12.02.2014

running my mouth.

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

Okay so here's the thing. I'm sort of worded out at the moment. And I'd like to let the pictures do the talking for me, but my camera is imaged out at the moment. It no longer wants to play. It has taken its toys and it has gone home. This may have something to do with the fact that I dropped it from the top of a fully extended tripod height, popped the jammed lens out as one would a dislocated shoulder, and left it with a squinky eye that no longer closes.

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

(Sarah, recognize the story? This is exactly what I did to your camera.) 

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

But semi blurry pictures be damned, I MUST TELL YOU ABOUT THIS DRESS. This is my tester version of By Hand London's newest party girl, Kim. Normally I don't parade my test version until I've sewn it up again from the actual released pattern, but this gal was such a joy to stitch, I took maybe three notes on the test run. I've heard tell most testers had this experience, so I'm shouting now.

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

DO YOU LIKE THE CRAZYFACE LUREX?!!! I got it at Hancock's like 4 years ago. And the burnout velvet is a major 3 year old score from an unintentional LA sale! Both had been cut into and set aside when previous plans went wrong. I dug them back out for this.

YAY FOR ALMOST RUINING, STUFFING IN A DARK CORNER, AND ULTIMATELY SAVING PRETTY FABRICS!

I chose the sweetheart neckline with faux wrap skirt. Traced her up in a straight size 10/14, took 5/8s off the back shoulder to account for le back du sway, and pegged the skirt in 2 inches. I took another 5/8 off the back shoulder during sewing, and probably should do those extra eighths at the waist next time. 

I've been thinking about back length on me. The size and shape of my booty obviously creates a peak, right? So that peak makes my back measurement shorter. This is news to no one. Like I said, words.

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

Please do grab a magnifying glass and check the print matching on the center back zip. Camera was exacting its (justified) revenge on me, and this is the best back shot I gots, yo.

The skirt is underlined with a satiny burgundy viscose (not per pattern instructions; the velvet is sheer), and the bodice is lined (per instructions) with the viscose as well. Even with grading, that's a lotta bulk in that poor waistline seam. But the insides are purty.

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

At the last minute, right before cutting the skirt panels, I decided to take two inches of length out of the skirt. You know, accounting for the BHL temptresses being of tall stature and all. I SO DID NOT NEED TO. While the back hits the sweet spot...

oonaballoona | by hand london kim dress

The front, she is not made for a breeze. Of any sort. Like, a gnat could sneeze and it's R rated up in here. Since then I've added the inches back.

Well, listen. I wish I had a better story to share, and better pictures to boot, and I wish these things 'cause that's the kind of ship I prefer to sail around here, but the Kim dress is quickly reaching Anna heights on my sewing desk, and as the festive season is upon us, spreading the word trumps my self imposed post quality control.

FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF WORDS THAT SURE IS A RUN ON SENTENCE.

'kay bye!

89 comments:

  1. Hahaha I had exactly the same issue with the skirt length! Let's just say I will be sitting....*carefully*. We should hang out and flash our crotches at the public together sometime, mmmhmm?

    http://www.cashmerette.com/2014/12/by-hand-london-kim-is-party-girl.html

    p.s. it is awesome

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    1. yesssssssss i saw your gorgeous colorful sexy kim on my tiny phone nearing the end of the thanksgiving break and my eyes popped (in a very good way)!

      what is it with me and run-on sentences today?

      glad you're liking the machine zip insertion too :)))

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    2. WHY DID I EVER DO IT ANY OTHER WAY? WHY I TELL YOU?!

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    3. I didn't lengthen mine and i have to be careful where I sit, lol... brilliant version.

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    4. oh yeah, your long legged gams, you better come with a warning signal :)!

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  2. That dress is HOT! Love the fabric you chose.

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  3. Hello sparkly party dress and clever pattern matching. Yes, I am impressed. You look gorgeous!

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    1. thaaaaank you lovely lady. i'm hoping to see you in one of these :))

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  4. HOLIDAY PARTY DRESS OF MY DREAMS! You look so glam!
    Those fabrics are heavenly together. And that lurex is giving me heart palpitations all on it's own.

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    1. WHY DIDN'T I BUY THE BOLT?! i am so finding this at hancock's again. it's been there four years running, i have a chance...it feels like it's made of cheap tin foil but i love it!

