Journey to Couture

Someday is Finally Now

Leah — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:49:16 +0000

2011 was a pretty hard year. I hear there was plenty of good and lots of bad for other people. For me, it was the same. Plenty of good. Lots of bad. Yet another year of making it work.

I kept up my perpetual effort to broaden my skills while getting more social. I know I tend to dig in and disappear… so, I worked on changing that and continued trying to balance life better.

I lost my dad to dementia in July, three days after my 25th high school reunion. I got the call the same morning I randomly woke up at 4am, for some strange reason, and started working. I never ever wake up that early to work but I sure did that day. I went straight to my computer and started editing reunion pictures, warming up for a busy day ahead. I was going through the images of people I’ve known forever and marveling at how great they all looked. Then that phone rang and my brother broke the news. The first thing I asked was, “Are you sure?” I couldn’t believe it. I had childishly believed throughout my dad’s illness that he would overcome the dementia and everything would be fine.

It is a strange serendipity that I was editing photos at that moment. My dad loved photography. He took a bajillion pictures of me when I was little. Later in life, in my 20s, he gave me his well-worn Pentax. I had wanted to take photography while in college but never had enough money to buy the needed equipment. I had no idea what to do with this camera although I did know it was an amazing gift. So, I tucked it away for some point later in life. Someday.

After the funeral, his wife started sending pictures that my dad had taken. As I looked through them I would think about how these pictures are all that is left of our time together and later realized what a precious gift, to receive these photos. There is no way to thank her enough!

I’ve spent this last week of 2011 watching online photography workshops and finding myself inspired and energized to learn more. I plan to dig into the technical details of camerawork, develop my style and continue building my brand this coming year. I am not sure whether I want to take portraits, shoot weddings or aim for commercial work, but along the journey of figuring it out I hope to take photos that will one day be as meaningful to someone else as these photos my dad took are to me.

It is finally time to take out that Pentax and use it. Someday is finally now!

Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012… Cheers!

Heathered Charcoal Top

Leah — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:55:00 +0000

I love this pattern, it makes a great fabric canvas.

I made the tunic view E, shortened it and left off the neck ring.

Butterick 5528

Pattern Description: Close-fitting, straight tunic E has cap sleeves, stitched hem and neck ring.

Fabric Used: Cotton/Lycra Jersey – Heathered Charcoal Gray

Fabric Source: www.gorgeousfabrics.com

Suggested Fabrics: Moderate stretch knits only

Pattern Sizing: Lrg-Xlg-XXl

Alterations: None

Design Changes: Several. I left off the neck ring, widened the neckline, shortened the hem line and experimented a bit. I wanted to see if notching out a wedge effect would tighten the hem area around my hips. I pinned out the desired amount and thought twice about what I was about to do.

Starting from the bottom, I serged five inches then took a hard turn and angled off the edge, creating a hip band effect. Worked nicely!

Sewing Notes: S/A 5/8″, Hem 1 1/4″

Likes/Dislikes: Like the basic design, one pattern piece for both front and back. How much easier can it get?
Dislike: the neck ring and original tunic length, it was too long for my taste. Actually, it was a dress. It wasn’t close-fitting and I don’t think the sleeves are cap sleeves either. Strange pattern description!

Tried and True (TNT), One-timer, or Pattern Graveyard: Definitely TNT. I have three versions of this top and can visualize many more.

It is fun to make this pattern in different fabrics to create totally different looks.

Pattern information:

Choices. So many choices!

Leah — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:06:27 +0000

I have one month to make something for a choral performance. The dress code specifies concert black.

How easy is that?

Easy as pie, unless you are me.

Instead, I have the royal chief bridesmaid dress in my mind’s eye. The neat cowl. The empire waist. The thought of it done in black makes me stop for a moment and wonder how that would have worked, exactly, for Pippa. I bet people would have been frightened for her. Remember how thin she looked in white? I’m sure black would have made her look as if she could blow away from the first wind to cross her bridesmaidy path. It is so problematic to be young and thin these days.

Back to my own dilemma. Leaning toward a top and skirt instead of a dress, ie singing in comfort, seems wise. So, back to the pattern books I go.

