Many students find it hard to get a white long pants for their retreat. So I decided to make some white sarongs for the young practitioners, since sarongs is easier to sew. This meritorious thought, sparked it's wholesome results very quickly.
I only had 3 days, and I've got to come out with as many as I can. So I quickly buy white cloth, and borrowed a sewing machine from Ming gen at his house.
I actually intended to sew sarong, but I find it weird to let the uncle know, so I say, it's for making pants. But I missed out that, the measurements for pants and sarongs are different. SO too bad, I have to make pants out of it cloths.
But I'm quite bad at making pants. Don't really know how. But I try... haha Just to piece the cloth up into something wearable.
Here come Ming Gen's mum. She saw that way I cut the cloth for a pants is wrong. so She start teaching me how to do it in the proper way. That amazed Ming gen as he never knew his mum knows needlework.
This is where I learn. From getting the measurements, cutting the cloth is the right way, lastly the way to piece them up together. Starting from the edges ( which is the crouch part), next is the top (waist part), and then the legs part.
Not knowing the nature of the sewing machine and the cloth, many sewing techniques I applied was wrong. It turned out that all the measurements are imbalanced and lost the mark, resulting is extras, slanting of the clothes... etc...
His mum said something which I kept in mind, as I see Dhamma in it. "Sewing is something that requireds delicate skills and precision. A little mistakes makes a big difference."
Indeed I lack skill in this, and I need more practice. That makes me appreciate all the clothings I see, because I heard that sewing is something can't rely totally on robots. Clothes workshop still requires semstress. What we wear today, what we use, all is accumulated skills and experience.
I also appreciate sewing more, that its another meaningful skill I should pick up.
Besides that, she also gave me alot of encouragement,although at many points I can see her controlling her words, making it more refine... LOL... I think she know I'm disappointed.
When I'm sewing and applying what I was taught, I also understand some teachings. Sewing is also like teaching Dhamma, or even straightening ourselves.
We must know the steps, and the right techniques to apply, at the right place, dealing with the problems arisen. Besides experience, we must have paitence. Think carefully, else undoing is an extra work.
Indeed, anything can be used to be a reminder of truths, the law for things to work well are all the same. You need, interest, effort, mindfulness and the ability to review and improve.
It's about practice and refining it. Same to the mind, to meditation and our characters. The more we practice, the more we are skilled. Mindfulness and sharpness of the mind comes together, partly because we are skilled in that particular thing.
For the sake of Hanfu as well, I must master the sewing techniques well, so that I can sew the best Hanfu and let it reappear in the world in honor.
The Buddha praised capability and vast in knowledge. He encouraged people to learn a handy skill. Capable people in both mundane skills and dhamma are praised and of good benefit to others and oneself.
Now I've something more to pick up... which adds on to meanings in my life.
Sewing is also a noble art, I feel.... a treasure, because it is a high skill. The understanding to textile and the dynamics of clothings by the masters are deep and vast. If it's a useful knowledge, it is a treasure isnt it?
I'll work on the pants for practioners once I've grasp the basic techniques well.
I want to master it well.
