Project Minima:

Monday, August 29, 2016

Candid Lola Shots with a Tiki Chaser Dress



CAUTION:  The following post contains images of a night dress, interaction with a kitty cat and a big vent at the end. 



~ Good Morning Tiki Cat ~


I am wearing a modified night dress made from Tina Givens Lola Dress pattern 



~ awww, give us a kiss ~



I made it out of fabric I didn't much care for, sort of like a test drive for a night gown.  The amount of fabric required says 54" wide is needed when only 45" or less is fine.  You're instructed (and shown in the diagram) to cut 2 front pattern pieces on the fold.  After you've already cut 1 back pattern piece (that's identical to the front) on the fold.   There are some errors here.


~ what a sweetie pie, mwaaa ~



The pattern piece is too wide at the bodice but too narrow at the arm hole/ sleeve area.  I made adjustments and added longer, wider sleeves.  I also add side seam pockets. 




~ oh, and there goes the Tiki tail ~


If you want to hear more, go on...*


...hear me vent elaborate.  So I am unable to figure out from what is going on with the bottom of the dress.  I try cutting a triangular piece off.  Then I sew it back on, but upside down for a different look.   I don't care for all the ruffles, so I pleat rather than gather, attach them in my own way.  
I decide to attach the side seams of the dress differently - to get that bowed-in look. 
I make two long downward darts from neckline to bust to take in some of the excess bodice.  Meanwhile, the armholes are still too restrictive, even after my enlarging them, so I add a diamond-shaped gusset to each underarm and that helps a lot.  I pleat tuck and bias bind the sleeves at their hem. 
If you'd like the day-by-day details, you can always check out my SEWING DAILY page for the days of Lola sewing...


*If you don't skip to here!


Meanwhile I'm working on a lovely, but challenging, lined linen coat from DKNY Vogue 1074, coming whenever it's damn well ready it seems.  In excruciating detail on the aforementioned SEWING DAILY page.


In all my early morning loveliness, I'm joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style as well as Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like.  Hey, no shoes today.



24 comments:

  1. i had a look at the TG site - it´s a very un-balanced dress to my eyes.....
    actually - you make this kind of dresses since a long time - i´m sure you don´t need a bought pattern anymore! pattern making is not so complicated.....
    love the kitty shoots! xxxxx

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    1. You're right, Beate. If I can complain that much, I probably needn't be using the patterns at all. Which turned out to be the case anyway. Thanks.

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  2. Well, I am no seamstress - struggling to do a hem here and there - but I feel your pain. I do like the resulting lounging dress, and I adore the sweet kitty! xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Well, it's good enough for sleeping in and hugging kitties...I guess...

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  3. Oooo - well, just go ahead and stomp on the floor. I hate, despise, and abominate bad/thoughtless drafting. I have 4 TG patterns and have been overwhelmed just looking at the tissue. But I really like a lot of them - well, 1/4 of them because the other 3/4 are sort of copycats. I've always liked the Lola, and your challenges are such a disappointment. The issue you had with the sleeves and extra pieces are bad enough that they should pull the pattern and refund your (not inconsiderable) expenditure!

    How's that for a rant :-)

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    1. Way to go, Coco. Which ones do you have?

      What gets me (one of many), is that Lola is one of TGs first patterns and I bought it rather recently. Wouldn't you think it would've been brought up to speed by now?

      I've made a lot of them and have always modified them, but I do think this was the most messed up ever. That, and the Gina Shirt, the Camilla Shirt, the Adelle Dress, the Clara Kaftan, the Katrina Dress...But most of them I've been able to creatively adapt.

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    2. Well, I have the Plinka pants, Phoebe top and pants, Gypsy jacket, suzanna jacket and the Bloom dress...guess that more than 4! now I need to score some fabric that doesn't break the bank. I love your tablecloth dress (French House Dress) and am thinking of hitting my Salvation Army store to see if anyone has dropped off fabric or sheets. Also my IKEA - their fabric is pretty inexpensive. Just need to get off my fantail and do it!

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    3. The Phoebe pants are the best. I've made at least 5 pairs from flannel sheets, to tablecloths, to velvet, linen and corduroy.
      Try http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/

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  4. Ohhh...I'm distracted by that gorgeous looking cat. What a beauty. The dress ain't bad either! xxx

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  5. Okay, I thought that if you bought a pattern you were supposed to be getting something drafted by a professional. And patterns are not cheap, are they? I hear this all the time, how patterns are totally wonky and inaccurate. How does this happen?!

    Oh well, you have done a phenomenal job on this night dress. It looks street worthy to me. Kitty likes it.

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    1. That's true, but TG is well known for her groovy designs and notorious for lacking any pattern making skills. But as long as people like me keep buying 'em...

      I did the best I could with it, but it wasn't enough.

      Delete
  6. I don't know a thing about sewing. I'm always so fascinated with the clothes you create

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    1. Thanks Hollie, I certainly gave more info than was needed with this one!

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  7. I have 'enjoyed' my share of desperately badly drafted patterns (and have made a few myself), to the point where I'll look at the pattern, look at the tech drawing, and just cut the bejeebus out of the tissue to get the pattern I thought I was getting.

    There's lagenlook and there's laaaaaaaaaaaagenlook.

    That ruffle is...so absurd I love it. My mom made me a luau dress with that, hot pink on red floral. Fifth grade flashback!

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    1. I did have the thought 'oh my I've got a muu-muu' while making it.

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  8. My Lola pattern has been collecting dust in the closet and I guess there was a reason. I had not even attempted it and looking at yours I would not have recognized it. Tina!!! Come on, Girl. Get it together. However, I must say that this is actually an adorable nite dress and an obvious kitty pleaser. I may attempt the Lola if I ever find some fabric I like. You may be hearing from me for emotional support.

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    1. Perhaps you can go for it with fabric you don't like first...just saying.

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  9. I like the end result, even though it sounds like a huge amount of re-jigging went into its creation. I'm always happy to look at cat photos;)

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    1. It's really a post about Tiki cat, cutie pie, after all.

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  10. I love this fabric Pao...and as usual your sewing skills are amazing...along with the sweet ginger cat...:-)

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    1. argh about this one...but Tiki is a sweetie.

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