to work on this! Anyone can learn to drill a hole, and it feels great to be able to do little maintenance tasks oneself!
Yep. My job doing maintenance and renos on old buildings (I share a full time job with my husband) has taught me a lot of skills most people don't have... thing is, I sure wasn't good at most of it when I started, but a lot of skills translalte in ways you wouldn't expect... like drywall mud being so very like icing a cake... (do not eat the forbidden frosting!). And plumbing isn't that difficult, I end up doing most of it becuase my husband literally can't fit under a sink to get the faucet out! And I'm still not great at doing a lot of it, I'm just persistent, and I've learned how to correct mistakes and avoid repeating mistakes I've already made. I started sewing as a pandemic project and have been doing it ever since. Though my "top buying clothing all th time" was as a result of lack of cash, now I do it because I have enough clothing (too much, atually, I've donated bags full and still have more than I can reasonably wear) and my sewing rule is unless it's costuming that will be worn for a hobby (I do medievial armoured swordwork and need something period to wear when I'm not armoured up), it must be dailywear wearable. For the most part I've been sticking to it, for continued financial reasons I haven't bought more than one or two articles of clothing a year other than sox and undies. I've been mending my work pants and will continute to do so till they've disintegrated beyond that possibility because they still fit, they get trashed at my job and I'm not interested in paying fifty bucks or spending many hours making pants I'll just wreck.
I was thinking about this the other day when I was tasked with disassembling and moving three little tables from the break room at work and replacing them with - as well as assembling - a new long table! it felt so good to just logic my way through which screws go where (this table had been assembled previously and there were no instructions), put it together and watch myself turn a bunch of parts into a lovely table ready for us to eat our lunches at. it really boosted my self worth on a core level, like I can *make* something for my colleagues and I! I think we all need more of that in modern society, but especially as women I think it's good to connect with our innate ability to construct things for everyday use. because we can!
I haven’t bought any clothes (except pjs and underwear) for 3 years. I make everything else, mend and remake as necessary. I did already have a lot of basics in my wardrobe so I haven’t need to make those and can focus on the fun stuff. It has definitely made me think about what I actually need, what I like, and what will last in my wardrobe for as long as possible. I haven’t found this a challenge at all. Now when I see clothes I like in stores I note down what I like about them and can include those elements in things I make. I will be continuing this as long as possible… there’s nothing that fast fashion has to offer me any more.
Interestingly, two years ago my new years resolution was to learn how to sew, use a sewing machine, follow patterns etc. Each year I've made a resolution that takes things a little further. Next year is my 50th birthday and my new years resolution is, hopefully, to be able to make my birthday outfit. I'll have just three months to do it 😅 wishing us both luck.
@tiffytattoo2450 That would slightly feel like cheating, as I've made a few complicated patchwork quilts. I've got my eye on the Tate Romper, but a caftan is a good idea if I end up feeling a little overwhelmed. Thank you. Regardless, I might give it a go over the summer if the UK has one next year.
I hope you plan on filming all your sewing projects; I can't get enough of that content. Do you plan on getting an overlocker/serger? I will be joining you in Make Do 2024 although with modified parameters to suit my needs and skill level.
I will be watching your videos and cheering you on in 2024. For myself, I'm 15 months into what for me is a 20 year sewing endevor called The Shabby Banshee Project. Imagine taking - cottagecore, renfaire, steampunk, and mixing it with Holly Hobby, Tasha Tudor, + slow stitching... using my own clothes that don't fit my current size along with thrift store bin, free bin, and local scrap vendor finds to make historically inspired outfits... that is what I'm doing to make my next 20 years worth of clothing. Yes I've been hand sewing for 54 years; and yes I will let myself buy bras and socks along with the occasional piece from a rennaisance faire or fantasy convention artist when I can afford them... I'm also in the midst of moving back to Portland OR USA. Fun Enjoyable Drama is my game plan for life.
You could put in the bingo card “learn to adjust for a full seat or bust” because I think that’s a skill you would benefit from to make sure you get a great fit. 😊 Exciting challenge! I know you can do this! 💪🏼
I am so excited to see how you tackle this challenge! I took on a challenge last year to "not buy new clothes ever" and made it pretty far (about 6 months?) But what I found useful was that it helped me re-evaluate WHY I wanted new clothes. Was it because I wanted to be trendy? Was it because I actually liked it and could see myself keeping this forever? Was it because it was a fundamental thing I actually needed? Where did I want to buy things from and why? So when I did "fail" and bought something, my purchase had a lot more thought behind it. I deliberately researched who I was buying from. I made sure that the item I was buying was something I could style in at least 3 different outfits (so it was something that would work in my wardrobe). And I always made sure to sleep on it. If I still wanted it after a month, it was something I would actually make the most of. Seeing your video makes me want to try taking this up again and this time take the challenge of sewing my own things. I was inspired by your sewing journey and made my own cosplay this year! So my next step is to make my own clothes for everyday purposes too :)
I just told some friends last week that I’m planning to not buy any new clothes in 2024 unless it’s an equivalent replacement of some basic, staple garment that I can’t mend (ex: black slacks). Otherwise I’m just making do and mending (which I do as clothes wear out anyway). They were like, “Why?!” and “Good luck 😏”. I’m looking forward to it though!
I have some basic sewing and heming skills, but I've become OBSESSED with adjustable clothes. I've seen skirts and pants and top that are adjustable to your bodies natural fluctuations. So getting bloated, losing or gaining weight, wanting tighter or looser clothes on the day - not a problem. That's something I really want to create this year.
If it hasn't already been mentioned, re: knitting letters, pictures etc, you might like to start with duplicate stitching! It's easier in that it means you won't have multiple balls of yarn getting tangled up, and you can also duplicate stitch over clothes you already have, if you want to vamp up a plain jumper or something 😃
This is SO GOOD. Since discovering Hannah Louise Poston I've been craving more content like this, but don't vibe with many of the other "no buy" creators, so one of my existing faves doing this is 👌🏻 You inspired me to start sewing last year too, and I've switched to almost totally shopping on Vinted, so this is just IDEAL! YES LEENA, may our parasocial relationship continue to bloom and grow 😂
I have been planning to do this exact challenge in 2024! My goals are: - knit a cardigan - make knickers - make an underwired bra - learn to sew with knits - refashion an item I already own - learn to draft my own dress pattern - make my wedding dress!
That sounds like a very ambitious year! Please be gentle with yourself as you learn skills. If you got even a quarter of this done it would be a great accomplishment, especially for a beginner! But with enough time and dedication I'm sure you can do anything!
Regarding the sexism of hobbies etc, one of the favorite things I've seen online is a picture of a meticulous and advanced quilt, with the caption "How could ppl ever think women were bad at math and calculations, when they were making these for fun?".
The comments here are pure gold! I planned to do a year of less stuff and not buying any new clothes next year and "year of make do" is such a fun title. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this matter! My focus will be on wearing and mending what I own to break my spending cycle. I also play with different ways to organise my stuff (and buying organizers to display instead of new clothes 😂) to make things fresh and interesting. I often forget that I own a lot of beautiful things!
Buttonholes can be very easy if you have a setting on your sewing machine! also, I love your journey with becoming a maker. I recently (within the last 2 years) upped my game from only having sewn basic straight lines for placemats, mending, etc to garments because I wanted to sew a dress for a wedding I attended. I'm petite and a bit curvy in areas that don't "fit" the standard, so dress shopping is a nightmare normally. The dress I made has fitted seams and everything but was so so great to motivate me. I've gotten to sew a few more great pieces (sadly no successful crotches despite having tried twice) and really love it, especially after being a knitter for years and getting tired of all the knitwear lol
Woot woot Leena! I primarily buy secondhand, have for years. The last 2 years I have set “low buy” goals for my clothing consumption. And I am planning on continuing this into the new year. I say low buy vs no buy because if something wears out and genuinely needs replacing or I find something that I have been actively searching for I will buy it. But this goal has significantly reduced the amount of time I spend scrolling secondhand clothing sites as well as the amount of money I have spent on clothes. Tragically this year my low buy for whammed by me realizing my bra size had changed and I needed to replace All Of Them. But that problem has been addressed so I am aiming to have a basically 0 clothes bought in 2024. The wonderful thing about not spending on clothes is that I was able to buy really nice secondhand furniture this year to upgrade my home and I am thrilled.
Leena, I will join you in this year of Make do! My bingo card is: - knit a pair of socks - knit a cable jumper - crochet some coasters for my dining room - sew a skirt - sew a dress - sew an apron All of these are stuff that I've always wanted to do and things that are actually missing from my wardrobe/house. Might or might not update at the end of the year whether I've completed all of them.
I love this! I'm excited to see the videos you make about this next year. :) A few thoughts on your bingo card making goals: 1) Making button holes with a machine is super easy! (Making button holes by hand is tricky/tedious.) Just make sure to practice the buttonhole function on a scrap of fabric before you do it on your actual project. I don't make button holes often, and I forget all of the tiny details of how it works, which means if I try to make a button hole without practicing first I'm liable to heck it up on my actual project. So just practice on a scrap, but it's very simple. 2) I'm a big sock knitter, and I love it. You already know, from your sweater making, all of the stitches you need to knit a sock. The most tricky thing with socks is getting them to actually fit right, you want a nice, snug fit so the socks don't get all bunchy in your shoes. My first couple of socks were definitively more of house socks, but it was totally worth the investment of learning how to make them. I recommend the free pattern Rye Light from Tin Can Knits, a sock/fingering weight yarn that is 70-80% wool and 20-30% plastic (the plastic gives it staying power), and I like to knit with double pointed needles, but your mileage may vary. Have you used dpns yet, I can't remember? They can be a bit of a learning curb because at first I felt like I was stabbing myself, but once I got it they're very nice.
Also, if you want to start easy on "making a crotch" I think making a pair of pj pants, or perhaps very loose fitting shorts in a light weight material like linen would be the way to go.
Leena, your "make, do" *journey* so far has been an inspiration! I only started sewing this year - the clothes and alterations you have made are WAY above my level so believe me when I say buttons holes and crotches aren't that bad. It took me a few tries but you'll get it in no time.
Leena you should deffo watch Project Runway if you haven't already for creative inspo. Although yes the people dream of becoming a big brand for the most part(lol), a lot of them are running their own small businesses and have so many different creative directions and techniques. Regarding the challenge, I want to dabble in that too. I'm a covid era sewing learner too via face masks. Last year I made half a dress and shortened some palazzo pants. This year I altered some vests...ready to take it to the next step. I got really overwhelmed about fabric choice(sustainability wise) during all this. Aims I have: - Learn a different stitch type and why one may be better than the other - Learn how to alter to my body - Make one full dress for summer(summers are getting hotter 😜) - Learn more about sustainable dye with the view to 'upcycle' existing clothes/fabric I have via colour On the shoe front, I've made a commitment to get my leather Fly London boots resoled until they fall apart. I hate breaking in new shoes. I found I can send them to someone in Yorkshire who will do it for £50.
