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La Robe Noir

7 July, 2010 | Amy | 20 Comments

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve started a sewing project with great hopes, which were ultimately dashed by stupid mistakes and questionable decisions. It’s rare to have something turn out better than I hoped, despite stupid mistakes and questionable decisions, but that’s what happened with my little black dress.

I love, love, love how it turned out! Look:

It’s the first dress I’ve made in ages that I’m excited to wear. A lot of today’s styles just don’t look right on me. They emphasize all the wrong things, i.e. my short upper torso, narrow sloping shoulders and wide hips. This dress shifts attention away from those features and highlights my better ones.

I especially like the double cap sleeves. They might look odd on someone with broad shoulders, but they help balance out my figure.

The wide neckline is flattering too, but is a tad wider than optimal, since my bra straps end up on display. I’m wearing a strapless bra here.

Instead of the fabric band called for by the instructions, I bound the center of the empire belt with a piece of sequined trim. It looks classy in person–I just can’t get a good photo of it.

I suspect one panel was cut off grain, since there’s a bit of rippling in it, but it’s not a significant enough problem to trouble me.

The instructions didn’t call for it, but I created a slit in the back seam to allow me to maintain my usual long stride when walking. No mincing steps required!

It was pretty easy to do. I sewed the back seam of both the shell and lining to the point where I wanted the slit to start–about eight inches from the unhemmed bottom of the skirt. I then hemmed the skirt and the lining. The lining ended up about 3/4″ shorter than the outer skirt. With right sides together, I sewed the lining to the outer skirt at the slit opening. A little understitching keeps the lining in place on the inside of the slit.

Speaking of stupid mistakes, remember how upset I was over the hole I snipped into the lining?

Many of you suggested I fix it with a fusible patch. That sounds like a great way to handle that. Thank you for the ideas and support. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any black fusible on hand, so I created a patch out of the lining fabric. It looks neat enough and there’s no show-through on the outside of the dress. *phew*

Now, I just need to find the right necklace to wear with it. A dress like this deserves some fancy jewelry.

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Posted in General, Sewing | 20 Comments »

Kids Say the Darndest Things

27 June, 2010 | Amy | 2 Comments

I guess there is such a thing as over-doing it. After a couple of hectic weeks, I’ve been doing little else than lounging in a comfy chair reading silly novels and watching silly movies. Well, that’s not entirely true. The school year is over, so the kids are at home full-time, which means a lot more of my attention is diverted by peacemaking duties and dispelling boredom.

Overall, though, the kids have been pretty good and entertaining. Just the other day, I had booked an appointment for a haircut and was lecturing them on how they should behave in the salon, “sit quietly, no running around or screaming or touching things or…well, just sit quietly and color or read, ok???”

Sam responded, “Hey mom, I know how to make armpit farts!”

I worried that I hadn’t gotten through to him, but he and his sister were very good in the salon–not a single armpit fart was heard!

And then, later that day, I was telling him about audio books and how they might be a fun way to tackle some of the more challenging books he’s interested in reading. Sam resisted the idea, because he hates to admit that he needs help with anything…that he’s not instantly good at everything he tries (I wonder where he got that trait?) I rolled my eyes and said, “don’t knock it until you try it!”

He looked at me blankly. I proceeded to explain what I meant, that he should give something a chance before dismissing it out-of-hand–that “don’t knock it until you try it” was an expression.

A light bulb went on for him at that moment and he said, “oh…like when someone says ‘who cut the cheese!’”

At least he’s sticking with a theme…

When your days are filled with moments like those, you can see how craft projects might take a back seat. I’ve read two highly entertaining “knit lit” books though:

Needles and Pearls: A Novel
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club

Neither of these books are great literature, but they are perfect for relaxing–like a good box of chocolates. The main character’s description of super moms and their horrible children had me laughing out loud. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered the type too often since I became a parent myself. I could identify with the main character in a lot of ways–not that I had a cheating husband who got himself killed in a car crash or famous friends, etc. etc., but her experience of leaving a high pressure job and finding happiness in her family and a slower-paced lifestyle sounds very familiar.

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Posted in Family, General | 2 Comments »

Eight Questions

18 June, 2010 | Amy | 3 Comments

I hope the lovely Ali of The Wardrobe, Reimagined, didn’t think I was ignoring her when she tagged me in a game of eight questions. As I mentioned yesterday, I was up to my eyeballs in the duties of motherhood and being a good hostess to house guests.

I used to hate playing tag with my friends in elementary school, because I was slow and awkward and always ended up being “it” with no hope of catching anyone else. This is one time I’m glad to be “tagged!” So, here goes:

1. What song never fails to move you?

I could answer this question in many ways, because music has always been an important part of my life. Right now, though, the classic Aura Lee stands out, since my daughter and I have learned to play it together on the piano. That has been such an incredible bonding experience.

2. What’s your sewing threshold? As in, what will you let go, what must you absolutely fix?

I will freely admit that it’s NOT HEALTHY, but I won’t let anything go until I’ve unpicked my stitches so many times that the fabric is falling apart. This tendency doesn’t mean my projects look any better than anyone else’s, since they so often end up with worn out spots, LOL

I pay special attention to matching stripes, making sure seams line up, topstitching, pointy corners, trimming threads…this list could go on forever.

Ooh, wait! I thought of one thing I’ll “let go.” Sometimes, I’ll use bobbin thread that doesn’t match the main thread exactly. Shocking, I know

3. What’s your “desert island” book/movie and why could you read/watch it over and over?

I think I’d take John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany. It’s one of those special books that makes you laugh so hard your sides hurt, and then, in a span of a few pages, bawl your eyes out. It’s grand, subtle…everything an excellent book should be.

4. What garment/accessory do you wear the most?

I wear this cardigan/jacket all the time. It’s comfortable and warm.

5. What wouldn’t you be caught dead in?

Any garment that exposes my midriff is a no-no. I’m self-conscious about the stretch marks left after two pregnancies.

6. Your motto/mantra?

Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. – Henry Ford

7. A designer you consistently like and why?

I know very little about fashion designers, so this question is hard for me. I don’t know that I like everything she designed, but I do like what Coco Chanel did for women’s wear by emphasizing comfort (breathing is good–corsets didn’t help with that) and practical styles for active lives.

8. Something about you we wouldn’t expect from reading your blog?

I always thought I’d find fulfillment through a career instead of domesticity. I’m happy at home surrounded by my family.

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Posted in Arts & Crafts, General | 3 Comments »