So many choices but I have narrowed it down to a Sandra Betzina top paired with a Textile Studio skirt.

pattern

pattern

I miss Marsha.

My First Lekala

Leah — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:47:57 +0000

My first Lekala pattern and I just love the outcome.

This was my test garment, however, it fit perfect without any alterations and quickly became a go-to dress for me. I have worn this dress three times already.

Lekala 5860

Inspiration Dress, Adrianna Papell

Pattern Description: V-neck dress with neck darts, lined bodice, empire waist and ruched skirt.

Fabric Used: Ponte Knit, bodice lined with Ambiance.

Suggested Fabrics: Tight silk dress fabrics from natural or mixed fibers

Pattern Sizing: Custom ordered to my measurements.
The pattern pieces fit together beautifully. The sizing was perfect!

Alterations: None except I did sew the front V closed so the two panels would not fall open.

Design Changes: Removed the sleeves and changed the armscye on the fly. The next sleeveless version would need the armscye redrawn properly as hits a bit low on me in front and the back isn’t quite right.

Sewing Notes: S/A 3/8″, Hem 1 3/4″

Likes/Dislikes: Like the neckline pleating and the ruching of the skirt side panels. Love the high waistline and overall design. It is very comfortable to wear as the neckline is not too low after sewing the two panels shut. I wanted to make sure there was no gaping each time I bent over.

The only dislike would be that the pattern instructions were in Russian and translated poorly. I tried to translate the pattern from Russian to English but had a hard time with the translators. As I had no idea what the instructions would have me do, I had to think about each logical step and forge ahead. I pulled a similar Vogue pattern and figured everything out.

I had to twist my brain around this one but I enjoyed the challenge.

Tried and True (TNT), One-timer, or Pattern Graveyard: Definitely TNT. I can see many more versions of this dress. I would like another one in ponte with sleeves. I saw a very similar dress with a ruffle around the neckline in a woven. Linen would be a good choice of fabric to try.

I am impressed with Lekala! I have enthusiastically ordered a few more and hope to enjoy more success.

The pattern designer’s website, pattern information:

Super cute platform stiletto

Leah — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:47:22 +0000

Now that summer has come and gone it is time to sew for the holidays and winter ahead.

So, I’m online looking at festive heels the other night and ran across this high vamp platform and ordered them on a whim. They look great with jeans but I want to take it one step further and make several dresses to wear with them. These are not my typical conservative pump in the least, but they fit so well and are surprisingly comfortable. My first pair of platforms! …and not so wintery. Whoops!!

Type Z Charlie

First up, Vogue 1250 in either solid purple or blue. We’ll see how that looks.

I have a design in my head for a blue silk dress. It could have an inset V neckline, sleeveless, faux wrap skirt with self belted waist. Another idea would be a ponte knit sheath with 3/4 sleeves, jewel neckline. The dresses aren’t the hard part, it is matching these shoes to them. I understand a high vamp needs a shorter skirt but I don’t think anything shorter than 25″ from the waist would work for me without tights… and a different shoe.

Honestly, I’m afraid my knees are too dimpley to wear anything much shorter than knee length, but it won’t hurt to experiment.

I still need to find something festive for the holidays. Little bit side-tracked here

Zappos: Type Z Charlie

2011 Spring into Summer

Leah — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:38:26 +0000

It’s been so long since I have blogged my projects, so I thought it was time to spring it into action… and YAY summer is here! Unfortunately this site hasn’t received much attention since I’ve been in ‘hunker down and work’ mode for the past couple of years (I haven’t blogged for two entire years!) …and I’m paying for it now that I want to bind a neckline and cannot for the life of me remember the method I used with great success last year.

Enjoy the new site look and feel free to drop me a line if you see something broken, missing or quirky. I’m still rearranging and categorizing.

If I don’t get my site together I’ll never finish this dress…

Happy Summer 2011!

Pattern mash-up

Leah — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:23:00 +0000

I’ve been working on my entry for the RTW & Designer Knock-off Contest 2009 hosted by PR.

I have been working through a few patterns to pull together the features I need to create my patio dress.

