Archive for May 2012
May 27, 2012 | 
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Last week I mentioned that this weeks Sew Weekly challenge was the ’1940′s, not at all my thing and, not one to give up either so it really was a matter of ‘Making It Work’ this week. This lovely little vintage pattern that I picked up on Etsy a while ago, probably paying too much for but, needed to have a 1940′s pattern in the kit to cover myself for fun little challenges like this one, phew! Yay for thinking in advance Advance Pattern 2684 to be precise, did you like that segue hey, hey? and what a magic fit she turned out to be I had no alterations to make at all that’s almost unheard of with these vintage patterns.
I spied this lovely metro linen— 55% Linen and 45% cotton in Spotlight over the weekend and decided to just go with it. They had the same print in blue hues and brown hues I was getting myself in a tizzy over which one I should choose. As soon as I got home I threw it in the washing machine, as it was drying I thought, I wished I’d picked the brown. In the end after seeing these photos I was happy with my choice.
I know this isn’t your conventional 1940′s dress but you and I both know that really wasn’t going to happen; I’ll leave that to the big guns. I thought I’d style and wear this little number my way so I can wear it over and over, there’s no use spending money and time on something you’ll never wear again, right? When Summer swings around I’ll be popping this one over my head for sure. I’m so glad I got to sew this little pattern.
On the construction side of things as you can see, the bodice is gathered along the waistline and along the chest where the hand sewn beads are, this really makes the dress comfortable, I guess with all that ease right!? I had some thrifted purple bias binding on hand so I used that to finish off all of the edges including the piping around the peter pan collar. I like these accents, what I’m not fond of is how easy the fabric wrinkles but the texture has a gloriousity factor of 100 .
So there you have it readers my unconventional 1940′s number named after Raphael Saadiq’s song- 100 Yard Dash. Mr Soul himself, and not too bad on the eyes either. See you all next week.
We are mixing prints this week I have never thought about prints and mixing prints more than I have in the past year or so thanks to Sew Weekly. Sew Weekly has really pulled me out of my proverbial black wearing box and got me thinking more about using colour and prints. I find it frustratingly challenging to make mixed prints work but at the same time really enjoy the process of coming up with a match. It’s like playing an odd game of Snap. This week I wanted to show you my process of working with prints in a spazzafied way, in other words, how I got dressed for this post I wanted it to be visually pleasing— to my eye at least. My influence being my Pinterest mood board.
I started with the skirt, firstly placing hemming/bias tape around the waist line to stop it from fraying then proceeded to pleat the fabric in large chunks sewing it flat to hold it in place; this then wraps around me and fastens with a couple of buttons, kinda like a kilt. You can’t see too well but behind the enormous pom poms my clever clever daughter made for me THANK YOU SWEETIE! I took the time to fray at least an inch of the fabric to add a bit of voila to the skirt. The hem has also been frayed. A line of stitching to stop it from unraveling? Check!. It looks Nordic. Check! The black and white top is a scarf with pom pom tassels on each edge, this was placed on the bias, one edge folded over—which makes the cowl neck, this was then sewn to a black piece of georgette folded in the same manner and joined at the shoulders with loops and buttons pulling it together. The sides are sewn up so there is no chance of any side boob action. A simple top I know, but what I like about this is how it makes your eye travel down forcing you to view the whole outfit; like an arrow directing traffic. I’m down with that! all the way to the shoes.
I really do! it’s vastly becoming one of my favourite things to do. I know it’s all trial and error at the moment so hopefully when I grow-up I would of mastered the technique but for now lets just enjoy what my eye has considered acceptable print matching you see, I was happy with the nordic inspired skirt and the bias placed geometric black and white top, admittedly a little too easy on the sewing front but who says it has to be anything more I mean look at what Anya did on Project Runway? A bunch of floaty squares with the same necklines if she chose different fabrics it would have never of worked, a great eye for prints methinks. Still, I have to say it was one of the worst seasons on Project Runway too date don’t you think?
