own design Archives - Page 54 of 55

Top that doesn’t suit me?

27/10/2009 6:09 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

Just a day working, running errands, doing chores, gardening and a bit of grocery shopping, so didn’t feel the need to dress to impress. This top I made about two years ago, and dug it out from the top of the wardrobe just to put it in the blog. I feel like I’m wearing some real golden oldies lately… need to move on to some new stuff tomorrow…

The top pattern is my own design, polyester net cut out and draped over Bessie (the dressmaking dummy) to fit my vision. The front has a slightly draped, cowl-y effect, and the front piece was cut about 12cm longer in the side seams, then gathered and pleated to fit the back side seam in the bust region. I feel this makes a nice soft pleating effect over the bust. I was going for a slightly medieval sleeve feel with the extended bit on the end of the sleeve, with limited success as I find this flappy bit extremely annoying when I’m doing housework. The fabric is see through, so I sewed in a soft jersey “vest” lining in the body seams. This top was sewn entirely on the overlocker making for a very quick construction; I spent perhaps ten times as long cutting, draping and pinning onto Bessie to get just the right effect. For an artistic effect, I have put all the seams on the outside of the garment. Not surprisingly this makes for a very comfortable top!

Even though I feel this top has had its day and I’m ready to toss it out, its been a lovely flattering shape and design and one I plan to use again. In different colours.

In the latest Australian Stitches was an article on finding the colours that suit you, and I spent some time studying it last night, and besieging my husband with inane questions like “is my skin ivory or beige?” and “are my eyes unusual green or are they just hazel?” before he glazed over. Seems they are introducing a new system with new categories, with names involving Bright/Dusky, Warm/Cool and Dark/Light. I’m still not sure what I am, but I know that this top is probably not in my colours! I had my colours done years ago, and after a lot of pfaffing around with swathes of fabric I was pronounced to be an Autumn. I’ve been quite happy to be an Autumn.

The jeans are favourite summer jeans, washed so often the care and fabric label is washed white! I do remember however that they are New Zealand made, from tencel which is light and cool for summer. The shape is so flattering I traced it out last year and made an identical pair out of white linen which has been just as good. I might try this again this year out of a different fabric.

On right is a picture of the wounded modelling her stylish sock, which I might say she has done her darndest to strip off. I think purple and pinky/beige are her colours, no? Maybe a Spring?

Other details:

Jeans; Development
Thongs/flipflops; Mountain Design

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, own design, Sienna, top

My Marni fix

26/10/2009 6:30 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Spring/Summer 07, Marni had a collection that struck me with lightning, fashion-wise. I loved and could have worn simply everything in the parade. On my budget, not to mention that Marni is unavailable in Perth, and also given that I love to sew, the only option was to try to recreate the looks myself.

The slimline black oversize sports parka over a crisp white skirt was my absolute favourite look, the one I just had to have, and one I wanted to reproduce as closely as possible.

So here is my effort, compared to the real deal. Please excuse that the model on the right is far less attractive.

Photo above from Marni Spring/Summer 07

www.style.com, see here

On pulling it out I realised its no longer a look that I am wearing as I’ve moved on fashion-wise, but as previously expressed in this blog, Wear Everything in the Wardrobe is my new rule. My Monday morning gals expressed surprise this morning that I was wearing black, as its not a colour I really wear much.

I remember at the time I was first wearing it I looked quite different from everyone out and about on the street, as it wasn’t a look that had hit Perth and wouldn’t yet for another 18 months when everyone was into this look all of a sudden. We lag a bit behind the fashions here.

The skirt is Vogue 7303 view A, seen previously here, and the top is my own design. Well, actually its really Marni’s design, slavishly copied by me, but by “my design” I meant that I didn’t use a pattern, but planned, cut and fitted the pieces to Bessie (the dressmaker’s dummy) to achieve the look I wanted. I was particularly pleased with the high bunchy collar and felt (still do) that the finished result is easy and comfortable to wear.

