12.24.2014

I'll Have A Quilted Christmas

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics

This is the dress that Ruggy made.

No really. Although he didn’t stitch an inch of it, he was the full on Dictator Of This Here Dress. (And by the way, he has sewn, I keep threatening to show y'all evidence, I’m talking wooly welt pockets and silk skirts, but that’s a subject for another time.)

When I came home with this riot of peach and black batting-filled quilted poly organza, I laid it out on the floor and laughed and laughed. Its warmth surrounded me like an electric blanket. With U Got The Look on repeat in my head, I guffawed: RUGGY! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST WINTER PROM DRESS EVER!

I took his bemused silence as total acceptance. However, as the dress progressed, he found his voice. Well, if I'm going to be completely honest about it, the sight on my Wolfie actually left him speechless for several days. Luckily, I was on my usual kick of working on multiple projects, and he had time to truly consider the view: A bodice made of peach embroidered cloud.

Him: Is that really what you want?

Me: ABSOLUTELY! It's a winter dress. I'm going to be TOTALLY warm!

Him: Yes. Yes you are. And totally lumpy.

Mmmmmmmm. LUUUUMPY. One lump or two? MY LOVELY LADY LUMPS! I could go all day.

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics 
Convinced, I set about recutting the bodice.  And, altering the pattern (Vogue 8874) to allow for allll black boucle on top, allll quilty goodness on bottom. I had snagged everything left of this peachy stuff for my MSN December allowance, visions of a full length quilted ballgown dancing in my head. The change of direction meant I had to get creative on the top. Articles of clothing had to be sacrificed. I took two old MSN projects that suffered from maniacal overfitting (here, and here) and tried my best not to sausage myself this time. And there are plenty of pieces in this bodice to overfit! 

But, little open pleats over boobage allow for breathability...

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics 
Gaze upon my little hook and eye that I ALWAYS COMPLETELY FORGET TO CLOSE...

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics 
And a little neck gaping that I am TOTALLY FINE WITH. I SAID I'M FINE.

Happy with the new bodice, The Rugster approved a voluminous skirt, so long as it was knee length.

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics 
oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics

In fact, Ruggy requested MOAR BOTTOM, “to really allow for that classic line,” (GET HIM) and I was ever so happy to oblige! Having abandoned ballgown length, I had ample yardage for a drop waist crinoline of sorts...even after he made me recut the front skirt panels.

THE AMOUNT OF DIRECTION I WILLINGLY TOOK DURING THE MAKING OF THIS DRESS IS COMPLETELY UNFATHOMABLE.

The pattern calls for a seam right down center front. Against my better judgement, I did as I was told (really, what's going on with this story? Must've been the gin). After carefully gathering the giant five piece skirt to the new, underlined bodice, after pressing and binding and catchstitching seams…RuGunn entered the workroom and once again gave my dressform the side eye.  

Him: What's up with that seam down the front?  Do you really want a seam down the front?

Me: No. But the pattern calls for it.

Him, Pausing For Effect: You’re better than a pattern, babe.

CHARMER. HAND ME MY SEAM RIPPER.

oonaballoona | vintage holiday dress | vogue 8874 | mood fabrics

Now, I should have exacted my revenge by making him take the photographs, but Mama Ruggy came to the rescue. I LISTENED TO HIM AND LET HIM OFF THE HOOK FOR PICTURES. Ruggy must have been extra good this year, non?

A happy holiday, or reg'lar day to you, may your home and heart be as warm as a two tiered poly batted skirt!

this poofy frock was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.

80 comments:

  1. ok soooo.. I absolutely love this! so beautiful! Looking forward to seeing many more blog post in 2015!!

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  2. I hope you were taken out for a cocktail after these pics were taken! Thats a fab dress. Keep listening to Ruggy! (and yourself, of course!)

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    1. does spiked egg nog by the (home) fire with french pastries count? ;)

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  3. This dress is a Christmas Gift, TO THE WORLD!

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  4. I luvs your dress!! My other half likes to give direction too, although I rarely follow it, maybe I should after seeing how well Ruggy done!

    Good on Ruggy for giving sewing a go, mine won't go near a sewing machine, he's scarred it'll take his finger off!! I keep reminding him how he use to operate a machine that has, KILLED people!! -stupid man lol!

    Merry Christmas to you, hope you have a good one :)

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    1. he was sewing garments before i ever touched a needle! sadly it only lasted one summer.

      merry christmas to you & your thread fearful man!

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  5. Hey Oona.

    The dress is nice. However, I MUST remark on the background set location. It is pure monotone grey beauty and should be used on a more starburstingly colorful Oona creation. Hopefully we have not seen the last.

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    1. WELL, have i got a dress and a location for you! i'm hoping to make my vision a reality before we head home...and actually, i photoshopped the interior of this building (normally red brick). i'm attracted to gray backgrounds lately...

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  6. Oh my, best holiday dress ever! It looks totally fun and cozy. Merry holidays to you and yours!

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  7. Amazing. Hilarious. LOVE THE SHOES IN SHOT!!!

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  8. Wowsers. Too incredible. For proper. Sentences. Quilted skirts. Rock.

