Having been very scared of the RTW fast when I signed up, I have found the first quarter to be a breeze! I haven't felt like buying anything and am much more inspired to sew.
I have made 4 finished items:
They are the Style Arc Billie Top (blogged here), a Seamwork Aurora top to demonstrate piecing stripes to create chevrons (for a Sewcialists post here), the Paprika Patterns Jasper with crossover collar addition (blogged here) and a mystery garment which is a pattern test that hasn't yet been released.
I have also progressed a Cashmerette Harrison shirt and Ames jeans after attending one of Jenny Rushmore's workshops in Sydney (aaaaaamazing), but they aren't finished so they will count in next quarter's round up.
I do think I am still not sewing things I will wear a lot. The jumper above is probably most likely to be worn, but it's not cold for very long here! I need to still hone in on items which will be worn most and suit my style best.
Finally, I have found the social aspect of the fast a bit meh. There are so many people doing the fast that the Facebook group is very "loud". It sort of swamped my feed for a while and I just started ignoring it. In addition, there are some very odd debates about "the rules" in the group - people posting to ask for exceptions, then others getting outraged they would want an exception, then others defending the exception etc. It just feels like people should make the fast work for them and be a bit less rigid about it. I am not sure what would work better for me - maybe some subgroups to let people connect a bit more?
Regardless, the fast is working for me as a spur to buy nothing and sew more, so that's great!
I have made 4 finished items:
They are the Style Arc Billie Top (blogged here), a Seamwork Aurora top to demonstrate piecing stripes to create chevrons (for a Sewcialists post here), the Paprika Patterns Jasper with crossover collar addition (blogged here) and a mystery garment which is a pattern test that hasn't yet been released.
I have also progressed a Cashmerette Harrison shirt and Ames jeans after attending one of Jenny Rushmore's workshops in Sydney (aaaaaamazing), but they aren't finished so they will count in next quarter's round up.
I do think I am still not sewing things I will wear a lot. The jumper above is probably most likely to be worn, but it's not cold for very long here! I need to still hone in on items which will be worn most and suit my style best.
Finally, I have found the social aspect of the fast a bit meh. There are so many people doing the fast that the Facebook group is very "loud". It sort of swamped my feed for a while and I just started ignoring it. In addition, there are some very odd debates about "the rules" in the group - people posting to ask for exceptions, then others getting outraged they would want an exception, then others defending the exception etc. It just feels like people should make the fast work for them and be a bit less rigid about it. I am not sure what would work better for me - maybe some subgroups to let people connect a bit more?
Regardless, the fast is working for me as a spur to buy nothing and sew more, so that's great!
I'm relieved to read your take on the social aspect. I do not have a Facebook account (for reasons you illustrate - life is too short for that crap) and asked if that was a barrier to joining and was told it was not so I joined and never heard another word about it. No biggie. I can fast without a group. The reality is that I haven't bought any clothing in a year anyway. I like what I make way better.
ReplyDeleteI like what you make better, too! I'm particularly taken with your Jasper and I love the fabric you chose. Thanks for sharing all your fun stuff and your experiences.
Thanks Susan - I am sort of impatiently waiting for winter (or at least Autumn) to arrive so I can wear the Jasper!
DeleteI don't think you are missing out at all. It's a shame because I sort of wanted to get some interesting insight into whether fasting changes people's sewing - like is it an end unto itself in terms of pushing someone to make things they really need rather than being attracted by the latest pattern etc, or what did people struggle with an end up having to buy (I am going skiing for the first time ever soon and seriously debating whether trying to make stuff would be an interesting challenge or a stupid pain in the bum that would waste a lot of my time!). It being so rigid in approach and the group being so noisy without focus has meant I don't get those things at all.
I love the sentence "I like what I make way better" - it's perfect! Makes me think I shouldn't bother making ski-wear for a five day trip and should focus on making sure that's true for me!