Sunday, May 17, 2020

Plan D

Yes, I've been hanging out on Instagram, but since I don't like reading long narratives on Instagram, I decided to take myself back to my blog to tell you about this project.

I call this the Plan D or Give Me Liberty & Give Me Dress. This has been in the works for years.

It started simply enough. I wanted to recreate Alicia Paulson's dress: the Folkwear Patterns Afghan Nomad dress made with different patterns of Liberty fabric. I spent some time collecting the fabric; the main fabric (if we can call it that) was bought at Liberty London in 2013. The other fabrics were bought on a trip to Mood Fabrics with my mother a year or so later.

I have to say, when I first started the dress, I thought, "This is going to be the most beautiful dress I've ever made!" I decided to do French seams and patiently worked my way through the pattern.

Unfortunately, I was not pleased with the results.

With the Empire waist and a high and tight neckline, it just wasn't working for me. So I decided to go with Plan B - modifying the bodice of the dress. I think I gave it a couple of shots before I put the whole project on a time out.

Fast forward to this year, and I've got a whole new system of keeping track of my sewing and knitting projects - a three-tiered system using a sports analogy: active roster, the bench, and the farm team. Anyway, what I was calling the Afghan Nomad Dress at the time made it onto the list, and I knew I had to either resolve it or retire it. There was no way I was going to let all that Liberty fabric languish.

So welcome to Plan C - the Cappuccino dress from Lisette & Co. I've made it once before. I call the first one my Acid Trip Deer Hunter dress.

I carefully took apart the Afghan Nomad Dress to salvage what I could of the fabric, and then I set to work making it come together. What's probably important to note here is that I did not make a muslin for either dresses, which, yes, could've saved me a lot of time. But hey, where would this blog post be then?

Again, I patiently and carefully sewed the dress (let go of the French seams this time). Excited to have it finished, I brought it home to try on for my partner and a friend of ours. Ack! It was too tight over the hips! (#covidass) I also felt like it was a little short. So back to the studio and Plan D.

I'd already done a full bust adjustment (something I'd blown off on the first one and regretted). To make the dress fit, I put godets in the side seams and then added an additional band around the bottom to lengthen it. There was a bit of fiddling since I was making it up along the way, but I have to say, I'm glad I persevered. Otherwise I wouldn't have this happy-making dress.

And here it is - Give Me Liberty & Give Me Dress:



Makers gonna make.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Going Through the Motions

Sweater: Boxy, knit by yours truly
Dress: Alabama Chanin, sewn by yours truly
Tights: Unknown
Boots: Blundstones

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: A New Dress

Dress: Melow par Melissa Bolduc
Tights: Unknown
Boots: Aquaitalia

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Thursday, February 13, 2020

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Tone on Tone on Tone

Sweater: Patch (pattern), knit by yours truly originally for the ladyfriend
Skirt: J. Morgan Puett
Tights: Hue
Boots: Maison Margiela

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Freeing the Freak Flag

Sweater: Sunday Sweater pattern, knit by yours truly - I call it the Orange Creamsicle
Pants: J. Morgan Puett
Boots: Maison Margiela (mom-me-down)
Socks: SmartWool

Thursday, February 6, 2020

What I'm Wearing To Teach Today & Yesterday: Two-day Version

Today:
Shirt: Paul Smith (belongs to the ladyfriend)
Vest: self-drafted pattern, knit by yours truly
Skirt: Rohka
Tights: Hue
Boots: Timberland (thrifted from Mom)


Yesterday:
Dress: Aida Barni
Vest: Dolce & Gabbana
Tights: Hue
Boots: Timberland (thrifted from Mom)