I made this camisole to cheer myself up.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Swim Suit Cover Up Contest
I've spent five days working on my entry to this contest to sew a swim-suit cover-up. The deadline passed and I failed not only to finish on time, but to create a wearable cover-up as well. The winners will be awarded a singer sewing machine or a dress form. I don't need either thing, but for some reason I felt very compelled to compete.
I started with this light blue pattern trial. So far, so good. Then I cut a longer version out of the nice fabric. I added a ruffle that began at the hip and ended mid-thigh. I wanted to add a waistband. I was going to put three rows of 1/4" elastic in because it would look so much better than a single casing. I spent hours considering how to accomplish this in the most efficient way. I got the first row in and the whole thing looked stupid. There was too much fabric in the center front - something that was not apparent when I was wearing the garment with elastic pinned around my waist. Somehow having it sewn in changed it completely. I ripped the bottom section off and will at some point just finish it as a top. I went on vacation and forgot about the contest until the day before the deadline. Suddenly I had a new idea. I could make a button front dress that could just be torn off in one beautiful motion before bounding into the water.
I tried some draping - just enough to establish that I'm not ready to work that way yet. This took half a day.
And then I made this. I added the button bands to an existing pattern. At this point I missed the deadline for the contest, but still believed the cover-up was going to work really well. Then I realized that the interfacing I used for the button bands was too stiff. It was an all-purpose woven pellon fusible. I started putting on the snaps. I've only done this one other time. You have to hammer them on with these special little tools. It didn't go well and I destroyed the top sections of three of the snaps after securing their counterparts on the other band. I had purchased the snaps years ago, god knows where, and had no extras. You can't remove them once they're on. I tried to solve this by sewing two visually related buttons on where the last snaps would be and since they couldn't be functioning at this point I had to just sew the button bands together from the last snap, down. I can still step into the dress.
Once I had it on and spent a little time in it I knew it was unwearable. That button band just curves in and out in terrible ways because of the stiffness. I really need to wear a belt with it to make it flattering, and that just causes more awkwardness with the band. I was telling this whole sad story to Scott and he said, well at least it will make a good blog post. People like to hear about how you mess things up.
And speaking of that - I did the laundry yesterday and washed his ipod which was in the pocket of his shorts.
I started with this light blue pattern trial. So far, so good. Then I cut a longer version out of the nice fabric. I added a ruffle that began at the hip and ended mid-thigh. I wanted to add a waistband. I was going to put three rows of 1/4" elastic in because it would look so much better than a single casing. I spent hours considering how to accomplish this in the most efficient way. I got the first row in and the whole thing looked stupid. There was too much fabric in the center front - something that was not apparent when I was wearing the garment with elastic pinned around my waist. Somehow having it sewn in changed it completely. I ripped the bottom section off and will at some point just finish it as a top. I went on vacation and forgot about the contest until the day before the deadline. Suddenly I had a new idea. I could make a button front dress that could just be torn off in one beautiful motion before bounding into the water.
I tried some draping - just enough to establish that I'm not ready to work that way yet. This took half a day.
And then I made this. I added the button bands to an existing pattern. At this point I missed the deadline for the contest, but still believed the cover-up was going to work really well. Then I realized that the interfacing I used for the button bands was too stiff. It was an all-purpose woven pellon fusible. I started putting on the snaps. I've only done this one other time. You have to hammer them on with these special little tools. It didn't go well and I destroyed the top sections of three of the snaps after securing their counterparts on the other band. I had purchased the snaps years ago, god knows where, and had no extras. You can't remove them once they're on. I tried to solve this by sewing two visually related buttons on where the last snaps would be and since they couldn't be functioning at this point I had to just sew the button bands together from the last snap, down. I can still step into the dress.
Once I had it on and spent a little time in it I knew it was unwearable. That button band just curves in and out in terrible ways because of the stiffness. I really need to wear a belt with it to make it flattering, and that just causes more awkwardness with the band. I was telling this whole sad story to Scott and he said, well at least it will make a good blog post. People like to hear about how you mess things up.
And speaking of that - I did the laundry yesterday and washed his ipod which was in the pocket of his shorts.
Letter to the Editor
I saw this in the Sep/Oct issue of FiberArts. Someone cares enough to complain! Now I really feel like somebody.
A Hem for Knits
1. Cut a strip of bias fabric 1 1/2" wide and the same length as the garment edge.
2. Press the strip in half lengthwise.
3. Align the folded edge of the strip with the edge of the wrong side garment.
4. Stitch using a 5/8" seam allowance and a medium zig zag.
5. Trim the garment edge (only the top layer of fabric) close to the stitching line.
see An Edge for Knits for the neck and armholes
Muslin
I went alone to a yard sale that had advertised fabric. They had mainly upholstery fabric. I bought a huge piece of muslin that was neatly folded. Ordinarily I would really inspect fabric before buying it, but I had gotten a drop of sap on most of my right hand’s fingers during the first minutes I was there, so I couldn’t manipulate things well. When I got home I cleaned the sappy hand with nail polish remover and unfolded the fabric. The muslin had several spots on it, some yellow, some pale red. I sprayed the spots with Shout and the yellow spots began to smell like urine. I decided it was pet urine, the least disgusting conclusion. The red spots and smell came out in the laundry but the yellow stains are still visible.
This is the first time I've used real muslin for pattern testing. I think it's quite striking.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Blue Stripes
knit top - my pattern
skirt - Vogue 8426
skirt - Vogue 8426
I'm very tempted to wear this top with the skirt pictured below, but I know all you people who don't think flowers go with flowers have the same opinion about stripes and stripes.
Summer Outfit
top: simplicity 2618
skirt: my own design - made last summer. I think of it as my raccoon trap skirt. The pocket openings are just large enough to slip an open hand into, but not big enough for retracting a fist full of small snacks or a cta card.
skirt: my own design - made last summer. I think of it as my raccoon trap skirt. The pocket openings are just large enough to slip an open hand into, but not big enough for retracting a fist full of small snacks or a cta card.
Amazing Fit Pants
This is my new favorite pattern. It really is named "Amazing Fit Pants," Simplicity 2700. These can be made in almost any fabric. They fit just like Banana Republic & Tommy Hilfiger pants.
A view inside my pants.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Color-block Skirt
I'm discovering the joy of patchwork. The main body of the skirt is opaque but the patchwork pieces are semi-sheer. My mom said it looks expensive. This is the first time I've heard that about any clothing I've made.
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