According to my neglected blog, this dress has been in progress since May of 2018. Which is not to say it's been under the knife for ten months. The bodice, OOP Vogue 1806, was completed up to a point and then left to languish for nine or so while it waited for its other half to come into the stash.
This is the pile of fancy options I kept going, but nothing worked until I paired remnants of two fabrics, from our latest bluprint shoots. You KNOW I can't leave a remnant behind! Someone literally has to pry a scrap out of my hands and save me from myself when I'm packing up at the end of the day. That someone is usually *not* Rob. Though he knows when to tell me to put the scissors down, I don't think he'd ever take an inch of fabric out of my possession. Unless he's replacing it with a cocktail. #mightygoodman
Sewing on a whim (which is how I do most of my sewing) means surprises--which I like, because it means I have to solve a problem. Going off-pattern for the skirt makes it springy, but surprise, now that I've found the mate for the fuller shape, I gotta figure out what to do about that join between skirt and bodice. The 3D embroidered fabric would've looked great with a cascade of guipure flowers flowing across the seam, but, they're already severed. I'm thinking about appliqueing guipure flowers...maybe just the royal blue ones? Or go obsessive, and match the flowers exactly, as if I'd thought ahead in the first place? I do love a good obsession. Then 3D pink flowers trailing up? OOOO MAYBE BEADING...
And then I'm thinking this dress might be languishing another ten months. WE SHALL SEE. What's the longest sew you've ever worked on (excluding the WIPs we all have in a bag somewhere...)?
Any "first time" for a project can mean years with me. The first quilt, years. The first time I dyed fabric (well, that was more a learning curve), months.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to allow things to marinate or age in place, so that they can come together as they should. Besides, the fabrics you desire may not yet be available, so what's a little time?
With stash envy,
A man fan
My favorite man fan, letting things marinate is another thing we have in common. Like fine wine!
DeleteI've been waiting to see this dress! My vote is the pink flowers trailing up-- you've already got blue in that bottom midriff piece, so I think it would look more cohesive with the pink. But whatever you pick us going to be gorgeous, darling!
ReplyDeleteImpulsively seconding the pink here.
DeleteRob thirds it, he says it will make the dress more cohesive. Smell him! 😂
DeleteLol! I’ve got projects from years ago for the Chanel style jackets. So much hand work that I really have to be in the mood for, and there’s always the “new shiney prjoct” I’ve just got to get done first... Gotta’ love it! Your dress is gorgeous. I vote for smaller flowers going into the larger ones on the skirt...both colors, maybe? Have fun!
ReplyDeleteoh, those Chanel jackets. I don't know how y'all do it!!
DeleteDO IT!!! It's such fun! I have a costume skirt I did this with and I loves it. I wear it with black tops a lot and the waist is 4 inch wide black elastic, which just blends into the top because of it. https://www.facebook.com/ConstanceCravingNZ/photos/a.1307735522602523/1307735692602506/?type=3&theater
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOO that is gorgeous!!! And that headpiece!
DeleteI love this dress! I thought it was finished. Looks good to me.
ReplyDelete:)) thank you!
DeleteWhat a fun flower garden salad of a dress! I agree that pink flowers trailing up would be nice.
ReplyDeleteThe longest sew I've worked on? Oh dear... I have an embroidery project I started, abandoned, then picked up and finished 5 years later. I also have a nice wool coat that's most of the way done, and has been for 5 years (it's on my list of goals for this year, so we'll see how that goes).
I also have some projects I will never finish because they're early attempts which are crappy for various reasons, like the quilted petticoat I started in 2012. It would be nice to re-purpose the old crap projects in some way though.
flower garden salad-- yes!
DeleteYes, I love to repurpose the "old crap projects." It's all learning...but it's nice to have something wearable out of the learning ;)
What a stunning dress! Wearing it to the Oscars tonight?
ReplyDeletehaha! You know, I didn't even know the Oscars were on the day I posted this! Bad actor ;)
DeleteYour dress is beautiful!!
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteThe dress is looking gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have had quilts that I worked on for over a year but clothing, I'm obsessive about working on one thing at a time and getting it done. I start to feel bad about it if I take two weeks to finish something. There have been a few things (3 that I can think of) that I gave up on and never finished.
Quilts seem like they take AGES. And throwing in the towel only thrice? That has to be a record!
DeleteI have a skirt and jacket cut out and partially assembled from 1983. I may just gourd head and insert panels down the side seams of both jacket (sleeves and side seams) and skirt (side seams). I'll call it a "design decision." It's been long enough now to count as genuine vintage.
ReplyDeleteThis paragraph is everything. DO IT!
DeleteHowever it turns out, whenever it it considered "finished," where ever it is worn, it is going to be a work of art!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My fingers are crossed :)
DeleteShut the front door! I am in love with your dress. Your fabric choices are fabulous, and the color combinations are gorgeous. Love the flowers, you are a true artist. Don't worry about an idea coming for your waistband, what ever you decide will be beautiful.
ReplyDeletehahaahaaaa shut the front door! One of my favorite sayings ;)
DeleteThank you! Hopefully I'll figure it out by Spring...
You need to finish this dress. It's going to be a stunner!
ReplyDeletethank you Kathleen! I will persevere :)
DeleteThe dress is perfect as it is! Don't change a thing!
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you! we shall see...
DeleteI mostly just lurk here, started following after seeing your lovely version of the Simplicity 8014 "Not-So-Rambunctious" dress, but wanted to say I saw you on the Gone pilot last night! My boyfriend was watching it and I was like, whaatttt I know her! she's a sewing blogger. We both agreed you were multi-talented haha.
ReplyDeleteOh, ha! Oddly enough, that's the dress I go for when I have to look more "everyday" for auditions...you know denim maxi dresses are totally everyday 😂
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ReplyDeleteAll of the different fabric gives the dress wonderful texture.. Gorgeous...
ReplyDelete