Black Girls Sew: Projects and Patterns to Stitch and Make Your Own

by Hekima Hapa, Lesley Ware

Overview

Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware’s Black Girls Sew supplies tools, builds skills, and offers encouragement to help young sewists create a powerful sense of self and style.

Black Girls Sew is a nonprofit organization built on strong messaging: Teach and empower young girls to take ownership of and have pride in their clothing. Their first book offers the tools, knowledge, and vocabulary to help young people take back their fashion narrative. Black and brown girls and boys need a space where they do not have to encounter misrepresentation of their culture, and this book provides them with a safe space in which to explore their creativity.

Primarily the book teaches basic sewing skills and design principles so that readers can create one-of-a-kind looks. By encouraging them to follow their curiosity, rather than telling them what to create, Black Girls Sew helps young fashionistas learn to take risks and explore creative play in clothing design. The way we dress is a means of expression, and by encouraging boys and girls to immerse themselves in the world of fashion, providing projects to create their own wares, and offering historical looks at prominent Black figures who have impacted the industry, Black Girls Sew is a guide for all who are interested in fashion, design, and building their own powerful sense of self and style.

Includes color images

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419754845
Publisher:	Abrams
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	436,974
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Lesley Ware is an author, educator, and entrepreneur. She has created fashion education programs for the Parsons School of Design, Metropolitan Museum of Art with the Costume Institute, Pioneer Works, Museum of the City of New York, and many other institutions.

Table of Contents

Foreword Constance C.R. White 9

Introduction 13

How to Use the Book 15

1 Sew Creatively

Mood Boarding 20

Drawing & Sketching 23

Studying Color 25

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Bernadine M. Anderson 28

Note Taking 30

Creating a Workspace 30

2 Sew Intentionally

A Brief History of Sustainable Fashion & Textiles 34

3 Sew Patterns

Basic Tools & Materials 43

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Donyale Luna 46

Stitching with Soul 48

Working with Patterns 51

Working with Fabric 52

Wear a Crown 55

Denim Scrunchie 61

Ankara Triangle Reversible Headwrap 65

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Patrick Kelly 68

Scrap Earrings 71

Reusable Face Mask 75

No-Waste Waist Bag 81

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley 88

Black Girls Sew Tote 91

Tulle Tutu 97

Fashion Capital Sweatshirt 103

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Zelda Wynn Valdes 108

Vintage-Inspired Wrap Top 111

Faux-Fur Vest 117

Denim Glow Up 125

Rag Doll 133

Embellishments 141

4 Sew, What's Next?

Supercharge Your Fashion Future 153

Hidden Figure of Fashion: Eunice Johnson 156

Your Sewing & Fashion Career 158

Maintain Your Balance 159

Glossary 160

About the Authors 163

Acknowledgments 169

References 170

Patterns 171