I think its a very urban look, perhaps better suited to striding about the city. A problem with the black parka, given my lifestyle, is its tendency to attract and display animal fur, with most unattractive results.

Speaking of which, a comment asked after Sienna, the furry beast lying half out of sight in my photo. The silly-billy has cut open a pawpad on a sharp bit of fence in our yard and is hobbling about looking woebegone (poor love), so I’m walking alone for a while. However I promise to include her again, as requested. The camera loves her (yeah, baby! Austin Powers style), so I think she deserves a photo-shoot… yes?

Other details:

Shoes; Perrini, bought many years ago

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Fabulous fabrics, own design, parka, Sienna, skirt, Vogue 7303

Uniform butchery

22/10/2009 8:12 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Not handmade by me, but this is my daughter, who you could say is a creation of mine! in some small way… One cool thing they get to do on their last day is to reconfigure their school uniform however they like, and here is her version! It is all frankenstein-ed from different components of the uniform, including buttons and hair-ribbons, some of the girls used their bathers, sports shirts, tie…you name it. We bought a 2nd hand one for this, as she still needs her real one for Speech night! She did a wonderful job, and its all her own design and handiwork. It fits perfectly. (There can be no higher praise from a seamstress!)

It was very inspiring; there is such a wealth of creative talent in our teenagers, it gives you real hope for the future. You know the world will be in safe hands, and all the rest of it… sigh…

It was wonderful to see the girls so excited and happy and full of confidence for their future and bursting with enthusiasm.

Its been wonderful to have a day this uplifting…

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: own design

Big day out

22/10/2009 7:11 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Thursday, 22nd October 2009

Thankyou for your lovely comments!

Today is a big day, my daughter’s final day at school. Her school makes a big deal out of it for us parents too; it started with a flower ceremony, followed by final assembly, morning tea, chapel service and then lunch; in order. Quite a day. So I needed a DRESS! I made this previously for a lunch held at the beginning of spring, but couldn’t wear it without risk of freezing half to death. So, held it over for this occasion.

Its New Look 6699 view G,J,L again, a little ripper of a pattern. As the lace I bought for it was completely see-through, I lined it completely with a cotton batiste petticoat. I added wide coffee-coloured border lace around the bottom of the petticoat and a simple tube sleeve of the same lace around the armholes. I moved the invisible zip closure to the left side seam as usual and eliminated the back centre seams. The midriff is of gathered silk, and I also added a long sash of the stuff to tie at the back. You can’t see it in the picture, but I added a close-enough-to invisible pocket on the right side, just big enough for a mobile phone and a credit card. I think I’ll do this to all my party dresses in future… so useful…

Got several compliments for this dress today, which was very gratifying! Ah yes, we seamstresses always deflect praise, “oh, thankyou but it was easy, nothing to it, really” but its nice to get recognition, no? Here’s a challenge, approach someone you don’t really know very well and pay them a compliment. It will make their day and, by association, will give you a boost too!

Other details:

Shoes; Marco Santini, from Marie Claire

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: dress, Fabulous fabrics, new look 6699, own design

Secretarial duties

20/10/2009 4:24 am \ 2 Comments \ Carolyn

Tuesday, 20th October 2009

Today did my duty as secretary of the Ladies’ Auxiliary at school, so dressed secretary-like. Kind of.

This top is McCalls 4454 view C, but made using pieces of leftover silks I had from previous projects and some velvet ribbon I had bought for something else, but not used. The ripped strips of silk were sewn to a bemsilk facing version of the camisole after draping, pinning and fitting on Bessie, (my faithful dummy) and another lining attached inside to hide the bits and ends.

I really like the combination of grey, purplish grey, and bronzy browns; giving it subtle smoky style, and the soft, shimmery layers of translucent silk are sort of ethereal. The ripped edges form a rebellious and untailored contrast to the pants.

The necklace pendant is also self-made.

