THE MAKING OF SIMPLE

In pursuit of simplicity:: Is simple something which is easy, quick, suitable for beginners, something that can be done without experience or much thought. Or is it something which has been crafted to appear simple but which hides a labour of love to achieve something refined and elegant, and is only simple because it has extrapolated all extraneous detail in favour of that which speaks clearly to define the object?

I often speak about the simple – simple ideas, notions, concepts, details, patterns. And I refer to both meanings above. Yet I know that to achieve the apparently simple, one must go through a process of refinement to get to that point. And therein lies the beauty of simplistic being for me. Something which has been honed, detailed, perfected till it becomes the essence of what it is supposed to be or do. I know that achieving this is often hard, and involved. So I know that when I strike upon the simple in something I do, it is not without thought, intent, and love.

I’ve said before that I do not consider myself a pattern maker. The thought of altering or creating a pattern, particularly a sewing pattern scares me completely. I can do simple modifications, but other than that, I feel lost. Doesn’t mean I can’t, or wont do it, just that I get very anxious about doing it. However: In pursuit of creating and furthering my skills, I opted to go the whole hog and essentially create my own pattern, based on a diagram in a book. I love Pattern Magic. I can sit entranced by the clever seaming and cutting and manipulating that goes on in that book for hours. Di struck out and made this amazing skirt from the book earlier in the year, and I took in everything she said about how hard, detailed, and exact it was. I’ve been wanting to try one of the other ideas in there, that of a dress with a gathered hole in the side. But for a baby. And with a pocket insert. All the patterns in this book appear simple – but actually involve a load of thinking, drafting, prototyping and refining. So I sat and studied the diagram, enlarged the women’s version to better understand how it is created, grabbed a pattern for a shift dress for a baby, manipulated that pattern, drafted out new sections, manipulated some more, and then made a prototype. Indeed – sometimes I make prototypes. I may not swatch wool samples, but I do sometimes make a study of what I’m trying to do.

And then I manipulated the pattern some more, ready for the final cut and sew.

Simple.

Comments

[Sarah]

Indeed. Distilling something down to it's most basic is very rarely something that just happens. I think it makes those times when simplicity serendipitously occurs all the more precious. Looking forward to seeing that final cut & sew.

[amisha]

beautifully said. i remember the "simple" projects i made as a beginning knitter and the way i would approach those same projects now... simplicity takes on a different sense altogther. as you put it-- a refinement-- that is not without a lot of thought and effort into the subtle and/or invisible bits of the project. it's something i think about every time i see a wonderful effective and beautiful design, whether in a kitchen implement or a chair or a quilt... always a goal.

[lisa s]

you describe the joy and the work of simplicity perfectly!

happy holidays alison!
xo

[di]

I know exactly where you're coming from- I'm so excited you've plunged in and taken the challenge- looks lovely so far.. can't wait to see how it turns out!

[Laura]

I love how you talk about simplicity, with the inherent understanding that simple isn't always easy. Not a starting point per se, but a goal to be reached. But drafting that dress sounds anything but! i'm sure the results will be gorgeous, will you post a picture of Pia wearing it?

[martha]

I know exactly. This is something I always strive for in all my work. In architecture it is especially hard. Simple means nothing to hide imperfections. Simple, clean lines in building always means double the cost as well. And in the USA, it ALWAYS means a contractor scratching his head.
I can't wait to see the dress, it sounds simply beautiful.

[christina]

i love the patience and exactness you are taking in this approach. i am truly working on enjoying the process of making right now. it is hard with the holidays and the desire to mass-produce things but to truly refine to the point of simplicity is wonderful. great work.