Blast From The Past, Part 2

More Early Sewing Adventures!

Last time I shared how I got started sewing and showed some of my earliest sewing adventures. This time we'll pick it up in the early 1970s where I left off...with more crazy sewing projects (again, apologies for the blurry old photos). If you missed Part 1, find it here: https://fabman556.wixsite.com/dan-the-fabric-man/single-post/2018/02/01/Blast-From-The-Past-Part-1

Very similar to the long denim coat from the last post, this coat was made from brushed acrylic. I had forgotten about this one until I saw it in the photo album. My parents took lots of pictures and compiled several photos albums each for my two sisters and me.

Our mother also tried to create a photographic progression of our lives, taking a monthly photo of each of us on the day each month corresponding to our birthday (in my case, the 6th). The funny thing is that she would get behind, and we'd catch up by taking multiple photos on the same day, after we changed clothes a few times. These albums are very precious to all of us now, but it certainly was annoying back in the day, as is sometimes seen in my facial expressions.

Wow. Not only loud plaid stovepipe pants with deep cuffs, but matching elbow patches on the sweater?? Too much! Plaid pants will be a recurring theme here.

More big plaid, wide-leg, deep-cuffed pants. And the huge bow tie. And the chunky-heeled saddle shoes. Gotta love it. Those were the days!

This 3-piece suit, made from emerald green Kettlecloth, stirred up some issues. It was my intention to wear it to the wedding of the daughter of my parents' friends, and that met with a negative response from my parents. It was too distracting. (The green is much brighter than it looks here.) We checked with the bride and she had no issues with it, so I ended up wearing it to the wedding. Later on, I also wore it to a Kenley Players show in Columbus, OH starring former Miss America (1972) Laurie Lea Schaefer and John Davidson. My cousin and I went backstage afterward to get autographs, and Mr. Davidson said. "Now that's a green suit." Truth.

I made several of these cropped shirts with ribbed bottoms and sleeves. Goes great with the wide-leg pants with wide waistbands, don't you think?

This is a BIG plaid, in wool. A bit scratchy, because I didn't line them (lesson learned). Looks like I'm being swallowed up by the VERY wide waistband.

Perfect with the chunky-heeled shoes.

Another masterpiece, from 1974: emerald green jean jacket and narrower pants (finally) made from cotton suedecloth. With gripper snap closures. I sure wore a lot of bright green in those days. I also had an emerald green and white checked suit in those days...like wearing a tablecloth.

Tastes change over time, fortunately. I've had a lot of creative fun at the sewing machine over the past 49 years, and have been fortunate enough to turn my fabric and sewing obsession/hobby into a career. Thanks for walking down Memory Lane with me!

Until next time, keep those sewing machines humming, and have some fun creating your own fabric masterpieces!

DTFM

danthefabricman@yahoo.com