New Sewing Project — with your help

Dear Constant Reader,

I am (slowly, too slowly) turning my mountains of fabric into useful items. I came across this fabulous feather print:

IMG_2836
You can’t tell from the photo, but the highlights are metallic silver. It’s a cotton fabric, about 45″ wide and I think I have 5 yards.

What should I do with it? I think it could make a very interesting dress, but beyond that, I’m stumped. I turn to you, my faithful readers for suggestions.

I have many fine qualities and skills, but draping is not one of them, so a picture of an existing garment is going to go nowhere. A commercial pattern suggestion is much more helpful.

If you’ve got a thought, share it in the comments below. I’ll pick my favorite and post my progress here. I think Patrons will get a video dress diary as well.

How should I let my feathers fly?

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 12 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 22 September 2021 at 9:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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What Ever Happened to that Evening Gown?

Dear Constant Reader,

About a year ago you voted in my Dress Me contest and I selected the 1933 evening gown for me to make.

And since then, I haven’t done a heck of a lot. There always seemed to be a more urgent piece of sewing. And yet that pile of fabric just wouldn’t go away. It kept taunting my lack of dedication. This past weekend I buckled down to make the mock up.

Volia!

The real thing won’t be that hideous green. It will also be floor length. I only cut the skirts long enough to check the fit in the hips. It looks a little askew in the picture because I’ve folded the seam allowance in on one side, but not the other.

It definitely needs to be fitted under the arms and maybe a tiny bit of ease in the hips. Also, I need to find a bra that will work with that low back. I tried it without a bra and the results were not pretty. Also, I need to get up my courage and dye the silk. And eventually I need to pick a couple of buttons for the back. It could happen before next year…

M2

Published in: on 8 July 2015 at 2:59 pm  Comments (1)  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!

First off, here’s where we stand in the Dress Me contest:
1933 Evening Gown: 4
Butterick 4790: 2
Butterick 4919: 1
Butterick 6582 View A: 1
Butterick 5556 View A: 1
Butterick 5556 View B: 1/2

You have until Monday to cast your vote (or choose a second option if you originally picked the Leading Lady Gown).

And here’s your tip!

It can’t hurt to ask.

Getting a “no” at the start is better than having to apologize later. And who knows, the answer might be “yes”!

M2

Published in: on 9 May 2014 at 2:31 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cover Girl

Dear Constant Reader,

While I was preparing for Costume-Con, I kept blathering to everyone about my documentation and then was euphoric when I won an award for it. So what is this documentation?

Basically, you need to tell the judges in writing all the important stuff about your costume. What time and place it’s from, what’s your source, what materials did you use, how did you do things differently from the inspiration and why, what’s particularly neat about it. Stuff like that, but everything has to be presented concisely. I think we were only allowed 5 pages of actual text, but unlimited pictures and captions. I took shameless advantage of the captions.

Sometimes people get creative with how the documentation is presented and since this was a big competition for me, I decided to go all out.

This is the first thing the judges saw:

Cavalcade of Burlesque was the industry magazine for a few years in the ’50’s. I scanned my favorite cover from my collection, picked a photo from the shoot I did with Vintage Girl Studios, and Scratch did his Photoshop magic.

I was pretty pleased with how the whole thing came out and apparently, so were the judges! I’m idly considering making the whole thing available somewhere.

And as long as we’re talking about sewing…
Current stats for the Dress Me contest:
1933 Evening Gown: 4
Butterick 4790: 1
Butterick 4919: 1
Butterick 6582 View A: 1
Butterick 5556 View A: 1/2
Butterick 5556 View B: 1/2

If you picked the Leading Lady Gown, please vote again. If you haven’t made your opinion known yet, you have until Monday!

M2

Published in: on 8 May 2014 at 11:33 am  Comments (1)  
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Out of the Running

Dear Constant Reader,

I know so many of you wanted me to make the Leading Lady Gown for my little Dress Me contest, but after really looking over the pattern (I didn’t actually have it in my hot little hands when I so blithely included it), it wants a lot of time, care, and potentially much cursing and stuffing it out of sight for a while while I sulk in frustration.

So, I’m taking it out of this contest. Never fear, I will make it at some point in the future, but when I’m good and ready.

So, if you voted for the Leading Lady Gown, please cast your vote again. The options are…

Butterick 4790

Butterick 4919

Butterick 5281

Butterick 5556

Butterick 5557

Butterick 5813

Butterick 5882

Butterick 6582
Craftsy Bombshell Dress
No picture because it’s a class

Sew Chic Tia Dress (also a Craftsy class)

Decade of Style 1933 Evening Gown

And the current standings are:
1933 Evening Gown: 3
Butterick 6582 View A: 1
Butterick 4790: 1
Butterick 4919: 1
Butterick 5556 View A: 1/2*
Butterick 5556 View B: 1/2

M2

Published in: on 7 May 2014 at 11:30 am  Comments (2)  
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Dress Me

Dear Constant Reader,

I have a problem. I buy patterns and then they sit in my filing cabinet (or worse, are strewn all over the floor as I pretend I’m about to use them). They’re so sad when they aren’t being turned into clothing. I want you to help me with this problem!

For the next week, I’m going to let you pick what dress I should make next. Just leave a comment below and the dress with the most votes wins! I’ll make that one and keep you updated on my progress from fabric to wearable, hopefully with lots of pictures. Make sure to specify which version of the pattern you like; most have at least 2 variations. Click the picture to go to the full description.

Win-win: I get a new dress *and* lots of content for upcoming posts. You get to peek into my sewing room and possibly hear me curse a lot. With any luck, I’ll schedule a shoot or something so you can see the winning outfit in all its glory — not a crummy cell phone shot in the mirror.

The candidates are :

Folkwear Fifties Fit & Flair

Folkwear Glamour Girl Dress

Butterick 4790

Butterick 4919

Butterick 5214

Butterick 5281

Butterick 5556

Butterick 5557

Butterick 5813

Butterick 5882

Butterick 6582

 Craftsy Bombshell Dress (no picture because it’s a class, not a pattern)

So, you have until next Monday to leave a comment with your vote!

M2

Published in: on 6 May 2013 at 10:11 am  Comments (8)  
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