4.08.2019

Complicating Simplicity 8456

Complicating Simplicity 8456

I don't know if it's here to stay or just visiting till June, but the warm weather showed UP and that means OUTSIDE PHOTOS WITH MOUTH OPEN AND NONSTOP MOVEMENT

Complicating Simplicity 8456

Complicating Simplicity 8456

Seriously, Rob is such a good sport about this. We're babysitting a kitteh this week, and she comes with a private common area nestled between battered brick buildings. The first thing Rob asked was if I wanted to take some photos.

I KNOW. 

I am obviously a lucky gal. But! There are some issues to address about this dress, as my luck ran out in my tinkering. This pattern, Simplicity 8456, is actually a slip/crinoline/petticoat vintage reprint. Of course I wanted her as a maxi dress. I made my usual tweak of raising the waist 1 1/4", but I didn't account for the lace panels that were meant to live at the top of the bodice. So I had to recreate a lower waist to get the bodice up to a level of decency. In fact, I think if I would've left the waistline as patterned, omitting the lace insets, it would have worked out perfectly! 


Raising the neckline on the fly meant she was also too tight across the center front panel. Luckily, I'd cut the CF panel as two, because I wanted to get some print mirroring in that jammie. Sadly, I'd only given myself 3/8ths SA. So I reduced the seam allowance to next to nothing, opening the seam up across the widest part of my bust to create some more breathing room...


Which ripple effect-ed into the side front gaping. Threw a dart in to fix that. Then cut a lining. *Tried* to mimic everything I did on the outer bodice, without actually taking that finished bodice apart. I went a little off in my assessment here and there, as that lining is TIGHT! The dress hung & felt great pre-lining (so great I boogied in it) but walking towards Kitteh's house with this dress on proved my teeny ta-tas need a little more room than the lining is currently permitting. Next up: cutting the lining down into a facing. No muss, no fuss, no self imposed binding.  

Complicating Simplicity 8456

(Yes, my bracelet is cracked, she was dropped by a fellow high-key performer on her very first outing. I glued her and refuse to give her up.)

The cotton sateen hails from my beloved janky store in NY's garment district. I was on the fence about it, when a customer sidled up to me and said, you want me to help you with your life? GET THAT. This delightful guy had already made several pairs of long shorts out of this. IF ONLY Rob would rock this crazyface print! I'd make him those technicolor shorts in a HEARTBEAT!

I took my dapper dude's advice, and overbought. So the shorts could still happen.

Complicating Simplicity 8456


I mean, could you imagine us in matching outfits in this print?! We would stop traffic! Help a girl out, wouldja? What say you? Let me know if you'd like to see us as a matched set...I'll read your thoughts out loud to the man and see if I can convince him. OH IT WOULD BE SO GOOD.

29 comments:

  1. Fabulous as always , you are truly incredible. i love the idea of the shorts perfectly matching even in clothes.

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  2. Poor Rob, you realize everyone is going to vote for the matches set! I’m sure they will be life changing for him.

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  3. My first thoughts were 'GAH...the fit on that bodice is PERFECTION!' After reading your post I applaud you...it clearly took some tweaking to 'get there'. And. Honestly. That side bust dart is a stellar design feature.

    LOVE. LOVE this. And, I think I might have this pattern in my stash.

    The only thing missing? Well, that would be a kitteh photo bomb...

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    1. Haha! We're always hardest on ourselves, but those close ups proved some work is needed. Never trust a mirror, as Cher wisely said.

      And I wonder why I'm ok using their common area but feel weird posting their kitteh 😂

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  4. O my Lordie Lordie this is everything. And some! Did you cut the bodice on the warp? That might be why it's being a cussed beast and not giving a tiny bit. The weft is always a bit kinder! xo
    And yes, I'll vote for Rob in these shorts!

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    1. Yeah, I knew I was rolling the dice cutting the bodice on the crossgrain, but I couldn't get the desire for vertical stripes out of my head! The lengthwise is definitely friendlier, especially as it's cotton sateen. But I'll tame her dammit!!

      Another vote for shorts OH YES

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  5. Wow! I love the colors and no one would ever know all the work that went into it. It just looks like it was born perfect.

    (BTW, I hope you don't mind me mentioning this here but I just posted something on my blog that you might want to see.)

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    1. I don't mind at all! You must be swimming in fabric!! For anyone reading this is the link:
      http://lynnsews.blogspot.com/

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  6. That fabric was meant for you and the dress is spectacular. Rob should not be forced to wear shorts that would glow quite so loud.

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  7. I dont know if Id force him to wear shorts, One must always play nice with the photographer... But A full Suit in that fabric would be dynamite. I seriously want a full 3 piece made out of that... Love it!

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    1. ok, now he has TWO best friends...

      AND A SUIT WHAAAAAAAAT THAT WOULD BE AMAZING

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  8. I love the dress !!!!! I think I would really like the kitten. Rob would rock the shorts.

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    1. Thank you! and kitteh was a charmer! She had the most adorable little squeak for a meow.

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  9. i love the side dart ,classy, love the print ,and the idea of the dress

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    1. I love describing a dart as classy :). Makes sense too--some of those great big galumphing darts out there, which really should be seams, are not so classy!

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  10. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! And oh, PLEASE! The matching set!!!

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  11. YES make the shorts for him...zlove ...that dress

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  12. YAAASSSSSSS!! The shorts are a MUST HAVE!!! That whole dress is the fabulous.

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    1. HAHA! I will tell him they're an everyday staple. Thank you :)

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  13. Outrageous!!! LOVE LOVE everything about this..

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    1. thank you! It was a surprise to fall in love with this fabric :)

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  14. Okay, if He will NOT go for the shorts, you can send me what is left over. I would totally make me wear them! Hee Hee

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    1. "I would totally make me wear them!"
      this is a VERY good pitch 😂!

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  15. Dear Oonaballoona -I have just recently discovered your blog and I must tell you, your joyful approach to making and life has given me quite a lift. I used to be a fearless sewist ( love that term) many decades ago in high school, taking apart patterns and recombining and coming up with original things. Somewhere along the long journey of work and mothering and life, I became a tired rule follower. But you have reminded me to play with my clothes and I am so enjoying it!! Love the photos, but also how you string words together. In this often dark and scary world, you radiate joy and remind me to look for it, too. Many thanks. Ps I just ordered the most beautiful big colorful print from Mood!!! Vogue 1493! Yes!

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    1. Well this is better than a cup of coffee in the morning. I am so happy to hear all of this! Thank you so much. I hope you're diving into that glorious fabric this weekend (if you haven't already!!) ❤️

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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!