Hanging Necklaces

While cleaning up my dressing table recently, I decided the best solution would be to hang my necklaces on the wall. I quickly hammered some nails into the wall and voila – a cleaner table and a decorated wall!

Friday Faves - June 18

Font: Finura from Veer

Fashion:

Basil and Clay outfit from Anthropologie

The skirt fabric is nearly identical to some fabric I've used as a curtain valance and a tablecloth.

Weave-The-Ring skirt from Anthropologie

Isn't it strange that the buttons are arranged center-front on the model but not on the stand? I'm curious which way the designer intended to wear it. Personally, I prefer the buttons center-front. It's such a classy skirt, with the bias button placket and waistband. Wearing it with the buttons "off" center is rather confusing to the eye. Of course, that's often how my skirts end up, midway through the day!

Book Design:Lovely jacket free hard cover books with an Arts & Crafts style
Classic Penguin Books (via Design-Muse)




Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions with jacket illustrations by Ruben Toledo
(From top left: The Scarlet Letter, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice)
These remind me of the Edward Gorey opening credits to Masterpiece Mystery!, possibly my favorite tv show of all time.

Crafting Jewelery Tutorials:
Totally cute Pom-pom Necklace from PS I Made This
Zipper Bracelet from Ecouterre (via whipup.net)

Design Inspiration

Some new fabric I bought from the Michael Levine bulk store. I'd like to make a short fun dress like the one below except with front pockets.

Abstract Markings Dress from Forever21

Adventures in Fabric Dyeing

A few weeks ago, I impulsively bought a couple of yards of knit fabric from Michael Levine's bulk fabric store. It was a fun tie-dye combo of magenta purple, yellow, orange and green. I hand washed it in the sink and all of the purple dye washed out! Vinegar and salt did nothing to stop the bleed. I was left with the yellow and green fabric above – not something I would buy or wear.

So, I decided it was time to try some dyeing. I bought some blue and navy Jaquard Acid Dyes and combined the two for a dark blue color. I wanted to maintain some of the original tie dye quality of the fabric so I twisted the fabric and bound it with rubber bands. I used the instructions provided online for the dye process.

Again, during rinsing a lot of the dye washed out, despite using Synthrapol as a pre-wash and after-wash. I don't believe the dye was the problem, rather the fabric is very troublesome. As a comparison, I also dyed some other fabric (originally brown) which turned a solid dark blue.

Still, I like the dyed fabric much more than the washed out yellow. Next step is some sewing. I'm planning to make a dress.

Some design inspiration:
Splendid Modal Zipper Back Dress


BDG Pleated Frock from Urban Outfitters


Or more likely, drape drape no.6

Friday Faves - June 11

I have so much fabric these days and I need to find a purpose for it. Here are some tops I find inspiring.

J.Crew Silk Cord Cami



Anthropologie Meeting Place Tank



Steven Alan Carly Tank

Weekend Sewing Obi Sash

I made a Obi Sash using the pattern from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross to accompany the gown I hemmed a few weeks ago using a narrow overlock stitch.

It was a pretty easy pattern. I used the fabric I cut off from the hem for the right side of sash center and for both sides of the ties. The fabric is slippery though, making turning and pressing a challenge.

New Sewing Patterns

I bought some new sewing patterns this weekend. Not that I really need new patterns. I just can't resist when they're on sale.

Vogue V1152 by Rebecca Taylor

Vogue V1175 by Donna Karan



Vogue V8657
I love this jacket. And I'm strangely tempted by the pleated waist, tapered pants.


Vogue V1159
This pattern is for knit fabrics and only requires about 2 yards of fabric. The technical drawing really shows the details.


McCalls M6083
View D is my favorite. I've been thinking about making a jumpsuit for a while. It might be time to dive in. Maybe with some of the chambray I bought this weekend...



Vogue V1134 by Anna Sui
I love the bodice and sleeves of this pattern. I think I'll make it with a knee-length skirt. Full length seems so dowdy.


McCalls M5972 by Laura Ashley
The cascading ruffle sold me. And the round collar of View B is classic.

Featured Inspiration Dress

My dress is featured on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog today as the inspiration photo of the day. Originally blogged here. The back zipper is still my favorite part. Thank you Sew, Mama, Sew!!!

Drape, Drape No. 4

drape drape dress no. 4

This dress is made using a pattern from the Japanese sewing book drape drape by Hisako Sato.
Tracing the pattern took hours. It was definitely the hardest part. I referred to the pattern diagrams in the book throughout (below). The pattern pieces are quite large and cumbersome but it's not too challenging to cut out.
The diagram on the upper right of the finished garment has numbers that coordinate with the steps of construction. Not all steps are illustrated and all of the instructions are in Japanese so I just put it together as I imagined it should be done.

My one big goof was I couldn't figure out whether to put the pattern right side up on the right side of the fabric or the opposite. Anyway, I chose wrong and my dress is the opposite of the photo. The fabric is a knit that I had on hand. I used it once before for a vest. The fabric is lightweight and appropriately drapey but not see through. I used the same fabric as a lining.


The drapey piece in the front slides through the band on the shoulder and then somehow ties or loops with the drapey piece from the back. I think this part can be improvised.




on the body (sorry so blurry!)

It's a little funky so I can't wear it just any old day or to work. The only thing I might try to change is that the dress is a little short. Overall, I love the dress. I can't wait to make another pattern from this book. I've already traced dress no. 3 and I just need the fabric to get started.