Has it really been over a month since I last posted on this blog? I've admitted before that I'm not a very dedicated blogger, but I do feel as though I've neglected y'all a bit.

Part of the reason I haven't written is because I've been incredibly busy with a new venture.

This fall, I started teaching History of Fashion at a local college! Some of you readers may remember that this has been a goal of mine for quite some time! I'm incredibly excited to be doing this and it's been a blast so far - though not without plenty of challenges.

A selection of the reading I've been doing to prep

Don't worry, Blueprints won't be going anywhere, but the pattern biz has been in a holding pattern while I've been getting my bearings in this new realm. I'm just now starting to get a nice rhythm going with class prep and other teaching and having time for everything, including pattern development.

I'm in the process of creating a few new patterns, but I've also decided to work on a special project for myself as part of Slow Fashion October.

Top: a few yarns from my stash Bottom: some goldenrod & other flowers peeking out of the pavement.

This project will involve weaving my own fabric for a top. In the future, I'd like to make a garment all the way from sheep/plant to finished item, but this felt like a totally doable first step.

I want to create a textile inspired by the nature around me. The photo above is from an overgrown old former airport that is covered in wild flowers during the summer.

In the spirit of slowness, I have a loose plan/timeline for completing this project but will be working on it when I can and not feeling pressured to rush through it. I've broken it down into steps to accomplish:

Design

Gather supplies

Warp

Weave

Sew

1. Design

Ill be using my airport flower images as inspiration to make a simple top, sewn using panels woven on the loom. I did some sketching, some math, and looked through weaving drafts. I came up with a bit of a plan for design and construction, though I'm sure I'll make changes along the way.

Looking through an old weaving book for pattern/threading ideas.

2. Gather Supplies

I've had my loom for a while now and the thing keeping me from just getting started weaving had been my lack of a warping board (used to measure out the warp threads that go on the loom). So I decided to make one! I used some basic plans I found online and it worked out great!

My next step is to create the warp and get it on the loom. Wish me luck!

Are any of you working on a special project for Slow Fashion October?

Hello October!