Ooh I’d also love to see a mini series within this series where you take us through making an entire outfit - one video on knickers, one on socks, etc until you wear every piece of the outfit together and we all eat cake to celebrate 🎉😂
Would love to hear you talk about having solo hobbies (e.g.reading, sewing) in a couple. I want to spend more time doing those things, but it also eats into couple time (which is often spent watching a screen together, although we do have some couple hobbies off screens like board games)
I love this plan ❤ A tip for sock knitting - get yourself a 30 cm circular needle so you’re only messing about with double pointed needles at the need and toes.
I worked in a chain sewing place up north Abakhan, in the physical stores they have bins of offcut industry fabrics that were pay by the kilo. (So, you can feel a lot less guilty about your fabric purchases). Some advice also is only buy sewing patterns you really love instead of what you think you can do or else you may just make stuff you're not obsessed with which is very common with beginners and creating more waste. Vogue and McCall patterns are definitely the most interesting with designer ones too (cheaper if you buy them online btw) Can't wait to see your sewing work!!
A small idea for second hand yarn things! If there’s a jumper in a charity shop that’s a bit old and sad but you like the yarn, there’s some ace tutorials on UA-cam on how to actually take it apart and reuse the wool. It’s a project but it’s perfect way to create a new lease of life for something! Good luck, this is such an ace thing to achieve. Can’t wait to follow along your journey
I'm in for this 'make, do!' challenge! I might modify some of the rules...I like to dress in costumes and so do some of my friends. We go to a convention every September and I might need very specific fabrics. I'll try to source from local small shops, but there's not many options near where I live and I have some sensory sensitivities that make some fabrics not really viable for me. For those I might try to buy from chains that have already shipped the supplies to local stores or from smaller shops online that can ship supplies to me...but I will try thrift stores first - it's amazing what you can do with some bed sheets, curtains, and table clothes! Speaking of costumes...I'm a singer and participate in several acapella groups. In one, we've been working with a local artist, a sewist and tailor, to have custom costumes made for us. While I haven't checked into their sustainability practices, I feel it's important to support local shops owned by POC sewing durable custom clothing pieces. So I will be buying a suit from their business this year. I also have several bolts of fabric in my stash that I bought for projects I haven't finished yet! As part of my 'make, do!' challenge, I need to bust my stash! Project priority is going to the ones I already have supplies for. While I've been making due with the tools I currently have, I've wanted a surger for more than a decade now. It would especially help when working with stretchy and/or easily fraying fabrics. I want to budget to invest in an overlock machine so I can make my process more efficient - especially for those costumes I sew. While I will try my hand at making a bra if I need to, my body is such that I do need serious architectural support in that area. I'm non-binary and generally prefer to wear binders or sports bras, but occasionally need to wear something more feminine. My binder and sports bra supply should last me through to 2025, but I've been meaning to check out a bra shop a friend recommended to me quite some time ago. If I can't make or modify something that'll do the job, I may purchase a fancy bra from that store (one will probably be sufficient for my purposes). As for the 'replace one item with something exactly the same but in a different size' rule...I might relax it a bit. I'm working on losing some weight right now so I do anticipate needing to size some of my clothing down. If I can find something similar enough in a thrift store, I may buy a slightly different garment and donate the one that doesn't fit anymore. I will try to modify the existing piece first and I will only go to local thrift stores (so nothing needs to be shipped to me). Let's do this!
Do you live in London? Have you heard of the Work & Play Scrapstore? It's a charity/ membership programme where they collect donated art & craft materials, and you as a member can turn up as many times as you want within a year (the fee is £60 ish annually) and take whatever you want home for personal use, as long as you don't sell whatever you make with it. It's brilliant. They're somewhat strict with what they accept, so you will always find something of good quality when you visit. Absolute treasure trove, especially for fabrics. They have vintage lace, buckets of buttons, stacks and stacks of patterns magazines, craft paper and postcards, wall paint, wallpaper, printer ink, glass ornaments, tiles, pretty old tins, office supplies, even random colourful plastic bits and bobs for collage makers. I think I've saved hundreds of pounds in the last year, expanded my hoard of supplies and also donated a lot of my personal stash of fabric/ yarn/ buttons/ craft books etc that I knew I wouldn't use any time soon/ didn't love any more, knowing that someone else would give them a much better home and use them.
I sew most of my own clothes, and I absolutely love it. When you make something that fits you really well, in a great color or pattern, in a natural fiber, it's sooooo satisfying. And incredibly comfortable.
sock knitting! I avoided it for over a decade, but now I really enjoy it. Here are a few tips: 1) there are many different methods for making heels, try a bunch and see what you like (UA-cam tutorials are your best friend). 2) When knitting something small in the round, you could either use double pointed needles or do the magic loop method, try both! 3) my first sock pattern was the flax socks by Tin Can Knits, which is designed for beginners. I hope this helps!
I am so glad you decided to follow through with this idea! I have been "making do" for a few years already, with a few necessary exceptions. I have not had the same structured approach to this as you have though - no rules, not really any start or end date and no bingo cards..! This approach to clothes has simply happened to me as my aversion to fast fashion increased, and my skill sets improved. I learned to knit in 2020 and learned to sew in 2021. (My sewing fears are the opposite of yours, it seems. I've sewn 2 pairs of trousers, but never sewn a top!) The going is slow! This year I have finished a pair trousers, a dress and 1/4 of a sweater. Last year my wardrobe did not change in any way. Still, I am content - not only am I happier wearing my home made clothes, but I'm also avoiding being _unhappy_ wearing fast fashion. I'm so glad more are embarking on this journey, and I hope you get many to join! Best of luck!
Ooooh, I love the idea of the Make Do Bingo! I was also thinking of making 2024 my year of making and creativity, there are so many projects I want to work on. Might knick that bingo idea for it 😄
I‘ve been doing this exact thing (make everything it is possible for me to make myself, apart from tights, bras and socks) for the past seven years and it has been awesome. It has been exactly how you are describing - I can make what I want to wear in the exact colour, fabric, style that I want in a way that fits my body. My next big project will be a winter coat (mine has been falling apart for a while now). One thing you said really resonated with me - the part about wanting to feel competent and to be able to do practical things. I‘ve been knitting and sewing for over ten years now, but I would never have described myself as a practically skilled person, because in my head that involves power tools and wood and repairing stuff around the house. But of course making clothing is a practical skill!
Leena i know that you have a copy of 'zero waste clothes', i have been sewing from that and made my first crotch and buttonholes in the past few weeks! The instructions in there are very clear and have found it a great way to learn how to finesse the finishing of my garments. I learnt to sew from my mother as a child but havent really done any sewing in the last 15 years, so am almost a beginner. (I can also say your journey has inspired me to dive back into the world of making things) Good luck and have fun 🤞 and thanks for the inspo x
My father was a carpenter contractor, and I spent a lot of my childhood sitting in his workshop, watching him do stuff, and occasionally helping, but mostly getting in his way. Fast forward 40 years and I started fixing furniture that was old and yucky and making it lovely again. I was fixing dresser, drawers, and legs and using Bondo and there are more skills. I want to learn when I have access to work shop again, but I love doing that and it’s sustainable and good for the planet. Also which I extra love, especially since I used non-toxic all natural, paints, and products that I was proud of. I spent much of Covid DIY in furniture and clothing, and I had a great time. I now live in a place where there is very little in the way of were the used furniture to do anything with, but I am trying to change my way of thinking and see if I can make the furniture here more beautiful (to me, anyway)
I think it's a good idea to allow yourself to buy new, local fabric if needed :) I restricted myself to second-hand fabric only and I now have a bunch of different fabrics that I can't muster up the motivation to use. I've started a No Buy Year and purchased a sewing course in the hopes that it will give me some guidance and develop the mechanical mindset! I've got the potential and I am getting good, I just need more practice and to stop fearing the idea of failing
I did a similar thing to this a few years ago when I wanted to get better at sewing. My rule was just that I couldn't buy any new clothes for a year (except underwear), if I wanted something I either had to get it second hand or make it myself. It really made a difference because I almost never buy brand new clothes these days and pretty much make everything I wear (again except underwear but I'll get there one day). Good luck with this project, I hope you get some new skills from it!
Yesss I'm so excited about this project of yours !! I love your sense of style and what you've already made yourself, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what you're gonna make in 2024 ! I used to watch Annika Victoria's channel when they were still on UA-cam, their videos are a goldmine for sustainable fashion! If you'd like to get some inspiration, give it a watch. I remember some really cool thrift flips and also tutorials for sewing many things, including underwear and bralettes
LEENA! do not be intimidated by kntting socks!! they are one of my favourite things to knit, and there are endless ways to do almost every step so if you dont like one way, there is another way to do it. I prefer double pointed needles, but you can use circulars (very short ones or the magic loop method). every sock i knit is simply: a cast on divisible by 4 some ribbing some straight tube knitting knitting either a cup shape or a flap for the heel if knitting the flap, picking up those stitches and decreasing them back down to you original count more straight tube knitting for the foot decreasing till you have basically no stitches left finish off the toe however you like! it will be trial and error but socks will only seem scary for as long as you put off trying them. For a beginner, i reccomend a cuff-down heel flap and gusset sock, or a toe-up afterthought heel sock!
I would LOVE to see your knicker-crafting journey as I am yet to wear a pair that doesn't irritate my skin/give me razor rash, my old t shirts are crying in a corner because they know what is to come
never realized it, but I am ready-to-wear fasting as well. Found your channel when searching for “make your own clothes”. Since Jan 2024 banned myself from buying new clothes until I finish 3 garment projects. Your crafted garments and hats are inspiring. ❤ 🇨🇦
I don't know if this is too far down the rabbit-hole, but if you want to sew clothing that is in your head and doesn't exist yet, pattern manipulation is a great sewing skill to pick up! I highly recommend The Closet Historian's channel, she does a great job of breaking down how to change existing patterns and make them create the garments of your dreams!
For "make a crotch" you would probably like the "top down, center out" method of trouser fitting. It's very intuitive and easy, and there are many videos on UA-cam about it. It revolutionizes the whole problem, and really works!
