Sunday, August 19, 2012

Funky print wardrobe ideas and new project

Print wardrobe

I've been playing again with virtual wardrobes.  I am seriously in love with this double knit shawl collar jacket, I'm going to have to try and make it sometime this year.  This wardrobe is definitely on the funky side especially for those of us who don't have a lot of prints in the closet, but it's fun.

Next project...
Vogue 1317


In this fabric... so not tropical.
Houndstooth detail

Friday, August 17, 2012

Dharma Trading take 2 - Yucca

Yet another attempt at dyeing fabric at home, this one started off as 4 yards of a slightly heathered weave of thin creme colored rayon jersey.  In person it was more like a dirty beige (the pitfalls of online fabric purchases), so an opportunity to dirty up the washing machine again.

I told you it wasn't exciting.




We are using Dharma Trading Fiber Reactive Procion dye in Yucca.


First pre washing fabric.




Mix your slurry, can you say "Paranorman?"  On the right, the dye in powder form, on the left mixed with water.



Add your salt and soda ash


Drop your fabric in and agitate 30 minutes for light color, 1 hour for dark.
It's only been 5 minutes (I'm so impatient)




I am secretly hoping for streaky fabric...I just noticed my hands are green.... tic toc tic toc ding!!



The hour is up, another cycle to wash the fabric, and outside to dry.


The finished dry product!!!







Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Versatile career wardrobe... only $6,095.00

Alexander mcqueen blazer


Even if you had $6,000 to spend on 6 pieces, you may not find coordinating colors, how crazy is that?

Aren't you glad you sew?

These are some options for pattern equivalents.

The jacket may not have the signature McQueen rounded shoulders, but it's a good option for a jacket pattern. For the peplum tops Vogue 8815, comes with a long sleeve variation and the pattern is meant for wovens but could be altered for knits (the black version above is a jersey, and the white is a woven cotton).  The Claire Shaeffer pant is a ringer for the tailored pant above (although there are plenty of basic pant patterns that fit the bill), and the pencil skirt is probably already in your pattern stash somewhere.  The dress which is a fine knit is probably in Burda somewhere but I don't get the magazine, so if anyone has seen it, let me know.

McQueen pattern equivalent

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Texture blocking dresses

How do we feel about the texture blocking trend this season?  It's a good use of little pieces of expensive fabrics left over from larger projects.  Is the economy inspiring these styles?  After all yields are high on smaller pieces, or are these designers just pushing the envelope?



Fabric blocking fall 2012