2007 Sewing Projects
All projects prior to the current year are now listed in the Project Archive!
Note
My apologies for not updating this site for the last few months. It's not that I haven't been sewing; I have! But most of it has been for my window treatment business, rather than clothing or accessories. I hope to get back into doing clothing during the second half of this year.
July 2007
Costume for Diana
My daughter Diana is all excited about attending her first Anime convention in Baltimore this month. One of the fun parts of this particular convention is that costumes are highly encouraged. So, Diana asked me to make an outfit based on a character in a story she is writing.
This costume went through at least five muslins as she and I worked through the design issues. She had drawn what she wanted: a sheath with a draped neckline. However, real fabric doesn't always behave like a drawing, and, while the muslin fit, she didn't like how it looked. So, the design was radically altered into a two-piece with a crossover top. It took three muslins to get the fit and the style just right, but the end result was worth the effort.
Here's the front view of the costume. She wanted it to cross just at bust level, and was planning on wearing a camisole underneath.
The back of the costume. Diana painted the design on the back using fabric dyes. She wanted it to look slightly primitive, as if it had been done with plant dyes.
This particular character is supposed to be a dancer. Diana and I had long conversations about how that would impact the design of the costume. Initially, she wanted a straight skirt, but we agreed that such a narrow silhouette would not be what a "real" dancer would wear. We settled on a handkerchief-hem skirt, which twirls very nicely.
A close-up of the torso shows the details. The top was created from a classic darted blouse draft. The neckline and armholes are bound with something that looks like bias woven burlap; the ends of the binding extend about 10 feet to form a tie that wraps around her waist several times.
This shows the shape of the pattern pieces after they were modified. The tie from the left front waist passes through a buttonhole in the side seam of the right front, allowing it to wrap around.
Evidence that I'm completely crazy: the hem of the skirt is festooned with 200 tin and copper jingle cones, each hand-sewn onto the hem. I love my daughter, I love my daughter...
September 2007
The "Cocktail Dress"
I really liked the pattern for this year's Smithson Gown, so I figured I would try it again in a slightly different format. This time it was for a sleeveless summer dress, and it is made out of a fun cotton novelty print I picked up a few years ago and had aging in my stash.
I wanted a 1950s-style dress, and the gown's style really worked. I finished it this afternoon, just in time to wear to a dinner party.
I wanted to do a real 50's pattern-envelope fashion pose, but just couldn't pull it off quite right! Anyway, the dress is quite comfortable, but the neckline is too wide. Yes, it's exactly the same pattern as before, but this has no sleeves; it didn't feel "anchored" on my shoulders. So for the next iteration (and yes, I'll be making more of these), I will reduce the neck width. I really like this length.
I found the necklace at Ann Taylor last week; I was shopping with a girlfriend and we were taking turns mocking the jewelry; then I tried them on and was shocked at how much I liked them. Something about the really big scale of the pearls just looked great. Serves me right.
The famous "Baked Potato Design"!
