I should add about the feet--I have been a traditionalist for the many
decades now that I have been sewing, for modern as well as historic
clothes. Of course treadles have attachments for ruffling and many
other tasks, but I only used my treadle up to the age of 16 or so, and
my father didn't buy any attachments with it, so I never got into the
habit of using those. Then when I studied couture, I got into the habit
of hand sewing a lot. I've always hand overcast all seams (that need
that type of finish), hand hemmed all garments, and so forth. But
lately I have been thinking that some machine finishes might be
acceptable, though I have not really made up my mind about that yet. At
least they will give me something new to play with. Otherwise, I am
going batty doing piles of alterations (mostly skirt and sleeve hems)
that I put away for several years till I finally faced up to them. I am
thinking that maybe if it is a modern serged garment elsewhere, it won't
kill the appearance to forgo all that handwork for some machine finishes
and it would get the work done faster. It is really dull getting through
the alterations and refraining from making anything new till I finish,
but it needs to be done. At least, when it gets too boring I am having
some fun altering Victorian and Edwardian lingerie into boho styles and
dyeing them. There are lots of things to do with petticoat ruffles . . .
I'm not blaming anyone else for using a serger, adhesives, marking pens,
modern industrial techniques, or any other methods. It's just not the
way I sew.
Fran
Lavolta Press
Books on historic sewing
www.lavoltapress.com
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