Egg-Shaped Dress

My last project completed in 2014 was an egg-shaped dress (BurdaStyle 10/2014 #127B).

Most of the time, I am drawn to the oddest (but still kind of practical) garment the magazine has to offer, but this shape isn’t as unusual as I originally thought. It’s actually a nod to style from the 1960s, it appeared in several styles in 2006/2007 and again on the runway in 2013/2014.

Balenciaga Coat (Photo credit: Pinterest via Balenciaga.com)

Jil Sander Dress (Photo credit: farfetch.com)

ASOS Dress (Photo credit: asosrp2010.cloudapp.net)

It’s definitely one of those shapes that few people wear really well, but that never stops me from attempting the impossible.

The original pattern has only a slight egg shape and made in a wonderfully bright striped jacquard.  The fabric selection is probably the real reason I love the dress so much.  That and I needed a shape to hide those few pounds I knew I was going to gain during the cookie holiday season.  No need to walk around holding my breath and sucking in my belly!

I was unable to find any fabric like it that wasn’t heavy upholstery fabric, so I settled on a lightweight jacquard that still kept the horizontal striped layout. The pattern did not call for lining so I took some time (okay, quite a bit of time) to Hong Kong finish all the seams, make my own piping, install my first exposed zip.

Of course there was the usual full bust adjustment, but I made no other alterations.  There is enough fullness to add another me into this dress.  I wanted to pair it with a black mock turtleneck as similarly styled in the magazine and a simple wedge shoe or a tall boot, but I don’t own either.

I will probably never sew this pattern again, but it was fun to make and a very easy, cozy dress to wear.  Best of all, I got to try techniques I haven’t done before.

-Nizzy

With Just a Tweak, Something New Entirely

When is a scarf more than just a regular scarf?

When it has hood like capabilities!

A friend and I tossed around this idea at work one day and I couldn’t bear to leave this challenge untouched.  It was simple, really.  Maybe you don’t want to don a hat on those cold winter days , but want to keep the cold wind off of your ears.  We wanted a scarf that you could wear over your head without it actually having a hood nor being as wide as a wrap. 

What do you call that a HARF? A SCOOD?  Okay, none of those names work. 

 

Thankfully she got a picture of it in action and was kind enough to let me share.   For sure, I will make one for myself on the next go round, but I’m going to need a lot more yarn if I want to cover the fro!

-Nizzy

Lessons Learned While Knitting

I never thought I would have so many lessons learned from knitting three pairs of fingerless gloves.

1.  Knitting (and other crafting)  for others is just as rewarding (if not more) than knitting for yourself.  Knowing others enjoy what I’ve made for them makes me smile.

2.  I was always hesitant to “waste” pattern stitches on black yarn.  This mini cable still has great texture and definition on this dark yarn.  I’ll never doubt that again.

3.  Bartering is just as good as selling an item in some cases.  Knitting is just one of those things that it’s hard to get full value for your project because it’s so labor intensive.  And good yarn doesn’t always come cheap!  You really have to keep projects small and fast to make it worthwhile if you are going the financial route.  Or not!  If you have a true love for knitting and the money doesn’t matter as much, then that is okay too! 

4.  I have a love/hate relationship with variegated yarn.  I love the colors, but hate how some of the color transitions are either too short or too long.  You really have to study the yarn and swatch (I know, *groan*)  to see if it’s perfect for your project.   

5.  What is the point of a glove with no fingers?  Uhhh, now I know!  These are actually WARM and they serve a purpose.  I recently read a comment on FB that said “There is a special place in hell for people who wear fingerless gloves.”  I mean if you have to be in a cold place where you need to keep your fingers free, say, like a photographer, or in my frigid basement trying to use a computer, why would you not want to warm up as much skin as possible and keep the cold air from going up your sleeves? Oh well, I am officially team fingerless gloves!

– Nizzy

Inspired By The Old Project Wish List

Always wanted a rag rug and now I have two! 

I was inspired to make this project from my old wish list when the space bag containing the fabric for it was ripped to pieces.  With 5 different colors of 2 yards of each fabric there was a LOT of strip cutting.  So much strip cutting that I ended up with more than enough fabric for two rugs and you know about three-quarters of the way through this project I grew tired of these strips!  I’m not as in love with it as I once thought I would be, but that’s the chance you take when you dig up old ideas.  Maybe that’s why those ideas are left behind in the first place.

