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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The downside to sewing

So hi! I'm still here. Hope folks are still reading. Heh. I swear I'm in a post-holiday fit of lazy because unless it's working, hitting the gym or playing in the sewing room, I'm not doing too much. I have cute things to show from the sewing room, but my photographer (aka Jim) has been slammed at work and photoshoots have taken a back burner. Ah well, I'm sure I'll catch up eventually.

Anyways, back to the point of this post. We were fortunate enough to be invited to the California Science Center's Discovery Ball again this year. While I love the dress I made for last year's event, I wanted something new - both because that dress is now a little too big and with food being a huge focus this year, I really want a jersey gown so that I'm comfy from cocktail hour through dessert. ;)

While I've been toying around the sewing room here and there, I was kind of hoping that I could just cop out actually making a dress and just buy one. I had a little extra time before the gym one day and ran next door to Macys, one with a huge dress department. I found dresses that fell into one (or more) of the following categories:
a) OMG, that is ugly as sin!
b) Wait, they want HOW MUCH for that?!
c) Well, that'll only $200 of alterations, but I'm sure it will look fine afterwards

Le sigh. Needless to say, I left realizing I should really just suck it up and make something. Sure, it wouldn't be inexpensive, per se, but it would still be less money than a RTW dress, it would be simple, something that fit me well and that I would feel good in. And that is when I came to the conclusion that as many upsides as the world of sewing has, it pretty much completely removes ones ability to dash into a store and settle on any old garment. Because, unlike most shoppers, sewists actually have options and the make-it-yourself one is most often much better than the RTW one.

The next week I drove my still slightly frustrated self down to Mood and happily found my favorite gal working. She helped me select the fabrics for last year's silk number and has been great fun to work with on other more mundane shopping trips, as well. She listened to my initial thoughts, pretty much confirmed that I was on the right track and 30 minutes later, I marched out with a bag of lining fabric and interfacing and an order for 4 yards of a beautiful navy silk jersey. It's a nice alternative to black, but should look great with my bronze heels and bronze-gold jewelry.

This past weekend, since the fabric is still in route, I made a wearable muslin of the selected pattern - Simplicity 3503, view E.

Save for nipping it in a bit on the sides of the bodice, it fits beautifully right out of the envelope. Love that!! I just have to finish up the skirt on the wearable muslin and then I will have a dress I can wear to work and that will easily transition to spring with a change of shoes and accessories. This design is so well drafted and since it's fully lined, it just feels really good to wear. I am guessing I will be making several more of these this summer.

Now, I just need to get the real fabric, get it cut out and sewn up. Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, I'll have a finished dress and will be all ready for the ball. And yes, pictures of the final look are forthcoming. I'll actually have my photographer at the event, so it should make it easier to convince him to snap a pic. ;)

16 comments:

  1. Tripod + timer + remote = no need for Jim

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  2. Silk jersey is wonderful to wear and navy is the new black, y'know! I'm sure you are going to look amazing in this dress.

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  3. Nice to have you back! Sounds like a gorgeous dress. No need for much pattern tweeking? Must be all that time at the gym!

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  4. So hear you about not being satisfied with RTW. I went though a busy period some years back and the wardrobe went to hell because I didn't have time to sew and nothing at the store was appealing.

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  5. Glad you are back! I am sure this dress will be a beautiful one!

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  6. It will look fabby because you have the perfect bod. I hate you. he he.

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  7. Algo que você mesmo faça sempre será melhor que um vestido comprado em loja. É bom ter você de volta.

    Abraços

    Eilane - Brasil

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  8. If the picture isn't taken at work, I take it myself. Just set it up on my ironing board with a book, set the timer, and smile.lol.

    You are so right about not dashing into stores any more. Shopping for RTW doesn't feel the same to me anymore. Glad that you have a wearable muslin.

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  9. I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I've missed you!! It sounds like you have a great dress in the works. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

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  10. Good for you - it will look a thousand times better than RTW and you'll have that all over feel good thing happening!

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  11. Please get a tripod so we don't have to wait for Jim to take the picture. Thanks :)

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  12. Sewers turn into very bad shoppers. I am so conscious of correct fit, fabric matching -see just how bad some of the more expensive lines are on that score -that I just don't buy anything these days (except shoes!)

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  13. Welcome back! You were missed. Looking forward to seeing another wonderful garment! Silk jersey is always luscious.

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  14. That's my favourite maxi dress pattern (and view) and is fabulous made up in silk jersey. You're going to look stunning.

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  15. yup, RTW stuff sucks. but i'm far from confident enough in my sewing skills to tackle a formal - something i thought i'd do for my upcoming junior league ball, but didn't manage to find the time for.

    i really like view A of that pattern! i may have to pick it up for myself...

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