In 2016 I tried to do a year without buying any new clothes. I managed to get to August and then fell off the wagon in quite a catastrophic fashion (it was very definitely binge-buying). I have real issues with clothes-buying, it's almost like it fills an emotional hole for me. My subconscious seems to be telling me that the next thing I buy will make me look perfect or professional or pretty. I have managed to move pretty much all my purchases to Vinted or charity shops in the last 2 years, but I still feel like an addict needing a fix. I think it partly stems from being a fat teenager and twenty-something in the 80s and 90s when there was no choice of lovely clothes because all the shops except for Evans stopped at a size 14. I was deprived the experience of wearing what I wanted and looking how I wanted and now there are clothes in my size, I just want all of them despite (like Leena) not having any places to wear party outfits. I can sew, and have made a few skirts in the past, and I love crochet so have been making my own knitwear for the past two years. But I still definitely need help to sort my head out around this scarcity mindset I seem to have
I hope when you do mending you look at Sashiko mending. You could also look at Embroidery as a new topic. I'm not a frilly person but some strategic embroidery can be so effective. Leena, when you sew your first crotch (I originally typed fist - but that's a wild topic 😂), and then sew a pair of loose elastic wasted pants, you'll wonder why it took you so long, and how you will ever sew anything else. I make all my own trousers and I make them with stretchable waists and that has literally saved my buying 30 pairs of trousers over the years, including evening wear. I sew a lot of them in silky expensive stretch fabric and they last, and last and last. AND, are versatile. And I make my own silky briefs. You'll love it. 💖
Really excited about this project! I started "making do" when I realized that shops mostly don't have things that are meant for me or what I really wanted. It feels powerful to know that so much of the problems in ready to wear are so preventable/fixable with making. The act of making for me is a great gateway into slow living and being more sustainable. For underwear, you totally got this! There are many free patterns and tutorials out there for all sorts of underwear and it's not really more difficult than regular sewing. Once you know how simple they are, there are endless ways to alter the pattern to be just what you want. EvielaLuve and Madalynne Intimates both have free patterns and video tutorials. And the Love to Sew podcast episodes 162 and 220 discuss sewing underwear in depth.
Definitely joining in with this. Learn to sew was on my goals for this year but turns out leaving an abusive relationship will somewhat snooker your goals and your year. Really excited to make 2024 the year it happens though and am also volunteering at a local repair cafe now and the sewist there has offered to help teach me which is amazing!
Mathematical knitting is so interesting! I have had many knitters tell me they aren't good at math and, yes you are! The way we are often taught math in the US is very strictly "one way" with no wiggle room which often leaves many people (including many women) to feel that they "just don't get it" or could never be good at math. Math is so much more than the way we are taught at school and it is everywhere! I truly believe everyone is good at math, it just hasn't been presented in a way that is accessible to them! I did a full research project on this and I will be passionate about it until the day I die! Knitting isn't the only alternative way to experience math but there are so many cool intersections between the two. Crochet probably even has more math opportunities because of the additional flexibility in construction. When you knit you are actively experiencing and playing with the math of ratios/fractions (gauge), simple equations (rate of increase/decrease), algebra (if you join in the round and twist your knitting, you can explore the concept of a Mobius strip!), geometry, calculus (have you ever knit a 3D geometrical shape from a pattern? The pattern is a hop, skip, and a jump away from an equation you might use in calculus!). Additionally, knitting patterns are written very similarly to computer programming. Many of the first computer programmers were knitters! And you can make pretty and functional things! Truly anything is possible!
I am making *most* of my clothes either knitting or sewing them. Now, while it has made me to think more about what I want and what my clothing/style needs are, there is also a sustainability concern even if you make your own clothing. I found that a good fit does take skills and a few attempts, potentially a few mock ups. This means fabric that will go to the land field. Or you end up with garments that don't quite fit, you don't quite like etc. I also caught myself in the past shopping for fabric like other people shop for clothes. If I like the print, or the colour or the material I wanted to have it in my stash, even if I did not have a plan for it. These days I am trying to remember there will always be stuff that I will really like in the future too, even if that means I don't get the fabric that is in front of me now. Having said that, the feeling of saying "thanks, I made it" when complimented for your outfit is amazing! People have now come to expect that I have made at least some part of the outfit I am wearing almost as a personal brand, which makes me very proud!
I love this. I'm essentially doing this too- as a hobby sewist for over 10 years I've accumulated way too much fabric and I'm not ok with it, so this year (which I'm doing as a no spend year anyway) part of my goal is to use my fabric up and bulk out the gaps in my wardrobe/make gifts for people using all of my stash. Hopefully by the end I'll feel less heavy/guilty about past consumption and have some of my previous adhd habits in check 😅
I really feel you about buying second hand becoming fast-fashion-y in regards to the pace.. these apps make it SO easy. And it's really so tempting, and I often make the purchase, even when it's not really financially feasible for me to be spending money on more clothes. Plus, I already have a huge second-hand wardrobe. It would be really tough for me to join you in this challenge, but after I go through with a purchase I've been really eyeing, lol, I think I'll close myself off for the year. Maybe it would even encourage me to learn sewing! I feel intimated but you make it seem very possible!
for the extra slot in your bingo I would recommend trying to sew by hand an item or learning another fiber art( like crochet, embroidery, lace making etc) I am absolutely am going to join! my relationship with my body is so much better since starting to make my own clothes
This is (almost 'was', by the time this comment was made) a creative challenge to take on! My new year's resolution for 2024 was Pasta Quest, where I try to eat as many differently shaped noodles as I can find. (No specially ordering things online, just what's available at local grocery and bulk food stores - I'm lucky enough to live close to many options.) I got the idea from someone on tumblr who did the same thing. Another suggestion of theirs was Fruit Adventures, where you find a fruit or vegetable at the supermarket that you've never had before, get one and try it, and read the Wikipedia article about it.
Yes yes yes please do a video essay about the gendered stuff! I see this around me lots, that its only women buying more second hand and learning to sew. I personally have not bought new clothes in two years, but the gendered stuff and the already often unequal division of labour keeps me off also making sewing my responsibility
I'd suggest crochet or embroidery for the last space. Crochet can make socks with a much lower proficiency than knitting (still only one hook and begginer friendly, not joined/multiple needles and advanced shaping) while embroidery greatly contributes to visible mending. Better still they're both great to combine with sewing and knitting.
Fantastic! I embarked on such a challenge in the beginning of April, (although I initially called it a no buy year...) for similar reasons! And also to find who I am beyond a consumer and also to start appreciate the value of garments. And it has so far been SO MUCH EASIER than I thought! I have ended up mostly altering the clothes I already own, but I'm very happy with that turnout. I hope you'll enjoy this challenge! I will absolutely enjoy following it!
so basically, rule number one is that you gotta have fun? :D interestingly when I started making my own clothes last year it made me crave going on fast fashion websites and looking for the next shiny thing to wear much less. on the one hand the options really are endless, and picking exactly the fabric, colour, pattern and style I want in a dress or skirt is the best. on the other hand, the sheer amount of time sewing takes up really means you have much less time to go shopping, or even think about it. win-win! good luck in your endeavour, leena, and honestly button holes are really scary but they are totally doable. socks as well, actually the only knitting projects I've ever successfully completed have been socks haha
I’m doing a similar challenge this year- no new (to me) clothes apart from underwear, socks, and replacements for worn out items. I also have to wear EVERYTHING in my wardrobe at least once.
Deadstock fabric from UK sellers is a good shout as well. It's end of the line fabric that would otherwise get chucked in landfill. Often designer brand level quality (check the descriptions carefully) and very often cheaper than it would be otherwise.
Sounds great! I started sewing about 20 years ago and now I'm at the point that I don't even remember when I last went into a store and bought clothing (except underwear). When I need a new pair of shoes or some piece of clothing that I don't want to make for whatever reason, I first look at secondhand options. Recently, I needed a new winter jacket (the old ones lasted for about 15-18 years or longer) and I noticed how weird it feels for me to go into a clothing store nowadays. I went out and got some fabric 😄 (I already had lining at home and I always search for secondhand fabric first, but if this jacket will last for another 15-20 years, I'm fine with buying new fabric).
"make a crotch" and "work with jersey" can be knocked off the list in one pair of leggings :) I traced a pair I had that fit fairly well and made a new pair in stretch crushed velvet and the results were pretty decent.
That empty spot on your card calls for a swimsuit or a winter coat! I've been making my own clothes for a couple of years now and, while not as drastic, it has dramatically changed my relationship with buying clothes and with fashion.
Interesting, I find myself with a similar mindset. Not sure if I'll actually join the challenge, but I've stopped buying things I don't need... other than from the $1 clearance rack of the second hand store. I do, however, have a lot of fabric, most with plans to go alongside, to make up. Your comment from a different video regarding "the hands that sewed these clothes and the life they live" has been incredibly thought-provoking, such that I've bought shirt patterns to make and clothe my husband and son. I've also decided that it is time to teach them to sew. These school holidays they are making themselves a garment. My 9 year old chose a banana hat, and my 7 year old a dress. I'm not quite game to try get the 3 year old to make something yet 😅😅
Fabric bags are pretty easy to make, you don't have to pick up leatherworks to make a bag. I made one completely made from upcycled materials (except the yarn), the zipper and other metal bits I took from old bags I threw out and stripped for materials.
Hi Leena! If you are nervous about knitting socks, I would love to recommend the Basic Sock with Integrated Heel by Ailbíona McLochlainn. They are worked in the round and are just a tube with some tricks (no scary heel turning!) and fit ny feet really well. They are fast, work with any yarn and gauge (!) and can be knit for any size. I try to prioritise sustainable patterns, aka patterns that can be used again and again for multiple yarns, people, projects and modifications and Ailbíonas patterns really fit the bill (I've made 10+ pairs of socks with this pattern and at least five of her Versal sweater - this or the Saglan are a perfect "one and done" sweater pattern). She writes great instructions and always includes information on different modifications. Good luck with your first sock!
Joining you! I’m doing a no buy year, but a caveat to that was that I could not buy any clothes and if I wanted any I would have to make it (similar rules to yours). So happy you’re also doing this! Please make videos of you on this journey because it’ll help me (and others) too!
I’m really interested to see how much time you spend making clothes. As someone with a full time job, a commute, friends, family, other hobbies, the pile of “to sew” just grows and grows! 😅
Lena! you need to try some styling challenges like wearing your clothes the wrong way. I discovered that "the wrong way" is sometimes the right way for me and it helped me use more of my closet 🦇
I've been wearing the same two pairs of jeans, the same two pairs of corduroy pants (for cold months), and the same six plaid shirts for five years now. I have some lightweight linen tank tops and two pairs of lightweight linen pants for hot months. I knit my own sweaters and socks from sustainably produced wool. I have two "nice" outfits for special occasions. This is it... this is all I wear! I mend these clothes when they begin to wear out, and personally, I opt for "visible mending" because I like the creative look of it. Personally, I found the transition to no-buy easy and fun. Nobody else seems to notice that I wear all the same stuff over and over again. Lol. I am going to start sewing (already have knitting down!) just for the fun of learning a new skill. I wish more people would "make do" and stick to keeping the same clothing year after year, the way people used to do in decades past. So... you've got this, Leena! I'm living proof that it can be done and it's even quite enjoyable. One of my plaid shirts has a few new holes in it, so I've got to decide on how I'm going to mend those ones up to make it look cute and unique. :) Have fun with your no-buy year and I can't wait to see how it goes for you!
