Wednesday, May 28, 2014

a wedding bolero

Long and incredibly rambling story short (its been a hell of a month) I made a bolero for my friend's wedding from the excess tulle of her dress.

look, she's all bride-tastic
We used the perfect shrug pattern, modified to work for a woven (if tulle counts as woven) rather than a knit, in fittings spanning 200 miles and four weeks.

We were both very pleased with how it came out -- but in the end she only wore it for about five minutes.   She also had a birdcage veil, and decided with it AND the bolero, she looked too encased - one had to go and she wanted to keep the veil.  Such is life.  But it turned out well and she was happy, which is really all that mattered.

She may have been trying to sign her marriage licence when I grabbed her.   I pick my moments well.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

First look at the Simplicity 1612/2580 hybrid




 I still need to hem it, but my lovely franken-pattern has come together nicely.


In fact, I'm more than a little smug with how its turned out, and plan more of these.   Now I need to convince the world that they are work-appropriate and then I can live in them all summer.



Check out the snazzy back - its hard to tell from the low-res, brightened pictures (I'll be getting nicer ones when its slightly warmer out) but there is a nifty twist detail on the back)

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

So very many things

Excuse the lack of real pictures.  I blame light, cold and the fact that I'm prepping to move and loosing my mind a little.  (New job, new city, happening in three weeks and no apartment lined up just yet.   Getting more than a little bit twitchy)

BUT THERE HAS BEEN SEWING!   Stress reduction through creativity!    But still, I've crapped out of getting good pictures

This dress is in progress and almost finished  - Its a frakenpattern using the bodice from 1612 and the skirt from 2580 - not much difference you think - except I didn't like the gathering in the center front of 1612, so rather than modify the pattern I snatched the skirt from the other.   Its coming along really well and only needs a hem.
bodice
skirt



















I have a bolero made for stretch knits is in it's second muslin (but in static tulle, for my friend's wedding)   (Making things for people in a fabric that the pattern was not intended for when that person is 200 miles away is somewhat trying) (happily it has only two seams)
The perfect shrug pattern on burda style


A baby's dress is going to be made with cotton and lace for a christening next month.    However, the baby keeps growing.   I have measurements, but I'm going to put in some serious ease.    Babies are unreliable.
S2457 (view A, but with a lace overskirt and no tucks)


and my boyfriend has requested this, in lime seersucker for the end of June.  (Have I mentioned the now *7* weddings of the summer?   the poor man needs something other than wool.)

V8988 - with fun aliasing from the stripes!


Things are...busy.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

a renfrew

strike a pose
 Renfrew!  finally!  yay!    I really see why everyone loves these - they sew up really easily and the finishes look great with very little effort.


The only problem I have is with fitting -- I made mine a combination of an 8 on top and a 10 on bottom, but according to the measurements, I would need to be a 4 in the middle, which was a little harsh to grade, so I let it hang loose.   So... its a little on the baggy side.



 the back is too... So I need to figure this out.  I have some ideas for taking chunks out.  I'm thinking a wedge in the back and maybe... maybe... darts in the front.  but that sort of defeats the simplicity.   So we shall see....



ALSO - me-made-may starts tomorrow.   I've signed up, but its not really that big a thing as there hasn't been a day in the past two weeks in which I haven't worn at least one thing I made (actually, I think its been over a month since I can come up with a day that wasn't at least partially me-made)   So, I'll be participating, and posting pictures, but its not really the challenge it is meant to be.   However, I'll be using it to help identify wardrobe gaps (mostly shirts, with a dash of I've-nearly-worn-through-my-pants)  and force me to change it up a bit as jeans and the turquoise fleece are pretty much my uniform when it is cold out.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

pink eyelet dress


 It is wearable!     Not technically done, as the interior is a mess and the facings are basted, etc...  but as long as it stayed all zipped up and nice, no one could tell.    I felt sneaky.


hop - front
The dress was "done" with several hours to spare before the wedding - the past few weeks have been stupid busy.   I'm glad I started this about a thousand years ago, or ... well, it's not like I don't have a closet full of other dresses, so I can't really say there would have been a problem.


hop - side!
 When I redo it, I need to lower the armholes a bit....  the right one in particular was cutting into my arm all evening.   Based on pictures, the back also seems to be pulling oddly... so I'll need to check that.  (Basically, I'm taking this thing back apart... but... it will be better the second time around)

hop - back
 However, despite all my fussing, it was fun to wear.   I love pockets.  It was a good length / width for dancing - so I could spin without flashing seated grandparents.    (My date wore a kilt, and not being used to paying attention to such things, he Marilyn Monroed over a particularly strong air conditioning vent)

hop - dance!

The wedding itself was lovely - and the couple got lucky with not only a gorgeous day, but the cherry blossoms in full bloom for their wedding pictures.

Bonus Cherry Blossoms!


Wednesday, April 9, 2014

two steps forward, one step back

You'd think I'd have figured this out the first time I made this pattern, but somehow I needed to take over an inch off the bodice length to get it to sit properly.



Yes, I know - not much progress.  Things have been stupid busy lately.  But the wedding is on Saturday so I have to get this finished up soon.....

The plan is to sew up the side seams tonight (Wednesday), baste in the zipper and get the straps placed.    Then, if I can attach the lining tomorrow (Thursday) and sew in the zipper (I hand-pick.... so it takes a thousand years.  But I cannot for the life of me do a machine zipper properly), Then Friday I mark the hem and head down to the venue and Saturday morning I can sew up the hem.....    The wedding isn't until 3pm, so I've totally got time.

Right.

Lots.

Gah.

I have other dresses.  I will bring a back up.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Progress - slow and steady

the leaping dolphins are straps

 a couple weeks ago I looked at my calendar and realized how close we are to the first of the six (SIX!!!) weddings I've been invited to this summer.   (It is utter maddness.)  Which meant it was time to get cracking on what I've started calling *my* wedding dress, since I think I can probably get away with wearing it to all but one of them (in which I am a bridesmaid).  Oddly enough, they are all in different groups of friends, so there won't really be any overlap and I can be shiny and new each and every time.

mighty pockets of glory

Anyhow, I have the shell almost done, the lining put together and even made my own binding tape for the pockets.    This dress is going to get a lot more wear than my formal stuff usually does, so I want it mighty and ready to scoff at anything the washing machine can throw at it.

somehow, they will end up long enough....

There has even been progress on the sweater (it comes and goes)  although I'm getting steadily more worried that the sleeves will not be long enough.   The two and a half skeins pictured here are all I have left, and I'd like the sleeves to be about double the current length of the longer one.   I may have to get more yarn - possibly even from another dye lot -- but we shall see.   fingers crossed.

the pile of desire
And finally, my snuggly shirts got kicked down the queue when I looked at the calendar, so they're hanging out (cut out!) waiting for me to have time to re-thread my serger.  (Yes, it takes all of five minutes.  But somehow it always seems like an immense burden.)   Considering the change in the weather, I'm also thinking of going with the scoop neck, rather than the cowl option I've cut out.   It would involve adding a binding instead, but it would mean I could use the shirt in spring and fall, and they layer it in winter.

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