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Sunday, February 26, 2012

#GBE2: Simplicity

Back in middle school, my home economics teacher assigned me to make a piece of clothing. Having ten thumbs, I chose a wrap around skirt from a Simplicity pattern. Wow, was that tough! No buttons, zippers, pockets or sleeves, but still I struggled to use that sewing machine and make the skirt. Meanwhile, my talented classmates whipped through complicated patterns with sleeves, buttons, and all the other extras I'd chosen to omit in exchange for a remedial pattern.

After many failed attempts, I finally had a green skirt. That was the last piece of clothing I sewed until I visited my college roommate in Chicago. Having nothing better to do, Rhonda and I decided to make our own shirts. She was an excellent seamstress who had sewn several items. She promised she'd help me to be successful even if I was domestically challenged. So following Rhonda's lead, we made shirts.

 Here we are wearing the shirts we made that afternoon. I know it's hard to tell from the photo, but our collars are a bit off centered. Who says shirts have to open  in the center of one's neck? You may visit Rhonda at http://www.laugh-quotes.com/.

Here's an extra photo that I found while trying to find a Simplicity pattern bag from the 1970s. I pasted it below just in case you hadn't seen this famous photo.


Nothing like Simplicity!


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those shirts look pretty good! If I attempted to make one, it would probably turn out something like this, from an episode of The Cosby Show. :OD

Jo said...

Simplicity is in the eye of the beholder! ♥

angelaparsonmyers said...

Got my grandkids T-shirts with the "find x" thing on them. : - )

Binky said...

I don't know about the skirt, but the shirts look pretty good in the photo.

And if X was a little more careful and didn't get lost so easily, he wouldn't have to be found.

Darlene ~Bloggity Blogger~ said...

I think you and your roommate were brave to work with stripes! As for the wraparound skirt...I loved them! I think it's about time for them to come around again...

Rhonda said...

I loved those shirts! Thanks for posting that funny photo of us. I actually had a waistline :)

Unknown said...

I personally think you did an amazing job on the shirts. They look pretty good to me!!

Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/

Claudia Moser said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Claudia Moser said...

The last photo is hilarious :)

M Pax said...

Fabulous. I was never a great sewer. I think I made my confirmation dress...had lots of help though. No photos.

danneromero said...

Nice shirt. Funny cartoon. And thanks for the blast to the past..... I remember Simplicity! And how hard it was to sew. :/

Pearl said...

I'm scared to use a sewing machine. My mom has a manual sewing machine in the Philippines and I haven't attempted to use it. I am a Filipina who's living in Iowa. My husband is working in one of the Seed Companies here. Thanks for visiting my blog. I like your photo and the simplicity pattern! you're funny as usual!lol

merlmd said...

I loved Simplicity! My grand-aunt was a really good seamstress and I used to spend hours in her shop just looking at the catalogues. Never learned how to sew, but not for want of trying.

k~ said...

That was a fun sweep on the topic Joyce! I love to sew!!

Laurie Peel, CRA-RP said...

Well that brought back some high school memories.... home ec. and math classes - yuck!!

Anonymous said...

I remember looking at those patterns with my motto find the next outfit we wanted to try to make. Great job on the shirts, and the blog!

Catherine said...

I loved making the Simplicity patterns. Good memories. Blessings, Catherine xo

pbquig said...

AH the Simplicity Patterns. I remember well and swearing (literally) that they were incredibly misnamed. Loved the post.

Brenda Stevens said...

oh MY GOSH..did this bring back the memories; thank you!!!! do you still keep in contact with Rhonda? awesome friendship......awesome blog

Anonymous said...

Cute post, Joyce! I'm impressed that you made that shirt, crooked collar and all! Simplicity patterns...lol (what's so simple about them!) :D

Karren Haller said...

Stopping by to thank you for visiting. I had to peak at this post since I used to sew all the time, I was lucky and had 2 aunts, my grandma, my mom, and 2 sister-in-laws that all sewed so I had lots of help and thankful I did as I saved oodles of money making mine and my kids clothes for many years. Your shirts look pretty good by the way!!! Do you sew now?