P.s. I just saw your "learn to knit colorwork" bingo square... some advice from an experienced knitter: look for knitting patterns that use a colorwork technique called "mosaic" first! Mosaic is easy to learn and quick to knit, whereas stranded colorwork isn't particularly hard, but it can be slow to pick up the fundamental skills. Do a few mosaic knitting projects before you venture into stranded colorwork and you'll find it very fun and easy.
I have been trying such challenge for the last year or 2 and I must say its wonderful cause at some point you realise that you can make a lot if not all of the clothes you would like to own. After I made few things I also realised that my need to buy dropped significantly cause I can make things exactly how I want them and need so I'm more happy with what I wear. I think one of the reasons people buy some of their clothes is that what they have is bad quality, doest fit well, there are some small details that are not exactly how you want. So we buy sth alse to make ourselves happier. When I make clothes myself I can decide on every detail and this made me more satisfied. And the joy of wearing sth that you made is amazing, I built a new special connection with clothes. And I also highly recommend trying sewing/knitting if you want to slow down your life
Leena, I just found your channel days ago and have been bingeing. You're a joy, so full of happy, fun, energy. You make me smile. Watching your older videos, you expressed that you attributed feelings to your clothing items which rang a bell with me. I haven't much exercised those feelings since my youth, long ago now, but definitely relate. Is anthropomorphizing the correct term? So sweet. Love you. Best of everything in life. Well done.
For my first pair of socks, I used the "Knit Boot Socks" tutorial by KnittingHouseSquare, found on youtube and the pattern is on their website. It's meant for thicker wool (4,5 or 5 mm needles if I recall correctly). It's a cosy house sock, and it allows you to go through the motions of knitting a sock without it taking months to complete. Higly recommend! There are also several plastic-free sock wool options, such as Onion nettle sock wool and the sock wool spun by John Arbon Textiles. I look forward to seeing your yourney this coming year!
I can't wait to watch your sewing journey as someone who wants to learn more of it myself! a while back ('21 I think?) I had a whole year of not throwing away any fabric, and so I'm left with a bunch of scraps and bits and bobs that I want to learn how to utilise! it would be really cool to see you construct a pair of underpants, both in terms of how to make them and in terms of how to construct something for a curvy body in a way that isn't dictated by a skinny-centric fashion industry!
I love to hear more people talking about that the rate of consumption needs to slow down, and that is isn’t enough to just switch to second hand shopping! ❤
im REALLY hoping my daughter got me a sewing machine (like I STRONGLY HINTED. STRONGLY!) that I (basically told) her to. no. i cant sew. but my best friend can and im sure she will teach me! While I am not going to the lengths you are this year, one of my goals (with clothing) is to be much more mindful and intentional with my purchases. I've always been a huge thrift store fan, so from a sustainability viewpoint, im good there. but I am bad about impulse purchases (across the board in pretty much every category everywhere). So I am only allowing myself to go in the thrift shops WITH A SPECIFIC LIST of items I am looking for/needing. For clothing items I DO find I need to purchase new (like you my weight/sizing has been changing. I am losing weight rather rapidly which poses its own set of issues) and I've not been able to find what I need in thrift store locally, I have the goal of purchasing higher quality, longer lasting, more timeless pieces that are made with at least one kind of sustainability factor (amazon has a filter for this), and I found an online company that also seems to fit the bill in those terms (keep in mind I live in a very rural area so local options are not really local at all, hence the online shopping for many things). So heres to a great year and meeting our goals!
A sewing machine is a power tool, change my mind 😂 But yes yes yes, I love this, Leena! I've been wanting to commit to something similar, but the big thing that puts me off for some reason is the idea of having to learn how to sew underwear. I've figured out how to knit socks (and hand-knitted socks literally feel *so fancy*), but the bra and pants situation scares me! But, you know what? If you're taking the plunge into this, I'll do it too! You've inspired me! I also love the sewing bingo card idea. That's such a great way to challenge yourself to learn new skills. I'll have to come up with something similar. I'm learning to spin my own yarn (which is a lovely, meditative process and there are some incredible creators here on UA-cam with brilliant tutorials if you are interested in picking up another textile hobby) so one challenge I've been wanting to undertake is to spin enough yarn to actually make a jumper with. Bonus points if I can buy the fibre from a local farm!
I am never more pragmatic than when a man tells me I can’t do something. Can I physically lift the same weight? No. Will I try out of spite? Absolutely.
That's one of the reasons I bearly drink. When I was about sixteen one of my bosses friends made a comment that no one could make it to 21 without drinking. So I did.
That reminds me of the time the only-to-the-curb delivery guy hung around to watch how my (former) husband and I were going to be able to maneuver our new wood stove into the house so I demonstrated by lifting one side while the husband slid the dolley under, then pushing from underneath while he steered it up the steps. One of us was a weight lifter. It wasn’t him. 😉
My job is relatively physical and I get so mad when people insinuate that I (or women) can't do whatever task because it's too heavy. I've started to just do the heavy lifting (literally) whenever I can, both to show them and to get stronger.
Also, I'm pretty sure I'm significantly less likely to get hurt than my male colleagues because I'm so much more aware of my body because of years and years of pain and weakness, so I know pretty well where my limits are.
you get really far with some leverage and relying on the laws of physics! men do this too all the time, it's not all about muscle strength!
So you’re still letting what men think of you control you.
As someone who works in a male dominant field (space engineering) the act of knitting or sewing feels so healing. It uses the same skills I often use at work (I like to remind people that knit patterns are written the same way computer programs are) in a way that is so much more grounded and associated with femininity. It reminds me that I am allowed to contain multitudes
On the topic of patterns = programming, I've perso noticed that STEM-trained hobby seamstresses progress really fast and discussed this with a FR sewing vlogger and she thinks it might be the structured approach that gives an edge. Your comment reminded me of this exchange.
Wait, how so? Can you explain - for someone who doesn't know anything about computer programs but quite a bit about knitting??
@@a-og3kuI’d also like to know
Knitting/fiber art patterns are like procedural code (instructions in a clear order). There may be variables such as size, but you can simply plug those actual values in and the program/pattern will tell you what to do accordingly. Instructions like "do x until some condition y" is a very common instruction in patterns and programs
@@yaycaffeine is completely correct. They are referred to as for loops and are one of the first things you learn for any programming language. Finding out this information was actually the reason that I learned to knit because I figured I already knew how to program and I was looking for something to ground me in the real world during the start of the pandemic
Consider also dying or overdying clothes, I do that all the time. Had a stain on my white cotton jumper, no bother - dyed it purple, didn't like it and now it's navy. Did this with yarn as well multiple times, both wool and cotton yarn, it's so much fun. Now, there could be some issues with fabric dyes (like dylon) and their chemicals, I am not sure about that, but I know that there are natural fabric dyes as well that are more eco friendly. Definitely worth a shot!
Yes I do that too :) whenever I don't know what color to buy, I buy a white garment to dye later on. I also overdyed clothes that had a color that did not really fit me, e.g. I dyed a dusty olive green dress that washed me out to a darker, more warmer and richer olive green.
Suggestions from a long-term sewer for that last square:
- Sew an invisible zipper.
- Pattern match a seam.
- Sew a shirt with collar and buttons.
- Alter a pattern to fit. (I love vintage patterns but they are often not my size in the charity shop.)
- Find ways of using the scrap fabric.
I have found that challenge with sewing your own clothes is knowing the colours and styles that suit you because you can’t try it on until it is too late. I’ve made perfectly fitting dresses that looked ghastly because I chose the wrong colour or style for me.
Have fun and good luck!
Leena saying about getting off-screen by the means of crafting right when I am knitting my heart away whilst binging her content is just cherry on top of an irony cake
I feel you… I myself was sewing together crocheted granny squares 😂
Maybe the final slot on the bingo card can be making a collar or something whimsical that suits your style and can instantly transform a rather boring outfit into something fun
Nice! Jenna Phipps has recently done a thrift flip video where she made a collar, and then wrote and released a free pattern for it, if anyone’s interested!
yeees collars!
thanks for reminding me that i own a collar and need to start wearing it again!
Katrine Marçal in 'Mother of Invention' gives this beautiful example of how *soft things* (like sewing textiles) can and ARE technology, through a wonderful story of the women behind the very first spacesuits (that took as much engineering as any other component of such a mission) who by the way were experts in fabric structure because they made bras and stockings. but sexism prevents us from seeing it. Love this challenge for you, you are so ready!!
Love this comment!
As someone on a very similar journey both in sewing and my wardrobe, something I've discovered recently that may help with that "something is missing" feeling that may help you too! It's about how important it is to design clothing you make with the WHOLE OUTFIT in mind, not just the individual garment -- having such a huge number of specifically mix and match pieces seems to be a pretty modern thing, and I think the side effect of that is that we tend to put together things that "work" together, but (quite literally) aren't made for each other (or for our bodies for that matter). It's like the difference between collaging and painting when our goal is to create a specific result -- it's a lot harder to get the exact silhouette, texture, contrast, composition of an outfit that suits your body and vibe when working with pre-constructed building blocks that then have to come together in whatever way they will mash together instead of constructing all of those pieces at once with the intention of them being worn together. Like pieces of a puzzle, except we usually have pieces from a bunch of different puzzles and are trying to make them fit, and then feel disappointed that it doesn't look like the picture on the box.
I've been on a very exciting journey to create a closet where I have a look-up chart so I never have to use brain power ever again in order to get dressed in something that feels great aesthetically AND comfortably to wear -- on the X-axis of the look-up chart is style/vibe of the day (ie: sunshiney, cozy, punk, etc) and on the Y-axis is temperature (mainly in 10 degree chunks). I personally have 5 style categories and have discerned 7 temperature categories -- each temperature category is differentiated by how many layers of clothing you need to feel comfortable, (so for example 71-80 is short sleeves and bottoms, 51-60 is long sleeves and bottoms, 41-50 is long sleeves and bottoms and long johns). This way I just go "It's exactly 35 degrees and I wanna feel sunshiney today" and boom I have the PERFECT outfit already ready to go. Can you tell that clothes are a big bottleneck of stress in my life LMAO
The best part is that I used average temperature data from the climate I live in to figure out how frequently each of those temperature categories appear throughout the year so that I can calculate exactly the number of outfits I need for a complete wardrobe. I live in a climate with an even distribution of all 4 seasons, so 5 categories occurred for 2 months and 2 categories (the extreme weather of 90< and 30>) occurred for 1 month.
