Sewing Lessons in Port Dickson

Whilst living in Port Dickson (early 80's) in Malaysia, I had a few clothes custom made.  This was not unusual as almost everyone did the same.  They would shop for fabrics, of which there was plenty of choice, and then take them to a tailor with photo in hand, to have creations made to fit. 

Globe Silk Store in KL.  Levels of glorious fabrics.

I was fascinated by the process which was quite different to using our “off-the-rack” patterns at home.  Later, I discovered that my neighbourhood tailor also offered pattern making classes, so I jumped at the chance.  She had two other pupils so we had lots of attention and quickly managed to grasp the idea of drafting basic patterns to our own measurements.  The trick came later when we had to learn how to create more complex patterns.  I began to imagine myself costumier for Diaghilev’s Ballet Troupe. (Only dreaming!)

My course did not progress beyond the basics however, but I did have fun.  Many years later, I watched a pattern maker in Kathmandu, Nepal at the famous Mr Om's. He drafted directly onto the fabric with chalk.  Rarely did I ever have to have alterations made to the garments I had sewn up.  Pure magic; always awaited and appreciated! 

Colour on every street corner, Kathmandu

Stumbling Fans

Grandmother’s Fan: UFO  (Started: 1983)

Grandmother's Fan in progress...after all these years

That first quilt was certainly a challenge.  Despite having the “fan” pattern and McCalls very clear instructions I could only manage to assemble some strange rectangular shapes. Curves were simply beyond me.  I cut shapes from cardboard and each piece of silk was over-locked to within an inch of its life.  Blocks, as they were machined together, were all backed with light cotton cloth.  This was to support the light weight and seemingly fragile silk.  

My fan project was abandoned and not seen again until the mid 80’s when I finally managed a patchwork class or two.  I sought help full well knowing that my fan did not look anything like the original!  “Go crazy”, Joc said, “add embroidery and beading.”  I think now I was a little timid….one of my many early quilting lessons courtesy of that quilt.  Crazy quilts were in vogue and despite not being particularly enamoured with embroidery I decided to go all out and decorated each fan with modest layers of stitchery.  Then it was all sewn together.  A huge top, reminiscent of a circus tent, was finally pieced!

Thank Heavens for Dorothy Bond's "Crazy Quilt Stitches"

Anyway, it remains as a top today, just waiting to have some more embroidery added and be quilted.  Modern machine quilting may be my salvation and perhaps, just perhaps, this poor quilt will decorate a bed yet.....before it disintegrates.

A romance with textiles continued however in the streets of Saramban and KL’s downtown Chinatown.  Globe Silk Store was a favourite and bargains were always to be had.  Sarongs were plentiful, colourful and cheap.  We managed to track down a Malaysian batik factory on a visit to Penang.  I particularly loved Malaysian outfits – colourful batik shirts for men and sarong kebaya for women.  Even then, fashion designers were pushing traditional shapes to new limits and integrating new and time-honoured fabrics such as songket and ikat.

I returned home to Australia with lots of ideas and many more things to make.  Finish that crazy silk quilt?  No time for that, I’ve just seen the most wonderful fabric...  

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size:
Block Size:
Cut in:  1983 Port Dickson Malaysia
Pieced & Basted:  1983-86
Quilted:
Quilt Type: Group/Workshop/Own Design/Friendship   DIY Quilting
Quilt Finished: Yet to be finished
Exhibited: No
Collection: Home# 001
Pattern Name:  Grandmother’s Fan
Pattern Source:  McCalls 1980*
Fabrics Purchased:  Thailand 1980
Fabric Design:  Jim Thompson & others plain jewel colours
Fabric Style:  Loom Woven Silk
Materials Type:  Silk & cottons
Wadding Type: 
Backing:

*McCalls Needlework & Crafts Magazine September 1988 p64 (Original shown in Winter 1980 edition)

Lessons Learned:
Start small and don't fiddle about with things you don't particularly enjoy (for me - embroidery).  Also, seek help - join a class, a guild or local group - get some expert advice.  When I did these things, I relaxed and started to really enjoy quilting! 

Humble Beginnings

This blog will be dedicated to my quilting life.  I love making quilts: bed quilts, wall quilts, lap quilts, gift quilts and art quilts to mention but a few.  Where to start and what to share?  From the beginning of course!

My mother had sewn my clothes.  I had sewn my clothes.  I had also served time in my grandmother’s sewing room – wide enough for a single bed and a small desk with a sewing machine.  High shelves were loaded with many “things” in the making….dolls, aprons, bottle covers, bags and soft toys.  Her cranky sewing machine loved a challenge and zapped me at every opportunity.  I quickly learned to wear rubber shoes and not touch any metal bits.  When my mother offered to buy me a new machine, I did not turn her down!  We found a lovely blue top Elna at Chermside shopping centre.

The fabric thing stuck with me though.  I began collecting…..   A trip to Bali in 1976 opened my eyes to the magic of batik and wonders of exotic handmade textiles. 

After getting married, we took a trip in to South East Asia in 1980.  Our adventures just had to included a visit to Jim Thompson’s Silk store in Bangkok. I was ecstatic!  I had my list ready – metres of rough raw silk for curtains (dark brown – what was I thinking!) and a selection of bright jewel-like colours for a bed cover I had seen in a McCalls Needlecraft magazine some years before.   

The curtains made it up and looked lavish in our modest Swedish pre-fab in rural Victoria but the quilt languished until we moved to Malaysia in 1983.  It was two wonderful years here that my love affair with sewing and cloth became apparent and where my personal textile tour really begins.

In Malaysia I was entranced by Indian Classic Dance too!