5.31.2016

Braid Brain

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

As I happily hacked my way through editing these pictures, I realized I like messing with photos as much as I like sewing. Indeed, I go about my amateur editing a lot like I go about sewing-- pushing buttons and trying out tools until I get what I want, with only a vague idea of a plan. Hence, the glitch-in-the-matrix backdrop of buildings. 

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

Maybe if I spent as much time learning about editing as I do stitching, I'd level up. Yeah. That's not gonna happen.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

And so I call myself LIAR! STOP LYING OONA! Obviously I like sewing better. But hacking photos is still fun. AND I LIKE FUN MOST OF ALL.

I yammered on about the sewing of this viscose jersey maxi dress over at The Mood Sewing Network-- well, there wasn't much to say, actually, as there's no pattern-- it's a draped job. It began life as a column dress, then I sliced it up center front & back to add seams for the insertion of godets from mid-hip height to hem. There are four in all, at CF, CB and side seams.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

That was partly for swishability, and MOSTLY because there was a very interesting piece of print placement going on, right smack dab on my hoohaa. Can you make it out in the picture above? Something in a glowing shade of deep orange? Something longish, something...ribbed? I mean, I don't really shy away from reproductional organ print placement, but this particular shape made my eye twitch for about a week, until I finally sliced it in half with that first godet, then kept the swishability train going.

I don't normally go for godets at CF, I feel like it's the Georgia O'Keefe of fabric placement...but it's better than a schlong.


The braided straps were made out of those godet scraps, and the placement came about after much hemming and hawing.

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

Hemming and hawing. I wonder if that phrase has anything to do with sewing? What is hawing, exactly?

oonaballoona | a sewing blog by marcy harriell | braided maxi dress

WELL. I'M A VERITABLE HUMMINGBIRD BRAIN OF THOUGHTS TODAY. I have so many summer sewing ideas in my head, I can't think straight! That's me, looking off into the hot city sky, imagining ALL THE DRESSES!!!!!

How 'bout you? Got any perfect summer dress patterns planned? Do tell, I'm stocking up!

38 comments:

  1. These braided straps are so interesting and lovely! And your photo editing skillz have produced some very fun photos here.

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  2. I love this so much, braided straps, print, and glitchy matrix. All of it.

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  3. Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee......okay I am doing my very best to type but I cannot stop laughing at the print placement situation. Lord Have Mercy. Hah, hah, haaaaaahhhhhhh!!! It's gonna take me a week to stop laughing at that - and only if I don't get reminded of it.

    On a sewing note, Oona this dress is wonderful and beautiful. What a great drape job. I too got a panel or two of this but when it arrived - it was too much for my current circumstances so I put it in the future pile to deal with later. I must get a form. The straps & bodice is a masterpiece. Well done my friend.

    Given the way movies music and tv shows are these days it seems a chore to avoid the porn. Now we have to be weary in fabric placement..?..?..Haa, haa, haa, haa...

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    1. hahahaaaa, THERE IS DANGER EVERYWHERE! it seems i am in a neverending dance with print placement! i guess that happens when you go for crazy prints ;)). hope you tackle this pint soon!

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  4. Love the glitchy buildings! I think they add to the whole futuristic/sci-fi affect. And I appreciate your approach to sewing. It's giving me confidence to just hack my way through!

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    1. thank you Trisha! hackery is what got me here...it might not always work, but it all adds up to learning.

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  5. Love the glitchy buildings! I think they add to the whole futuristic/sci-fi affect. And I appreciate your approach to sewing. It's giving me confidence to just hack my way through!

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  6. To "haw" is to go to the left, as in "gee" and "haw" when driving a team, or when directing one's mule which way to turn while plowing a field.

    I think in this instance, though, it is part of the whole "hem and haw" phrase; which refers to those indeterminate grunting noises one makes when trying to come to a decision. ("Hmmmmm" and "huh" probably more accurate phonetic spellings.)

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    1. YES. THAT IS AWESOME. so much better than a google answer!

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  7. Love the braided straps and the open back. It looks great on you!

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  8. Girl, we should do some photo editing together. We go about it in the same fashion - haphazardly.

    I don't have any dresses planned for the summer. However, I have lots of lingerie in the works.

    The back of that dress could be a Madalynne bra. Just sayin...

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    1. i know, right?! i've been wanting to do a strappy back forever, but i don't quite have the lingerie bug ;)

      a photoediting jam session actually sounds amazing.

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  9. I love your blog. I always feel like I'm taking a trip through the looking glass - everything is bright and fun and happy. This dress is terrific and the braided straps really are the cherry on the cupcake of it.

    I'm sewing with lots of linen since it's super hot here. So hot!

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    1. through the looking glass- i love that! maybe that's where i'm going when editing pics!

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  10. That's a lovely dress! And your photo editing skills are pretty good already! It totally works :)

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  11. Luv'n the straps and braid work! Cute dress! Buildings look good too! LOL!!!

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  12. Loving the strap action. I edited some photos for the first time last week and WHAT HAVE I BEEN MISSING OUT ON?!

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  13. Oh hahahaha, love the reasoning behind your addition of the godets. Too funny. I already left a comment on the MSN but I LURVE this dress! Also I'm totally copying your braided straps idea.

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    1. ooooo amanda, i cannot wait to see what you do with straps! i am 100% sure i'm going to copy your finishing technique when you do...

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  14. The buildings at the back are leaning forward to try and get a better look at you in your gorgeous frock!

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    1. haha!!! i did wonder how many people were staring at the crazy lady across the street...

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  15. Once again you nailed it! I swear you are definitely one of my sewing SHERO'S! OMG the braiding yes Love it!
    Hugs
    Shari
    MyDailyThreadz.me

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  16. Love this photo hacks & the dress isn't bad either ;-) OK seriously you look AMAZING!

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  17. I love this so much! The godets are inspired and the braided straps are giving me LIFE!!!

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    1. girl, off topic: last night, i dreamt i saw you in a garden in texas, and gave you a hug. we were both on our way to blog photos. that's pretty much the extent of the dream, but it was a good one!

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  18. I don't often see a dress that I think I must have, but this might just be the exception....that back detail is GORGEOUS!!

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  19. It's gorgeous! A great print and I love your braiding. I also have a head full of summer sewing plans but the weather is really screwing with my sewing mojo. I keep feeling tempted to go back to sewing garments with long sleeves.

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    1. yeah, it's weirdly chilly here in the mornings. i'm fighting it anyways, going with the "if you sew it , it will come" mantra...

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  20. Omggg the braided straps are the greatest thing ever. Your photos are inspirational haha, with and without the awesome editing (are you on a roof??).
    I'm just chilling in a beanie and hoodie in a country town, dreaming of Summer dresses and sky-rises!

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    1. thank you! and yep, it's a roof--not nearly as dangerous as it looks, it has a major slope and i'm on the bottom of it. (had to reassure my parents of that, the first time i used this location ;)

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  21. This dress is amazing and you are stunning! Really fantastic job.

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  22. Fantastic braids! I may have to borrow that idea. Also, your hair looks great with that neckline. Meanwhile I'm just starting on a striped shift dress for summer. Seems kind of boring at this beginning stage, but sometimes my boring makes get worn the most.

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  23. Gorgeous dress!!
    I always thought it was "humming and hawing", as in making a lot of useless noise while not getting very far.

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  24. Love this! The godets make it so extra swishy! Love!

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  25. You're giving me super summer vibes but I'm so sad to not be enjoying a new york sunny day

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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!