This also has truly shown me how few clothes I actually need. I only need five sweater weather outfits for the frequency that I go out, re-wear clothes, and do laundry. FIVE. And you know what, I *have* five sweaters! But I have been struggling to have enough to wear this winter because you know what I don't have? Five OUTFITS that include these sweaters. Like three of them are so so cute, but there are no outfits I can make with them that have the silhouette that I like, so I don't wear them, and I only wear this one white sweater -- and you know why? because I MADE A PINAFORE AND PANTS COMBO SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SWEATER and it's KILLER and I'm SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS YEEHAW
TLDR: when designing garments to make this year, try designing the full outfit for it instead of just a top on its own or a bottom on its own -- you can even use garments already in your wardrobe in the outfit and design the completed outfit around it!
I think it's called SWAP - Sew With A Plan. Lord knows I should think about that. Course it all goes with jeans.
This is an absolutely unhinged amount of nerdiness.
I'm so into it
@@mtsanri HAHAHA Thank you
@@fromisabella I just catalogued all of my clothes into a digital wardrobe app to gather data about usage, but your outfit use case algorithm is next level 💫
It's so interesting because I was always a very mathematical, natural science girlie and starting sewing made me realize I also have a very artistic side that is more about aesthetic and colors than strict numbers 😊 now I don't believe in those boxes anymore, we can do anything we want to 😉
Sewing also expands your wardrobe choices for the future. You can take in, let out, shorten, add sleeves, change a neckline to your thrift clothes
I'm right there with you! I started an online pattern drafting course last year and started making my own clothes. Love it!! Definitely a steep learning curve but my hatred for clothes shopping is the motivation I need to make and wear my own. Don't have it? Make it! The one issue I need to tackle is fabric shopping. I'm good at buying clearance fabric and sale fabric, and I know I will absolutely sew it all versus people who collect fabric in quantities they will never be able to sew in their lifetime, but I still feel conflicted about it. It's a scary level of fun to buy and fantasize about it, but sometimes it takes a year or longer to sew it up so maybe I should have passed it up and waited for next years sales? Good luck to you! It's going to be awesome!
Leena, I did this for 2 years! I bought nothing new except essentials like underwear and socks. I only bought second-hand thrifted clothing when necessary. I made a few pieces myself when i couldn't find second hand. It was such a useful exercise, and I only intended to do it for a year but found myself carrying on for another year. It instilled fabulous habits of sustainability when it comes to fashion, and I save a great deal of money. Now, I allow myself to buy new items when needed, but I probably do that maybe 3 times per year max. Good luck!!
Thanks, Leena, for talking about this. I think that a lot of us who consume only or mostly second-hand or sustainable fashion find ourselves in the same pattern as before: buying for the sake of buying, and even "guilt-free" because it's second-hand/ethical! You're definitely inspiring me to face a reality I've been choosing to ignore because I love buying vintage and second-hand clothes so much🥲. Looking forward to following you on this challenge, and I will try and shift my mindset in 2024 to make things instead of buying them. 💪
Avid knitter here. For sock knitting, i recommend Kate Atherly's "custom socks: knit to fit your feet". She also teaches sock classes in person, so if you get the chance to attend one and can afford, that's even better. You *can* get patterns for socks that are generally sized but socks are very particular, or i think they are, anyways. I don't like them to bunch up, or be too long in the foot, and if the heel is wrong they feel weird. There's math involved, as you knit a swatch first, then do some calculations based on your foot measurement, but the end result is SO worth it. I prefer to knit them toe-up (starting at the toe) because you can try them on as you go.
Other tips: my first socks I used a cotton yarn that was dense and those socks actually hurt my feet. I could feel the stitches when i walked. So do get sock weight yarn, preferably wool (cotton also doesn't have much memory, so it will tend to get bigger over time). I avoid super wash (coated) wool and nylon content because of the environmental impacts, but that just means i wash on gentle cycle in a delicates bag (or hand wash) and line dry. I haven't felted any of my socks as long as i don't put them in the dryer.
Oh, yes! 100% agree that socks - even no show - must be wool. Also, on the washing, you can wear wool socks multiple times before washing and the washing is super easy. I do like to dry mine on sock blockers but that’s probably kind of extra on my part. 😅
@@Shetooktothewoods I've never tried sock blockers, but mostly cuz my feets are small and the blockers all look too big. :) but I have a pair that i accidentally semi felted that would benefit. They still fit, they're just quite close-fitting now haha!
And yeah! I don't necessarily wash my socks after one wear. It'll depend on what i did in them.
Onion makes a really nice merino and nettle sock yarn; the nettle fiber replaces polyester.
@@Shetooktothewoods Are your sock blockers plastic? I've heard horror stories of wood+wet socks. Sock blockers are designed for display purposes only (originally).
This is something I'm trying to get better at - buying non-superwash/ nylon sock yarn. But I absolutely love knitting socks, it's so meditative and once you learn the "recipe" for your feet, you don't even need a pattern!
Love the topic of internalised gendered roles when it comes to thinking of oneself as a "practical" person.
So many girls and women think they can't build/ fix things. We've got to work on this!
Anyone can learn to drill a hole, and it feels great to be able to do little maintenance tasks oneself!
Yep. My job doing maintenance and renos on old buildings (I share a full time job with my husband) has taught me a lot of skills most people don't have... thing is, I sure wasn't good at most of it when I started, but a lot of skills translalte in ways you wouldn't expect... like drywall mud being so very like icing a cake... (do not eat the forbidden frosting!). And plumbing isn't that difficult, I end up doing most of it becuase my husband literally can't fit under a sink to get the faucet out!
And I'm still not great at doing a lot of it, I'm just persistent, and I've learned how to correct mistakes and avoid repeating mistakes I've already made. I started sewing as a pandemic project and have been doing it ever since. Though my "top buying clothing all th time" was as a result of lack of cash, now I do it because I have enough clothing (too much, atually, I've donated bags full and still have more than I can reasonably wear) and my sewing rule is unless it's costuming that will be worn for a hobby (I do medievial armoured swordwork and need something period to wear when I'm not armoured up), it must be dailywear wearable. For the most part I've been sticking to it, for continued financial reasons I haven't bought more than one or two articles of clothing a year other than sox and undies. I've been mending my work pants and will continute to do so till they've disintegrated beyond that possibility because they still fit, they get trashed at my job and I'm not interested in paying fifty bucks or spending many hours making pants I'll just wreck.
I was thinking about this the other day when I was tasked with disassembling and moving three little tables from the break room at work and replacing them with - as well as assembling - a new long table! it felt so good to just logic my way through which screws go where (this table had been assembled previously and there were no instructions), put it together and watch myself turn a bunch of parts into a lovely table ready for us to eat our lunches at. it really boosted my self worth on a core level, like I can *make* something for my colleagues and I! I think we all need more of that in modern society, but especially as women I think it's good to connect with our innate ability to construct things for everyday use. because we can!
@@w0rmg0rl Yay! It's such a great feeling, and it can make one feel so much more independent and accomplisched.
This exact challenge is something I have been planning to do in 2024! Leena, you crazy cat, I’m joining you!
I haven’t bought any clothes (except pjs and underwear) for 3 years. I make everything else, mend and remake as necessary. I did already have a lot of basics in my wardrobe so I haven’t need to make those and can focus on the fun stuff. It has definitely made me think about what I actually need, what I like, and what will last in my wardrobe for as long as possible.
I haven’t found this a challenge at all. Now when I see clothes I like in stores I note down what I like about them and can include those elements in things I make. I will be continuing this as long as possible… there’s nothing that fast fashion has to offer me any more.
Interestingly, two years ago my new years resolution was to learn how to sew, use a sewing machine, follow patterns etc. Each year I've made a resolution that takes things a little further. Next year is my 50th birthday and my new years resolution is, hopefully, to be able to make my birthday outfit. I'll have just three months to do it 😅 wishing us both luck.
A caftan is a whole outfit and has only straight seams. If you feel like making an easy project!
And caftans are fabulous ♡
@tiffytattoo2450 That would slightly feel like cheating, as I've made a few complicated patchwork quilts. I've got my eye on the Tate Romper, but a caftan is a good idea if I end up feeling a little overwhelmed. Thank you. Regardless, I might give it a go over the summer if the UK has one next year.
I hope you plan on filming all your sewing projects; I can't get enough of that content. Do you plan on getting an overlocker/serger? I will be joining you in Make Do 2024 although with modified parameters to suit my needs and skill level.
I will be watching your videos and cheering you on in 2024. For myself, I'm 15 months into what for me is a 20 year sewing endevor called The Shabby Banshee Project. Imagine taking - cottagecore, renfaire, steampunk, and mixing it with Holly Hobby, Tasha Tudor, + slow stitching... using my own clothes that don't fit my current size along with thrift store bin, free bin, and local scrap vendor finds to make historically inspired outfits... that is what I'm doing to make my next 20 years worth of clothing. Yes I've been hand sewing for 54 years; and yes I will let myself buy bras and socks along with the occasional piece from a rennaisance faire or fantasy convention artist when I can afford them... I'm also in the midst of moving back to Portland OR USA. Fun Enjoyable Drama is my game plan for life.
You could put in the bingo card “learn to adjust for a full seat or bust” because I think that’s a skill you would benefit from to make sure you get a great fit. 😊
Exciting challenge! I know you can do this! 💪🏼
I am so excited to see how you tackle this challenge!
I took on a challenge last year to "not buy new clothes ever" and made it pretty far (about 6 months?)
But what I found useful was that it helped me re-evaluate WHY I wanted new clothes.
Was it because I wanted to be trendy? Was it because I actually liked it and could see myself keeping this forever? Was it because it was a fundamental thing I actually needed?
Where did I want to buy things from and why?
So when I did "fail" and bought something, my purchase had a lot more thought behind it.
I deliberately researched who I was buying from. I made sure that the item I was buying was something I could style in at least 3 different outfits (so it was something that would work in my wardrobe).
And I always made sure to sleep on it. If I still wanted it after a month, it was something I would actually make the most of.
Seeing your video makes me want to try taking this up again and this time take the challenge of sewing my own things. I was inspired by your sewing journey and made my own cosplay this year! So my next step is to make my own clothes for everyday purposes too :)
I just told some friends last week that I’m planning to not buy any new clothes in 2024 unless it’s an equivalent replacement of some basic, staple garment that I can’t mend (ex: black slacks). Otherwise I’m just making do and mending (which I do as clothes wear out anyway). They were like, “Why?!” and “Good luck 😏”. I’m looking forward to it though!
I have some basic sewing and heming skills, but I've become OBSESSED with adjustable clothes. I've seen skirts and pants and top that are adjustable to your bodies natural fluctuations. So getting bloated, losing or gaining weight, wanting tighter or looser clothes on the day - not a problem. That's something I really want to create this year.
suggestions for the blank space on the bingo:
- make a hat (i sewed a beret once and it was super fun!)
