I haven’t done any new sewing this week. I did get a little machine embroidery project done that I’ll post at a later time. It still needs a little tweaking. I also had a minor alteration project for Emma’s freshman Homecoming dress. Again, pictures will be posted soon. Her complete ensemble is ADORABLE!
I have been planning my next projects but of course a quick trip to Joann’s for last minute supplies for the alteration project led to unplanned purchases and new ideas. First off, the best time of year is coming; Halloween! My friend and I are going as a “couple” costume this year. I’m going to keep it a bit of a secret for now but I did pick up a bolt (yes, BOLT!) of cheap fabric for these costumes. I will have to get to these very soon. On a trip down the clearance sale aisle I spotted a bolt of $5/yd. ITY knit that I had eyed on a previous trip. I wasn’t sure about the pattern/color but because it had caught my attention twice now I figured that it was definitely sending me a message. I took it to the cutting table and asked for 3 yds. After she measured and cut it she gave me the exciting news that it was actually $2.50/yard. WINNING! Add to that that the pink costume fabric was also $2.50/yard I was having a very good day.
This is the fabric. What do you think? Is it retro-funky cute or horribly old-fashioned and frumpy? The young girl at the cutting table (mid-20s is my guess at her age) thought it was retro-cute and I agree. I’m not completely sure about the color but at least it isn’t orange! I also picked up Butterick 5030 on the $.99 sale and thought I’d use this fabric as my muslin. Now I’m not so sure. I thought it was designed for knits and was a mock-wrap dress but it isn’t. I think I had it confused with another pattern I had looked at earlier. Do I really want to attempt yet another wrap dress? Not really. So far I’ve only been marginally happy with the ones I’ve made and I may just be over it now. I do think this fabric calls for something retro styled however. I’m visualizing DVF inspired dress with a collar. For now it goes up on the shelf and marinates for a while because I have other things to work on now.
In the top picture you may also notice a red ITY and a purple knit (might be ponte, don’t remember, just know it is a bit heavier than ITY). Those two have been brought to the cutting table and then moved back to the shelf a couple times each over the past few months. The purple is definitely going to be Vogue 8593. I’ve seen reviewed on Pattern Review and a couple blogs and really like the dress. I think it will be a nice classy dress for fall and winter. But I have a few concerns. One is the constant fear that it will be too tight across my belly and be unflattering. The second is that it might be too dressy for my lifestyle. Not that I have no need for a dressy dress. But just not often. I could wear it to work but it might be too much. So for now, back on the shelf it goes. The red ITY was originally intended to become the Kwik Sew dress above and if I like the print one, it still might be. Or it might become another “Perfect Knit Dress.” I’m sure some Gallery stalking at Pattern Review will bring up other possibilities. I love the color, one of my favorites to wear, so it has to become something soon.
So that’s what I am, should be working on right now. If I stay focused and don’t jinx myself by mentioning that I’ve gotten really good at switching my serger back and forth from over-lock to cover-stitch I might be able to get a dress made before dinner tonight. Did I mention that one of my co-workers calls me the “Chinese Take-out Seamstress”? I’m fast, good and give some people a headache. (She didn’t say the headache part, she’s too nice!) Also when I finish one garment, in an hour I’m ready to start another one.
Zai Jian (That’s good-bye in Chinese, I think, if not, blame YahooAnswers)
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