A Small Plea

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clothes, sewing

Why can’t I finish a project lately? I just keep putting things off every night, stuck in an “almost-done” zone.

Rather than actually finishing anything, it’s much more fun to plan the next project. Awhile ago I bought this Nani Iro Fuccra fabric:

I’m still stunned by it’s beauty! It’s even more lovely in person, when you can feel it’s soft lightness and dream of summer days. It’s double-gauze, which is two layers of loose gauze woven together to create a front and back. This is wonderful–you don’t need a lining and it keeps everything airy and light. I have 2 1/2 yards of this.

When I bought the fabric I started browsing around some sites that showed Japanese dress books, which are seriously beautiful. The dresses are usually simple and unworked, allowing the fabric pattern to shine. I feel like I should aim for something like that with this fabric. Something I can slip on over my head, that feels quick and easy for summer, but still nice enough to look good in. I like these tunic examples: 

From Lunepetal, via Burda Style.

Or this one, made with my same fabric:

via Flickr.

I love the flowy ease of both styles, and the way they are loose, but could easily be more fitted with a belt, or an added elastic waist.

I also really like the Theresa Dress, from Burda Style:

The ruffles, the pockets, the fluffy skirt, the tie belt. Such a great style! But I’m not sure if it’s right for my Nani Iro. Looks like there’s a zipper closure, and it’s much more fitted. Concerns: The circular yoke/neckline is very similar to two other dresses I’ve made, from my Chantilly pattern.  Also, would the ruffles distract from the pretty print? (You can click on the photo for examples of this dress.)

Help me, dear Readers! What do you think? Should I make an easy tunic? Should I make the Theresa as is? Should I try to modify it by using an elastic waist and maybe adding sleeves, which could be dangerous? Or should I scrap it all and do something completely different? Give me your opinions!

Summer Stripe Ceylon

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clothes, finished project, sewing

Finally, pictures! I got all the buttons sewn onto my new Ceylon dress, and it debuted at Bird and Rocket’s show on Friday night, to many compliments. I can’t shake the feeling that I’m just showing off when I wear things I’ve made! I guess I should just accept it–yes, I am. Maybe that’s okay.

If you remember, this dress was my “test” of the Ceylon pattern, just to get the feel for it before cutting into my nicer fabric. But as it took the shape of the dress, those pink stripes started to grow on me, and when I saw how well it fit…. well, it was love. A Valentine’s Day miracle!

Because it’s February my dreams of riding a sailboat in the wind didn’t materialize, but I did manage to make a rustic little background that (hopefully) evokes a little bit of summer. Do you like my clouds?

 

I’ve already started my “real” Ceylon, armed with a few adjustments, and it should go fairly fast. I think I’ll love them both the same, though the 2nd one will be more appropriate for work. This one will be appropriate for summer picnics, bike rides, the circus and, as proven, Bird and Rocket shows.

I’ve Fallen in Love

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clothes, sewing

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and I’ve fallen in love. Not with a boy or a girl, but with a dress.

This was supposed to be my test dress, my muslin, for the Ceylon pattern. I chose this fabric from my stash specifically as a throw-away option, because I knew I could mess it up and I wouldn’t care. “I won’t wear this dress anyway,” I thought. “It’s striped pink!” But as I saw the shape of a dress form, I began to feel something. I began to put a bit more care into my sewing. I pressed and pinned and measured. I did French seams.  Could we call it a bit of a crush? A Valentine of a dress?

I don’t even like pink. But oh, my. I like this dress.

You can’t see it very well in this myspace-inspired photo (I’m thinking I should have ironed it…), but this dress actually fits me surprisingly well in the bust! That’s always my worry, but I think it looks pretty good. It needs buttons, of course. I might adjust a few things when I make this in my “real” fabric, but overall, I really love how this came out.

I’d like to go sailing in this dress on a sunny day, with a wicker picnic basket and a dog. I’d wear a hat, but I’d have to hold it down when the wind picked up. I’d wear some great heels, but then I’d take them off to go barefoot. Bright red lipstick would be needed. My pet narwhal would swim along beside the boat and squirt water until I fed him sardines.

If anyone has any of those things, feel free to send them my way for a photo shoot, because my crush deserves some great pictures. And some chocolate.

Ceylon Muslin Progress

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clothes, sewing

I am steadily progressing on my Ceylon muslin, and it’s coming along quite well so far! One side of the front:

And the beginning of the yoke and front bodice:

 

So far it looks like it will fit pretty well, but you just never know. I’m concerned, as always, about the bust, but just a few more seams and I’ll be able to tell if any adjustments are called for. If this muslin works out, it just might be a cute Valentine’s Day dress! I’m eager to finish it and get onto the real dress, but I’m glad I’m taking the time to practice the construction now. Too often I rush into something, and adjust later. A little more patience will hopefully give me a better final garment.

