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How quickly can you sew a Liverpool tunic?
Turns out, about 9 minutes in ultra-uber-hyper high gear with some technotronic dance music playing!
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About the video
This past October, I wanted to create a garment to wear or show at my booth at Quilt Market - featuring one of the fabrics from Daisy Janie's newest organic collection, Tilly.
I selected Amy Butler's Liverpool tunic pattern. I loved the line & length of the tunic, and it suited the retro-y, flowery fabric I had in mind, Mumsy Dusk. On a whim, I videotaped the sewing portions of making this garment. The video is shown 8x the normal speed. I kinda wish all sewing went this quickly! More than 2 hours of sewing condensed into 9 mesmerizing mins!
The finished tunic is shown at the end of the video. Enjoy! I hope it inspires you!
Very special thank you to Amy Butler, who granted permission for me to use her Liverpool pattern in this video. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Amy inspires me immensely! Not only in terms of her talent and creativity, but also regarding her role in transforming the quilting fabric industry. I know that I am able to do what I do with Daisy Janie in part b/c of what she has done & continues to do! For more info, visit www.amybutlerdesign.com
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Keeping it real
Videotaping this project was a last minute idea. My husband's old Sony Cybershot camera was nearby, and the notion hit me. I don't know a thing about adjusting settings on this camera. I just set it up and pressed stop & go. Lighting and tint get a little wonky in spots. Each segment is taped exactly as it happened. You'll catch me taking a quick look at a seam or two to see if they pass muster.
The sewing machine I used is a refurbished 1970s Kenmore that just bit the dust. *sniff sniff* I've always believed "it's not the arrow, it's the Indian." However, as the machine no longer fed the fabric unless the handwheel was turned, I finally had to admit this machine was no longer sharp enough to hit its target. In the video, you'll see my right hand reach for the handwheel to get the fabric moving about a thousand-million-billion times. (Think how much time I could shave, Coach!) I also don't have button-making capability on this machine, so I added snaps instead. Improvise!
Prior to sewing this tunic, I have never successfully sewn an entire piece of clothing for myself. Rigged-up Statue of Liberty costumes don't count! Elephant costumes for my son don't count! I tried making a maternity dress for myself 15 years ago, and it turned out so terribly that, after I got over my laughing fit, I swore myself off curves and darts for.ev.er! But I've been soooo inspired by all the clothing sewing I see day-in and day-out that I had to try! I was prepared for the worst and ended up pleasantly surprised! Goes to show you that, if I can do it, most anyone can do it.
I don't have the best lighting, the best set-up, the best sewing machine or the best sewing skills. I have desire & determination. Sometimes that will be enough to get you where you want to go! Try. That's all you can do!
"Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe." - Mark Victor Hansen
