5.01.2015

butterfly brain

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

My man is so good at making me look tall, I went for my annual physical last week, and almost slapped the nurse when she told me I was barely 5'2. Surely there's something wrong with their equipment.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

I MEAN, LOOK AT ME. I'M GIGANTIC.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

You know, I do so enjoy my delusions. Like the belief that I can keep track of multiple sewing projects. I cannot. As my beloved Nan always used to say, I got a head like a sieve.

Actually my noodle is pretty good at multitasking. I'm at my most happy place when I'm infatuated by multiple projects. But not so much when I'm so entranced by the fabric at hand that I can't decide what to sew it into, and want to sew ALL OF THE THINGS.  Two projects and two prints were filling up any available space in my brain during the making of this combo. When I couldn't choose a straight course for either of them, I decided to crossbreed Vogue 9075 of the current culotte craze, and By Hand London's Holly jumpsuit. Here we have Holly pants and Vogue top (and the rest of this pattern monster will make a very colorful appearance shortly). Indecision at its best!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

Ruggy tells me this is "monkey brain." I prefer a prettier handle. My brain floats like a butterfly from fabric to fabric! AND WHEN IT STINGS ME IN THE BOOTY I MAKE UP A SOLUTION! 

Sometimes. Not so much here, per se. I judiciously decided to wait to cut out the sleeves, in case I had to mess with the (non muslined) bodice fit-- well, I did mess with it, I shaved 5/8s off the back shoulder, then floated and flitted like a drunken butterfly over to my other whimsical crossbreed, then floated and flitted back DAYS later and went and cut out the dang sleeves without accounting for the 5/8s. I was working on fumes of fabric at this point, having played with the border print until it could take no more. 

Cue me wagging an unearned finger at Vogue's pattern drafting.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

NOOOOOOOOPE, THAT'S ALL YOU, SIEVE GIRL.

Speaking of my forgetful noggin, this top zips from north to south and slips right over my head. That was my solution to making this colorful non-separating zipper work...that, and scooping out a wider bateau-ish neckline. I have a surprisingly large noggin for 5'2 of woman.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

And let's not forget the derriere. She fits nicely in the back, yeah? NO WEDGIES! I'M STOKED! This is Holly without any pattern adjustments, I  just decreased the seam allowance in the crotch curve when the first try-on showed frown lines. Or was it smile lines? Lines, either way. I decreased the SA to 1/4 at the crotch and turned my frown upside down.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

However, as you can see here, the front crotch length is still a little long, which is noticeable in certain positions and totally disappears in others. Since then I've played with shortening the pattern at the hip line (as you would shorten a bodice pattern for a short waist) and wow, is that better! 

How do you deal with pants fitting? So many areas to play with!

oonaballoona | a sewing blog | vogue 9075 + by hand london holly trousers

I think my weirdo decision to crossbreed these patterns worked out in the end--this stretch cotton is glorious but kinda heavy, so making it up into a full length jumpsuit and walking out to dinner in it would have felt like a workout. Which only would have served to double ordering of post workout libations. So yeah, actually, on second thought, maybe not the best decision. Some regrets.

Butterfly brain. Toldja.

this is my mood sewing network project for april, made with my monthly fabric "allowance." sadly, and you know what I'm gonna say, this bad boy sold out shortly after I tweeted about it...
I like to enable so I'm TOTALLY taking credit for that!  

49 comments:

  1. Love the outfit! The print is so classic black and white, but so pop modern at the same time.
    My dad once told me I have "A mind like a bag full of butterflies". Once you open it, everything flutters off in every direction. Makes a nice visual. I see your thought process more like a bumble bee wandering from flower to flower. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the little flecks of yellow are what drew me in ;)!

      i LOVE that description. sounds like a magical mind! i might take that over bumble bee :))

      Delete
  2. Cute!! I'm sad and happy the fabric is sold out, :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know, but sometimes stuff comes back in stock! right now it's so gone i can't even link to it, but i'll keep an eye out.

      Delete
  3. Amazing outfit - and photographer. :) As I keep telling my 5'4" Mum, ALL good things come in small packages, dahlink!

    And please get out of my BRAIN! It's comprised of butterflies and very easy to disrupt the fragile ecosystem in there... *LOL*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HAHAHAHAAAA!!! we went to a butterfly conservatory once and i was in fear of killing something with my gorilla paws the ENTIRE TIME.