Anyway, my super crafty daughter and I went on our routine Saturday morning Op Shop jaunt and I stumbled across this ethnic looking throw for $5. F I V E D O L L A R S ? crazy business. I cut a slit down the middle to where the circle detail on the back begun—this makes the neckline, and just sat in front of the telly with my family watching Project Runway and a brilliant Bob Marley doco, fraying away all of the edges to my hearts content. We’re all still leaving the house for work and school with bits of thread glued to us Whoops! and I have renewed my love and total respect for Bob Marley a total freedom fighter; Iron like a Lion in Zion. The neckline I frayed inward about 1 inch and the ends around 4 inches tying them off into bunches. I had the patience of a saint this night which doesn’t happen too often I did find it to be very therapeutic though.
My headdress I made for this post and wear it around the house doing my sewing and housework in. I was wearing this whole outfit when there was a knock at the front door a man, trying to give his best speech on why we should swap electrical companies, I towered over him looking like a Nordic shaman haha he didn’t know where to look the poor thing. It’s possible he found my appearance intimidating. The look on his face was priceless.
I’m going with Siouxsie and The Banshees- Spellbound for this weeks title. Oh how I love Sioux Sioux she has been a constant source of inspiration throughout the years.
Next week we are sewing 1940′s, not really my thang but will try my best to ‘Make It Work’.
Yep I was a real Fragile Bird (City & Colour) this week with my cold making me feel miserable for the most part, blah! So, for this week we are celebrating Mothers Day, below is a photo of my mummy in her 70′s casual get-up; a basic brown button-up and groovy 70′s jeans. So I thought I’d take this silhouette and amp it up a tad but still hold on to that 70′s flare with the prints I’ve chosen. I wonder if my mum would of worn my outfit back in the day while she rocked out to Creedance Clearwater Revival and would my Dad approve?
This photo was taken at my Nan and Grandpa’s place in Blakehurst Sydney which looks to be around 1972 judging by the size of me. Mum made all of our clothes when we were small, an exceptional seamstress, nowadays she will churn out epic hand candlewicked embroidered quilts and hand them to me to hand down through my family, I’m too frightened to have this quilt out of it’s box not with the cats and kids around anyway; I’d hit the roof if it ever got stained I’d never forgive myself.
I am unsure of the story behind this photo but I can tell you that as I got older that driveway that you see behind us which was indeed very steep was home to many biking accidents once it was concreted, grazed knees, skin off noses you name it, it happened.
This top I had made from my generic shirt pattern I was telling you about a couple of weeks ago the one I make all of my shirts from. I spied this floral voile and this striped voile and thought they’d get on with one another famously. I particularly like the striped accents which were cut on the bias and do love the size of the collar, very 70′s.
Because I’ve been sick most of the week I was telling the ladies over on Sew Weekly that if I tilt my head like this and shake it a little my ear pops and I can hear for a minute until it blocks up again *sigh* but thankfully I’m feeling a lot better now, I have to right? After all it is Mothers Day.
Le back detail! and of course, any excess fabric gets piled on top of my head, perfect for hiding any regrowth.
I particularly love the collar on this top, nice and high.
I did buy buttons to do a button fly like my mums but opted out incase of any gaping issues which may of occurred. In other words I wasn’t confident enough and if the gaping did happen I would never wear them without a top covering the opening I’d be worried about people copping a look at my knickers so it was a safe move for myself and any potential onlookers. Yikes. The jeans are high waisted—as you can see. They feel and look very sliming I think. Very comfortable indeedy. The pockets are nice and deep just how I like them and the leg has been hemmed at a perfect wedge wearing length. I decided to leave off back pockets because of time restraints and also sometimes back pockets can change the shape and look of your derriere dramatically don’t you agree? I avoid any jean where the back pockets are too far apart or too high up. I call these ‘mum jeans’ Not for this mum I have to say.
Happy Mothers Day Mummy I know you’re reading this and are very proud of me. I LOVE YOU DEARLY . xxoo
