?Es Possible?

I picked this up at a thrift store over the weekend.



Is it NOT gorgeous?

It was only 69 cents and all the pieces are there but... the instructions are missing. GAH!

I wonder if I'll be able to figure it out? I've never made anything with an empire waist before and the drape kind of worries me as well. I think if I go slow and actually THINK while I make this one up, it might work.

I'm wondering about what kind of fabric would be best. The back of the pattern gives a zillion options. Wouldn't the drape come out best in something kinda slinky? Not that I am capable of sewing with slinky stuff. I'm just wondering.

My fantasy would be the long version of this dress in heavy white satin. I'd need the white gloves too, and a very, very long cigarette holder. Of course I don't smoke but that's beside the point. This dress demands that sort of accessory.

If I actually make it up, though, my first attempt will be a wearable muslin of the short version in plain ol' black cotton. If that works, I may kick it up a notch and try that white satin...or maybe shantung. Oh the possibilities!

Leopard Jumper. Not. (Part 2)

Remember how I tried to make a leopard print jumper out of this fabric...



and this pattern? (View 1)



Remember how I thought that I looked like a cartoon cavewoman in the result and decided to re-purpose the parts? I made a stand-alone skirt out of the bottom.

This post is about what happened to the bodice. First a bit about the bodice construction...

I was totally baffled by the instructions for the center slice in the bodice neckline. I used some scraps to make a test section so that I didn’t ruin my blouse. I traced the deep V directly onto the wrong side of the fabric, stitched around it and turned it right side out. It worked just fine in the test and in the final. I felt like a real seamstress for a change. I actually made a test instead of just blindly forging ahead!

I used this pattern (View 2) to make the skirt.



I really wanted to make it in a stiff brown satin or taffeta, but the fabric store didn't have the right weight or shade. They only had the flimsy satiny stuff that is made for linings and only in black. I decided to use broadcloth instead and I'm glad I did. I think that a satin skirt would have put this dress in the "fancy" category and I'd probably wear it less often.

I’m glad I brought a bit of the leopard print with me to the fabric store. I hadn’t expected there to be so many different shades of brown broadcloth. Most of them weren't quite right with the leopard but I’m very happy with the one I chose. It’s a much darker shade than any of the browns in the leopard but it balances the busy pattern nicely.

The assembly went surprisingly well. The last time I made this skirt I found that it came out way too large. This time, I stitched in the side and center seams with one inch allowances. It fit the first time and I didn’t have to make any adjustments when I attached the skirt to the bodice. The side and center seams lined up perfectly. Hooray!

The zipper went in okay. The stitching looks a fright, as always, but I’m hoping that since it’s under my arm no one will notice. I have recently learned that I have NO idea how to properly install an invisible zipper! Apparently, they are called "invisible" because, if sewn in properly, you can't see the stitching! I thought they were called "invisible" because they don't show as much as a standard zipper. Ha ha. Oh well. Live and learn. I'll continue to attach them in the half-ass way I do, for now. I'll keep my eye out for an invisible zipper foot for the Viking, but there's no guarantee I'll ever learn to use it. I am a lazy, lazy sewist.

I will use this bodice pattern again and again, I think. I absolutely love the way it looks and fits.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All!

That was my attitude when I saw these adorable gingham bracelets online at gojane.com for $1.99 each. I bought one in every color. It’s not like I have anywhere to store them, so they sit on top of my jewelry table, tempting me to wear them. They are pretty, aren’t they? As soon as I finish my giant backlog of projects (my stash is getting out of hand) I think I’ll be making some gingham dresses!

Hot Tamale

Remember this cactus fabric?



I used it to make up this pattern.



It went together well! I was particularly happy with the super short sleeves. With a lot of patterns, the sleeves end right at the bottom of my breast and this is NOT good for a busty girl like me. I never seem to realize that the sleeves are too long until after the dress is finished. Then I end up having to hack them off at the desired length and finish the raw sleeve ends with bias tape. Classy! These were the perfect length from the get-go and that made me really happy.

I didn’t have any major problems except for my usual I Hate Zippers thing. Discount Fabrics had no invisible zippers that were the right shade of yellow so I used a standard (visible?) one. I don’t know how to lap a zipper (there were instructions, but I panicked) so I sewed it in the same way I would for an invisible. (I suspect I put my invisible zippers in wrong anyway, but since it works, I try not to think about it too much.) The fabric sticks out a little on each side of the zipper but since it’s under my arm, it’s not very obvious.

I am proud of the cummerbund. It adds a little spice and the dress looks good with or without it. I had some leftover brown poly from this dress and I thought the cummberbund would be a great way to use it up. I’m always looking for non-quilt-related ways to use up my odds and ends.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric for the full double-decker cummerbund so I made half instead. It was a little tricky figuring out how to make just the one section, especially since I only had a teensy bit of fabric and could not make a cutting error.

The cummerbund fastens in the back with a pants connector thingy instead of a row of four hook-and-eyes as suggested by the pattern instructions. I think I still may have to add a hook-and-eye or two. I’d hate for it to go flying off while I’m dancing.

There will most definitely be dancing in this dress - Tex-Mex joyful Western swing dancing, if I have my way. If I can convince MD to visit San Antonio for our vacation next year, you bet this will be in the suitcase. This is the perfect dress for eating puffy tacos and drinking Shiner Bock (and tequila)…and maybe even dancing on a bar.



