Project Minima:

Sunday, October 22, 2017

From Flop to Frippery

By way of a Tina Givens Meri dress pattern, no doubt.  You'll never know the places you'll go when diving into one of these adventures.

~ But I never thought I'd end up here! ~

Oh my.  You wouldn't either if you checked out the pattern picture.  But then again, if you've worked with these patterns, you probably know modifications, alterations and (for me) way out remedies are the name of the game.  Which is kind of why I like them.


~ I'm feel so liberated now ~

I started out with the least favorite fabric I had on hand in case it turns out to be a dud.  This is a double border ITY knit, of all things.   I try to figure out what size to use, but sometimes its rather difficult to do based on the pattern pieces when they're not consistent.  This dress used one piece from center front to center back.  In other words, there's no side seams.


~ just hanging out here ~

Shoulder seams didn't line up, the usual stuff.  I took up the shoulder seams 4 inches on each side because both the underarms and the neckline were soooo low.   The pattern photograph shows a high neckline.  So much for that.

~ another ready for take-off picture ~

It was supposed to be sleeveless, but since the armholes were wonky, I decided to use the leftover angled pieces as sleeves.  They were already perfectly cut for kimono sleeves.  So voila, on they went.  That was a surprise.  Now I had a tribal kaftan, kimono-esque dress.

I'm starting to like this thing.  It just needs something for that weird neckline, plus I don't like the way the center front flares out with excess fabric.  hmmm.


~ cruising ~

After a couple false starts on necklines, I found two long narrow triangular scraps of the fabric that fit together perfectly to form a neckline with ties.  I attached it like you would a bias binding and then finagled a way to sew the tie ends inside out, yada, yada, yada.  So there we are.

This thing is so much fun to wear, especially on a breezy day.  It's like instant drama.

And wouldn't ya know it.  I had the perfect shoes to wear with it.


~ screaming orange and magenta XOXO shoes from ebay ~


I'll be joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style (finally), Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell when they all go live.  Hope to see you there.




25 comments:

  1. Oh my heavens. Is there such a thing as a dressgasm? I think I may be having one, so I do hope it's a thing!


    How you got tHat dress out of any thing designed by TG is beyond me and testimony to your genius.

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    1. hehehe, dressgasm. Sounds like a good thing.
      I'll see what happens next time I wear it.

      I appreciate the TG comment.

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  2. In the first shot I thought you had pants to match. I adooooore this mostly because of your sleeves and the print and the flowing fabric. You really rescued it. I do know what you mean about not knowing how it will all go together. It becomes an exercise in creativity and the pattern just provides a starting point.
    The shoes are the bee knees! Can I say that? Yes, I just did!
    Love your work!! xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Exactly. At least, that's how I approach art-making. I suppose that must be how I approach TG stuff too, because I just can't stop taking them on.

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  3. Fantastic! the colors and pattern on the ITY are intriguing, and you simply look like you're enjoying wearing it!

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    1. I am. I couldn't have done it without TG. I never would've used that fabric otherwise.

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  4. That dress in that fabric! Just wow. Can’t imagine how you got those results from the TG pattern. So fun!

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    1. You'll convert me to using knit one way or another, Louisa. I've only been using it with TG stuff cuz i dislike it so and don't care if it ends up a wadder. But, nooo, it's transformative somehow.

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  5. That could be the finest thing you've ever made! i need one in my life! xxx

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    1. Wow, Vix. But then again, you do have your Vegas ensembles which cannot be rivaled.

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  6. I love what you did and kudos for supporting a pattern company, no matter what. I like to change a design because I want to, not because I have to. I love what you did, this is a fantastic look, in fact, you turned it into an original design. Love it big time!

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    1. Surprises all around on this one. If I didn't have to, I would never have thought of it. Nor would I have used what I thought at the time was horrendous fabric. Things change at a blink of an eye.

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  7. There's no point to looking for the pattern, except as an exercise in "she started here and BADABOOM". which it is. I just hope the fabric can stand up to the wear it's going to get as that genius result (my usual problem with using mystery fabric as a wearable muslin. It clicks, and then it shrinks or wears out)

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    1. It's an ITY knit! Isn't that made from woven steel or plastic from another planet? It'll last longer than I do, that's for sure.

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  8. Wowowowowowowow! This really is superb. Those sleeves, the different stripe direction.... brilliant. And I really am impressed by how you always have the perfect shoes, socks, &c. I am just so delighted by this dress.

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    1. Really, enough of those sobering, solid dark colors of late. I thought I could always say it was for Halloween while I was sewing it up. But then, wham bam, it turned out, yes, delightful!

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  9. You can sew *anything*, my friend. I love the sleeves, and of course those rad shoes. xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  10. I love this! The sleeves are magnificent, and the blocks of red and pink in the pattern add Pizazz! I am so impressed that you are able to alter patterns to suit your vision. I just started sewing classes and we made a pair of boxer shorts in our first class which I thought was a bit ambitious, considering I still need practice threading the machine.

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    1. Alright, sewing classes. That's how you'll learn to thread your machine. And boxer shorts are much better than aprons, which was my first sewing item. Or was it a pillow case?

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  11. Oh Valerie, don't do it! I mean, don't bother with the TG pattern - it simply doesn't work. You'd be much better off making it up yourself from a dress that does work for you.

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  12. Love it. Yup. It would be cool under a long vest too, with those amazing sleeves. I've been slacking, pulling out random things in my stash, only to put them back. Think I might have to dive in with no hopes or expectations and see what happens! As always, you totally inspire me to get going again. Love you!!!

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    1. Oh Jean, so nice to hear from you again! I hadn't thought of the vest idea... I do that too, pulling out random things in my stash, only I don't put them back. They lay in piles all over until I can't move. I call it dithering, until I f-i-n-i-a-l-l-y get to the doing part. At the time, it seems to last forever. You'd think I'd realize it's part of the process by now...

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