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    Replies
    1. well thankya beautiful lady :) and seriously, it's warm under there as a bonus.

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  9. Oh, Ruggy... Maybe we all need Ruggy to tell us what to do. Awesome dress!

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    Replies
    1. "ruggy's rules"? "get it right with ruggy"? this could be dangerous.

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  10. Color me taken aback. CRUCIAL.

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  11. Thank you. It's warm and there's some sewing. Happy Christmas or whatever to you, too!

    Ruggy was right. The end result is fantastic. That black is just right to balance the sugar candy of the skirt.

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    1. ooo, i like that, sugar candy skirt! merry everything to you and your family, lovely hana.

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  12. This is stunning -- I love the quilted bottom with its layers. Perfect for winter! I am so impressed that you thought to use that fabric. I always see quilted fabrics in the store and have always assumed they were for coats or something? But apparently they're for skirts! ;)

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    Replies
    1. you assume correctly! this is meant for coat lining, and kway at mood had a good laugh, as usual, at my choice. ;)

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  13. That Ruggy's got style! I love, love this dress so much! Very Oonalicious and all-over fabulous :)

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  14. Oona you are absolutely fab-u-los! You and your husband did a wonderful job on that dress.

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  15. Kudos, Ruggy! Super fun dress, and it's definitely a good thing you let him direct ;) You look fab as always!

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    Replies
    1. thanks evie! i may have to let him take the reigns every once in awhile...

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  16. I absolutely LOVE this dress. The length of the skirt, the bodice...it's all working! Ruggy clearly knows what he is talking about.

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  17. It's gorgeous and one of a kind, that is for sure.

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    Replies
    1. thanks leah! yes, i don't think i'll be seeing anyone else in this. for many reasons.

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  18. Such an epic-ly fantastic mix of fabrics/textures!! I love that you allowed Mr. Balloona to take the reins as project director. Such vision! I wonder what the result would be if I let my Mr. try to direct my next sewing project lol

    Happy Holidays!

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  19. What a phantastic winter dress!

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  20. so pretty! love the fabrics together! and love how the skirt looks like a delicious cloud (and i bet it makes pretty sound when you move too).. happy holidays, sis!

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    Replies
    1. oddly, it's whisper quiet...probably due to the layers of batting...happy holidays, sister mine!

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  21. Holy hanna I want one. I never thought to make a quilty skirt. Now I have to put that on my mental to sew list.

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  22. This is so gorgeous. The pictures are absolutely amazing!

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  23. A fabulous dress! Happy Holidays!

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  24. That is GORGEOUS! I didn't know such a fabric existed, and I love what you and Ruggy created.

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    Replies
    1. i mean, when i turned the corner and saw this bolt, i about fainted. i'm shocked ruggy was able to see such a classic style in this craziness!

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  25. Looks great. Ruggy is such a keeper for this

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    Replies
    1. yeah, i'm holding on to him. now, if i could get him to play dress up with me EVERY DAY...

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  26. "You’re better than a pattern, babe."

    Divorce that man and marry him again.

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  27. Sweet baby Jesus this dress is AMAZING! Also Ma Ruggy has quite the photography skills. Gorgeous photos!

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  28. That's wonderful - reminds me a bit of one of those 'mini crinis'. Hope you had a great Christmas!

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    Replies
    1. ruggy thought i could even wear it alone-- but, that's one bit of direction i think i won't take ;)

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  29. Well what can I say... The man knows what he's talking about! That is one awesome dress. Now I want to heart more about these wooly welt pockets and silk shirts!

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    Replies
    1. he's got a good eye. if i can get him to pose i'll show you those pockets!

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  30. So lovely! And I love that Ruggy totally art directed the whole project! Adorable.

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  31. You, milady, are working with a styling savant! Love this joint collaboration. The quilted skirt looks gorgeous. Though I wonder if it feels like you are wearing a snug quilt? Because I would totally be up for something glam AND snug!

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    1. HAHA yes!!

      and, totally snug. i kept a certain lady warm under this skirt, and was still completely covered myself. that's a lotta yardage.

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  32. This dress is classic, classy vintage-y, and worth all the direction you so willingly took in its construction. It is drop-dead gorgeous, and so are you in it. Oh, my!

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    1. thank you so much! i'm really happy with it-- that puffy bodice would've been a one trick pony ;)

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  33. Hands down, you have the most entertaining stories with every garment! Love reading and can't wait to see what you create (with Ruggy's help?) ;) in the NEW YEAR!!!

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    1. O GOD HE'S GOING TO TAKE OVER MY SEWING ROOM....

      happy new year girl!

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  34. This dress is so fluffy in the best possible way! Love it! And the length is perfect... I think it was longer it woulda swamped you. Good work, team!

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  35. Gorgeous!! Your man knows a thing or two!!

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  36. What a fabulous dress!! It's nice to have a man's input isn't it?

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  37. That dress is everything!! So wonderful... all 50's and crafty and elegant and glamorous all at the same time. You are an inspiration!

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  38. Ruggy is wise… and brave!! And totally right - his dress is perfect :)

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  39. This vintage look is amazing! Great job! ;)

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!