I think it came out well and I love the yellow rick-rack center stripe on the cummerbund. I originally intended to add rick-rack at the hem and neckline to make the dress look a little more country. After I’d gotten the rick-rack pinned on I decided that it was way too busy.



Even without the cumberbund, I think the dress looks Western in a subtle way. I mean its cactus print for Pete’s sake! It doesn’t get much more Western than that. Yeeeeehaw!

Now I just need some brown and yellow cowboy boots… Back at the Ranch has some great styles. Too bad they are waaaaaay out of my price range.

Leopard Jumper. Or Not. (Part One)

What to do with 6 yards of leopard baby wale corduroy? Make as many lovely things as you can, of course, starting with the one that will use the most fabric first. That would be this gorgeous jumper, view A.



I decided that I would not use the skirt that came with the pattern as I don’t care for pleats or gathers in the front. They make my stomach look puffy and no-one wants a puffy stomach. I used my usual all–purpose skirt pattern instead, modern McCalls 3830.

The jumper pattern uses a much wider seam allowance than I’m used to. I didn’t trust the pattern markings and sewed the seams in at about half an inch. I expected some give as this particular fabric is stretchy but instead of having any snap-back (like elastic or spandex), it seems to relax and get larger as you work with it. The relaxing fabric and too-small seam allowances resulted in a dress about two sizes to large. I had to re-do all the seams with wider allowances.

I had a hard time attaching bodice to skirt. Nothing really wanted to line up properly. Eventually I fudged it together but after trying it on, it became apparent that an entire leopard print dress is way too much leopard print at one time, at least on me. It was way too costume-y. I just needed a bone in my hair.

I removed the skirt section and made it into a stand-alone high-waist skirt. I deepened the darts to make it ride a little higher, added a waistband and it was done. The hips fit well and the bottom of the band ended up exactly at my natural waist. Unfortunately the band is roomier than I’d like. I could adjust it, but I’m done messing with it. Who knows, maybe I'll gain weight again and it will fit fine.

I’m very proud that there is a machined buttonhole in the back. I still don’t really understand how my button foot works so I skipped the foot completely. I eyeballed the placement of the buttonhole stitching and it worked pretty well. I am very proud that I didn’t overlap my straight line stitches, but the hole ended up being too small for my intended button. Luckily I have a giant bag o’ stray buttons and I was able to find one that matches and fits through the slot.

Too bad about the fuzzy picture...



I'll post what happened to the rest of the jumper soon!

NSR: Just Flew Home from Viva Las Vegas and boy are my arms tired

Actually, we got back on Sunday night but I really wanted to use that old joke as a headline. I’m cheesy. Sad but true.

We had a great weekend. Many newly sewn outfits were worn. Gorgeous vintage clothes from many wonderful vendors were ogled but not purchased. (I tend to ruin vintage clothes, and I’m cheap, and I’d much rather make my own stuff, if I can.) Much dancing was done, drinking too. Being the old-ish farts that we are, we were in bed at a decent hour (no later than 1am) every night. It made the days a lot more pleasant, I can tell you, but we missed out on quite a few of the bands.

I completely spaced on taking pictures. MD took lots at the car show but my plan of taking pictures of a zillion pretty dresses didn’t really pan out. I was way too preoccupied with hanging out with my girls and I plumb forgot the camera was in my bag. Oh well.

Really though, it wasn’t dresses that had my attention this year. It was eyeglasses. I saw so many girls in great glasses! A lot were wearing vintage, but quite a few had modern glasses in a vintage style. It was really nice to see well put together and stylish ladies rockin’ their four-eyes with no shame.

The only thing I bought from the vendors at Viva was a new (50’s dead-stock) pair of eyeglasses from Allyn Scura. I stepped on my favorite glasses a while back (the ones in the sidebar photo) and I’ve been very slow to get a new pair that I can wear every day. I have a few pair of glasses with the same prescription, but I don’t like any of them as well as the ones I broke. Maybe that’s why I’m glasses-obsessed?

This pair is too modern to be worn with any of my vintage-y stuff, but wonderfully lightweight and almost invisible. They are great for work or running errands but not so much for looking cute and stylish.



This pair is super adorable but too heavy for everyday. I love them but they do tend to make giant divots on either side of my nose.



I can see fine with the current prescription but it’s expired so if I want to fill the new frames, I need a new prescription. I’ve been dragging my feet because if my prescription has changed, I’ll want to change the lenses in these frames to the new prescription and the expense has me a bit worried. Even so, these new frames are so cute that they might be just the thing to convince me to get off my butt and get my eyes checked again.



See? It should be a no-brainer. If I don’t need a new prescription, I only need to have the new pair filled. If the prescription has changed, I’ll just have Lenscrafters (or whoever) re-do the lenses in my modern glasses and send the rest off to Allyn Scura. Fingers crossed that my prescription hasn’t changed.


(I’ll post a finished sewing project next Friday. I promise. ...and sorry about all the unsolicited pictures of my mush.)

NSR: Reader Appreciation Day

Thunk thunk...is this thing on?

Good.

I heard a rumor that its Reader Appreciation Day so I thought I'd take a moment to say thanks to those of you who read this blog. I gotta say I'm surprised that anyone out there in blogsville is interested in my projects or my ramblings but its so nice when y'all stop by and offer encouragement. It really does help me to stay inspired. I've been a much more focused sewist since I started posting here. Hooray for the interweb!

I've almost recovered from my post-Vegas stupor and I'll try for a sewing related post by the end of the week.