28 July 2010

Bright Star - Sewing in the Movies

Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion
People ask me how and why I suddenly made the decision to take up sewing. I can pinpoint the moment exactly to one evening in November when I walked down to my local cinema to see Jane Campion's Bright Star.

As I sat in the auditorium waiting for the film to begin, I was thinking about how I wanted to take up a craft come the new year, to put my hands to some use other than typing. As the lights went down I was considering pottery, but from the opening shot of the film - an extreme close up of a needle being threaded - my mind switched to stitching and the decision had been made.


Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion
The opening titles feature intimate shots of needle and thread, as Fanny quietly stitches the extravagant collar she will later emerge from the house wearing

I'm sure many of you will have seen the film, but if you haven't, and you're reading this blog because you love sewing, ahhh... you've got such a treat coming!

Bright Star is about the passionate, short-lived love affair between John Keats and the girl next door, Fanny Brawne. While Keats' poetry is of course central, no less prominent is Brawne's own craft of dressmaking. The fabulous costumes don't just appear from the props cupboard: we see her working on them from design right through to the reveal at society events.

Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane CampionSewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion

"This is the first frock in all of Woolwich and Hampstead to have a triple pleated mushroom collar"

Her character is first introduced as "the well-stitched little Miss Brawne, in all her detail". She is mocked by Keats' best friend for being a slave to "flounce and cross-stitch", a frivolous hobby in counterpoint to the more "serious" musings of a poet. However, while the poet friends struggle against writer's block and gain little respect (let alone income) for their work, Fanny consistently - and quietly - turns out beautiful pieces.
My personal favourite of Fanny's creations

Fanny sews to express not only her youthful style, but also love and grief. Keats' unlined coat is a constant source of concern for Fanny (and will eventually be the death of him); and when his brother dies, Fanny offers her condolences not in words but with an embroidered pillow case.


"She stitched it all night long"

The film is a real stitcher's paradise, not just because of the theme and narrative: the cinematography displays a wonderful sensitivity to fabric texture. Don't be alarmed if you're tempted to glide your hand over the screen... or at least have a sudden urge to go fabric shopping...

Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion
Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion
Sewing in the Movies - Bright Star by Jane Campion

20 July 2010

Granny chic skirt


"You never can tell what someone is going to choose...", muttered the young and trendy lady at the till in Oxfam, as I presented my haul of grandma skirts and handed over my £3.



While in the past I've had little luck the clothing section of charity shops (thrift stores), rarely finding anything in my size, with my new sewing skills at the ready (and constant inspiration courtesy of Marisa at New Dress a Day), there's nothing holding me back - no garment can be too frumpy! At least not in the before shot...


Not even 100% polyester fabric ... at least the seams won't fray, so there's not need to finish them (my least favourite part of sewing) - hurrah! 



All I had to do to make this skirt wearable was take in the sides a little, take up the hem a lot, and Bob's your uncle. 




Isn't it pretty?


[Soundtrack: 'Peggy Day' by Bob Dylan. Today's snaps were taken in Brockwell Park's enchanting walled garden]

5 July 2010

A 1970s feel Beignet



Here she is! My favourite sewing project so far, Beignet skirt from Colette Patterns. I made it in a gorgeous bright blue denim that I found on my shopping trip with Debi, a denim which made me think of the 1970s (in a good way) and went wonderfully with amber-yellow accents. As I've come to expect from Colette Patterns, the instructions are refreshingly clear and the pattern a joy to work with. The only thing I'd say - as some other bloggers have noticed with these patterns - is that I needed nowhere near as much fabric as it said I would. In fact, I barely used half of what the instructions told me I'd need.


I learnt that denim is really easy to work with, once I'd invested in some sturdy needles. But once I'd applied the facing, the skirt became really bulky, not to mention very blue. I started thinking to myself, "Next time I make this, I'll use a contrast cotton for the facing," and "When I become a more experienced seamstress, I'll think about these details ahead". And then something happened which I can't really explain - with uncharacteristic patience, I proceeded to unpick the whole facing, unpick the side seams, unpick the pockets, layout the pattern pieces on some leftover fabric from my first sewing project, cut them all out again, and go through the whole process of sewing the facing and pockets all over again. I really don't know what came over me, but I am so happy with the result!




[Soundtrack: 'Band on the Run' by Wings - the band The Beatles could have been...]