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  5. HAWTNESS is seriously on display with that dress! GoME! *LOL* But seriously your sewing skills are getting so much better. I love the match on the back of the dress and sometimes you need a little hawtness to end the evening - y'know what I mean!

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    1. hahaha!!! this is definitely an end of the evening dress!

      and thank you for that awesome skills compliment...GO US!!!!

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  6. Holy Hell girl! Those two fabrics are unbelievably magnetic. Cannot get over that lurex! And pairing them together...genius!

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  7. Gad! This is good! I will give you words of highest praise right now: I find your burnout velvet inoffensive, in this situation.

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    1. This. Is. SERIOUS. i may have to take a screenshot of this comment as a backup.

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  8. Interested that you took length out the back - its a measurement that I often need to make yet continually forget - I now have the required heads up cheers! :-)

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    1. i like to start at the shoulder with it-- kenneth king recommends starting a swayback there instead of at the waist and i love it!

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  9. Wow, fab pattern and make! But, erm, have you tried sitting down in it? You may want to take a wrap to whip into your lap as you curtsy down into the chair.

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    1. oh yes, sitting has been attempted. it's definitely a "cross the correct leg" situation, but doable. i really did not need to take those two inches out!

      perhaps i'll drape ruggy over my legs when i sit?

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  10. Once again I am madly in love with your fabric choices and that pattern matching is amazing!! This dress looks gorgeous on you!

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    1. thank you heather! the pattern matching was one of my favorite parts :)

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  11. OMG SEXY SEXY LADY! (In a total non-perv way, of course) Wowza, what a triumph of a dress. I think this is definitely a successful audition dress :) Not to mention Ruggys-eyeballs-out-on-stalks-dress, which is also excellent.

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    1. ruggy's first words when he saw it on instagram: babe, what happened to your knees?

      ah, romance.

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  12. yes I love the crazyface lurex and the perfect pattern placement on the front and back bodice ;o)

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  13. Excellent pattern matching, indeed! Beautiful dress, it looks amazing on you!

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  14. Marce with now words? I never thought that day would arrive? While I don't think it is today - there were many eloquent words above - tomorrow is another day.

    Le bootay looks Le'mazing and so does every other but of the dress. Mmmm kay?

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    1. i know right? lately i'm making no sense whatsoever. i blame the lack of sunlight.

      thanks girl!

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  15. Hahahaha Oona! Don't tell those bald-faced lies to us - you will NEVER run out of words, girl! And your dress looks MAH-velous. smooches!

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    1. i will yammer even when i don't feel like yammering :)! thank you, maris. smooches rightbackatcha.

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  16. You are so fly I swear! This is fantabulous!

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  17. Oh my word! This dress is gorgeous, simply gorgeous!

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  18. Gorgeous fabrics!!! So glad they were SAVED and not left in the dark corner ;) You look mahhhvelous!

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    1. i did many little dances when the skirt fit on those previously mangled pieces!

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  19. Wowzers! That is one spanking hot Kim dress.

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  20. Holy smokes woman, you must have knocked Ruggy off his feet cos that dress is HOT! Has a touch of the bombshell, no?!

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    1. ha. he'll get another go at the proper response when i wear it out with him.

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  21. oops, there's more ...Love that dress, you look fabulous.

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  22. *hat tip* Fierce print matching like a boss! I was wondering how much leg the tulip skirt would show so thank you for taking that bullet :D

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    1. well, a bullet that was a little bigger than intended.... my pegging-in and taking-out of 2 inches made the original leg waaaaaaaay more leggy. shorties will have no problem as is!

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  23. Ooh, la, and la. Very nice. That goes for the shoes, too.

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    1. THOSE SHOES! scored them for 10 bucks at a resale joint. they're currently the most demure heels i own;).

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  24. That dress (and you) is gorgeous!! I opened the photo in a separate window with zoom to fully appreciate the pattern matching at the zip. From someone who spent hours trying to match chevron across seams of a baby romper - I appreciate the effort!

    Sorry to hear about the camera. I'm glad it's not just me, I've broken 2 consecutive cameras the exact same way. Though I can barely get through a doorway without injury so I shouldn't be surprised.

