Is “Homemade” Making a Comeback?
And if Homemade is making a comeback, where is it coming back from?
I understand it was groovy in the 70’s to be crafty and thrifty and homemade.
Or at least to appear crafty, thrifty, and homemade. Think macrame, for instance. A nation’s entire indoor fern culture embraced by crocheted plant holders. Every bathroom guarded by knotted and beaded owl sentinels.
I remember, as a little girl, loving the matching dresses and bonnets my mom made for my sisters and I, or the beautiful red calico nightgown she sewed for me (I wore it from the time the hem covered my toes, until it drifted up well past my knees). And especially, the green gingham dress we discovered in an anonymous Christmas box left on our front porch… we knew it was homemade because the tag inside was hand embroidered. But. I had no idea that I was living through a homemade Renaissance. As a matter of fact, as much as I loved the dresses, nightgowns, dolls, and bread my mother made, I was a little ashamed to be seen with them…afraid of being too different from the cool kids who ate Wonder bread and wore Sesame Street t-shirts. I was just a little girl; my perspective was limited.
And then, we all grow up… and grow nostalgic for some of the better details that defined our childhood. Maybe Homemade’s comeback has a lot to do with coming of age. Holly Hobby has earned her degree and bought some power tools.
The possibilities of “homemade” today are endless and…. well, exciting. Do-it-yourself has its very own acronym. There is more applause not just for thinking, but for living outside the box. For being different. And we’re sharing our ideas on a scale we couldn’t have imagined in the 70’s. I think it’s lovely. On that note, I’m sharing a recent homemade project, an outfit assembled from thrift finds, bargain fabric, and a sewing machine.
The jeans are thrifted, altered, and embellished. Originally, they had a flared leg that laced up the back from ankle to knee. I narrowed the leg (a lot) and stitched the calf opening together. Then I embellished with my own flower patches.
The jacket is sewn from scratch. It was an experiment, a creative leap. I combined a couple of patterns I had to make a unique design…and then I ran out of fabric before I could cut out a collar. I really wanted a collar. So, using the remaining scraps, I pieced together the collar in a series of rather amorphous segments, gathered slightly and sewn to the neckline. I love the jacket. But I wish I’d made the lining match, rather than contrast (the lining is pale pink, and it shows every now and then depending on how I move).
The blouse is thrifted…Coldwater Creek. I sewed darts in to make it a little more fitted.
I was pretty pleased at how everything turned out and came together. And I’m eager to try my hand at the next project. There is more Homemade ahead for me!
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Love this outfit especially the red jacket. Lovely design and the fit is great! The first photo is stunning. I like your pose and the train feels right for this outfit.
Enjoyed reading about your memories of the handmade from the past. Mine are similar growing up in Iowa. You are inspiring me to sew again!
blue hue wonderland
That jacket is amazing. I think I like the sound of a contrasting lining. It gives it yet another dimension. I love handmade. I always did. The only thing I remember my mum making that I didn’t like when I was a kid was a pair of brown cord plus-fours. She denies she ever made them, and I would kill for them now, but I did not like them at all when I was ten!!
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so i went from your blog to the link party it is in, to other blogger’s blogs, and back here. im marking this as my favorite. mom you are classy and original, and your witticisms make me laugh out loud. and after all. i think we all want to know where homemade went for so long without us.
Thank you Maurya, for so loving your mama so objectively. (= That was sweet.
gorgeous – everything in this post! Thanks for sharing this at The Weekly Creative.
Shannon @ Sewing Barefoot
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Thank you Shannon.
All wonderful, wonderful! So much romantic charm. Nice to see sewing presented in such an un-futzy and cool way. Thanks for sewing, writing and sharing!
Why, thank you! (= And you’re welcome. And may you (one day soon) be pictured in your longed-for black tulle skirt.
Your jacket is gorgeous. It’s funny, it’s the collar that really catches my eye, and that sounds like where you got most creative. I have to say the entire outfit is pretty.
You had me laughing out loud at the macrame owl. Actually your story could be my story. Such a fun read. Off to have a read through your about me.
Sue xo
Sue @ A Colourful Canvas recently posted…Spring Ahead…
Thank you Sue! I’m at least as tickled that you laughed as I am that you liked my experimental collar. (= I loved visiting your site. Your cerebral musings + fashion play= delightful.
Gorgeous jacket – I love the tailoring and the ruffles! And the blouse is so pretty, too! I’ve tried to do a little sewing again lately, but I find it too frustrating. I wish I had the patience.
Val Sparkle recently posted…They’re MY clothes now
Actually I still get frustrated sewing too sometimes. I’m just hungry for pretty things…and, over time, there are less mishaps and more rewards. Thank you so much for visiting, and for your kind compliments.
Love this jacket! And the fabulous gathered collar too. Thanks for linking up with Visible Monday and please come back : >
Patti @ NotDeadYet Style recently posted…Visible Monday #88: Arrangement in Gray and Black
Thank you Patti. I’m with Arnold on this one…I’ll be back. (=
What a beautiful look, love this unique coat and super fun floral blouse!!!! And your hair style is amazing!!! And thank you so much for sharing your stunning look with the link up party!!!
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Thank you Elena. (=
The coat is soo cute!! I love the color and the way it fits. Thanks for linking up to Artsy Corner:)
Lindsay @Artsy-Fartsy Mama recently posted…Popsicle Stick Bracelets
There was a store in Kennewick, WA, called Artsy Fartsy. I never visited it but was tickled by the name. Thank you Lindsay, and oh the cleverness of you in picking a catchy title for your blog!
Gooooorgeous coat! Amazing. And photos very cool too. You could be a model. Wait, you are one!
Thank you!
I sooooooo covet that coat!!! Beyond adorable– & you look so chic & sweet!
I’ve been a bit of a crafter/DIY er my whole adult life– I do think it might be related to being a child in the 70’s {with all sorts of crafts in every elementary school class that went way beyond what children do today & involved things that would now be considered too dangerous for children– like a broken glass Christmas tree that was awesome…but I digress}. I have to admit the whole trend to 70’s decorations has me chuckling though. If my teenage late 80’s self knew that the 70’s shag rugs, egg yolk yellows & avocado greens would be showing back up I would have freaked! I soooo have to learn how to macrame to make the full circle…
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Thank you! Yes, I remember a few fun crafts in elementary school. Depending on the teacher. A broken glass Christmas tree takes the cake though. Now I want to do one. And I’d love to see a macrame project featured on your blog… (=