Other details;

Pants, Morrison

Shoes; Vicenza, from Soletta shoes

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: accessories, beading, Fabulous fabrics, McCalls 4454, own design, Sienna, top

Patchwork

19/10/2009 9:16 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Found this one and only picture of the other version of the dress I posted about earlier today here, from McCalls 4454, elongated to dress length; the one made out of patchwork fabric bought in Calico and Ivy. It was bought as a collection of “fat quarters”, from which I cut large, medium and small squares. The squares were pieced and the pattern cut out so that the smallest squares were at the bodice of the dress, and getting larger in size down to the hem of the dress, at which all the largest squares were. All were on the diagonal.

I loved the seaside-y colours; it may not look like much from the back but it really was a lovely dress and got a lot of compliments. Sigh. I think it got a rip in it eventually.

I think it looked better than its follow-up, partly because of the pretty fabric, and partly because the skirt was a lot more billowy, a better look for me.

(On a pictorial note, I’m at the top of Mount Lycabettus looking out over Athens …. we walked up to the top and back and really earned our drinks! It was fab!)

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: Calico and Ivy, dress, McCalls 4454, own design

Bouchee dress

19/10/2009 5:49 am \ 3 Comments \ Carolyn

Monday, 19th October 2009

Meeting my Monday morning gals today, so I’m wearing the hot pink Metalicus cardi they gave me for my birthday to show it off. I’m not sure about my dress this morning. Not sure because I always feel I look like an elephant in it. Its from McCalls 4454 view D, which is actually a little top pattern. I used it because I really like the bodice arrangement, and just drastically elongated the whole thing to dress length. I also added some triangular inserts to splay out the skirt and hemline, and added (artistic touch!) two HUGE pockets diagonally and randomly to the front. The pockets were also to cover some discoloured areas; as the fabric was originally from the remnant bin at Fabulous Fabrics because it had partially faded in patches.

Its not been a bad dress as its very cool to wear in summer, but … all ladies like to avoid looking like an elephant. So this may be its last outing. If you are a pear shape, like me, then its probably best to avoid long A-line dresses with no waist definition. I think I need waist definition. The funny thing is I made this same dress (see here) before using patchwork fabric bought from Calico and Ivy, and it looked great (shrug).

The necklace was also made by me, during my beading phase. My ladies this morning admired it!!! Still, they’re always nice to me!

Other details:

Cardigan; Metalicus

Sandals; Micam by Joanne Mercer, from Hobbs

Bag; Gucci

Posted in: Uncategorized \ Tagged: accessories, beading, dress, Fabulous fabrics, McCalls 4454, own design

Morticia? Is that you?

16/10/2009 11:12 am \ 1 Comment \ Carolyn

Friday, 16th October 2009

This is one of my more recent creations, made in the last few months. I was inspired by Prada’s Autumn/Winter 2008 collection of black lace “suits” (see below). Yes, I realise its taken me quite a while to get around to it…

I had managed to get black lace from the remnants bin on a foray to my favourite fabric shop, Fabulous Fabrics. The top is Butterick 4985 again, view B (nipped in at the torso as always), but with sleeves hijacked from a dress pattern, Burda 7897. The bottom of the blouse, sleeves and the edge of the collar were edged with black border lace. The skirt was constructed by making the lining from my trusty ol’ favourite Vogue 7303 out of gunmetal blue bemsilk. I then used the same pattern to cut out a partial front and back skirt from the lace, then got creative and added random strips and pieces of the same lace around my dressmaking dummy (Bessie) to “fill in the gaps”. I oversewed the joining seams with a wider black border lace and left the long strips hanging down past the hem of the skirt. The final effect is of a slightly random raggedy handkerchief hemline. I didn’t bother hemming or finishing the lace, as it won’t unravel.

The blue lining was chosen because I liked the interesting contrast under the black(also because I had a perfect size length left over in my stash which needed using up!). I managed to find the perfect buttons to match this colour at Calico and Ivy; beautiful tiny heart-shaped, blue shell buttons; there are four down the front of the blouse. All in all, I’m very pleased with the final effect, and I felt quite dressy enough when I met some friends for lunch at the this month’s Globe Fashion Friday!

Other details;