In other news, Happy Groundhog Day! I’m reading reports of snow-covered states all over the country, but Portland is strangely sunny today. Cold, but as long as there’s sun, I’ll take it!

Skirt in Ikat

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clothes, finished project, sewing

I made this skirt eons ago, but have just now managed to get some good pictures of it! This fabric is an Ikat pillowcase that a co-worker gave me, which she got off eBay from Turkey. Throw pillows are not treated very well in our house (emphasis on the throw part), so I thought it might be more gently loved if I actually wore it.

These photos are by the incredible Mallary of Sharp Shooter Pics. Check out more of her stunning photos! There’s another one of me hidden in there somewhere: can you find it? I like to practice my America’s Next Top Model poses around Mallary, and she is sweet to indulge me.

This is a simple panel skirt, but I tried to do a “paper bag” waist with elastic and lots of gathers. I like how it turned out–the only thing I wish I could change is the length. For the skirt to be wearable I need to put the elastic around my hips, but I think the paper bag look is best around the waist. Unfortunately, that makes it just too short! I have a hard time with super short skirts.  Makes me feel even taller than I already am, something like a telephone pole… oh, those pesky body issues.

I love the single turquoise dot in the pattern, though it does fall at an admittedly awkard place. I choose to ignore that.

Now I just need a night on the town to get this skirt some action!

Mallary was kind enough to take some better pictures of my Indian Summer Dress and my Jennifer Shirt. I’ve updated both those posts with the new pics, so check them out!

Plans of Sugar Plums

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clothes, sewing

Now that my Thanksgiving table runner is done, I’ve given myself another crazy deadline. It’s about time for this one, though, as I’ve had this fabric and pattern for over a year. Wow. Hoard much, do I?

 

 

This is the Chantilly dress, from Colette Patterns. This is my favorite local pattern company, and I keep buying their designs and hoarding them for months. I’ve had this pattern since last November, and it should look familiar as I used it for my Cabo San Sundress (to great success).  When I originally bought this pattern I also bought some purple silk chiffon for it, which has been sitting on my shelf looking quite forlorn ever since.

 

Land of the Sweets: A Burlesque Nutcracker

It’s hard to find the motivation for sewing a dress when you don’t have the right place to wear it. The chiffon is just a tad too swishy for work, so it really calls for a special event. And finally, after a year of waiting, I’ve found that event. My birthday is coming up at the end of the month, and we booked tickets to The Land of the Sweets: A Burlesque Nutcracker in Seattle. It’s the traditional Nutcracker story, set to jazz music with acrobatics and risque jokes. This sounds so amazing for multiple reasons. But the culmination is that it’s the perfect event for a new dress, especially one that will be the a wonderful shade of Sugar Plum.

 

Sugar Plum Chiffon

I’ve never worked with chiffon before, and already I want to swear at it, but I think it’ll work out. Practicing the dress with sturdier fabric this summer was an excellent idea–I’ve already made the needed adjustments, and the rest should come together pretty easily. Hopefully. I’m under a deadline here! This is on top of my other Christmas presents, too. Ridiculous.

But seriously, how often will I get to wear a brand new handmade dress to a birthday celebration at a Burlesque Nutcracker in Seattle? I’d venture to say not often.

Indian Summer Dress

Tags

clothes, finished project, sewing

This post is long overdue, and requires reader participation, beacuse these pictures are not what they’re meant to be. They had so much potential for cascades of falling leaves, sunshine, an autumnal jaunt through Laurelhurst Park–can you picture it all? If you could just use your imagination to add all those elements to these sad, anemic pictures, that would be great.

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I finished this dress while ago, and had grand visions to take beautiful photographs of it in action, frolicking in the leafy autumn colors. Then, then, then….stuff happened. It rained. Schedules got busy. And to top it all off, I got sick on the last sunny week of the year. The weather was beautiful, the sun was beaming, the leaves were falling…but the dress stayed heaped on a chair, because I stayed heaped on the couch. Now that I’m upright again, fall has become wet and gray, and I’m afraid my chance for the perfect photograph is gone. So, again… please use the photoshop in your mind.

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I call this the Indian Summer Dress–it’s the perfect attire for the previously described crisp, sunny fall day. I used the Sabrina jumper pattern from Burda Style, but because I always seem to forget how tall I am, I had to add a large hem to the bottom. Cut diagonally on the bias, though, I really like what it adds. Okay, I admit–that part was Jesse’s idea. He’s got style.

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I got the fabric from Hawthorne Vintage, and unfortunately I have no idea what it is. It’s thick, almost like it was made for curtains or a tablecloth. Now it’s a dress! Over a shirt, leggings, and boots, this will be a great pop of color in winter. I think I need red cowboy boots for it.

