Ok, fellow crafters, question for you:
If you could start a new craft, which would it be?
I think I would like to take up lingerie making, especially bras and lovely lacy slips/camisoles full of french handsewing techniques and fine swiss batiste and lovely insertion laces. And silk ribbons. And delicate silk embroidery, too. Maybe some hand made whitework. Crocheted or hand knitted lace, perhaps, as edgings. Done in a fine linen lacemaker's thread.
Sigh.
I have a victorian era garment, perhaps a nursing chemise or nightgown, and it has the most wonderful whitework on it. Makes the machine made stuff look coarse.
I would like to do things that well.
Sigh again.
I would love to learn how to weave...
That sounds nice! Oh, to make lingerie that fits the way YOU want it to fit. . .
I already do a lot of crafts from bygone days, so I don't know what else I would do. Doilies, I guess. I saw a woman needle weaving the most intricate lace doilies on a board once, and thought that would be nice if I had the time, but it's a matter of priorities and time. Recently I was taught to knit and that has been fun, making that basic scarf pattern with all those lovely yarns.
I need to learn to build furniture to hold the stoneware (Booth's semiporcelain china) I started to collect last year.
I’ve embroidered a frock
And sewn the long seams,
While I stitched up a heartache
And mended my dreams.
I’ve patched a torn garment
And darned a big rent,
While I’ve worked in new hopes
And a sweeter content.
Why stitching brings gladness
Or ease for Life’s pain,
And healing from sadness
I cannot explain.
But for little hopes baffled
And foolish tears shed,
I’ve sought and found comfort
With needle and thread.
Anon
Neat verse. saw it on another list and thought it would be appropriate here.
Whitework, I want to learn whitework. Hemstitching by hand. I just learned how to bead this year, I'd like to continue on, learning how to bead on clothing.
You read my mind. I've been looking into corsetry myself.
That does sound lovely!!! I can recall a time when it was a big deal to sew undies -- the fabrics, needles and threads had just emerged on the market -- and make 70's Peter Mack-fabric patterned undies was what we did.. lol.
However, given my druthers? If I had the time, I'd love to devise a better "bralette" device for women's clothing than what currently exists; and with straps that never slip off the shoulders...