Here are the patterns I’ve been working with:

Simplicity 3918

I made view C but left off the lace and kept the shoulder ties. I wanted to see how the point at the front bodice would come together and I wanted to see how the shoulders were constructed. I’m definitely incorporating the circled portion of the front bodice into my patio dress. Simplicity 3918 is unfortunately OOP.

Simplicity 3503

I am presently working on view E to get that upper front bodice worked out with an FBA. I also plan to remove some fullness from the front skirt where it attaches to the bodice but want to make it once as drafted. I am using a knit but don’t want to gather out any of the focal design on my final dress. Simplicity 3503 is crazy popular on PR! I am sure it will become a top pattern this year.

BWOF 04/2005 #125 and #126

I have this bodice traced and altered and I L*O*V*E this style. The bodice is shared by these two dresses so I thought to give you a good look by including both dresses here. I am thinking of making #125 for the holidays but I kinda like it without the lace overlay as they did in #126. I wouldn’t care for a full length tulle skirt.

For now, I have a bodice muslin all worked out and intend to use the back for my patio dress.

It is nice having some new garments in my wardrobe! I’ll review them individually as I complete them and work through this entire process.

The hardest part of pulling out old patterns is running across styles I wanted to make back then but didn’t tackle. I’m so glad I saved my old BWOF when I moved!!
There are several pieces in the BWOF that I went ahead and traced for later… like this cute outfit, the twist top and cute skirt #115. Someday!

Patio Dress

Leah — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:49:00 +0000

I’m excited to get to work on my entry for the RTW & Designer Knock-off Contest 2009 hosted by PR.

I have a piece of cotton knit in my stash that is just waiting for the right project. It will be perfect for my interpretation of this beautiful Patio dress.
Here are closeups to show the pick stitching and amazing cutouts:

I plan on self-drafting the bodice. I will use an BWOF pattern from the 2005 wedding dress spread for the back. I’m thinking of another BWOF maxi dress pattern for the skirt but I need to check my pattern stash this afternoon to pull together my game plan.

This should be a fun project!

Floral texture design fun

Leah — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:03:00 +0000

I have been watching the squash flower each morning and then drop the blooms without setting fruit.
Startling to be sure but a quick check with Google educated me on the roles of the male and female flowers and assured me everthing is fine. The male flower spends only one morning in full bloom and always falls off so no worries. One squash plant sends out both male and female flowers but the female flower needs the pollen from the male flower. Amazing bees! Still, I’m worried that I won’t get any squash this year.

Once I snapped these pics I wondered why I had never noticed squash in bloom before. They are surprisingly beautiful.

An interesting point of departure for a new round of sewing! How about an outfit or two based on yellow, turquoise, green and white? A cute jacket with drawstring waist and white pants? Or a bright yellow jacket? A few green tops. Endless inspiration here.

I was also inspired to update the old blog design since I love the texture of the flower. It was time to freshen up the place… because every rose has it’s thorns!

One pic of my lovely garden and then off to sew for a bit before the night gets away from me.

This is the Northeast corner of my garden. Here I have squash, zucchini, onion, carrots, buttercrunch lettuce and broccoli growing.

I love watching everything grow.

Tracing time is over

Leah — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:42:00 +0000

I joined in on The Great White Shirt Sew-Along today at PR.

I realized recently that I have been tracing patterns, altering them and then setting them aside only to trace another. I think I’ve got stage fright or something, or just afraid to waste fabric. This sew-along will be the perfect remedy!

Here are the patterns I have traced and ready to go, I just need to choose which one:
Butterick 4985

Butterick 4609

There is a vintage pattern on my cutting table right now and I will plan on tackling it once the two shirts above are completed.

I also want to cut the BWOF artist shirt out of a light blue cotton I have waiting in the sidelines:
BWOF 01-07-122

Additionally, I have a few cute tops traced, a Vogue dress (V1086) traced and altered, a Butterick dress, skirt, top and jacket wardrobe pattern (B5333) traced and altered. The jacket is cut out in fabric but it is waiting for me to get back to it because I got stuck on how to/whether to line it. I better just sew it sans lining to get it out of the queue.

So much to do, tracing time is officially over! (for a while LOL)