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I’m relieved I finally finished it, because I’ve given myself about twelve projects to do over the holidays. And I keep adding more–maybe I should stop? I’ve got a Halloween costume to finish up, a Thanksgiving gift to myself, Christmas presents for a few others, and a special project that doesn’t fit in any of those categories. But I’m already well on my way for several of them, so I think I’m good. I’m branching out into general craft categories here, feeling a little like Martha. Yikes. Say what you will, but that woman has crafted an impeccable handmade style. That’s a lot to live up to.

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While I might not have the perfect magazine-photograph of my projects, I guess what’s important is that I actually like them, and will use them. Because really, what’s the point of making something if you’re only going to take pictures of it? I’m trying to convince myself here, because I really am disappointed that my perfect fall photoshoot didn’t work out. But you just can’t post an Indian Summer dress in November; I think there’s a cut-off time, and it’s about now.

But it’s still a great dress.

UPDATE: They’re not frolicking in the leaves, but they are new and improved pictures! Mallary of SharpShooterPics took these beauties. Thanks, Mallary!

To be or not to be…selfish?

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clothes, sewing

In my sewing history (we’re just over a year now), I’ve mostly made things for myself. And as my family can vouch for, the things I’ve made for other people were…well, they were either September-birthday-turned-Christmas-presents, or they’re still in my pile of things to fix because they were crappy in the first place.

I mention all this because I’m beginning to suspect I’m a bit selfish in my sewing. I adore The Selfish Seamstress, who’s hilarious blog has the tagline “Because I only sew stuff if it’s for me.”

I’m really not quite as selfish as she is, though. My intense need for people to like me overrides any selfishness, so I’ve found myself sewing a couple odd things for someone else here and there. This is difficult, because my sewing skills are still fledgling, and crappy seams are in direct opposition to people liking me. Conundrum.

I’m taking a big step this week, because a co-worker found out I sew, and asked me to re-style a  skirt she has. This will be my first paid work. I’m hoping it doesn’t fall off of her, because it would be embarrassing to give the $15 back.

The skirt is a beautiful batik wrap skirt, from the Philippines. It was a gift from her parents, and she’s never been able to “figure out” the wrap skirt, as she says. So, this project should be a simple task of putting in a zipper, and then shortening the hem a bit. I took her measurements (a bit awkwardly, I must say), and am now prepared to begin cutting and sewing. I’m nervous. There’s a reason I don’t work as a tailor.

If this doesn’t turn out, it’s back to pure selfishness for me.

This could seriously impact Christmas giving.

50’s Housewife Skirt

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clothes, finished project, sewing

I am the opposite of a 50’s housewife. But sometimes, I like to put aside my copy of The Feminine Mystique, grab some pearls, and wear a fluffy skirt with heels.

When I wear this, it makes me feel like I should be at home, greeting Jesse with a pot roast and a smile when he comes in the door. In reality, I’m the one at the office all day, and he’s often the one cooking. Maybe I should make him his own skirt…

50’s-ness aside, I just love this skirt. I’ve realized how much I enjoy high-waisted skirts lately, and this one just adds to my collection. I love the fluffiness of it, and the contrast between the cinched high waist and the full, casual seersucker fabric. It’s a skirt that’s at home in the office or on a beach. Now I sound like a JC Penney ad! Sorry, not for sale! Get your own housewife.

I took an apron pattern and made it just a little longer, then added a zipper on the side to make this. It’s a little roomy in the waist, but luckily the ties help with that. The length, I think, is just perfect.

Side note: I had a rough time taking pictures, since I couldn’t get the camera to stay steady with the self-timer and no tripod. But I do want to point out that I put on bright red lipstick, and I’m just so sad that you can’t really see it. I guess that’s the fate of a housewife. All dressed up and no one to see…

Boat Race Dress–Another Copy!

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clothes, finished project, sewing

Portland has turned into a furnace. After that wet, rainy, miserable spring and supposed-summer, it’s finally summer in all it’s glory here.
Of course, now it’s TOO hot, so we’re still complaining. But I like a good heat wave now and then, so as long as I have lemonade, salads, and very little clothing, I’m good.

I haven’t made anything new in a little bit, but I did finish this dress awhile ago. Yes, it’s another Modcloth copy. I’m on a roll!

This one I’m actually really proud of, because I merged two patterns into one, making up a lot of details along the way to copy the original. Here’s my inspiration:

I think I like my colors better! My fabric is a little bit heavier, though, so it’s not quite the breezy summer heat dress that it could be. But I still love it. Back view:

Do you see that smocking? Yup, I did that. Totally made it up, too, from a random online tutorial. It helps pull the back together, and gives it a bit more stretch when I’m pulling it over my head.

It’s called the Boat Race Dress on Modcloth, and I almost finished it in time to wear it to our Dragon Boat Races…but not quite. Foiled!

But I can wear it now, and imagine keeping cool while sipping one of these. Happy Summer!