Fabric Painting & Printing

Last December I took a stab at linoleum block printing (actually I used some other material that was softer, recommended for beginners).

Walking to work today, I passed a card store and realized it's that time of year again to think about holiday cards and what my design might be this year -- more ambitious than the last of course, so I better get started early.

I just saw an inspiring 1955 Pathé film showing women painting and printing designs on fabric.

British Pathé 1955

Hum...perhaps I'll print on fabric and adhere to the front of the cards? Or maybe I'll skip the cards and print on fabric and make a skirt...or better yet, do both! Matching skirt and holiday cards -- BRILLIANT!

Staycation

Just taking a minute to think about my staycation goals...

Sitting in Cafes

 Writing

Reading

Sewing

Practicing

Watching Movies

Eating

Drinking and Socializing

Quality Time with My Man

Yep, I think that captures all the key goals. Done!

I Want This Dress - Edwardian Ball

Marie Claire Nov '10 editorial

Oh I covet this dress. I need to figure out how to make this. It would be perfect for the Edwardian Ball in Jan. I am obviously drawn to fitted, full-length black and collar...



...but the one in the first photo is so flowy and gorgeous. I must get started this weekend! I have a garment construction class this Sat (and the following two Sat) and I hope they add to my skills so I can make this dress!!

Pattern Difficulties

I hit a wall using Simplicity Pattern 4340, c. late 1950s I think.

I'm making the shorts from the pattern. I was breezing through the pattern when I got to the waistband. I got through the first sentence of step 11 in photo of instructions below, but then the trouble began.



Part 1 of pattern step 11: Sew right side of band to wrong side of shorts. You can see the visible part of the band, away from the shorts is marked W for wrong, meaning the right side of the band is toward the shorts, the right side of the shorts. And I've matched up the notches on the band and shorts. So far so good.


Part 2: Fold band in half lengthwise right sides together. I'm showing the inside of the fold where I marked with an R indicating right side.

Photo below shows fabric folded down - folded in half, right sides together, again so far so good. And I stitched ends of the waistband.


This next part shows how the waistband looks when the shorts are turned right side out (seeing right side or outside out, because you can no longer see dart seams), we are looking at the outside back, to try to correlate to illustration in instructions. It doesn't look like the illustration in step 11 of the pattern instructions, but not sure how I could have done anything differently. Hum.


At the end of the instructions to stitch the ends, it says to turn. I assume that means turn the waistband end out so the end shows the finished edge (can't see seam). Then instructions say to turn under seam allowance (5/8") on raw edge of band. Okay, so in photo below, you can see the edge of the turned under band comes just to the top of the raw top edge of the shorts. So now what do I do? Now the train has fully jumped the track and I'm stuck. If I pull the band edge down over the top edge seam allowance of shorts, the very end of the waistband is askew. Drat.

Gatsby Afternoon & Another Dress Completion!!

&

I can't say enough about the Gatsby Afternoon event put on by the Art Deco Society of California. This year was particularly fun and relaxing with amazing food (thank you Teresa, Michelle, Oran, and Franz!!), lots of bubbly, great company and the bouncy ride over in Oran and Teresa's Baby Doll (oh dear now I can't remember the year, make and model - 1954 Ford?).

And...I finished the dress!

It's comfy and exactly what I wanted. I'm not in love with the sleeves (cotton fabric too stiff for the design) and I'm going to replace the matching buttons with a contrasting color, maybe black. The matching buttons were a nice idea, but act like camouflage...eight buttons trimming the belt tie and shoulders and you can't see a' one.

After I think nine Gatsbys I finally saw the inside of the estate! And I learned something new, that Linoleum is period, kudos to the smarty Michelle! Linoleum is brand name for flooring invented by Frederick Walton in 1865. So not only was the day intoxicating (champagne and socializing), but educational!!

Another highlight, see 1st photo below, I had the privilege to meet the fabulous Miss Solana of Vixen Vintage (far right, follow her blog it's so fun) and Julie of Fab Gabs on Etsy (middle with their escort David). Below that are cherished friends, cars, and the Dunsmuir estate.

I will post soon about the dress construction process and my thoughts on the pattern and changes I'll make next time, but now...photos...

Heading Toward the Finish Line!

It's Thurs (how did it get to be Thurs?!) and I am soooo close to being done with the dress. I have the sash-thing, sleeve and skirt hems, and buttons to attach and general finishing.

I am a bit concerned that the skirt will not hang as in the picture on the pattern cover.

The pattern illustration has a much shorter skirt, weird right?

I extended the skirt pattern piece to try and get the tea-length skirt of the cover illustration. But not being a pattern maker, I'm not sure my extension will hang around the lower leg correctly - the skirt may be too a-line....hum.

But none the less, it's almost done!! I will actually have made a dress from start to finish with matching purse in 5 weeks!!!! Woooooooo!

Close up showing the lovely bakelite buckle I found at La Rosa Vintage.

Oh look! It's La Rosa Vintage...I heart!!!!

Close up of lining. What else can I make with this fabric? I need ideas!!!