Repurposing Part 2: Take a deep breath and cut the wedding dress into pieces

Yesterday, I took the day off to start work on a Christening ensemble for my new nephew, Little C, made from his mom's wedding dress. Here is my sister with the dress:

Poly with the dress front

And back

The first step was to decide what pieces to make, which pattern to use and how to lay it all out. We settled on Simplicity 5813 for the bodice, skirt, romper bottoms, jacket and bonnet, and then use the booties from Simplicity 2457. The pattern is relatively simple - no pleating, no added trims. This was a conscious choice on our part, since we want the embroidery and beading from the dress to really play a starring role. While Poly cut out the pattern pieces, I dismantled the dress. Then we laid out all the pieces, deciding how to utilizing the gorgeous beading and trim.

I was freaking out a bit at this point.
This is my sister's wedding dress, in pieces on the floor.

We didn't have as many large non-beaded areas of satin to work with as we had hoped because of the dress' seams and beading. So, instead of trying to shoe-horn all the pieces in, we decided that we will purchase some light blue satin to make into the romper bottoms. This allowed us to be very strategic about laying out the rest of the pieces in order to use the beading to maximum advantage. Also, it will ensure that the outfit - once the skirt is removed by a hidden row of snaps - is perfect for a baby boy.

We spent the rest of the day laying out and cutting. Here is a preview of some of our pieces. Poly really does have an eye for this sort of thing.

Jacket front

Jacket back.

Skirt Front. This is the beading from the train of the dress.

We also cut out lining from cotton batiste that I bought on Friday and transferred all the pattern markings using tailor's tacks rather than risk marks on the fabric. Poly will do some additional prep work during the week before we regroup over the weekend for the actual sewing.

I'm feeling incredibly optimistic about this project. If it all goes smoothly, the ensemble will be a thing of beauty. My greatest concern is that we have limited time and are going to have to do a lot of hand sewing. In addition to finishing seams, the beads were literally cascading off the dress as we worked on it. So, we are going to have to do lots of re-attaching. Other than that, it is full steam ahead.

How long is too long for lunch on a Friday when there are fun people to fabric shop with?

An office near the Garment District has some perks. On Friday, that perk was getting to meet up with several other sewing bloggers for lunch, sewing chat and shopping. Peter of Male Pattern Boldness fame summed up the day beautifully.

I wasn't looking to buy much. Really, I went for the conversation and the opportunity to pick up any pearls of wisdom from other people who share my hobby. Here's what I learned:

• I need to get over my fear of prints. Elizabeth, of Sew a Beginner, totally set the example by scoring some gorgeous print knits at Spandex House and MetroTextiles. She was also wearing a beautiful print dress that she had sewn, which brings me to my next point...

• I really ought to make an effort to wear more dresses and skirts. Trena, aka the Slapdash Sewist, who was the instigator of the meet up, was also wearing a beautiful print dress that she had sewn. In my mind's eye, her closet must be jam packed with an endless number of dresses, one cuter than the next.

• There is no time like the present. Mikhaela, of Polka Dot Overload, really is seizing the day by launching a new blog and sewing up a storm while 6+ months pregnant. I need to learn to just go for it and take on more projects that will stretch my skills.

• And finally, I need to take more fashion risks. Peter is fearless, and I don't just mean about the "sheets of shame" shirt that he wore to the outing. He really is bold, diving head first into sewing and following his bliss with it. Then again, he's got a wonderful role model in his cousin Cathy.

It was a great afternoon, and I was sorry to have to head back to my office after my absurdly long lunch break. Many thanks for the company and chat!

Thanks and Oddities!

When I started my blog, it was definitely with the thought that it was a nice way for my friends to keep up with me and a great way to chronicle my hobbies. I was hoping to share a few recipes and keep myself motivated with sewing, which was a new hobby for me. Then about a month ago, I hung out a "Follow this Blog" shingle and now there are 16 of you! Thank you so much for reading my blog and commenting on my projects. And a special thanks to GwenSews, who awarded me a Sunshine Award on Monday!

I'm sorry to say that I still have not photographed the latest pants muslin. I'm a bit pressed for time this week and feeling rather snarky. So, I feel compelled to share... I received an email about Vogue Patterns' spring collections today (correction 3/26: it was about their summer collection). The pattern that most jumped out at me - and not in a good way - is this Chado Ralph Rucci caftan. (Really, has "caftan" ever been associate with anything good?)


I'm not sure what is worse: the pattern itself or that it is a close relation to the Lanvin garbage bag dress, that Tilda Swinton wore to the Oscars last year. Not even an original monstrosity.

In fairness to Tilda, her dress had a bit more shape and somewhat less potential for her to spread her arms and be blown away like a kite on a blustery day. (See, I told you I was snarky! I'm not sure what has gotten into me.)

What do you think?

Repurposing: The Deluxe Edition

Last week, I mentioned a project involving my nephew, Little C. It cropped up when I received an email from my sister, Polyhymnia, saying "I'm thinking of turning my wedding gown into a Christening gown for the baby. Am I crazy? What do you think?" She was inspired by this interview on Threadsmagazine.com.

After several emails, and her solemn promise not to cry when we cut into her wedding gown, I offered my help. Poly sews some, is very crafty and artistic in general, has a wonderful eye for detail, and is meticulous and careful. In other words, she has all the makings of an excellent sewist, and I am confident that she will do a great job. The one thing she was nervous about was laying out the pattern on her dress and making decisions about cutting and re-purposing trim. (Wouldn't you be too? I sure would.) So, on Monday, that is where I will help her get started.

