Paper Bag Princess: Reflection on Occupation

My foray into dress making was a part of my Occupational Science paper, as part of my Occupational Therapy degree.

Part of this assignment is to write an opinion piece on our learned occupation, specifically:

An appraisal of the value and meaning to them of their learnt occupation. Drawing directly on their experience of participation. Examples should be drawn from student’s occupation learning record (500 words).

As part of this paper, students were encouraged to spend 15 hours learning a new occupation, and I chose the up-cycling of clothing. At the very center of this occupation I was learning how to sew
clothing - re using, re vamping and recycling clothes that were otherwise destined for a shredder. But as I learned to sew, I also found myself learning how to follow a pattern, how to design a pattern, how to make, create and repair, and how to be clever and inventive when sourcing and including different types of materials. I learned patience, persistence, and when to just step back and try again tomorrow. I learned sewing machine maintenance and repair.

I was really proud to be able to give my friends little girl a purple whale and tell her "I made this just for you"

A highlight of my journey was when a friend said to me "Oh, you've got a new skirt... hold up, you MADE that didn't you?! It's Awesome! You've got so good at that!"

I was able to link back to my lovely Mum, both by taking up a hobby she was proficient at, and by using her sewing machine.

I was able to do something 'just for me' and I was able to feel I was making things for my children, saving money and saving the planet.

Do I consider myself a seamstress? Not yet, but I now feel that I'd be more than comfortable dragging out the machine and giving it a go to repair or rework before just throwing in the clothing bins.

The biggest barrier I found was when I wasn't able to attend the basic dressmaking course due to my husband being called to investigate a warehouse fire in Gore, so I was left without my babysitter. I had huge facilitation in youtube, pinterest and google though. I was able to source almost all of my materials for free - from the Waitati Free Bus Stop, from friends and family and by altering clothing I already had.

I feel that the 15 + hours I spent on this occupation has given me the confidence to keep going, and I really think I'll continue my fabu fashion for free hobby in the future

The final tally: