I may have said it earlier in the thread, but it’s been so long that I can’t remember. Anywho, I learned by just buying a pattern for a coat and making it. By the time I was done, I knew how to hand sew fairly well. That said, if you’re determined, just find a pattern you like and make it so that way you have a tangible goal to work towards and have something to be proud of by the end of it.
You’re welcome. Also as far as the old patterns go, you can trace them onto wax paper so you don’t destroy the original
Here in the US, it’s something you’d have to order online to get. I tend to suggest wax or butcher paper for people starting out since that’s easily found at any grocery store. My general mindset is that starting a hobby should be easy to get into and that mistakes are okay/things don’t have to be perfect. If someone actually enjoys it, generally then they’ll be able to justify buying hobby specific items
Ack, what?? It's totally zen, I can do it for hours (assuming my job didn't kill me). Do a cathedral window quilt, those have to be done by hand* and can be done over time; mine took a few years. I swear it will know all of your secrets by the time it's finished.
if you have a particular project in mind, you may be more motivated and see better progress. Think of something you'd like. Now, pick the simp[est version of that. Then, your work has an application, an outcome, and you get to use the finished item. You need a good scissors, a hand needle, thread and beeswax to start handwork, that's really all.
I gave that advice with the beginner in mind. It’s one of those things where it would be easy to get overwhelmed. In other words, if someone were looking to learn to work on old cars, I’d recommend they get something like a 70s to mid 80s Silverado in okay shape and learn to do brakes and oil changes, but not drag a forties car out of the woods and start a body off frame restoration/needs floors welded in.
You kept poking your fingers? Please tell me you have a thimble.
The thimble that came in the kit did not fit me at all so I rawdogged it
Old silk has a tendency to 'shatter'. How and when depends on how long ago it was manufactured and what was used during the manufacturing process. Different processes at different times. Your dating puts this garment in the 1980s, so I'm going to guess that chemicals were used during the manufacturing process. Sometimes these chemicals make aging silk vulnerable to shattering/shredding.
-The material at the seams is shredding, not the threads. No random holes though, just tears at the seams.
Silk generally, does not wear well (except certain weaves, none of which are used for shirtmaking and barely even exist today), which is why it's used in luxury items. (Luxury as in 'not meant for hard wear'.) Between wear and laundering, this garment may be nearing the end of it's useful life. It's perfectly okay to wrap it up in (acid free) tissue paper and store it like a keepsake. Good luck.
