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...when do you "promote" yourself? (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 10/13/05 10:36 PM ET
Hey all,
I am curious as to when fellow sewists "promote" themselves from one level of sewing to the next. For myself, I still consider myself an advanced beginner. I will say that I'm always incredibly appreciative of my fellow PR sewers who say I should promote myself to an intermediate sewer.
I base my "advance beginner status" on some admittedly strict personal standards. For instance, I have yet to make a woven shirt that fits...still fiddling around with those alterations! I've never worked with those slithery fabrics like chiffon or slinky...regular knits still gives me fits, I'm getting better! I have never put in an invisible zipper...mostly because I have never bothered to learn! And the list goes on....
On the positive side...I've nearly perfected the fit of my favorite pants pattern. I've...gasp...come to terms with hand sewing and hand-basting. I'm able to add a few "cool" details to my garments and make small to "moderate" changes to patterns...like designing and adding patch pockets. I think the most important step in my sewing growth has been the fact that I've become much more comfortable with trying new, "complicated" techniques...and I've come to appreciate the better fabrics. My holy grail is still a well-fitting woven shirt but I'm closer than I was even last week!
So, ladies and gents...do you base your "sewing status" on a set of personal guidelines? If you feel that you're not an "Advanced sewist"...at what point do you promote yourself? What is your holy grail?
Cheers,
Kim
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I am curious as to when fellow sewists "promote" themselves from one level of sewing to the next. For myself, I still consider myself an advanced beginner. I will say that I'm always incredibly appreciative of my fellow PR sewers who say I should promote myself to an intermediate sewer.
I base my "advance beginner status" on some admittedly strict personal standards. For instance, I have yet to make a woven shirt that fits...still fiddling around with those alterations! I've never worked with those slithery fabrics like chiffon or slinky...regular knits still gives me fits, I'm getting better! I have never put in an invisible zipper...mostly because I have never bothered to learn! And the list goes on....
On the positive side...I've nearly perfected the fit of my favorite pants pattern. I've...gasp...come to terms with hand sewing and hand-basting. I'm able to add a few "cool" details to my garments and make small to "moderate" changes to patterns...like designing and adding patch pockets. I think the most important step in my sewing growth has been the fact that I've become much more comfortable with trying new, "complicated" techniques...and I've come to appreciate the better fabrics. My holy grail is still a well-fitting woven shirt but I'm closer than I was even last week!
So, ladies and gents...do you base your "sewing status" on a set of personal guidelines? If you feel that you're not an "Advanced sewist"...at what point do you promote yourself? What is your holy grail?
Cheers,
Kim
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Feeding myself for about $3.70 per day at http://mostlyhealthyrecipes.blogspot.com/ ; I update the blog weekly with my adventures in cooking cheap, healthy meals.
Posted on: 10/13/05 11:09 PM ET
Hi Kim, I have always been uncomfortable categorizing my sewing skills. Each project leaves me feeling advanced and knowledgeable and as if I have never put a needle into fabric. I've been sewing for more than 40 years. Does that promote me? No. As we all know, you can sew the same simple seam for 40 years and never get beyond "beginner," just as you can sew for 1 year, learning and applying couture-house know-how.
As such, I haven't rated my skills in my profile. I know I'm not a "beginner" exactly, but I probably won't ever be able to call myself a "master" for all projects, either.
As such, I haven't rated my skills in my profile. I know I'm not a "beginner" exactly, but I probably won't ever be able to call myself a "master" for all projects, either.
Posted on: 10/14/05 0:39 AM ET
I call myself Intermediate and always will because there's some things I know and many others I don't. And they seem to change from day to day.
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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
Posted on: 10/14/05 0:54 AM ET
In reply to Debbie Cook
Whoa, Debbie. If you're Intermediate I've got to go down to Rank Beginner!
