Dear American Apparel: I am done with you

Over the past couple of decades, clothing has become a guilt-laden symbol of over-consumption, exploitation, and disposable culture: in our collective quest for the cheapest possible fashion, we are responsible for mounting pressures on clothing companies to cut costs and speed up production times, leading to ‘outsourcing’ to garment factories that promise the fastest turn-around time and lowest cost. This means a once-thriving garment manufacturing … Continue reading Dear American Apparel: I am done with you

TaDaaa: Erika Colour Block Cardigan

Finally finished! The Erika colour block cardigan. Yarn: Cascade 220 Sport in 7803 magenta, 8892 azure, and 8914 granny smith.Pattern: Erika cardigan by Milla Mia Sweden My modifications: knit it a couple of inches shorter than the pattern called for, and left off the front patch pockets. My project is detailed on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lbeckste/erika-cardigan My husband thinks the colour combo is too much. What … Continue reading TaDaaa: Erika Colour Block Cardigan

What I Learned from Playboy Magazine, 1972

I got a Playboy magazine for my birthday! A couple of years ago my friend LP found a copy that was published not too far off my birth month and year. She said she would’ve preferred to give me a Playgirl but couldn’t find one. But this is just as much fun. Here’s what I learned from Playboy, April 1972: 1. One dollar could buy … Continue reading What I Learned from Playboy Magazine, 1972

Not So Pretty in Pink: Lady Skater Dress #2

I was so pleased with my blue lady skater dress (as well as somewhat annoyed at how long it took me to make it), that I thought I’d use Kitschykoo’s Lady Skater Dress pattern to make another one. I went back to Designer Fabrics in Parkdale where I bought the bright blue jersey thinking that I might grab more of the same in yellow, but … Continue reading Not So Pretty in Pink: Lady Skater Dress #2

Electric (Blue) Ladyland: the Lady Skater Dress

My husband is very, very relieved this dress turned out.  You see, on Saturday morning I was on my second attempt of ripping out one hot mess of a neckband on this while managing to put a hole in the fabric where there shouldn’t have been one. (And YES, I was using the seam ripper in a way that someone who cared about their fabric … Continue reading Electric (Blue) Ladyland: the Lady Skater Dress

Bookmarks as cultural artifacts & the Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device

I’ve got a night table drawer full of bookmarks and there are a couple worth sharing because they are hilarious, and are excellent cultural artifacts. This one must be from about 1993 or so, judging by the compuserve email addresses. Remember those? Anyway, it’s a whole book dedicated to listing email addresses of the rich and famous! What a weird list of contacts. Beavis and … Continue reading Bookmarks as cultural artifacts & the Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device

Circles, Stars, Bombs and Flowers – for Jen

Is it weird to create a fabric in honour of a friend who passed away? Fuck it, I’m doing it. Jen was a friend of mine at university — many years ago — who died when she was only about 22 years old. She was a poet who wrote a compendium of poetry called Circles, Stars, Bombs, and Flowers. I think that’s such a lyrical … Continue reading Circles, Stars, Bombs and Flowers – for Jen

New Patterns! But WTF, Butterick.com?

Finally received some patterns I ordered from Butterick.com! I’m super-excited to make B5559, Maggy London’s pintuck pullover dress. No zipper! Hooray for stretch pullover dresses! I bought some Ponte de Roma from Downtown Fabrics in purple (I just realized it’s the same colour as the model on the package). It was a tough choice between purple and a lovely chartreuse colour, but I figured I’d … Continue reading New Patterns! But WTF, Butterick.com?

Down the Rabbit Hole: Shoes of Prey

Oh my, I’ve just slipped down a rabbit hole. It’s no secret that I have a bit of a “shoe problem”…more pairs than one person should actually need….a habit of perching a pair of shoes on my dresser just so I can admire them….justifying buying a pair of uncomfortable or impractical shoes because they’re a ‘work of art’….maybe you can relate to what I’m saying. … Continue reading Down the Rabbit Hole: Shoes of Prey