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The last time I used a sewing machine I was 11. I was so bad at sewing straight lines on tracing paper that I wasn't allowed near fabric. Since then, I've avoided home crafts like the plague.
But, in the recession, everyone is making their own clothes. Design-led yarn company Rowan has organised classes at Liberty for those who want to rediscover the lost arts of knitting, sewing and crochet. The emphasis is on make do and mend - but using beautiful fabrics and accessories.
Sales of haberdashery have gone through the roof. Jay Harley of The Cloth House in Berwick Street says: "I've noticed a huge increase in the number of people customising clothing. Buttons and vintage fabrics are very popular."
At VV Rouleaux in Sloane Square, feathers are flying out of the door. "People want to make their own head-dresses for weddings. In the past six months trimmings and bobble fringes for cushions have been selling well," says the manager.
There's something honorable about this thrifty 1970s vibe. We've seen it before, of course: my parents' generation were always going to evening classes to make pottery or patchwork quilts. But this time around, craft is cool.
The catwalks are full of appliqué and embroidery detail. Jaeger sent out models in beaded necklaces with feathers and pom-poms. Kate Moss used Liberty fabrics for her 2009 Topshop collection, as did Oasis and Gap.
You can make your own corsage detail, like that on Emma Watson's Alice Temperley dress for the Baftas or the exquisite yoke embellished with silk camellias worn by Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto at the Elle Style Awards.
To my horror, I was assigned the task of going to the Liberty Sewing School to learn how to make a skirt. Memories of humiliating home economics lessons flooded back.
But the new dressmaking is very different. For a start, you use computerised sewing machines that do everything but make tea. At first I found controlling the fabric a nightmare but you can adjust the speed to go very slow. The machine went from a snorty, hissing beast to, well, a neutral ally.
Course tutor Jane had selected a simple Amy Butler A-line skirt pattern (lining, one zip). Wisely, she steered me towards a simple repeat fabric - Liberty's Snug Beach, £17.95 per metre (reminiscent of pebbles on a beach).
I cut out three panels for the skirt and lining, pinned them on the cloth and cut round the paper pattern pieces. Then I stitched the fabric widths together, to form the straight seams, and learned reverse stitch to fasten them.
We neatened the skirt panel edges with zigzag stitch then seamed them together with lockstitch (heavens, it was actually starting to resemble a wearable garment). Finally I put in the concealed zip.
In three hours I had a real, live skirt. Friends were astonished. If a complete non-stitch diva like me can manage it, anyone can.
And it is rather astonishing to drink cocktails in an outfit you made earlier.
For details of Liberty Stitch workshops (£50 each) call 020 7734 1234 or visit www.liberty.co.uk.
Reader views (1)
Fringe is so hot this season! I found this great top on http://meghanfabulous.com/store/ its called the shimmie top and its so fun and flirty, perfect for the summer. This picture reminded me a lot about her website I would check it out and see the great collection she has going for summer 2009!
- Kelly, Los Angeles, 10/07/2009 00:49
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