I Can Make That

I admit that I sometimes try to take the easy route. I saw a sweater online that looked super cute and I was like, well…it doesn’t cost much. I’ll just buy it.

The reality, though, is that the garment never ends up looking like the picture or being what I actually want. This happened to me recently, I purchased a cropped sweater because it looked super cute in the picture and I needed a little retail therapy. When I received it, however, the fit was…less than flattering. As I turned back and forth and stared with disappointment at the mirror, my beloved boyfriend reminded me that I have been knitting for over 20 years and…I can make that. But better.

So I returned the sweater, and immediately cast on, asking myself why I even bother to spend the money on anything other than the yarn to make it. That is one of the things I love about being able to make my own clothing, if there is something you absolutely love, but it doesn’t fit right because it is made from a generic pattern for fast fashion, you can examine it and create your own version that is made for your unique build and shape. And that feels like a superpower.

I suppose that is the point of this post, to remind all the amazing creators out there that no matter how convenient it is to be able to purchase a ready-made item, it is always more fulfilling to make it yourself, and you can customize it to be absolutely perfect for you, or a loved one, or a client. In a world of fast fashion that fits no one properly, the ability to craft a perfectly fitted garment that is exactly what you wanted it to be, is a true real-life superpower.

Stay powerful, make it yourself.