Regardless, I have two new rugs that will have a new home in my kitchen.  Can’t wait to step on and dirty up my creation!

-Nizzy

Thursday’s Three Things: Scatterbrain Edition

• I’m having a moment of crafting ADD.   I’ve got planned projects, future projects, projects in my head, projects on paper, stashed projects, unfinished projects, test projects, class projects…*scream*  I feel overwhelmed and  that means nothing gets done this month.   Lately, Pinterest has been adding to the ADD thing.  I don’t pin like a mad woman, but I do view what’s trending from time to time. Last month, I saw a photo on Pinterest (don’t all craft stories start this way?) that inspired me to sew a color a colorful printed skirt (McCalls 5???) and crop top  based on See and Sew 5939.  I tried to plan out what I thought it would look like.   

Illustration and Inspiration

I love prints, but don’t wear them as much and I have a few in the stash that still catch my eye.  The fit on the crop top was going well until I added the sleeve so I just gave up on it.    However, I’ve completed the skirt! 

Belt details

• I even adding a lining.  I missed the bus on actually wearing this outside during the few unseasonably warm days we had this month and it’s not going to happen now unless I get a pair of thick tights AND leg warmers.  Oooo, leg warmers: that’s a project on my to-do list, of course.

 

• Usually when I feel this way, I’m feeling it in all areas of my life including fitness.   My “run for 20 minutes program” was successful, but now it’s time to find new challenge for the colder weather.  What’s next?  Arms? Legs? Cardio?  I need to set some new goals ASAP.

 

• I’m starting books, putting them on hold, and then starting something new.   I had the simplest reading goal that I’m not going to make.

I’m all over the place!  Excuse me while I take a deep breath and try to clear my mind for a minute.

-Nizzy

Slow(est) Work

I think there comes a time in a person’s life where they begin to question their reason for doing something, e.g. a career, following a movement, purpose of life.   Sewing and I have had this relationship for a long time.   I know where I want to go with it, but trying to work out the time for it all is a challenge.  It’s slow work!  For me, it’s a frustratingly long process for every stage in the project: the deciding, the cutting, the fitting, the washing and ironing, and the actual construction.  I regularly visit other sewing blogs and it seems they are cranking out these projects like a factory.  I just want to get something done and I want it done NOW.  Yes, friends, I am a product of my generation! 

Instant gratification.

I want it now.

Entitlement.

I need it now. 

I gotta have it. 

Umm, why is this taking so long? 

This isn’t done already? 

*Groan* 

*sigh*

*whine*

*pout*

Drive-thru sewing. 

Well, I had to (have to) take a step back from that, ignore the blogs, re-learn, and constantly remind myself that in my world sewing (and everything else in life) takes time.  I also have responsibilities and other interests that bring me pleasure, Really, what’s my hurry anyway?  It’s not a competition. 

Despite the slow work of sewing, I managed to finish a couple of projects: a skirt (will be posted later) and two craft baskets to organize my out of control pattern collection.  I’m working on a third that you can see in the background.

 

Colorful fabric from the stash is put to use in Kwik Sew #107.   I’ll be making them until each of those patterns has a basket home.

 

Of course, I could buy boxes or baskets and it would certainly speed up the organization process, but what would be the fun in that? 

-Nizzy

Crafting with Friends

Well, it’s been a while since I crafted with DragonWillow!  Some of our lady friends got together for scrapbooking this past weekend and I, of course, brought the jewelry stash. 

I couldn’t decide on any ONE thing so I brought EVERYTHING and still managed a bit of productivity in a couple of hours.

DW and I made similar charm bracelets:

And I made a dainty enameled lock and key lariat putting my Philly Bead Show goods on display.

– Nizzy

What’s My Grade?

September seemed to pass by so quickly however, I managed to squeeze in several simple pairs of earrings.  I’ve tried to stay true to my personal challenge in that no new materials would be used (except notions and findings like thread, jump rings, etc.) and all but one pair of these follow the rule of using what I have in the stash instead of stockpiling beads and fabric like I’m waiting for a Craftpocolypse to begin. 

