COVID-19: Summer of Sewing

October 1, 2020

Posted by Kanga. Please do not reblog.

For a while I have been hunting for specialty fabrics to make book or reading related jackets for work. It started with an Alice in Wonderland print and a comic book print. I found these in the Taiwan fabric market

While back in the states for Christmas, I found an astronomical print to represent math and science. The Marvel avengers join the line-up for more comic goodness.

This summer, as we decided not to travel, even if just within China, which would have been the only travel option, I spent the time sewing. I discovered the wonders of ordering fabric online and having it delivered to my door.

I found some funky prints to liven things up. The fun of ordering online and getting deliveries is that they sometimes come with freebies – like buttons or zippers.

I found two pieces of traditional Chinese fabric called nankeen. So I have indulged in a bit of cultural appropriation in using these to make clothes. Nankeen is usually used as a decorative cloth for table runners and pillows. On rare occasion it is used for a qipao dress or man’s jacket. I particularly like this pattern as it shows an old China that no longer exists in urban Shanghai.

The second piece is a simple dragonfly pattern.

DragonflyJacket

The ultimate project is my Book Jacket. It started with fabric with the print of pages. Add to this a lovely red wave print to emulate endpapers and a forest green with gold texturing to represent book covers. It turned into a whole ensemble with blouse and pants.