Oh.My.Goodness - such wonderful textiles.
If you are unfamiliar with Santa Fe Weaving Gallery, you may want to sign up for their newsletter. They have divine art-to-wear. Elegant. Wearable.
Right now they have pieces from Margot Selby. I was not familiar with her but I am totally in love with her colors, her shapes, her textures.
Maybe someday, if I am very good, I will get to see these pieces in person, or some of her future pieces.
In the meantime, this is such an inspiration for creative clothing sewers like me.
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Fiber Play
Still learning
After a half century of sewing it still happens. Often when I least expect it.
Take vogue 8793 for example. This slightly funky T is almost universally loved on PR. And with good reason:
Still I found it to be one of those learning opportunities. So what did I learn?
Choose compatible knits - compatible in weight but also value. My collar pieces are too heavy for the body. Even the color values are wrong I think.
I will make it again. It's cute. I like it.
Take vogue 8793 for example. This slightly funky T is almost universally loved on PR. And with good reason:
- Nice fit
- Clever double collar
- Artful opportunities
- Simple clear instructions
Still I found it to be one of those learning opportunities. So what did I learn?
Choose compatible knits - compatible in weight but also value. My collar pieces are too heavy for the body. Even the color values are wrong I think.
I will make it again. It's cute. I like it.
Hot pink zipper detail |
PJ's? |
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
6PAC in progress
Artisan's Square has a challenge thread titled 6PAC - six piece autumn collection. Normally I sew whatever makes my heart sing at the moment, so I end up with a lot of this and that in my closet. I decided to try a little discipline.
The first part was the brown (yawn) column posted here. Then I moved on to something fun - Marcy Tilton's knit jacket posted here. Love, love, love that little jacket.
Then I was stumped. What next? Problem solved - I went back to Gail K and bought more of the ponte knits that I used in the jacket. Hooray for retail solutions!
From those ponte knits, I made another eDress and Ann's tank top, also from The Sewing Workshop (TSW). Wow - knits are so fast!
For this eDress, I shortened at the shorten/lengthen line about 5 inches to create what I think is a more flattering length for me. My first eDress is a maxi dress.
I used Louise Cutting's rule of thirds - measure the distance from the crease in the knee to the floor in bare feet. Best lengths are one-third up and two-thirds up. This eDress is 12 inches off the floor on me.
The tank top in TSW's Ann's Cardigan and Tank pattern was almost too easy. I followed their instructions completely, leaving all the edges raw and simply top stitching 3/8 inch from the edge. I did raise the neckline in the front a bit and I'm glad I did.
So the 6PAC is currently a 5PAC:
The first part was the brown (yawn) column posted here. Then I moved on to something fun - Marcy Tilton's knit jacket posted here. Love, love, love that little jacket.
Then I was stumped. What next? Problem solved - I went back to Gail K and bought more of the ponte knits that I used in the jacket. Hooray for retail solutions!
From those ponte knits, I made another eDress and Ann's tank top, also from The Sewing Workshop (TSW). Wow - knits are so fast!
For this eDress, I shortened at the shorten/lengthen line about 5 inches to create what I think is a more flattering length for me. My first eDress is a maxi dress.
I used Louise Cutting's rule of thirds - measure the distance from the crease in the knee to the floor in bare feet. Best lengths are one-third up and two-thirds up. This eDress is 12 inches off the floor on me.
The tank top in TSW's Ann's Cardigan and Tank pattern was almost too easy. I followed their instructions completely, leaving all the edges raw and simply top stitching 3/8 inch from the edge. I did raise the neckline in the front a bit and I'm glad I did.
So the 6PAC is currently a 5PAC:
- Brown cotton-Lycra mimosa pants.
- Brown cotton-Lycra top from sheath pattern.
- Solid gray and solid brown ponte knit Marcy Tilton jacket
- Solid gray and solid brown ponte knit eDress
- Solid gray Ann's tank top
'Course I am not proceeding quite so smoothly as this might indicate. I also went off in another direction, making that classic Marcy Tilton skirt, the one with all the bias bits (future post) from a yummy brown and white linen pin-stripe.
But it doesn't go with the ponte jacket, so I'll need to make a matching Louise Cutting jeans jacket to accompany it. Eeewwww - maybe too matchy-matchy.
I'm realizing that a 6PAC or any of the sewing-with-a-plan variations require balancing statement pieces with the basics, as well as avoiding boredom and matchy-matchy. And there is a test at the end - how much will I wear these pieces?
Another learning experience inspired by fellow sewers.