A number of you know that I've begun helping a friend,
Debbie, who wants to become a dress designer and hopefully turn that into a livelihood. For years I have had a bunch of ideas for what I'd like to wear and what I think would sell well in modest communities but since I don't sew I've done nothing with those ideas. Last week someone on
modest_style suggested a couple of other online communities (
steamfashion and
egl ) during a discussion of historical clothing and how people are incorporating "the feel of days gone by" into wearable clothing. While i cannot see Steam Punk or Lolita fashion working in the frum community I have gotten a ton of ideas from looking at the outfits and I'd like to do something with these ideas rather then just think about them.
I do not sew by hand and always hated doing it. I did use a sewing machine as a child and young teenager but have not used one since. In the last 15 years I've bought 2 sewing machines but ended up giving them to friends who would really use them because I never did anything with them. Larry does not want me to buy a sewing machine at this time as he is, understandably, concerned that yet again I won't use it. So I'm wondering if anyone on my f-list in the NY/NJ/MA area has a spare sewing machine they would be willing to lend me for say 3-12 months. I've already begun thinking about how to make some changes in the guest rooms in order to be able to set up a sewing machine in a fairly cat free space as my friend that is interested in doing this stuff with me is allergic to cats.
I have one other question for those of you on my f-list that sew. Have any of you ever used
http://www.startingaclothingline.com/ ? It looks like it has a lot of really good software to help me do stuff since I cannot draw. Their software does seem to be used by a number of vocational tech high schools but I could not find any place near us where it was used for adult ed/night time classes.
My dream is to create a website such as
https://www.cocomyles.com/ but that is way, way down the road. Yeah I know I dream big. But in the mean time I'd like to make my own clothing and see if I can help
Debbie create a seamstress & design business locally. I feel I can better help her if I have actual knowledge and experience and I used to enjoy sewing.