A funny thing happened on the way to the checkout…

Sometimes it is the simplest event that can change the course of history. Something we never saw coming, and couldn’t have planned no matter how carefully we calculate.

I’m thrilled that one of my children has learned to weave and actually enjoys it, and actually wanted her own loom and equipment.  I’ve spent so much of my life in something I’m passionate about, and have acquired a small arsenal of weaving equipment and accessories.  It would be nice to pass that knowledge and equipment onto another generation when the time comes.

In spite of that great pleasure I get when I watch my daughter run amok in my studio, I always felt bad that neither of my children expressed any interest at all in learning to sew.  It is what I do best.  I did try.  My daughter made a couple pretty terrific outfits out of …  duct tape…

She even taught herself how to install a zipper by using my monograph on Closures.

But that was years ago, and she never really took to it, nor was she fascinated by the process, and she never seemed to have the patience for it.  I never pushed it.  You have to want to sew garments, to be fascinated by the process, to want to take the time to spend getting the fit right, and that takes a lot of practice, and to be fair, it takes knowing that what you make probably won’t fit you within a  few months, when you are still growing, like when I was 10.  But I was unusual in that I took great pride and fascination in the actual making of the garment, not in wearing the finished garment.  That part was secondary…

So, imagine, my surprise when the following series of events took place over the last 18 hours or so, changing the course of history so to speak.

It all started with the Friday night shopping extravaganza at Kohl’s with my 20% coupon.  I wrote about it yesterday in my last post.

On the way to the check out, with a cart full of new clothes for my daughter, I saw this really bright orange jersey knit maxi skirt from Apt. 9 and I grabbed it off the rack.  My daughter said to me, “Mommy, you don’t have anything orange in your wardrobe, that would be so awesome.  Try it on.”  I hadn’t bought a single thing at either trip to Kohl’s this week, except for a new large Samsonite suitcase, since I go through suitcases like chocolate chip cookies, they usually don’t last me for more than a year or two with the abuse they get from my traveling.

I tried on the skirt.  It was fun. And colorful, and so I came home with a new maxi skirt knowing full well it would match nothing in my wardrobe.

Meanwhile, last night, I moved the table loom from the warp painting workshop up to the table so I could finish off the fabric.

One of the things I love about weaving is how it opens up your mind to just wander and create.  Opposite the loom on the back wall, where I was actually facing, was my stash of fabrics I’ve accumulated over the past years.  It is pretty extensive.

I kept taking breaks to hunt through the stacks.

I found this silk chiffon, 3/4 yard piece I bought from Waechter’s Silk Shop about a year and a half ago on a previous trip to Asheville.

It had orange in it and would look really great as a chiffony thing overlaying this really slim knit maxi skirt…

I searched for patterns.  All my patterns have been scanned into my computer and are assigned keywords for search purposes.  I looked at all the tops.  I found this…

My daughter came into the room and watched me dig out the pattern from the storage boxes.

She asked if she could do a search for keyword Jackets.  She was very quiet as she looked through the images.

She found this…

She pulled the pattern out of the appropriate storage box.

Then she said to me the words I’ve wanted to hear for 20 years…

“Mommy, I really wished I had learned how to sew when I was younger, it would be so awesome to be able to sew this jacket up, now that I have all these new clothes and I like how they work on my body…”

Sigh…

“Mommy, can you teach me?”

So the dilemma, and there is one, is how do I begin to teach my daughter how to sew, give her my 45 years of experience when she leaves for the rest of the summer, on Thursday, and then returns to Massachusetts the end of August which is four hours away.

She emailed the camp director and found out she didn’t have to be at camp until Sunday night.

I leave Sunday for Sievers.  I have lots I have to get done this week to leave everything in order before I head off to Sievers.  I do not have time to teach her how to sew.

But this is really really important.  Because she asked…

And I’m a teacher.

And my greatest wish was to be able to teach my daughter.

And so I gave her the preliminary lecture I give to any student about how the size chart on the back of the pattern envelope is completely irrelevant, and that she will also have to grade the pattern up two sizes because it was purchased to fit me.

And so we began.  I wove on my little table loom, and she graded and drafted all the pattern pieces, tracing them off onto pattern tracing medium, Red Dot Tracer.  We have to make a preliminary muslin from the Red Dot and see about the fit in the bust area, because unlike me, who lost the little I had to cancer 10 years ago, my daughter has terrific assets which makes it impossible for her to fit in a pattern right out of the envelope.

