Well, my friend, Dara, said there was a need for sewing patterns for Muslim garments. Actual patterns like the ones I learned to sew on back in the day. Not the stuff currently running around for free on the internet. These patterns had to be drawn out at home using your own measurements. I can just imagine what kind of clothing they would result in if I tried it. Not much better than the sacks our chicken feed came in back on my parents farm.

But how could I, an artistically challenged, out of practice 4H seamstress, get a pattern made for even the most simple Muslim garment? Hm-mm. Did it fit into my life plan to even try? Who was I kidding? I did not have a life plan. Maybe this could give my new life as a Muslim some direction…a plan as it were. (I may or may not establish a new blog about the Muslim conversion. )

This would be the first time in my life I ever really had my very own plan, the very first time I actually took control instead of just drifting along in the current of my parents’, husbands’, friends’ and daughter’s lives. It was scary. It was risky. But what the heck. Why not? My life was at a turning point. The kids I was babysitting were growing up. My daughter was settled in a new career. I had sold my property in New Mexico so why not try something totally different? I was widowed so no one to answer to but Allah. I could serve the Ummah (the Muslim community). I would be involved in “fashion” (I love clothes). That settled it. I would do it.

But how do you make a sewing pattern anyway? I had to learn somehow. I started with the phone book for schools near my home. Only one place taught fashion design and it seemed more comprehensive than I wanted to delve into. The guidelines for women’s clothing to be worn outside the home are pretty simple. Do not show the figure and do not call attention to yourself. Some women will not wear pants either as they see this as cross dressing as a man. (There are lots of opinions about how women should dress in Islam).

I will continue later.