Alabama Chanin

The recent interest in Slow Sewing is interesting to me. I started hand sewing knit skirts after taking a workshop with Natalie Chanin in Portland Oregon several years back. She did an show in the gallery I was managing of her quilts (they are beautiful if you ever get a chance to see them in person). She offered the class to me for hosting her at the bookstore and having the show. I was hooked!! Sewing knit fabric by hand took all the fear out of sewing with knit fabric. Earlier this summer I bought another kit from Alabama Chanin because they were having a sale. It was the Facet Pattern. Now that is slow sewing…it has taken me all summer to complete the stitching on the 4 panels of the skirt…now I have to cut out the centers for the reverse appliqué  I also want to add some beading detail to the skirt. I hope to get it completed by Thanksgiving. 

 The top photo is of the 10 skirts I have made over the years (the most recent Facet skirt makes 11). I added beading detail to some skirts when I got a chance, I look at some of these skirts as a work in progress. I can keep adding detail when I have time. 

I have not even talked about the dresses I have made from the Alabama Chanin books. That is another post. 

Slow Sewing

If you have never seen an Alabama Chanin piece of clothing you are really missing out. Natalie Chanin  has started a movement that makes us think about what we make and how me make it. Each stitch is one of love and dedication. She makes pieces that flatter the body but are not confining. I had always been afraid of working with knit fabric until I took a workshop with her and made my first skirt. Since that first piece I have become an Alabama Chanin junkie.
This is the piece I'm currently working on:

I made a blue and red skirt to wear to my sister's wedding. I was smart and made some samples first before I put together the entire skirt.

This is one panel of the shirt:

This is my husband and me in the back room of the wedding reception area. Me wearing the skirt.

I have completed 5 skirts from the DIY kits that Alabama Chanin Sells. I have made 3 other skirts that I stenciled and put together my self. I love the skirts as knit fabric is really one of the most comfortable fabrics I have ever worn, not to mention that it's very forgiving fabric to wear.