Stay tuned…

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Ginnie
Ginnie
June 17, 2012 6:31 pm

I’m sure you will both give this 150% effort this week! Both of my daughters decided they wanted to learn to sew after they moved hundreds of miles away from me. Daryl… this may be your gilded opportunity to make that instructional DVD that we all wish we could have: sewing with Daryl???

Marie
Marie
June 17, 2012 9:21 pm

I will come help you get ready for Sievers if you need me. Text me.

PS is the end of August really only 4 hours away?

Linda Dawson
June 17, 2012 11:38 pm

I am really excited for you. I know how much you have really wanted this to happen. And I will be first in line for the DVD!

LindaD

Beth
Beth
June 18, 2012 5:43 am

How wonderful for you, and your daughter! As organized as you appear to be (in your blogs since I’ve never met you), I don’t think you’ll have any troubles. Your daughter is so fortunate to have your wealth of experience at her fingertips. I would love to know how to draft a pattern from a picture. Oh, and what good friends you have (Marie) to offer their time. 🙂

Linda
Linda
June 18, 2012 6:34 am

She has a whole lifetime of watching you tucked into her brain! You’ll be amazed. I’m still learning about knitting from my grandmother, who was long gone before I ever picked up needles.

Laurie Carlson Steger
Laurie Carlson Steger
June 18, 2012 6:39 am

How wonderful to have this apprentice, for it does take a very long time to learn the skills. This will be so great for a long time, sharing the next project and watching her ‘get hooked’.

Elizabeth Bryan
Elizabeth Bryan
June 18, 2012 7:17 am

Oh please teach me too!! I don’t know Ginny but I love her idea! Have fun and I’ll be wishing I could learn right along with you. As always thanks for the inspiration 🙂

Mary Ehrlich
June 18, 2012 7:58 am

What a beautiful Girl!

Carmella
Carmella
June 18, 2012 8:22 am

I suddenly feel really teary-eyed! I, too, have a daughter that I have been waiting to display an interest in all things fiber-related. This winter she wanted to make a quilt – maybe weaving and sewing are next? You have a smart, talented, and beautiful young woman there – enjoy every second. I know you will – you have been modeling that living life to the fullest thing in your blog for us. Thank You!!

Kathy Hays
Kathy Hays
June 18, 2012 8:26 am

Here’s to coming full circle! The rewards will be great…and I will be right behind Linda buying the DVD!

Mom with Love Always
Mom with Love Always
June 18, 2012 10:11 am

I could not be happier that Bri wants to make clothes. I did try and teach her to make quilt blocks, and hoped some day my granddaughter would want to join the Ebeling’s in the art the sewing machine can create. I’m teary eyed! Love the skirt!

Becky Elwood
Becky Elwood
June 18, 2012 10:12 am

Happy tears.

Susan
Susan
June 18, 2012 10:31 am

Oh yes!!! what fun/stress etc etc etc. Waiting to see and read the results. Great skirt, Orange is one of my most favourite colours, the other is green.

Nancy
Nancy
June 18, 2012 11:02 am

Awesome skirt — what a find! It will be interesting to see what comes out of the fabulous piece of silk chiffon.
Have fun with Brianna as it will be a fully-packed couple of days teaching and packing and getting ready for Sievers.
And, I’m a little jealous as I’ve always wanted a daughter (or daughter-in-law) to be able to teach and pass on all of my textile interests. There’s a chance with one of my sister’s granddaughters — still hoping!

judy Anderson
June 18, 2012 11:46 am

That fabric from Waetcher’s is perfect to go with the skirt. I’m surprised 3/4 yd is enough for the top.
So glad your daughter decided to learn to sew and from her Mom.

Gayle
Gayle
June 18, 2012 12:57 pm

I just love reading and following your blogs. I always smile and feel lighter and more inspired. Thank you.

Judy
Judy
June 18, 2012 2:27 pm

You are so lucky it ‘came around’ while you are able to teach her. Love it and the stories.

barb butler
barb butler
June 18, 2012 5:17 pm

Oh My…… smiling through the whole blog!

Sherri
June 19, 2012 8:59 am

“But this is really really important. Because she asked…

And I’m a teacher.”

This brought surprise tears to my eyes, because this is what we do. Wonderful!

Rhonda from Baddeck
Rhonda from Baddeck
June 20, 2012 6:30 am

Brianna loves a challenge, doesn’t she? That dress made from duct tape is amazing – quite stylish! She’s inherited a lot from you – the drive, skill, focus and curiosity to make something out of nothing. Those can’t be taught – the sewing skills can be. I hope you both have fun with it!

Karen
June 21, 2012 8:00 pm

This one tugs at the old mommy heartstrings. Enjoy your week. The other stuff can wait til you get back.

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