- bedazzle something
- use interfacing/boning
If it hasn't already been mentioned, re: knitting letters, pictures etc, you might like to start with duplicate stitching! It's easier in that it means you won't have multiple balls of yarn getting tangled up, and you can also duplicate stitch over clothes you already have, if you want to vamp up a plain jumper or something 😃
This is SO GOOD. Since discovering Hannah Louise Poston I've been craving more content like this, but don't vibe with many of the other "no buy" creators, so one of my existing faves doing this is 👌🏻
You inspired me to start sewing last year too, and I've switched to almost totally shopping on Vinted, so this is just IDEAL!
YES LEENA, may our parasocial relationship continue to bloom and grow 😂
I have been planning to do this exact challenge in 2024!
My goals are:
- knit a cardigan
- make knickers
- make an underwired bra
- learn to sew with knits
- refashion an item I already own
- learn to draft my own dress pattern
- make my wedding dress!
That sounds like a very ambitious year! Please be gentle with yourself as you learn skills. If you got even a quarter of this done it would be a great accomplishment, especially for a beginner! But with enough time and dedication I'm sure you can do anything!
Regarding the sexism of hobbies etc, one of the favorite things I've seen online is a picture of a meticulous and advanced quilt, with the caption "How could ppl ever think women were bad at math and calculations, when they were making these for fun?".
The comments here are pure gold!
I planned to do a year of less stuff and not buying any new clothes next year and "year of make do" is such a fun title. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this matter!
My focus will be on wearing and mending what I own to break my spending cycle.
I also play with different ways to organise my stuff (and buying organizers to display instead of new clothes 😂) to make things fresh and interesting.
I often forget that I own a lot of beautiful things!
Buttonholes can be very easy if you have a setting on your sewing machine! also, I love your journey with becoming a maker. I recently (within the last 2 years) upped my game from only having sewn basic straight lines for placemats, mending, etc to garments because I wanted to sew a dress for a wedding I attended. I'm petite and a bit curvy in areas that don't "fit" the standard, so dress shopping is a nightmare normally. The dress I made has fitted seams and everything but was so so great to motivate me. I've gotten to sew a few more great pieces (sadly no successful crotches despite having tried twice) and really love it, especially after being a knitter for years and getting tired of all the knitwear lol
Woot woot Leena! I primarily buy secondhand, have for years. The last 2 years I have set “low buy” goals for my clothing consumption. And I am planning on continuing this into the new year. I say low buy vs no buy because if something wears out and genuinely needs replacing or I find something that I have been actively searching for I will buy it. But this goal has significantly reduced the amount of time I spend scrolling secondhand clothing sites as well as the amount of money I have spent on clothes.
Tragically this year my low buy for whammed by me realizing my bra size had changed and I needed to replace All Of Them. But that problem has been addressed so I am aiming to have a basically 0 clothes bought in 2024.
The wonderful thing about not spending on clothes is that I was able to buy really nice secondhand furniture this year to upgrade my home and I am thrilled.
Leena, I will join you in this year of Make do!
My bingo card is:
- knit a pair of socks
- knit a cable jumper
- crochet some coasters for my dining room
- sew a skirt
- sew a dress
- sew an apron
All of these are stuff that I've always wanted to do and things that are actually missing from my wardrobe/house.
Might or might not update at the end of the year whether I've completed all of them.
I love this! I'm excited to see the videos you make about this next year. :) A few thoughts on your bingo card making goals: 1) Making button holes with a machine is super easy! (Making button holes by hand is tricky/tedious.) Just make sure to practice the buttonhole function on a scrap of fabric before you do it on your actual project. I don't make button holes often, and I forget all of the tiny details of how it works, which means if I try to make a button hole without practicing first I'm liable to heck it up on my actual project. So just practice on a scrap, but it's very simple. 2) I'm a big sock knitter, and I love it. You already know, from your sweater making, all of the stitches you need to knit a sock. The most tricky thing with socks is getting them to actually fit right, you want a nice, snug fit so the socks don't get all bunchy in your shoes. My first couple of socks were definitively more of house socks, but it was totally worth the investment of learning how to make them. I recommend the free pattern Rye Light from Tin Can Knits, a sock/fingering weight yarn that is 70-80% wool and 20-30% plastic (the plastic gives it staying power), and I like to knit with double pointed needles, but your mileage may vary. Have you used dpns yet, I can't remember? They can be a bit of a learning curb because at first I felt like I was stabbing myself, but once I got it they're very nice.
Also, if you want to start easy on "making a crotch" I think making a pair of pj pants, or perhaps very loose fitting shorts in a light weight material like linen would be the way to go.
Leena, your "make, do" *journey* so far has been an inspiration! I only started sewing this year - the clothes and alterations you have made are WAY above my level so believe me when I say buttons holes and crotches aren't that bad. It took me a few tries but you'll get it in no time.
Leena you should deffo watch Project Runway if you haven't already for creative inspo. Although yes the people dream of becoming a big brand for the most part(lol), a lot of them are running their own small businesses and have so many different creative directions and techniques.
Regarding the challenge, I want to dabble in that too. I'm a covid era sewing learner too via face masks. Last year I made half a dress and shortened some palazzo pants. This year I altered some vests...ready to take it to the next step. I got really overwhelmed about fabric choice(sustainability wise) during all this. Aims I have:
- Learn a different stitch type and why one may be better than the other
- Learn how to alter to my body
- Make one full dress for summer(summers are getting hotter 😜)
- Learn more about sustainable dye with the view to 'upcycle' existing clothes/fabric I have via colour
On the shoe front, I've made a commitment to get my leather Fly London boots resoled until they fall apart. I hate breaking in new shoes. I found I can send them to someone in Yorkshire who will do it for £50.
Ooh I’d also love to see a mini series within this series where you take us through making an entire outfit - one video on knickers, one on socks, etc until you wear every piece of the outfit together and we all eat cake to celebrate 🎉😂
Would love to hear you talk about having solo hobbies (e.g.reading, sewing) in a couple. I want to spend more time doing those things, but it also eats into couple time (which is often spent watching a screen together, although we do have some couple hobbies off screens like board games)
I love this plan ❤ A tip for sock knitting - get yourself a 30 cm circular needle so you’re only messing about with double pointed needles at the need and toes.
I worked in a chain sewing place up north Abakhan, in the physical stores they have bins of offcut industry fabrics that were pay by the kilo. (So, you can feel a lot less guilty about your fabric purchases). Some advice also is only buy sewing patterns you really love instead of what you think you can do or else you may just make stuff you're not obsessed with which is very common with beginners and creating more waste. Vogue and McCall patterns are definitely the most interesting with designer ones too (cheaper if you buy them online btw) Can't wait to see your sewing work!!
A small idea for second hand yarn things! If there’s a jumper in a charity shop that’s a bit old and sad but you like the yarn, there’s some ace tutorials on UA-cam on how to actually take it apart and reuse the wool. It’s a project but it’s perfect way to create a new lease of life for something! Good luck, this is such an ace thing to achieve. Can’t wait to follow along your journey
I'm in for this 'make, do!' challenge!
I might modify some of the rules...I like to dress in costumes and so do some of my friends. We go to a convention every September and I might need very specific fabrics. I'll try to source from local small shops, but there's not many options near where I live and I have some sensory sensitivities that make some fabrics not really viable for me. For those I might try to buy from chains that have already shipped the supplies to local stores or from smaller shops online that can ship supplies to me...but I will try thrift stores first - it's amazing what you can do with some bed sheets, curtains, and table clothes!
Speaking of costumes...I'm a singer and participate in several acapella groups. In one, we've been working with a local artist, a sewist and tailor, to have custom costumes made for us. While I haven't checked into their sustainability practices, I feel it's important to support local shops owned by POC sewing durable custom clothing pieces. So I will be buying a suit from their business this year.
I also have several bolts of fabric in my stash that I bought for projects I haven't finished yet! As part of my 'make, do!' challenge, I need to bust my stash! Project priority is going to the ones I already have supplies for.
While I've been making due with the tools I currently have, I've wanted a surger for more than a decade now. It would especially help when working with stretchy and/or easily fraying fabrics. I want to budget to invest in an overlock machine so I can make my process more efficient - especially for those costumes I sew.
While I will try my hand at making a bra if I need to, my body is such that I do need serious architectural support in that area. I'm non-binary and generally prefer to wear binders or sports bras, but occasionally need to wear something more feminine. My binder and sports bra supply should last me through to 2025, but I've been meaning to check out a bra shop a friend recommended to me quite some time ago. If I can't make or modify something that'll do the job, I may purchase a fancy bra from that store (one will probably be sufficient for my purposes).
As for the 'replace one item with something exactly the same but in a different size' rule...I might relax it a bit. I'm working on losing some weight right now so I do anticipate needing to size some of my clothing down. If I can find something similar enough in a thrift store, I may buy a slightly different garment and donate the one that doesn't fit anymore. I will try to modify the existing piece first and I will only go to local thrift stores (so nothing needs to be shipped to me).
Let's do this!
Bedankt
Do you live in London? Have you heard of the Work & Play Scrapstore? It's a charity/ membership programme where they collect donated art & craft materials, and you as a member can turn up as many times as you want within a year (the fee is £60 ish annually) and take whatever you want home for personal use, as long as you don't sell whatever you make with it. It's brilliant. They're somewhat strict with what they accept, so you will always find something of good quality when you visit. Absolute treasure trove, especially for fabrics. They have vintage lace, buckets of buttons, stacks and stacks of patterns magazines, craft paper and postcards, wall paint, wallpaper, printer ink, glass ornaments, tiles, pretty old tins, office supplies, even random colourful plastic bits and bobs for collage makers. I think I've saved hundreds of pounds in the last year, expanded my hoard of supplies and also donated a lot of my personal stash of fabric/ yarn/ buttons/ craft books etc that I knew I wouldn't use any time soon/ didn't love any more, knowing that someone else would give them a much better home and use them.
I sew most of my own clothes, and I absolutely love it. When you make something that fits you really well, in a great color or pattern, in a natural fiber, it's sooooo satisfying. And incredibly comfortable.
sock knitting! I avoided it for over a decade, but now I really enjoy it. Here are a few tips:
1) there are many different methods for making heels, try a bunch and see what you like (UA-cam tutorials are your best friend).
2) When knitting something small in the round, you could either use double pointed needles or do the magic loop method, try both!
3) my first sock pattern was the flax socks by Tin Can Knits, which is designed for beginners.
I hope this helps!
I am so glad you decided to follow through with this idea!
I have been "making do" for a few years already, with a few necessary exceptions. I have not had the same structured approach to this as you have though - no rules, not really any start or end date and no bingo cards..! This approach to clothes has simply happened to me as my aversion to fast fashion increased, and my skill sets improved. I learned to knit in 2020 and learned to sew in 2021. (My sewing fears are the opposite of yours, it seems. I've sewn 2 pairs of trousers, but never sewn a top!) The going is slow! This year I have finished a pair trousers, a dress and 1/4 of a sweater. Last year my wardrobe did not change in any way. Still, I am content - not only am I happier wearing my home made clothes, but I'm also avoiding being _unhappy_ wearing fast fashion. I'm so glad more are embarking on this journey, and I hope you get many to join! Best of luck!
