lundi 8 novembre 2010

Cool tunic and meh dress

Hello friends, how are you? I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately, I have been sewing but following a number of little delays and unexpected happenings I could never take pictures. Anyway, for today I have two projects to show you: let's start with this nice little number from the spring 2010 Pochée vol. 9.



In theory it's made of cotton but the fabric really feels and weighs like linen. I guess you can call the colour "tan", it's quite subdued but I like it! I changed two details regarding the original pattern, the back is in one piece when it should have a yoke and gathers and the sleeves should have balloon ends but I didn't have enough fabric for that. I had a brush with disaster when the red transferring paper I used left marks that wouldn't leave on the OUTSIDE of the tunic, fortunately I found a good stain remover and managed to get rid of them (it's a French product called "Le Diable Détacheur").
Now for the not so great other project, when I ordered this vintage pattern I was in the mood for a groovy 70's mini dress:


Well, it turned out rather different from the illustration, I thought the waist was high, it wasn't, the skirt wasn't mini at all, even after I shortened it and worst of all when I finished it it had the dreaded "Goldorak" look, ie the back neckline reached the middle of my neck and the shoulders were at least 1.5" too high. Look:


And here I had already lowered the shoulders by 3/4"! I felt horrible, my back, shoulders and arms are naturally huge so I do not need extra volume over these zones. I ripped off the dress, lowered the shoulders more, lowered the back neckline and bound everything with bias -strangely facings are among what I like least when sewing.


The fabric is chambray, it's cute and nice to wear but I find the dress a bit bland, I'm not sure how to accessorize it. If you have suggestions, please tell me, I've spent quite some time on this garment and I'd love to be able to wear it :(

That's it for now, see you!

8 commentaires:

  1. Hi there! Well, it looks like you managed to salvage the fit on the dress. I can see why you were disappointed in the difference between the illustration and the reality though....sigh...

    As for accessories - either a spiffy belt OR some embroidery around the waist are my first impulses. Will look forward to seeing what you come up with!

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  2. I think it is so cute! Good job!
    I wore a jean/chambray dress yesterday and I styled it with some floral tights, black oxfords, black cardigan, and a black skinny studded belt over the cardigan. :]

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  3. Both look lovely! Great work. I´d go for a red belt with the pale blue dress which would make it zing! xxx

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  4. It's always disappointing when things don't turn out the way you hoped they would, but even if it doesn't quite do what it does on the envelope (does it ever?!), I like the end result. That blue is lovely, as is the shape of the dress, and if it were me, I don't think I would even accessorise it. I think the sweetness of the dress contrasts really nicely with your tattoos, giving it all the edge it needs. I'm not usually of the less is more persuasion, but in this instance, I think it works!

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  5. Thank you ladies for your advice, I feel like trying them all! BBD^^ you're right about the cardigan, I definitely need one when I go to work in order to hide my tattoos, I'm thinking maybe a printed one, flowers or leopard. The belt ideas are great as well, I especially enjoy the red colour idea :) And thanks for your nice comment Nathalie!

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  6. Hi Cecili,
    I love the dress as it is actually. But those ideas are wonderful. Cardigan, yes!
    I would wear a white pearl necklace and have a little shoulder pouch, and wear a straw hat.
    The pattern is really nice. Is the waist just 2 piece of front and back?

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  7. Agree with the belt, big and red!

    That's a shame you have to cover your tattoos for work! Come and work here with me, we love tattoes!

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  8. i love this one with tatoos :D :D

    paola

    http://detinmarin.canalblog.com/

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