Wait…A Craftpocolypse?   I like the sound of that!

September also was the month I finished the Fashion Studies class.   The instructor was super knowledgable and has further sparked my interest in keeping up with the goings on of the fashion industry.  I’ve learned names of designers (and I never keep up names!), turned my nose up at some fast fashion news stories, learned to appreciate the work that goes into clothing and textile manufacturing, and ogled more 2014 runway shows than ever before.   That last night, my classmates and I brought in and discussed our final projects (mood board (below), illustration (below), technical drawings and swatches), received a gentle critique of or work, and went on our way!  There are only two regrets I have about taking the class:

1. Taking the class for audit.  You haven’t a clue of how well (or how bad) you’ve done.  Although I’m pretty sure compared to others in that industry I would have a lot more to “show and prove”.  On the other hand, learning is ‘spensive!

2. Not trying to “design” a little more.  I froze at the thought of drawing collars, draping, layering, texture, dimension, etc.  I wanted to avoid a complete illustration disaster so I kept it simple enough for my limited drawing skills.

I was inspired by mathematics, optial illusions, geometry and crisp folds.

Friends are asking me if I have any plans to make these clothes.  I’ve entertained the idea, but don’t think I will.  At least not yet.  Let’s see what happens in the next class: Patternmaking and Construction.  Maybe these ideas above are simple enough for me practice what I learn.

-Nizzy

Geek Craft: 3.5″ Danglies

At work this week I thought it was time to stop procrastinating and get around to destroying all of my old 3.5″ diskettes.  I don’t have a clue what’s on them and even if I wanted to know, there is no way I’m going to chase down a computer with a drive. 

The conversation in my head went like this:

Regular Me:  “Finally getting rid of these old diskettes.  Cross that off the to do list!”

Hoarder Me:  “No! What are you doing!?  Keep these!  You’ll find a drive one day.”

Environmentally Conscious Me:  “Oh, dear!  What a waste of all this plastic and metal. Recycle it!”

Crafty Me:  “Hold on, I have an idea.”

Hoarder Me: “Yeah, listen to the craft idea and keep something.”

And these were born!

Most people probably won’t even recognize this metal piece as the center of a disk.  I salvaged quite a few of them to see what sort of fun I could have transforming then into something new.  The easiest choice was a pair of earrings.  I wanted to do a little more with then than just throw the discs on ear wire so I dipped into the bead stash and pulled out a few faceted beads, aluminum discs, and chain.  I also could not resist measuring them.  From the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the disk they are exactly 3.5″ in length!  How perfect!

– Nizzy

If It Fits, Why Not?

This year I’ve decided to challenge myself in ways that I have never imagined or put off at one time or another and that includes signing up for a continuing education classes in fashion design.  It’s not on the level on a full-fledged undergraduate degree, but the class so far has challenged me, it’s been interesting and fun!  

Some of our class assignments involve discussions of current fashion articles which has led me to browse TONS of fashion news sites and blogs in the past month.  Between the informative fashion business news sites and the 80 zillion “what I wore today” blogs there are many places with tons of advice on what you should and should not wear for your particular body type. I mostly think this is a load of bull!  I am of a mind that if you find something that’s fits well regardless of your shape you should wear it with pride. Why hide assets that you do like? Not all women want to minimize a large bust or full hips, some short women happen to like long dresses (and look good in them!), and I’ve seen some full-figured women rocking a wild all over print.    If you have the confidence to pull off the look and are comfortable in the clothes and skin, why not go for it?!  What do you think about dressing for a body type?

On another note, speaking of both “fit” and “classes”, I completed  a Craftsy class on Fitting your Knits.   The class project sweater (Mesilla) in the photo isn’t my favorite knit pattern that I’ve seen around, but I wanted to go through the steps for the class sake. The fit of this sweater, while not perfect, is better than others I’ve made in the past.    Most times I’m so excited I just want to jump in and start knitting I would barely remember to check the gauge (amateur mistake!).  The body fits  well, but there are too many stitches in the front raglan area.  

The math for fitting knits isn’t difficult at all!  You just have to know your measurements, gauge, and the pattern’s measurements and gauge.    I’m not sure I really needed the class for all that, but it did get me to think more about fitting my knits properly for all future projects.  

 

-Nizzy