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Keely
Dunedin, New Zealand
http://keelysews.blogspot.com
Dunedin, New Zealand
http://keelysews.blogspot.com
Posted on: 10/14/05 1:27 AM ET
When I first had to rank myself I called myself advanced, but was a bit uncomfortable with that till the expert/couture rank came in. When I read Gigi's list of abilities for a given rank, I thought it looked very sensible, and I fit into the advanced category pretty well. I'm no Georgene, but I can sew *any* pattern, I can fit myself or a client, I can draft from scratch or seriously modify an existing pattern to get the design I want. I know and sometimes even use some couture methods. I doubt I will ever reach the "expert" level, but I like having it above me to strive for.
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There are no sewing mistakes - only opportunites for design features.
My blog: http://everythingjustsew.blogspot.com/
My blog: http://everythingjustsew.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 10/14/05 2:09 AM ET
In reply to keelyb1
Quote: keelyb1
Whoa, Debbie. If you're Intermediate I've got to go down to Rank Beginner!
Whoa, Debbie. If you're Intermediate I've got to go down to Rank Beginner!
I really don't sew complicated things. I'm pretty sure I could, but I just haven't ... my lifestyle is mostly too casual and I'm too impatient. But to me, Intermediate fits. I'm not an Expert at all.
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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
Posted on: 10/14/05 5:44 AM ET
In reply to Debbie Cook
Debbie,
I want to start by saying that I have read every post, tip and techinque that you have ever posted. I have learned a tremendous amount about sewing from you. You ARE an inspiration to many AND you are an Advanced sewist.
You are a mentor and a teacher to many, many people. The things you sew are what you wear everyday. Those are the important things. A closet of couture clothes would be a waste to me, I don't have much occasion to wear that type of clothing. You are approchable and helpful and always friendly.
I personally think you should change your skill level to Advanced. It's not what you sew, but how well you sew it that counts in my book.
I want to start by saying that I have read every post, tip and techinque that you have ever posted. I have learned a tremendous amount about sewing from you. You ARE an inspiration to many AND you are an Advanced sewist.
You are a mentor and a teacher to many, many people. The things you sew are what you wear everyday. Those are the important things. A closet of couture clothes would be a waste to me, I don't have much occasion to wear that type of clothing. You are approchable and helpful and always friendly.
I personally think you should change your skill level to Advanced. It's not what you sew, but how well you sew it that counts in my book.
Posted on: 10/14/05 5:54 AM ET
I tend to think of a beginner as someone who's just starting out (say, the first two or three years of making things, or the first 25 projects, depending on how much you sew). I'd tend to bump up to advanced beginner after that. You've definitely learned some techniques after 25 projects, especially since after the first two or three projects, you tend to want to experiment with new techniques.
I didn't really think too much about it when I labeled myself intermediate. I figure I'm probably midway along the spectrum of knowledge, so I picked the mid point. Probably it would take a rather large number of successful fittings (and comfort doing so) in order for me to bump myself up to advanced.
It's always nice to read that one of the "advanced" sewists agree with my opinion.
I guess I take that to mean I'm heading in the right direction.
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I didn't really think too much about it when I labeled myself intermediate. I figure I'm probably midway along the spectrum of knowledge, so I picked the mid point. Probably it would take a rather large number of successful fittings (and comfort doing so) in order for me to bump myself up to advanced.
It's always nice to read that one of the "advanced" sewists agree with my opinion.
I guess I take that to mean I'm heading in the right direction.------
Muria
Where did all this fabric come from? I CAN'T have bought THAT much!
Where did all this fabric come from? I CAN'T have bought THAT much!
Posted on: 10/14/05 10:46 AM ET
I was confused about this, too. I bumped myself up to intermediate a few months ago, simply because, like Debbie, I realized that I am somewhere in the middle. I am definitely years from advanced, but probably ahead of advanced beginner because of the number of sewing projects I've completed and the complexity. I think it would be nice if there were some guidelines for us as to how we categorize ourselves. I think advanced beginner is a bit confusing. I think limiting the choices to three categories (beginner, intermediate and advanced) might be a bit more straightforward.
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Wherever you go, there you are.
Posted on: 10/14/05 11:59 AM ET
This issue seems to come up alot. There is another thread started just a few weeks ago. According to some of the definitions on that thread, I should move up to advanced, but like many of you I feel that I am right there in the middle.
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