Which you would rather wear?

A shirt that any person can go into a store and buy, or a shirt sewn with your own hands with material only found in a fabric store?

Would you rather have a run-of-the-mill type top or one that is truly one-of-a-kind?<br/>For some Baker students and faculty, making their own unique clothing is a hobby they enjoy.For some Baker students and faculty, making their own unique clothing is a hobby they enjoy.
For some Baker students and faculty, making their own unique clothing is a hobby they enjoy.

Tracy Floreani, associate professor of English, grew up around others making clothes. Her mother taught her how to sew when she was really young, but it wasn’t until she was a little older that she started making actual clothing.

The first piece of clothing she made was a red jacket back in junior high. She made it for a project in her home economics class.

“I didn’t realize I was picking something so hard,” Floreani said. “I got really frustrated.”

But even in those frustrations, Floreani found sewing to be an enjoyable and unique hobby.

“I like to be able to make something no one else has,” Floreani said. “It’s really exciting.”

Some of the pieces she has created for herself are blouses and skirts. She even made a skirt out of curtains once.

In addition to these, Floreani also made her own wedding dress. She looked for one, but just could not find any dresses she wanted, and it only took her a few weeks to make.

“I got something more me than anything I could find in the store,” Floreani said. “I kind of enjoyed making it actually.”

However, Floreani enjoys making clothing for others, too. She makes items such as blouses and aprons for her friends as gifts. She also makes clothes for her husband, including several shirts and a pair of 1950’s cowboy-patterned flannel pajamas, which she considers a favorite of the pieces she’s made.

Floreani said she sees making clothes as more of a self-sufficing hobby than as a way to save money.

“I’d rather make something instead of shopping,” Floreani said.

Sandra Schumm, associate professor of Spanish, began sewing at a young age. She started out making clothes for her dolls, and when she was 10 years old, she took a sewing class and won a contest with a dress she had made.

For Schumm, making clothes serves more than one purpose.

“It’s both hobby and practical for me,” Schumm said. “It’s a creative outlet as well.”

Schumm said she often has trouble finding her size in clothes. So, she would just make them.

“I used to make the greater part of all of my clothes,” Schumm said.

Nowadays, she doesn’t have as much time to make clothes like she used to. But she has still managed to make several suits, jackets and dresses. She also makes gifts for friends and family members, including neckties for all her brothers-in-law.

Like Floreani, Schumm also made her own wedding dress. But, the piece she treasures most is a full-length cape she made back in the summer of 2004. On the back of the cape is a “crazy quilt” design with ribbon embroidery.

“It’s my favorite, even though I don’t really wear it often,” Schumm said.

Schumm said making her own clothes is really fulfilling, and one aspect she enjoys about it is the material. She said she loves working with different fabrics.

However, Schumm has noticed the popularity of sewing is not what it used to be.

“It’s sort of sad that not as many people sew,” Schumm said.

However, some people, even college-aged students, still take up this hobby.

Freshman Brittni Sayers has been sewing for almost eight years now, starting in the sixth grade.

A really good friend of hers was involved in 4-H, so she joined as well and that’s when she really got involved in sewing. While in 4-H, she made and modeled several pieces of clothing, winning several ribbons and awards.

This sewing interest was fueled by one of her mother’s friends who first taught her how to sew. Nowadays, the two still hang out to sew together. But Sayers doesn’t always need a reason to make clothes.

“Sometimes I just get the urge to sew,” Sayers said.

One aspect of making clothes she really enjoys is shopping for material. Sayers said she can see fabric and visualize what it’ll look like as a finished product.

Some of the pieces she has finished are a few skirts, a couple Elvis-themed dresses and a coat.

Of all the clothes she’s made, Sayers said she has two favorite pieces, one of which is a caution-patterned bubble skirt she made a couple years ago.

“It’s simple and I can wear it to anything,” Sayers said.

The other piece she’s really proud of is a ‘60s-style dress she made using music-note fabric.

“It was difficult to sew, but it’s my favorite,” Sayers said. “I really like it.”

Sayers said her interest in music was her motivation to finish the dress, even though it was a really elaborate one to finish.

While she has made a lot of pieces, her goal is to start designing clothes and eventually wants to turn that goal into a profession.

But for now, she plans to bring her sewing machine back to Baker to continue making new clothes. And maybe make some adjustments to her favorite bubble skirt.<br/>