Ooooh, I love the idea of the Make Do Bingo! I was also thinking of making 2024 my year of making and creativity, there are so many projects I want to work on. Might knick that bingo idea for it 😄
if you haven't heard of the #makenine challenge it's very similar!
I‘ve been doing this exact thing (make everything it is possible for me to make myself, apart from tights, bras and socks) for the past seven years and it has been awesome. It has been exactly how you are describing - I can make what I want to wear in the exact colour, fabric, style that I want in a way that fits my body. My next big project will be a winter coat (mine has been falling apart for a while now).
One thing you said really resonated with me - the part about wanting to feel competent and to be able to do practical things. I‘ve been knitting and sewing for over ten years now, but I would never have described myself as a practically skilled person, because in my head that involves power tools and wood and repairing stuff around the house. But of course making clothing is a practical skill!
Leena i know that you have a copy of 'zero waste clothes', i have been sewing from that and made my first crotch and buttonholes in the past few weeks! The instructions in there are very clear and have found it a great way to learn how to finesse the finishing of my garments. I learnt to sew from my mother as a child but havent really done any sewing in the last 15 years, so am almost a beginner. (I can also say your journey has inspired me to dive back into the world of making things) Good luck and have fun 🤞 and thanks for the inspo x
Yay Leena! I'm doing a "Buy Nothing New" year and a "Year of DIY" so I'm WITH YOU and also so excited to see your 2024 Make Do journey 😊
My father was a carpenter contractor, and I spent a lot of my childhood sitting in his workshop, watching him do stuff, and occasionally helping, but mostly getting in his way. Fast forward 40 years and I started fixing furniture that was old and yucky and making it lovely again. I was fixing dresser, drawers, and legs and using Bondo and there are more skills. I want to learn when I have access to work shop again, but I love doing that and it’s sustainable and good for the planet. Also which I extra love, especially since I used non-toxic all natural, paints, and products that I was proud of. I spent much of Covid DIY in furniture and clothing, and I had a great time. I now live in a place where there is very little in the way of were the used furniture to do anything with, but I am trying to change my way of thinking and see if I can make the furniture here more beautiful (to me, anyway)
I think it's a good idea to allow yourself to buy new, local fabric if needed :) I restricted myself to second-hand fabric only and I now have a bunch of different fabrics that I can't muster up the motivation to use. I've started a No Buy Year and purchased a sewing course in the hopes that it will give me some guidance and develop the mechanical mindset! I've got the potential and I am getting good, I just need more practice and to stop fearing the idea of failing
Have you explored second hand sheets? they're great to experiment, or to use as a toile.
I did a similar thing to this a few years ago when I wanted to get better at sewing. My rule was just that I couldn't buy any new clothes for a year (except underwear), if I wanted something I either had to get it second hand or make it myself.
It really made a difference because I almost never buy brand new clothes these days and pretty much make everything I wear (again except underwear but I'll get there one day).
Good luck with this project, I hope you get some new skills from it!
Yesss I'm so excited about this project of yours !! I love your sense of style and what you've already made yourself, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what you're gonna make in 2024 !
I used to watch Annika Victoria's channel when they were still on UA-cam, their videos are a goldmine for sustainable fashion! If you'd like to get some inspiration, give it a watch. I remember some really cool thrift flips and also tutorials for sewing many things, including underwear and bralettes
The way you delivered the "I own enough sports bras" line was FLAWLESS.
LEENA! do not be intimidated by kntting socks!! they are one of my favourite things to knit, and there are endless ways to do almost every step so if you dont like one way, there is another way to do it. I prefer double pointed needles, but you can use circulars (very short ones or the magic loop method). every sock i knit is simply:
a cast on divisible by 4
some ribbing
some straight tube knitting
knitting either a cup shape or a flap for the heel
if knitting the flap, picking up those stitches and decreasing them back down to you original count
more straight tube knitting for the foot
decreasing till you have basically no stitches left
finish off the toe however you like!
it will be trial and error but socks will only seem scary for as long as you put off trying them. For a beginner, i reccomend a cuff-down heel flap and gusset sock, or a toe-up afterthought heel sock!
I would LOVE to see your knicker-crafting journey as I am yet to wear a pair that doesn't irritate my skin/give me razor rash, my old t shirts are crying in a corner because they know what is to come
never realized it, but I am ready-to-wear fasting as well. Found your channel when searching for “make your own clothes”. Since Jan 2024 banned myself from buying new clothes until I finish 3 garment projects. Your crafted garments and hats are inspiring. ❤ 🇨🇦
I don't know if this is too far down the rabbit-hole, but if you want to sew clothing that is in your head and doesn't exist yet, pattern manipulation is a great sewing skill to pick up! I highly recommend The Closet Historian's channel, she does a great job of breaking down how to change existing patterns and make them create the garments of your dreams!
For "make a crotch" you would probably like the "top down, center out" method of trouser fitting. It's very intuitive and easy, and there are many videos on UA-cam about it. It revolutionizes the whole problem, and really works!
In 2016 I tried to do a year without buying any new clothes. I managed to get to August and then fell off the wagon in quite a catastrophic fashion (it was very definitely binge-buying). I have real issues with clothes-buying, it's almost like it fills an emotional hole for me. My subconscious seems to be telling me that the next thing I buy will make me look perfect or professional or pretty. I have managed to move pretty much all my purchases to Vinted or charity shops in the last 2 years, but I still feel like an addict needing a fix.
I think it partly stems from being a fat teenager and twenty-something in the 80s and 90s when there was no choice of lovely clothes because all the shops except for Evans stopped at a size 14. I was deprived the experience of wearing what I wanted and looking how I wanted and now there are clothes in my size, I just want all of them despite (like Leena) not having any places to wear party outfits.
I can sew, and have made a few skirts in the past, and I love crochet so have been making my own knitwear for the past two years. But I still definitely need help to sort my head out around this scarcity mindset I seem to have
So exciting! It’s the perfect challenge for you! I’m very inspired to join along for bits of it! (Already not buying new clothes at all)
I hope when you do mending you look at Sashiko mending. You could also look at Embroidery as a new topic. I'm not a frilly person but some strategic embroidery can be so effective.
Leena, when you sew your first crotch (I originally typed fist - but that's a wild topic 😂), and then sew a pair of loose elastic wasted pants, you'll wonder why it took you so long, and how you will ever sew anything else. I make all my own trousers and I make them with stretchable waists and that has literally saved my buying 30 pairs of trousers over the years, including evening wear. I sew a lot of them in silky expensive stretch fabric and they last, and last and last. AND, are versatile. And I make my own silky briefs. You'll love it. 💖
I'm doing this in 2024. I've been sewing for about a year and feel pretty comfortable with where I'm at so I'm excited for the challenge.
Jittery at the thought of more sewing videos from you! Exciting!
Really excited about this project! I started "making do" when I realized that shops mostly don't have things that are meant for me or what I really wanted. It feels powerful to know that so much of the problems in ready to wear are so preventable/fixable with making. The act of making for me is a great gateway into slow living and being more sustainable. For underwear, you totally got this! There are many free patterns and tutorials out there for all sorts of underwear and it's not really more difficult than regular sewing. Once you know how simple they are, there are endless ways to alter the pattern to be just what you want. EvielaLuve and Madalynne Intimates both have free patterns and video tutorials. And the Love to Sew podcast episodes 162 and 220 discuss sewing underwear in depth.
Definitely joining in with this. Learn to sew was on my goals for this year but turns out leaving an abusive relationship will somewhat snooker your goals and your year.
Really excited to make 2024 the year it happens though and am also volunteering at a local repair cafe now and the sewist there has offered to help teach me which is amazing!
Mathematical knitting is so interesting! I have had many knitters tell me they aren't good at math and, yes you are! The way we are often taught math in the US is very strictly "one way" with no wiggle room which often leaves many people (including many women) to feel that they "just don't get it" or could never be good at math. Math is so much more than the way we are taught at school and it is everywhere! I truly believe everyone is good at math, it just hasn't been presented in a way that is accessible to them! I did a full research project on this and I will be passionate about it until the day I die! Knitting isn't the only alternative way to experience math but there are so many cool intersections between the two. Crochet probably even has more math opportunities because of the additional flexibility in construction.
When you knit you are actively experiencing and playing with the math of ratios/fractions (gauge), simple equations (rate of increase/decrease), algebra (if you join in the round and twist your knitting, you can explore the concept of a Mobius strip!), geometry, calculus (have you ever knit a 3D geometrical shape from a pattern? The pattern is a hop, skip, and a jump away from an equation you might use in calculus!).
Additionally, knitting patterns are written very similarly to computer programming. Many of the first computer programmers were knitters!
And you can make pretty and functional things! Truly anything is possible!
In the last box you could put “Make something with scraps” as a way to use the scrap fabric that occurs when sewing your own items.
I am making *most* of my clothes either knitting or sewing them. Now, while it has made me to think more about what I want and what my clothing/style needs are, there is also a sustainability concern even if you make your own clothing.
I found that a good fit does take skills and a few attempts, potentially a few mock ups. This means fabric that will go to the land field. Or you end up with garments that don't quite fit, you don't quite like etc.
I also caught myself in the past shopping for fabric like other people shop for clothes. If I like the print, or the colour or the material I wanted to have it in my stash, even if I did not have a plan for it. These days I am trying to remember there will always be stuff that I will really like in the future too, even if that means I don't get the fabric that is in front of me now.
Having said that, the feeling of saying "thanks, I made it" when complimented for your outfit is amazing! People have now come to expect that I have made at least some part of the outfit I am wearing almost as a personal brand, which makes me very proud!
I love this. I'm essentially doing this too- as a hobby sewist for over 10 years I've accumulated way too much fabric and I'm not ok with it, so this year (which I'm doing as a no spend year anyway) part of my goal is to use my fabric up and bulk out the gaps in my wardrobe/make gifts for people using all of my stash. Hopefully by the end I'll feel less heavy/guilty about past consumption and have some of my previous adhd habits in check 😅
I really feel you about buying second hand becoming fast-fashion-y in regards to the pace.. these apps make it SO easy. And it's really so tempting, and I often make the purchase, even when it's not really financially feasible for me to be spending money on more clothes. Plus, I already have a huge second-hand wardrobe. It would be really tough for me to join you in this challenge, but after I go through with a purchase I've been really eyeing, lol, I think I'll close myself off for the year. Maybe it would even encourage me to learn sewing! I feel intimated but you make it seem very possible!
for the extra slot in your bingo I would recommend trying to sew by hand an item or learning another fiber art( like crochet, embroidery, lace making etc) I am absolutely am going to join! my relationship with my body is so much better since starting to make my own clothes
This is (almost 'was', by the time this comment was made) a creative challenge to take on! My new year's resolution for 2024 was Pasta Quest, where I try to eat as many differently shaped noodles as I can find. (No specially ordering things online, just what's available at local grocery and bulk food stores - I'm lucky enough to live close to many options.) I got the idea from someone on tumblr who did the same thing. Another suggestion of theirs was Fruit Adventures, where you find a fruit or vegetable at the supermarket that you've never had before, get one and try it, and read the Wikipedia article about it.
Yes yes yes please do a video essay about the gendered stuff! I see this around me lots, that its only women buying more second hand and learning to sew. I personally have not bought new clothes in two years, but the gendered stuff and the already often unequal division of labour keeps me off also making sewing my responsibility
I'd suggest crochet or embroidery for the last space. Crochet can make socks with a much lower proficiency than knitting (still only one hook and begginer friendly, not joined/multiple needles and advanced shaping) while embroidery greatly contributes to visible mending. Better still they're both great to combine with sewing and knitting.
Fantastic! I embarked on such a challenge in the beginning of April, (although I initially called it a no buy year...) for similar reasons! And also to find who I am beyond a consumer and also to start appreciate the value of garments. And it has so far been SO MUCH EASIER than I thought! I have ended up mostly altering the clothes I already own, but I'm very happy with that turnout. I hope you'll enjoy this challenge! I will absolutely enjoy following it!
so basically, rule number one is that you gotta have fun? :D interestingly when I started making my own clothes last year it made me crave going on fast fashion websites and looking for the next shiny thing to wear much less. on the one hand the options really are endless, and picking exactly the fabric, colour, pattern and style I want in a dress or skirt is the best. on the other hand, the sheer amount of time sewing takes up really means you have much less time to go shopping, or even think about it. win-win! good luck in your endeavour, leena, and honestly button holes are really scary but they are totally doable. socks as well, actually the only knitting projects I've ever successfully completed have been socks haha
I’m doing a similar challenge this year- no new (to me) clothes apart from underwear, socks, and replacements for worn out items. I also have to wear EVERYTHING in my wardrobe at least once.
So excited to see you do some visible mending! Darning socks is sooo satisfying I learnt to do it this year
Deadstock fabric from UK sellers is a good shout as well. It's end of the line fabric that would otherwise get chucked in landfill. Often designer brand level quality (check the descriptions carefully) and very often cheaper than it would be otherwise.
I love Amothreads for that.
Sounds great! I started sewing about 20 years ago and now I'm at the point that I don't even remember when I last went into a store and bought clothing (except underwear). When I need a new pair of shoes or some piece of clothing that I don't want to make for whatever reason, I first look at secondhand options.
Recently, I needed a new winter jacket (the old ones lasted for about 15-18 years or longer) and I noticed how weird it feels for me to go into a clothing store nowadays. I went out and got some fabric 😄 (I already had lining at home and I always search for secondhand fabric first, but if this jacket will last for another 15-20 years, I'm fine with buying new fabric).
"make a crotch" and "work with jersey" can be knocked off the list in one pair of leggings :) I traced a pair I had that fit fairly well and made a new pair in stretch crushed velvet and the results were pretty decent.
That empty spot on your card calls for a swimsuit or a winter coat!
I've been making my own clothes for a couple of years now and, while not as drastic, it has dramatically changed my relationship with buying clothes and with fashion.
Interesting, I find myself with a similar mindset. Not sure if I'll actually join the challenge, but I've stopped buying things I don't need... other than from the $1 clearance rack of the second hand store. I do, however, have a lot of fabric, most with plans to go alongside, to make up.
Your comment from a different video regarding "the hands that sewed these clothes and the life they live" has been incredibly thought-provoking, such that I've bought shirt patterns to make and clothe my husband and son. I've also decided that it is time to teach them to sew. These school holidays they are making themselves a garment. My 9 year old chose a banana hat, and my 7 year old a dress.
I'm not quite game to try get the 3 year old to make something yet 😅😅
Fabric bags are pretty easy to make, you don't have to pick up leatherworks to make a bag. I made one completely made from upcycled materials (except the yarn), the zipper and other metal bits I took from old bags I threw out and stripped for materials.
Hi Leena! If you are nervous about knitting socks, I would love to recommend the Basic Sock with Integrated Heel by Ailbíona McLochlainn. They are worked in the round and are just a tube with some tricks (no scary heel turning!) and fit ny feet really well. They are fast, work with any yarn and gauge (!) and can be knit for any size. I try to prioritise sustainable patterns, aka patterns that can be used again and again for multiple yarns, people, projects and modifications and Ailbíonas patterns really fit the bill (I've made 10+ pairs of socks with this pattern and at least five of her Versal sweater - this or the Saglan are a perfect "one and done" sweater pattern). She writes great instructions and always includes information on different modifications. Good luck with your first sock!
Joining you! I’m doing a no buy year, but a caveat to that was that I could not buy any clothes and if I wanted any I would have to make it (similar rules to yours). So happy you’re also doing this! Please make videos of you on this journey because it’ll help me (and others) too!
Congratulations and have fun in your making!
I’m really interested to see how much time you spend making clothes. As someone with a full time job, a commute, friends, family, other hobbies, the pile of “to sew” just grows and grows! 😅
It’s very empowering to make your own clothes, that fit you as an individual aesthetically in any material or pattern of your choosing ❤❤
Lena! you need to try some styling challenges like wearing your clothes the wrong way. I discovered that "the wrong way" is sometimes the right way for me and it helped me use more of my closet 🦇
I've been wearing the same two pairs of jeans, the same two pairs of corduroy pants (for cold months), and the same six plaid shirts for five years now. I have some lightweight linen tank tops and two pairs of lightweight linen pants for hot months. I knit my own sweaters and socks from sustainably produced wool. I have two "nice" outfits for special occasions. This is it... this is all I wear! I mend these clothes when they begin to wear out, and personally, I opt for "visible mending" because I like the creative look of it. Personally, I found the transition to no-buy easy and fun. Nobody else seems to notice that I wear all the same stuff over and over again. Lol. I am going to start sewing (already have knitting down!) just for the fun of learning a new skill. I wish more people would "make do" and stick to keeping the same clothing year after year, the way people used to do in decades past.
So... you've got this, Leena! I'm living proof that it can be done and it's even quite enjoyable. One of my plaid shirts has a few new holes in it, so I've got to decide on how I'm going to mend those ones up to make it look cute and unique. :) Have fun with your no-buy year and I can't wait to see how it goes for you!
P.s. I just saw your "learn to knit colorwork" bingo square... some advice from an experienced knitter: look for knitting patterns that use a colorwork technique called "mosaic" first! Mosaic is easy to learn and quick to knit, whereas stranded colorwork isn't particularly hard, but it can be slow to pick up the fundamental skills. Do a few mosaic knitting projects before you venture into stranded colorwork and you'll find it very fun and easy.
I have been trying such challenge for the last year or 2 and I must say its wonderful cause at some point you realise that you can make a lot if not all of the clothes you would like to own. After I made few things I also realised that my need to buy dropped significantly cause I can make things exactly how I want them and need so I'm more happy with what I wear. I think one of the reasons people buy some of their clothes is that what they have is bad quality, doest fit well, there are some small details that are not exactly how you want. So we buy sth alse to make ourselves happier. When I make clothes myself I can decide on every detail and this made me more satisfied. And the joy of wearing sth that you made is amazing, I built a new special connection with clothes.
And I also highly recommend trying sewing/knitting if you want to slow down your life
Leena, I just found your channel days ago and have been bingeing. You're a joy, so full of happy, fun, energy. You make me smile. Watching your older videos, you expressed that you attributed feelings to your clothing items which rang a bell with me. I haven't much exercised those feelings since my youth, long ago now, but definitely relate. Is anthropomorphizing the correct term? So sweet. Love you. Best of everything in life. Well done.
For my first pair of socks, I used the "Knit Boot Socks" tutorial by KnittingHouseSquare, found on youtube and the pattern is on their website. It's meant for thicker wool (4,5 or 5 mm needles if I recall correctly). It's a cosy house sock, and it allows you to go through the motions of knitting a sock without it taking months to complete. Higly recommend! There are also several plastic-free sock wool options, such as Onion nettle sock wool and the sock wool spun by John Arbon Textiles.
I look forward to seeing your yourney this coming year!
I can't wait to watch your sewing journey as someone who wants to learn more of it myself! a while back ('21 I think?) I had a whole year of not throwing away any fabric, and so I'm left with a bunch of scraps and bits and bobs that I want to learn how to utilise! it would be really cool to see you construct a pair of underpants, both in terms of how to make them and in terms of how to construct something for a curvy body in a way that isn't dictated by a skinny-centric fashion industry!
I love to hear more people talking about that the rate of consumption needs to slow down, and that is isn’t enough to just switch to second hand shopping! ❤
im REALLY hoping my daughter got me a sewing machine (like I STRONGLY HINTED. STRONGLY!) that I (basically told) her to. no. i cant sew. but my best friend can and im sure she will teach me! While I am not going to the lengths you are this year, one of my goals (with clothing) is to be much more mindful and intentional with my purchases. I've always been a huge thrift store fan, so from a sustainability viewpoint, im good there. but I am bad about impulse purchases (across the board in pretty much every category everywhere). So I am only allowing myself to go in the thrift shops WITH A SPECIFIC LIST of items I am looking for/needing. For clothing items I DO find I need to purchase new (like you my weight/sizing has been changing. I am losing weight rather rapidly which poses its own set of issues) and I've not been able to find what I need in thrift store locally, I have the goal of purchasing higher quality, longer lasting, more timeless pieces that are made with at least one kind of sustainability factor (amazon has a filter for this), and I found an online company that also seems to fit the bill in those terms (keep in mind I live in a very rural area so local options are not really local at all, hence the online shopping for many things). So heres to a great year and meeting our goals!
A sewing machine is a power tool, change my mind 😂
But yes yes yes, I love this, Leena! I've been wanting to commit to something similar, but the big thing that puts me off for some reason is the idea of having to learn how to sew underwear. I've figured out how to knit socks (and hand-knitted socks literally feel *so fancy*), but the bra and pants situation scares me! But, you know what? If you're taking the plunge into this, I'll do it too! You've inspired me!
I also love the sewing bingo card idea. That's such a great way to challenge yourself to learn new skills. I'll have to come up with something similar. I'm learning to spin my own yarn (which is a lovely, meditative process and there are some incredible creators here on UA-cam with brilliant tutorials if you are interested in picking up another textile hobby) so one challenge I've been wanting to undertake is to spin enough yarn to actually make a jumper with. Bonus points if I can buy the fibre from a local farm!
My first sewing machine was a Toyota. It's a machine. A motor. It's definitely a power tool :)