I buy garments close to my size and sure, I hem them, let them out, take
them in, whatever is needed. As for the components issue, it depends on:
* Whether I like the style/bought the garment to wear in that style
* Whether the fiber is sturdy enough to warrant reuse
* Whether the fabric is unique enough to warrant reuse
* Whether the price is low enough to warrant reuse
* Whether the item is actually suitable for making into a garment. For
example, tablecloths with very large patterns are more problematic than
ones with smaller patterns
Although I've altered plenty of pre-1930 silk dresses to wear, I don't
reuse silks of that era for other projects because they are not sturdy
enough to work with. If it's a plain silk, I can often buy a modern silk
that looks similar and which is sturdy enough to work with. I like
buying hand-embroidered and intricately tucked cottons and linens
(usually in the form of home textiles or lingerie) because there is all
that decoration to use, which would be time-consuming to duplicate.
But, I often see petticoats at $250 and almost identical ones at $25,
both in great condition. I don't buy the $250 ones for any purpose; why
should I? I know items I dye may fall apart in the process and if they
go, they go. I know old lace may be fragile and if a seller misleads
me, and I tug on it and it rips, into the garbage can it goes.
What I am saying is my decisions about what to cut up and what not are
based on practicality. They are not based on any feeling that things
are terribly precious, historic, etc. or that I am obliged to be a
custodian.
Fran
Lavolta Press
www.lavoltapress.com
On 3/29/2013 6:54 PM, Maggie Koenig wrote:
Fran,
I think what is being asked is are there antique items of any kind that you
won't mess with. For example, my mom's antique cups and saucers that she
collected were never used. However, we did use the antique depression glass
that she collected on a daily basis.
Personally, I won't take apart a textile to use its components. However I will
use vintage ribbon and trims on reproduction items that won't get heavy use. I
don't wear vintage clothing at all which is fine since I'm a little fluffy for
it.
Maggie Koenig.
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