Knit-Along

I'm participating in Lladybird's Knit-Along


And although I may be shooting myself in the foot since I'm not completely in love with the Agatha pattern, I have decided to knit the free Miette
So pretty! Hopefully someone else will be working on this pattern as well since this is my first knit garment I'm probably going to need some troubleshooting assistance.

Blog for Choice Day 2012

To those of us who came of age during my generation the notion of illegal abortions in an abstract one, regulated to scenes from film and television, not something that could happen in real life. Collectively, we breathed a sigh of relief and got on to doing other important work to fight for equality. However, taking Roe v. Wade for granted and not maintaining vigilance over it has had consequences. Ever more legislation is being passed that imposes draconian rules over a woman’s right to choose. In 2011, the House of Representative voted 8 times on choice-related issues and 26 states enacted one or more anti-choice measures. These have not been small measures either, but laws that erode the very fundamentals choice is based upon. House Bill (H.R. 385) would let hospitals refuse to provide emergency abortion care even when the woman would die without it. Texas recently enacted a law that requires women to receive pre-abortion sonograms, which yes means women have to undergo an unnecessary vaginal probe to
acquire a legal medical procedure.
If we don’t remain vigilant the War on Woman will continue and the effect on choice may be disastrous for years to come. The news isn’t completely grim however, we are strong and we can win if we let our voices be known. In 2011, Mississippi voters rejected a “personhood” ballot measure that would have banned abortion and many types of birth control. Last week, President Obama listened to those of us who had been actively petitioning him to ensure no-cost birth control access for women and stand firm against the heavy lobbying of anti-birth-control organizations. In 2012, everyone should make a commitment to help elect pro-choice candidates and repeal measures that hinder a woman’s right to choose. It is important to become more aware of the attacks on choice that are taking place, don’t let the fact that such measures aren’t being passed in your state make you any less active. If we continue to let anti-choice legislature pass in other states, all will follow suite before long. Enquire into the voting records and statements on choice of politicians, it is important to elect more pro-choice candidates in every type of office. Spread the word. Take a few seconds out of your day to blog, tweet, facebook about issues related to choice. Sign petitions. Start your own. Let this be the year we work to pass an amendment to extend civil rights to woman and lay this issue to rest once and for all.

Feminsit Fashion: What about the workers?

I stumbled upon the old post from Feministe entitled Lipstick Feminism and Dressing the Part Which discuses beauty and fashion as it tends to be debated amongst feminists and others:

"Beauty as power is something that is taught to every young girl. Common adjectives that are used to compliment girls often refer to how pretty, sweet, or kind that they are. Very seldom do we reward girls for their intelligence, assertiveness, or passion. As a child becomes a woman she internalizes the idea that is what is most valuable about her, is her physical appearance."

"Feminism has engaged with beauty on many levels. Some feminists feel that performing beauty even to gain personally is internalizing the male gaze. Others feel that the daily ritual is a sign of their autonomy in that they actively chose which beauty procedures that they will adhere too and which they will reject based on personal desire. The debate between the lipstick feminists and the I will not subject my body to social discipline feminists has been waged since the 1970′s.

What is beauty without the finery and the flash? Each season the fashion industry deploys an army of models to inform us how to best maximize on our feminine whiles. One simply cannot be caught wearing the wrong shade, or sporting a purse that is the wrong size. On the other side of the equation, you have women that are blissfully unaware of the fashion trends and dress for comfort over style. These are the “utility women,” who find power in thwarting the seasonal call to the mall. Utility women take pride in dressing only in what makes them feel comfortable, while at the same time voraciously attacking their dolled up sisters as patriarchal dupes."

However then the piece goes on to note that this debate ignores the greater implications of fashion and beauty - whether one chooses to buy designer or shop at a retail discount store they are still participating in the impoverishment of other women who work in the factories where these goods are produced.

"When women who are middle/upper class engage in a debate as to whether an article of clothing, or makeup is suitably feminist what they are ignoring is that they are in a position to engage in this particular conversation, because they exist with class privilege."

According to The Feminist Majority Foundation, “Women make up 90 percent of sweatshop laborers. Women are paid as little as six cents an hour and work ten to twelve hour shifts. In many instances overtime is mandatory. In some cases, women are allowed only two drinks of water and one bathroom break per shift. Sexual harassment, corporal punishment, and verbal abuse are all means used by supervisors to instill fear and keep employees in line.

Many of the companies directly running sweatshops are small and don’t have much name recognition. However, virtually every retailer in the U.S. has ties to sweatshops. The U.S. is the biggest market for the garment industry and almost all the garment sales in this country are controlled by 5 corporations: Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Sears, The May Company (owns and operates Lord & Taylor, Hecht1s, Filene1s and others) and Federated Department Stores (owns and operates Bloomingdale1s, Macy1s, Burdine1s, Stern1s and others).

Several industry leaders have been cited for labor abuses by the Department of Labor. Of these Guess? Clothing Co. is one of the worst offenders – Guess? was suspended indefinitely from the Department of Labor’s list of “good guys” because their contractors were cited for so many sweatshop violations.

Other companies contract out their production to overseas manufacturers whose labor rights violations have been exposed by U.S. and international human rights groups. These include Nike, Disney, Wal-Mart, Reebok, Phillips- Van Heusen, the Gap, Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren.

The argument is clearly more important than whether one is dressing to please oneself or others. There is no denying that basically any purchase you make comes at the exploitation of women. Why is this dialogue missing from both the feminist and style communities when we talk about fashion?

I got my first sewing project from school finished and graded, it was to make an apron. I made it in a dinosaur print with green pockets for Morgan. I think it turned out pretty awesome, but man those straps were a pain to sew.


Also, bonus peak into Morgan's room which I finally painted this weekend. This is a picture of the stripped wall, look how straight they turned out! The other two are just gray and on the 4th wall, my friend and I will be painting an underwater themed mural. The paint looks kinda blue in this picture because I took this picture in low light, but it is possibly the best shade of gray - empire state

French Style

A great little read on French style and aesthetics
French women do not dress for men. “French women don’t dress to be sexy. Of course we do dress to seduce — that’s different from trying to ‘catch’ a man by wearing flamboyant clothes. The basic attitude is different. A French woman never feels she’s offering herself. There’s never a sense of surrender, but an attitude of ‘I belong to me’.”

I think thus is a great quote and a great attitude one should have told fashion in general. Rather than surrendering oneself to the current trend or in the interest of garnering someone's gaze, it's important to rock what looks good on you and most importantly what makes you feel good.

Fall Sewing - Colette Patterns

Colette's new fall patterns are now available for sale and they all look fantastic.

I'm digging both the blouse and these cigarette pants.


Also, this version of the with it's fitted sleeves and tie-neck would make a great fall wardrobe addition as well.


This would make a great cocktail dress pattern, I'd like to do it in a jewel-toned silk fabric.


And this version is very fun, very 1960s. It reminds me of something out of Woman is a Woman.

100 Years of East London Style

A fun little video.