We will primarily be using Simplicity 2457 (above). However, if we have enough fabric, we will make the jacket from Simplicity 5813 (below). Poly wants to make the gown convertible - from gown to romper via hidden zipper under a waist band, as the article suggests.


I have to say, I am excited and wary at the same time. On the one hand, baby clothing is not very fitted and so it is very forgiving. On the other hand, we are cutting up my sister's wedding gown. I have no idea what it will be like to work with. Wish us luck.

Nomad Hobo: L7

Well, I finished the Nomad Hobo bag that I ranted about last week. If a picture says a thousand words, what this one says is "meh". That is pretty much how I felt when the last stitch had been sewn on Saturday morning.

My best attempt at artfully slouched.
It will not stay like this on my shoulder.

Aside from my frustrations with the pattern markings and directions, I just don't think it lives up to it's billing. On Fabric.com the description says, "Wear this stunning, roomy bag slung casually over your shoulder for the ultimate in everyday glamour." Quite frankly it is just not the right shape. Empty and full, it looks rather square. Which it is. Oh dear, I'm not really explaining this well. Hmmm. In the drawing, the bag looks like it has wider sides and narrower ends. From the drawing and the description, I thought the bag would kind of slouch into hanging like that (I tried to make it do that in the above photo), and it just doesn't, or at least not in a good way. It ends up feeling very wide under my arm - boxy.

See? Look how very square it is. One big cube!

However, the bag did grow on me during the course of the afternoon. It was such a nice day, that I decided to do some work on the porch, where Phin was grilling. So, I tossed all the things I wanted to work on into the bag to tote outside. Sitting on the porch next to my lawn chair, the bag looked so very cute with all my various crafting junk peeking out of it, that Phin even commented. And it was the perfect shape to reach in and find whatever I needed.

With stuff in it. See? Still square!

That is when I decided that it is actually the perfect bag for a knitter (which I am not) to keep their yarn in or to tote around fabric or other crafty supplies for on-the-go crafting. Also, it would be very good for the supermarket. When I just need to pick up one or two things, I will just stick my wallet and keys into the pocket and go, rather than taking a reusable shopping bag and my purse. So, I think this bag will see some action, just not quite the glamorous future of brunches in Soho with my girlfriends that I had imagined for it.

So, I guess in the end, my assessment is that, although I've lost a hobo bag, I have gained a shopping bag... an irridescent green silk dupioni shopping bag. And in fairness, this is a very cute bag, but it just shouldn't be promoted as a slouchy hobo, but instead as a carry-along craft bag. Ok, gotta run, I have some fabric that needs toting around the house.... or some groceries to pick up or something...

Stashaholics Anonymous: How Did This Happen?

It started out innocently enough: On my lunch break yesterday, I just wanted to pick up some black jersey, which I like to keep in my stash. And maybe look for something in turquoise, which is my favorite color to wear in warmer months... enough to make a summer top.

Well, $84 and 14 yards later I found myself lugging the new additions to my stash back to my office, the fingers of my bag-holding hand steadily growing numb.

How did this happen?, I asked myself. How did I go from "a few basics" to discussions about "my summer wardrobe pallet"? How did a few necessities morph into an $84 splurge?!?!? How did a few yards become as much fabric as I could carry? How?!?!?!?! How did this happen?!?!? To me?!?! Again!?!?!?! I'll tell you how this happened: Kashi!

Kashi is the most dangerous man in the Garment District. His charm, attention and wily sales moves will send you home with yards and yards of (really beautiful) fabric, having spent more than you planned (but less than you would have anywhere else). My only strategy is to avoid Metro Textiles unless I am planning on buying. Browsing there always leads to buying, because he always has something new and nice that will not last. Once I go in, resistance is futile.

Here are my fabulous buys:

2 jerseys and 3 beautiful lightweight knits. This does not include the black jersey.

As I headed to the door mumbling "my husband is gonna kill me", Kashi calmly advised, "just tell him the fabric guy made you. Just don't tell him it was me." We agreed to blame Mood instead.

Muslin 3.5

I'm feeling like I've made progress since muslin 1.0, and the end is in sight. Right now, version 3.5 of the pants muslin is fitting pretty well through the crotch. I have to fine tune the crotch length a little, but nothing major.

I should have pressed the muslin. The wrinkle under the right cheek is just that, a wrinkle from a moment when I wadded up the fabric and hurled it across the room.

The one remaining problem is the long creases running from thigh to knee. I think this is because I added fabric to the thighs to accommodate the ol' saddlebags, and probably added a little to much and didn't do the best job blending it in. So, really, I think this is just a matter of taking out the basting stitches and pin fitting the side seams so that everything falls smoothly and the seam hangs straight. (I could be wrong.)

Phineas has volunteered to help me pin-fit the pants.

Yes, that sentence deserves it's very own paragraph and you should imagine ominous music playing in the background when you read it. You see, the last time Phineas tried to help me using a pin, he stuck me so hard - and right on the bum, too! - that I shrieked, jumped so high I nearly hit my head on the ceiling and then proceeded to swear a blue streak. I'm not sure who was more traumatized by the experience, me or him. Probably him. But he is now looking at pinning as a challenge he must master. It could be fraught with danger for us both (I cannot be held accountable for my involuntary responses to being gored with a pin). However, I am going to be brave. If he does master pinning without leaving me full of holes, it could make fitting much much easier.

Anyway, Saturday is when we plan to work on this, and part of me is wishing the weekend would hurry up and get here. The other part of me is cringing. (Sorry, sweetheart. I know you will do your best. And I will do my best to laugh off any mishaps.)

Wish us luck.