      Delete
  4. What an amazing print! Also, I can totally see that non-separating zip thing becoming a "trend" in the future. It is awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This outfit is completely brilliant - I love it! Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like this a lot. How you manage multiple sewing products at once is beyond me. Too much bobbin changing and keeping track for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooo, i love bobbin changing. crazy, right? i usually have about 4 or 5 spools & bobbins for any project that i switch out, and that's for one project ;)

      Delete
  7. Hey, at least you can use the excuse of cross-pollinating patterns (cross-patternation?) for the butterfly brain elements. My brain's going all sullen teenager and ignoring what it's meant to do. I've been making Heather Lou's Carolyn pajamas and my brain has decided to abandon me completely, letting me buy too little fabric, then cut the sleeves unevenly, then sew the pockets in wrong way around TWICE. I know it's just sitting next to my machine laughing at me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CROSS PATTERNATION. GENIUS. the projects that laugh at you should be made to sit in a corner and think about what they've done.

      Delete
  8. That fabric is divine! You look lovely in this getup

    ReplyDelete
  9. That fabric is divine! You look lovely in this getup

    ReplyDelete
  10. That fabric is divine! You look lovely in this getup

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gorgeous outfit and I totally understand the butterfly brain

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love how you used this fabric and the outfit! I'm also loving your optical illusion height! 😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you carolyn! sometimes i remember that most of the world is looking down on me and i have to quickly switch my brain back to artistic photo shoots, lol!

      Delete
  13. What a gorgeous outfit! The fabric is gorgeous, and the way you played with the border print is artful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sara! there was a lot of print playing, the cutting took roughly forever.

      Delete
  14. Ohhh this is crazy awesome! Smart move on the pants fitting - I use the seam allowance adjustment method too (the lazy ways are the best!)

    ReplyDelete
  15. God I just love this. Seriously eyeing my yardage of this fabric to make a copycat ensemble...

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love the two pieces together to make an outfit. And I'm digging the wide legs. And yes, you look ten feet tall!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Replies
    1. TEEHEEE!!!! hmm, actually, i'm surprised blogger hasn't done that yet!

      Delete
  18. Wow, that fabric! Although you always pick amazing fabrics. Love the wide legged trousers, at 5' 3" I wondered if I might be too short for a pair but I'm reconsidering now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooo sam, definitely reconsider! these pants are a dream to sew up. i read on my fitting research that for petites, where your knee falls is a big point to consider on the pattern. like a petite adjustment mid thigh, i guess?

      Delete
  19. Fantastic suit! I have been really thinking about Palazzo pants as well, but it might be too hot in Shanghai for them. Kaftans or Moo Moos instead?

    This weekend I've kind of sewn with all the projects on the go, I have knit fabrics out ready for t-shirt cutting (who knows what pattern yet, it might be a DIY job) and making a gathered gingham skirt, while stopping to fix up a hem from a Davie dress, and then making a dinosaur tail in the middle of it all. GAH

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. baby darling is going to slay in a dinosaur tail! i love everything you're jumping into, it is SO great to have you back in the blogisphere;)

      Delete
  20. I've been hanging out for this outfit ever since you grammed a picture the other day! It fits you so magnificently, which is amazing considering you're 10"11 ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. booty baby, you need these pants! i imagine you'd come out about 18 feet tall.

      Delete
    2. I made them in green teal, and have actually made another in black that I'm yet to blog! Although now I'm thinking I need a geometric yellow/black/white combo.....

      Delete
  21. Ah, I love the final decision and that zipper really pops! I get what you mean about the crotch length. Typically, I sew a 12 in non-stretch pants, but I use the 10 for the crotch length. That's the easiest way for me!

    www.StyleSewMe.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is fascinating! i'm going to have a look at my adjusted pattern and see how the smaller crotch compares...

      Delete
  22. Beautiful! I think the pattern combo was a smart choice: you get all the fashion-NOW of a jumpsuit without the usual associated awkwardness when going to the bathroom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha! it was so strange to hear about bathroom awkwardness when jumpsuits made a comeback...i guess i never thought about it what with all the years in shared dressing rooms.

      Delete
  23. looking damn good! and tall too.. wanna steal your outfit, sis! gonna steal your idea instead, and mak similar combo for myself

    ReplyDelete
  24. I think that it is such a stylish look, so sorry that the fabric is too heavy to be comfortable. It does make you look 10 feet tall for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love your style, your fashion, your love of all things bright. This outfit looks amazing on you.

    ReplyDelete
  26. your jumpsuit looks nice on you and is very beautiful

    ReplyDelete

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!