Comment

Comment by Patrice Wassmann on 3rd mo. 15, 2014 at 11:47am

I love that! Very simple and practical. Lovely!

 

Comment by Paula Roberts on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 1:37pm

You are welcome. You're going to have to post pictures of the results....please.

Comment by Leslie Rodgers on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 12:02pm

Five minutes later, I've ordered the home ec units on how to construct a cape dress pattern and how to sew the cape dress. I also ordered the unit on prayer coverings. This should be a LOT easier than finding a cape dress that fits me properly and taking it apart to make a pattern from it.

Now I'm motivated to catch up on my summer sewing projects so I'll be ready to experiment when my instructions get here.
Thanks for the links!

Comment by Leslie Rodgers on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 11:47am

oooh! Guess I'd better hop over there and see, Thanks!

Comment by Paula Roberts on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 9:35am

Quaker Jane has a resource list for plain dress patterns http://www.quakerjane.com/spirit.friends/plain_dress-plain.html and one specifically is preparing a cape dress pattern http://www.clp.org/product/preparing_a_cape_dress_pattern_1583

Would those help?

Comment by Leslie Rodgers on 6th mo. 29, 2010 at 9:25am

I remember reading about that...people thought he was showing off how holy he was or something? But when he explained then they "got" it. If you dress differently in any way you'll have to occasionally explain yourself.
My favorite reply to 'Why do you dress like that?' is 'Why do You dress like That?'
Most people don't really think about what they are wearing, why, where it came from, etc.

As I was up in my loft the other day sewing flannel diapers for my upcoming grandchild, and dripping with sweat as I hunched over my little sewing machine I thought, 'Well, they Are made in a sweatshop, and I'm not being paid At All.....but at least it is voluntary.' haha.

This past weekend in Middlebury and Shipshewana I kept trying to be unnoticed as I looked at all the different plain women there. I've lived near Amish communities much of my life, but never given any real thought to how their dresses are put together. I like the look of the "cape dress" worn by many Amish and Mennonites (and Plain Catholics and others) I like the second layer over the bodice that provides modesty (or as my daughter might say, prevents "hello" nipples) but I can't figure out how it fits into the dress construction-wise. I may either have to buy one to figure it out, or else find a place to buy a pattern.
When I stepped foot on this path I was not anticipating such an adventure.

Comment by Paula Roberts on 6th mo. 28, 2010 at 8:23pm

That's the "visual koan" Isabel talks about on Quaker Jane.com I think. Indeed we offer people hope and alternatives to the madness. One of the things that has evolved for me through this practice is being more mindful of where my purchases come from. Who made this dress? Was it a well-compensated seamster/seamstress or was it slave labor in some developing country? Isn't it interesting that we are having the same conversations that early Quakers must have had? I vaguely recall a Quaker who wore an un-dyed hat because the dyes used were a product of slave labor. I think it was John Woolman. I think he was taken to task at first for this.

Comment by Leslie Rodgers on 6th mo. 28, 2010 at 2:51pm

Yay you! Spreading the Good News of sane attire!
I think part of "God calling people" in many walks of life and many religions (or none) to take up various forms of Plain dress is that when people see us doing it somehow that makes them realize it is ok for them to do it also. They can detach from the crazy fashion machine and live a reasonable life in practical clothing without worry about being "in style", without being in anguish over whether the current trends suit their figures or coloring or budget.
Since we're not movie stars or rocket scientists, since we're just ordinary women,
our example is, I think, empowering to other ordinary women.

Comment by Paula Roberts on 6th mo. 27, 2010 at 7:16pm

Cool. I'm going to by a pack then. By the way, today at meeting an older Friend said she liked the turn my dressing had taken and was inspired to do similarly, but didn't have enough dresses and skirts. So I gave her Katie's Mercantile and Shukr.com.

Comment by Leslie Rodgers on 6th mo. 27, 2010 at 7:08pm

Yes, those are the hairpins. I wore them (3 to be exact) this weekend and they stayed put perfectly and my bun didn't fall apart during the day or anything. My hair...staying put. Amazing.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page