monday musings

Another week, a new day to send my check-in email. We'll get back to fridays this week, I've got a good feeling about it.

I've had this painting by my three year old taped up for weeks, and keep meaning to share it here. He goes through phases of repeating the same shape or mark over and over again. Right now it's these little smiley faces, and they are my absolute favorite :)

production updates

Production is still cruising. I've been working on a stack of remakes myself for any items that measured larger than anticipated due to our first projector-scaling hiccup (it's been resolved! But we still have to correct anything that came through too large). I'm still receiving Lightweight Linen weekly and getting it packed and shipped as it comes through, and silk is about to start in cutting thank GOD.

We're almost sold out of Midweight Linen for our currently open orders, so I'll be closing those up soon. Last chance to order here.

sewing workshops

I finally have some finished projects to show you from some recent sewing workshops! We wrapped our Jumpsuit class, and I am so excited to have a fitted-to-me pattern. The (awkward) screengrab on the right is my first muslin of the XL pattern out of the box, and the left is my final version. I cut it from a railroad-stripe denim that has a touch of stretch in it (inspired by a student using the same fabric) and added snaps at the shoulders.

I also demo'd how to turn the Clyde Jumpsuit into the Clyde Dress, pictured above in the gray/white floral print fabric. It's my unexpected new favorite garment, and I envision layering it with long sleeves as the weather transitions.

Our Georgia pattern hacking class is underway, and in our first class we looked at changing the neckline. In the muslin above, we added a deep v-neck with a visible facing. We also covered bias-faced v-necks, deeper scoops, funnel neck collars, and bateau necks. Over the next few weeks we'll explore adding closures to the front, changing the sleeves, and transforming the Georgia into other garments.

We are almost finished with the Clyde Outerwear class (we ended up adding in one extra session to cover all the little details), and I'm really excited about these samples as well. These workshops are the only time I really ever sew garments for myself to keep and wear, so I am thoroughly enjoying it.

To show various different techniques I made a quilted Clyde Vest with a tapered collar, a corduroy jacket with front facings so you see the right side of the fabric when the collar is closed or open, and a boiled wool version with some pretty red silk bias binding inside. I can't wait to see what you all make from this pattern once it launches.

Our last class for the year that is still open for sign-ups is the Florence Pattern Hacking Boot Camp. You can sign up here if you want to join us!

finding myself in skincare & cowboy boots

I've been feeling a bit lost as an individual lately, in an existential sense but also in the kind of cliche, "young mom" way that all my friends have experienced at one point or another. Realizing I wasn't really getting dressed for anything beyond function, I had let all form of skincare go beyond a quick wash with whatever watered down body wash happened to be in the shower, and I hadn't made a dentist appointment in.....way too long to tell you.

I'm clearly not an advocate for buying your way out of these feelings—our sewing patterns and workshops are centered around my belief that consumption doesn't ever really resolve the deeper root feeling of lack—BUT I did order a skincare set with more than one step, and that single purchase was the beginning of shift. A shift back toward finding small ways to prioritize myself for the sake of it, not in an effort to be a better mom, to be more productive, or any other external reason.

I think it's easy to "justify" being kind and loving toward ourselves by pointing out how that investment will pay dividends back to other people, and that tendency itself is (in my opinion) the precise reason we find ourselves ground down into dusty, sad versions of ourselves. We aren't tools, we're people.

We were taking our kids out to meet some friends at a pumpkin patch this weekend, and in a rush I threw on the shoes that were the closest to the door. But it occurred to me that when I made the dress I was wearing, I specifically pictured wearing it with my red cowboy boots (red boots of all varieties were an iconic part of my early-20s style, and I still love them dearly).

Everyone was already in the car and I felt silly for even pausing, but I stopped, went back to my closet, and dug out the boots. It took a few minutes to unearth them because I haven't worn them in years, but wow....worth it. I felt like me. This tiny decision, to stop and make an intentional choice for me and me alone, has me feeling like a new woman.

So, maybe pull out your favorite shoes? And put on an outfit that feels worthy of them? And remember that you are worthy of taking care of, for no other reason than you exist. You exist. You exist.

Be well,

Liz