November 2, 2005
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I am sewing today. I am making a new Christmas tree skirt for my daughter as a gift for her wedding anniversary. I enjoy sewing and I don’t do it as much as I did in the past.
The pattern for this skirt is a Vogue pattern. Vogue patterns always make me think of my Aunt Beth. She was a beautiful seamstress. I can remember a time when I was in high school and her daughter Jane was in college. Jane came home over Christmas break and she and my aunt went shopping for patterns and fabric for some new clothes for her. One of the fabrics they picked out was a very fine wool to be made into a dress. The pattern for the dress was a vogue pattern. My Aunt Beth growled over that pattern a lot while she was making the dress. Vogue patterns are very stylish, which often translates to difficult. When you cut out a garment, you often cut on a double layer of fabric so that the two sides of the item are mirror images of each other. That was not the case with this dress. Each part of the dress had a separate pattern piece which had to be cut from a single layer, requiring much more time and effort than usual. There were also an unusually large number of pieces. Aunt Beth worked very hard and complained very loudly about it. The dress was beautiful, though, just as stylish as anything you could buy in the finest shop.
I often think of my Aunt Beth when I sew. It is one of the hobbies that we shared. Now that she is no longer living, sewing often makes me feel a connection to her. That may be real or imagined, but I feel it in any case. When I handle a Vogue pattern, I feel it even more.
Comments (22)
What a beautiful way to remember someone! I totally believe in the power of connections. See my blog from Halloween and you’ll see my connection story. It can be very strange, but it’s wonderful at the same time to feel so connected to someone!
You have got me thinking now about when I use to make dressses at school . Its a art that is sadly nearly lost following a dress patten . My Nan was a hat maker so she use to help me make dresses for my eldest daughter. I never really made anything for my youngest daughter as we had more money and I was working . By doing that I think I lost the pride in seeing my child dressed in something that I had made
What a wonderful hobby, I love sewing, one of these days I am gonna save up enough to get a machine. I also think it is a beautiful way to remember your Aunt.
I know what you mean about the vogue patterns.
Wow…you’re very talented. Sewing, writing, what else? Can you juggle live badgers?
Hi Nancy! I’ve missed you at my Xanga! I know it’s been a while, so I hope you still remember me.
You are so talented! Gosh, I attempted to make a skirt in high school like a 100 years ago whenever I was a freshman
, but it did NOT come out right, and the teacher threatened all of us the whole time that she would make us wear our skirts to school one day if front of everyone if we didn’t do exactly what she said! heheh 
Needless to say, I certainly didn’t want to be punished in that way! 
Hope you have a great rest of the week over there! (((Hugs)))
Isn’t it interesting how things we do connect with the memories from the past? There are things I do just because they remind me of my mom or my dad. Comfort behaviors, I call them. I have never had a tree skirt; I use a Christmas tablecloth. Maybe I should make myself one…
How I envy you your talent! Sewing is something I’m not very good at. What a wonderful way to remember your Aunt. I’m sure the Christmas tree skirt will be lovely and your daughter will love it! Have a great night!
Yes it is.
Thank you.
Cosmic Monkey
I used to do a lot of sewing when my kids were little and avoided Vogue patterns but only because of the cost! Maybe I would have avoided them because of the difficulty if I had tried one. Leafy had to shut down her last blog because of “extenuating circumstances” but does have a new site called knitsteel.http://www.xanga.com/knitsteel. You can visit her there.
It’s wonderful the memories that can be aroused by sensory experience and by little activities or prompts. Whenever I smell bread I think of this one street in San Francisco when the fogs rolling in in the morning and all the bakery’s are waking to the day and the smell of baking bread is everywhere. It makes me miss SF but having the memories and the experiences brought back to me keeps the place alive. I’m good thing you have this connection to your Aunt.
RYC: I think that not being aware of differences is unrealistic – everyone is different and it’s impossible to ignore that fact. It’s the reactions to that difference that makes a person prejudice, which doesn’t make them a bad person, just, in my opinion, human. Of course there is a huge distinction between being aware of prejudice and not doing anything about it and just not being aware of it at all like most of us are in our daily lives.
I think that you do have a connection with handeling the patterns and sewing. I feel the same at the holidays about my grandma. See she was the pumpkin pie maker and let me tell you, they were the best pies you would ever taste in your life. My daddy was a marine and i was born base at cherry point, NC. Well my parent’s got divorced when i was i think 4. Anyway after that my daddy got deployed to japan. At Christmas, we made a video tape for him of me and my grandma making pies. Oh boy, did I get that flour everywhere!!!! Anyway, it was sort of a tradition that she was the only one that did the pies and cobbler. Now, my aun’ts do them, but it is just the smell that reminds me so much of her. Also, on our wedding day, we bought boutineers and corsages for the grandparent’s that are no longer with us. Well when i held the flowers that were intended for her it is like i could feel her. i was having a rough time knowing that she wasn’t there in person, but i knew she wouldn’t miss something that important. I could feel her, and my pappy too. My grandparents did not miss my most special day they were there in my heart. Anyway, i would love to see some of your sewing projects if you don’t mind, could you send me some pictures? melnben03@aol.com thank you.
What wonderful memories, and how nice that she is probably with you, in spirit-especially when you are sewing! Thank you for your comment–not really sure if prejudice is inborn, or not. But it is a mindset, from a young age. How sweet that your Aunt Beth made a difficult dress for her daughter. I too, remember those–I bought Simplicity most of the time!
Vogue patterns are my favorite because they are so simple to follow. They do not assume you can do anything except read and follow instructions. I’ve had Simplicity where pattern pieces are missing and if they use 2 pages of instructions, they don’t add more…just leave you hanging. I learned the old world hard tailoring , but with the children gone, I don’t do much nice sewing, just quilting etc.
I used to love sewing in home ec. One time I made a “heart” pillow which really came out looking like a misshapen lump.
come debate!
wow thats going to be nice.
My late sister was an excellent seamstress as well. She has left her mark by the beautiful things she made for her family and friends. I miss her so. I would love to have you stop by for a visit when you have time.
That sounds “sew” shiney!
BE blessed!
Steve
At reading this Nancy I remember my mother who was a seamstress like your aunt .I remember the famous patterns made with silk paper and she had to pay much attention . It was hard . At this time during the war II and a few time after , people went to the tailor or the seamstress to have their clothes made . I remember for my wedding ( 1961 ) going to the tailor who was my late parents ‘ friend to have my suit made . And he fails ….the trousers . Awful ! He said I have not a standard size ?????
I admire those who are clever in sewing , crocheting , knitting . Those are artists .
Love
Michel
Hello Nance,
I can’t sew at all. I wish. How long have you been sewing?
My daughter called me on the 3rd and was putting her Tree up! I said it was a little early, she said no.
Hope you are doing well.
Peace and Love:)
Hey, thanks for visiting. Long time since I’ve been by.
I sure understand your “Lately, my real expertise is being stressed out”, as that’s sure where I’ve been lately.
Sewing and needlework always look very therapeutic, not to mention rewarding for creating things of beauty and/or utility. I still have a lot of things of all sorts that my grandmother made. Unfortunately I let the few clothes she’d made me go long ago.
Have an excellent week.