A few weeks ago, I was inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Farmama. Her lovely, sturdy overalls seem like just the thing for working out in the garden and berry patches.
I always had this notion in my head that overalls were somehow less than desirable. I'd only ever seen someone wear overalls and look good in them once, and now I realize she looked good in them because she wore them for the right reasons. They weren't a fashion statement - they were practical, comfortable, and protected her from the elements. Aha! That's just what I need! The more I delve into homesteading, the more I leave behind what's "fashionable" for what's practical and comfortable. With that mindset, I've come to see well-worn, well-loved overalls as a thing of joy.
I tracked down an old pattern, bought it, and then tackled the task of finding fabric I liked for them. My "old brain" drove me for a while. I looked for something light but sturdy, something printed and pretty, but then one night, as I was reading Country Women: A Handbook for the New Farmer, it hit me. It was really quite stunning. I stopped cold. I laughed at myself. Overalls should be work clothes, silly!
I'm waiting on 5 yards of heavy, striped denim to arrive now. I also splurged a tad on two 3 yard lengths of cotton shirting and a pattern that's very close to my favorite shirt ever. The shirts may not turn out to be terribly sturdy, but they will work as a go between for the gardens and the outside world this fall.
This is going to be a learning process for a long time, I'm sure. There are times when I wonder how I ever made it this far in life without realizing some things, and there are times when I realize I've known certain things forever. It's fascinating, challenging, but overall, it's full of enjoyment and growth.
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