Category Archives: sewing

March 9, 2008 · 11:10 pm

The Blouse To Be

I’ve gotten as far as roughly draping fabric over my dress form (a thousand thank-yous to Erin for letting me have her old form):

So I hope it will look a little something like that, but a bit neater and more trim, by the end of the week.

I have a fab-yoo-lous vintage dress that I bought specifically to wear to Viva this year, but I forgot that the very complicated top is too big (surprise, surprise). I culled it from the list of items to pack, but Erin and Megan got pouty. Of course, Erin immediately researched Denver metro to find me a tailor whom I would trust with my vintage gear (she needs a few items altered as well), and came up with a woman who comes highly recommended. I’ll try to remember to call her tomorrow and see if we can arrange something in my ever-shorter time frame. Not only does that dress need some adjusting, but I have some jeans that would work better as capris, and a vintage dress/jacket set that is twice my size. The seamstress would have to work a miracle on that one, but I think it’s worth having her take a look.

Overall, a good weekend. I saw friends, I spent some time with my mom, I made a dent in some of the housecleaning. Both cats snuck outside, and Supercat (who can leap a 6-foot fence in a single bound) was so surprised to be on the other side of the door that he forgot what to do once he got there. If he remains oblivious, I’m happy to let him out more often. C’mon, Springtime!

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March 5, 2008 · 11:23 pm

I’ve been replaced by a Pod Person

What is this? It took me three months to sew my first skirt (a simple A-line) this summer/fall, and now I’ve finished three in a week?

This is the first time I’ve sewn a brocade, and the fabric was wigglier than I expected. I used a scrap of coordinating poly-satin for the facing, and, since I have sewn satin before, I should have known better. It’s like trying to tattoo a live fish. Luckily, all of the wonky bits are hidden on the inside of the garment.

More after the break…

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March 4, 2008 · 11:00 pm

Much better this time!

I finished up Simplicity 5259, attempt number two, and it’s perfect. Well, as perfect as this novice can get it. So good, in fact, that I actually disassembled a vintage skirt I’ve had hanging in my closet, so I can tweak its shape to better fit me. This may not mean much to some folks, but I have the tendency to treat my vintage pieces like sacred goods. Which is completely stupid, because it means that I have a lot of goodies that I can’t wear, either because they’re too big, or, in the rare case of this skirt, they were just an unflattering cut in the first place. (I should note: I’m not in the habit of buying ugly clothes just because they’re vintage. This skirt is the bottom half of a suit that has a darling jacket.)

Now that I feel like I have this pattern under control, I’m excited to rebuild this old skirt. We Have The Technology. :)

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March 3, 2008 · 10:53 pm

self-serving post

I’m tired. I spent too much time at the fabric store tonight, looking for the perfect leopard print swatch with which to finish up my skirt (never found an acceptable version; went with a Japanese floral instead), and also trying to find something to match a vintage suit I’ve had for years and never wear, because I don’t have the right blouse to wear beneath. Last night, lying in bed, I had a vision of a gathered halter top in a crêpe-backed satin, styled very much like Grace Kelly wears in Rear Window but with, ahem, a little less coverage:

My god, that woman was gorgeous.

But I’m too tired to write about all that, so instead I’ll suggest that all y’all do a little shopping at my etsy storefront, where I’ve recently posted a whole slew of fun, stretchy bracelets made from real dice that I drilled myself. 160 of them. Not that I was keeping count or anything. 160 dice, one at a time. 160. That’s a lot of Yahtzee.

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March 2, 2008 · 10:40 pm