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    1. thanks amanda!! and, how did you open in a new window?! my photos won't do that lightbox/open in new window thing for me and i can't get the settings to work...

      yeah, that kind of break is the death sentence for cameras unless you can pop it back into place. i'm saving my pennies, yo.

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    2. Well, I'm using my android phone (....because I also broke my laptop...) - I just held my finger down on the photo and selected the option "view photo" which opened in a new window where I could zoom.
      My dad laughed at me when I presented him with the bits of my camera lense cover, pointed at the jammed up zoom lense thingy and asked him to fix it for me! It was only 3 days old and I was in denial!

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  25. You look amazing! I'm having major dress envy...well, and body envy. You look ready to conquer every social occasion that comes your way.

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    1. ah, thanks bobbi! man, i have body envy every 15 minutes when i walk the streets of NY. SO MANY STATUESQUE MODELS.

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  26. Rawr!! Gorgeous and sexy!!! Do you suppose you could tack the skirt down a bit (I'm assuming that the skirt has topstitching) along the topstitching to help prevent at least some of the R ratedness? Because this dress doesn't deserve to get thrown in the closet--it deserves to be worn!!! :-)

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    1. oh yeah, some tacking is in my future for sure. she might be my NYE dress :)). thank you !

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  27. Oh my word, this is so bee-you-tee-ful I can't stand it. THAT LUREX! I WANTS IT! I wants ALL OF IT!

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  28. The fabrics are so amazing, and the pattern so fantastic, it is a stunning combo! I hope you hit those Holiday parties in this sexy number!

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  29. Wow, stunning is right. Very beautiful.

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  30. That dress says Holiday Party all over it!! Love the wrap/tulip thing!

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  31. I saw this on your instagram, and was all like "damn girl…" and then (of course) "DAT FABRIC - I must get a closer look…." so thanks for indulging me ^__^

    I'm on a pattern diet at the moment but Le Kim - she is on my radar, and you are not helping, missy! :)

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    1. ooooo girl, she's worth cheating for. but honestly i think she can be more than a seasonal holiday dress, so i guess you can be good.... I GUESS.....

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  32. So gorgeous! I love the combination of patterns.

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    1. thank you sharon! i have been loving your wraps lately, but have been seeing them on my tiny un-typable phone... must correct that!

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  33. Wowsers! That's a whole lot of va va voom!!!!! Love the combo of fabrics too.

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    1. HAHA! it's juuuuust at the edge of too much... well, actually, it might be well beyond the edge. specially when that breeze comes through.

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  34. wonderful choice of fabrics - they really accentuated the pattern. This is so luxurious and sexy! (good job on the print matching!:))

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    1. thank you susie q! man, everyone's handles are just so enjoyable.

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  35. Beautiful fabrics, it reminds me of the Byron Lars dresses I covet.

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    1. oo... thank you for the compliment and the eye opener! he is delicious!

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  36. That first photo ... the soft color of your skin, the dress, and the brick ... just devastating. SUCH a beautiful photograph. Thanks for making the effort to share with all of us!

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    1. thank you so much! i swear, it was sheer luck-- i think it was the first shot i took.

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  37. Replies
    1. thank you leigh! i never would have thought they'd be mates, now i'm so happy they are.

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  38. Va va voom...! You shall be the belle of the Christmas parties. Those colours are stunning.

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  39. as usual.... I LOVE.

    end of the year is so crazy and everything at the same time.... I totally share your mood(or what I got of it).
    still.... LOVE.
    kiss ya

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  40. I want your dress and your shoes. Sensational, as always.

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    1. :) thankya! those poor shoes still have the ten dollar, fiver year old price tag in 'em...

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  41. ahh oona, this is entirely delightful :) you've outdone yourself! are you able to elaborate on your swayback adjustment method or point me to a website? i've seen you comment about it before and i do need to start fixing the puddle that is happening in all my me-made garments. xx

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    1. thanks jessie!

      it's super simple-- all i do is shave off 5/8s from the back shoulder seam only. i wish i could find the link, but a threads article by kenneth king, is what made it click for me. he talked about starting your adjustments from the top down. it's something you can try without having to do drastic alterations, you can even just lift an existing garment up by the back shoulder seam to get an idea if it will work for you.

      on most patterns, i also shorten 1 1/4 inch at the l/s line as i have a short waist.

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    2. wow that sounds like the simplest solution ever. thank you!!!!!

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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!