Playsuits are Sexy.

 

At any age.

**Props to Kristine, who directed me to this gem over on Pinterest.  And yes, that will be me in my playsuit, flashing my knickers at passing cars.  (While Kristine walks like an Egyptian.)

Famous Frocks

Oooh, have you seen this book:

 

I think it looks really intriguing!  The jacket copy at Amazon lists some of the famous frocks, belonging to beloveds such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, Jackie Kennedy...  Wow.  And patterns are included too (although sadly only to a 37" bust.  Since when is a 37" bust a Large?)

One of the authors is a patternmaker and teacher at Apparel Arts in San Francisco, which makes me really excited.  There seems to have been a rash of sewing books the past few years written by people with limited experience and skill sets.  Sewing, like any other creative art, is something that really evolves and grows over time; call me old fashioned (or just OLD), but I'm ready for some real experience and solid talent to break onto the scene!

Shannon mentioned just today that most sewing books on the shelves right now seem to be directed at the beginner...but there are an awful lot of us out here who are NOT beginners and haven't been for quite a long, ahem, time. So I'm looking forward to this one!

Also, I hate to ask.  Really, I do.  But did anyone watch the premiere of PR last week?

I haven't yet.  On the fence here.  I'm still not over Wretchengate.

A Day for UFOs

I hereby declare today the...

DAY OF UNFINISHED OBJECTS. 

My UFOs...
*Green check bow dress, vintage McCalls 6328

--Needs bodice lining, sleeves, and hem. 


*Mustard HotPatterns Belle Skirt

--Um, it really is more than a flat piece of fabric!  Needs waistband and buttons/buttonholes. 

*Anthro-inspired New Look top

--Needs sleeves, buttonholes, buttons.  And some handstitching at the left neckline edge.

Seriously people.  If I would just take the next 3 hours and buckle down, I would have THREE completed, adorable garments.

Happy Sunday!

anthro-knockoff: Flurried Plumes Midi Skirt

It's finished!  And awfully cute, if I do say so myself:

You'll have to forgive the "inside" dressform photos, I'm still not upright for very long.

My inspiration skirt can be seen on the anthropologie website, the Flurried Plumes Midi Skirt.   I decided to make mine out of an ebay-purchased rayon leaf print.  The prints are completely different but have the same feel and some of the same tones too.

I did end up using a pattern for the base of the skirt, a 1980 See & Sew.  I used it this summer to make the cami (if you missed that project, check out the links in the sidebar!)  I lengthened the skirt by 5" and left off the ruffle.  Everything else was straight from the pattern (well, I did adjust the waistband length, but that was to be expected. Ahem.)  

I should have looked at the the inspiration photo again; I didn't realize the waistband was so wide and had 2 buttons.  Oh well!  I still think mine looks pretty good!  I could topstitch it, but I'm waiting to see if it stretches out too much on wearing (as linen has a tendency to do). 

The buttons were from my button box...I was shocked I had 6 of the right color and size!

All in all a super simple knockoff!  It normally would have taken a day or so to complete...but who's counting?

Dressperation.

The one where I show you pretty pictures of things I have not made...

Links to all images can be found on my Pinterest Style board.

[ps: thank you all soooo much for the well wishes!  The foot has progressed to a lovely shade of aubergine, with mottlings of deep magenta. It's rather pretty.  If not painful and annoyingly couch potato-inducing.]