9.17.2020

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope!

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

Don't you dare tell me summer is over when I am sitting here, RIGHT THIS VERY HOT MINUTE, in the sunshine, in seven yards of wax print.

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

Did I say seven? Indeed I did! I nabbed one lonely yard of this gorgeous explosion of flowers from House of Mami Wata, and then my parents, completely on the same wavelength and completely unaware, sent me a standard six-yard cut for my birthday! They sent me a BUNCH of goodies, actually--this is the first of four technicolor prints they chose.

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

A dear friend of ours--a civilian non-sewist, mind you--has been peeking in on my adventures in fashion, and told Rob he thought I lived "outside the spectrum of color." After hearing that, forget it. You could use my inflated head to power the Goodyear Blimp.

I get my penchant for technicolor from my parents, no question. Our house, our clothing, even our taste in music was as colorful and mixed as our family of four. (Though I must add a disclaimer, Brother Beast went rogue in high school and started dressing all black, head-to-toe. His color comes from head-to-toe tattoos. Now THAT is commitment to color.)

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

With seven yards suddenly on my hands, I wanted to make the sweepiest, fullest maxi I could think up. All that's left from the making of this bad boy is one long strip of fabric, about 6 inches wide by 2 feet long. Enough to add a little ruffly sleeve, or maybe a contrast fabric for another dress...

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

YES IT IS ENOUGH FOR A MASK AND NOPE I AM NOT MAKING A MATCHING MASK FOR IT. THAT'S RIGHT! I STAMP MY FEET AND CLENCH MY FISTS!!! 

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

Sorry, after sewing around 400 masks, I needed that. Don't get me wrong, I'm a thousand percent #TeamMask (and also Science Is Real, please vote, please god vote), but on the sewing front, I'm a little...spent. Besides which, this baby is a poly-cotton blend, and me no likey the poly for breathability around the mouth and nose region. Who would have ever thought that would be a consideration in garment making? Who would have ever thought a LOT of things, for that matter...

(HoMW is very good, by the way, about listing fabric content. Many of her prints are 100% cotton. And many of them became aforementioned masks.)

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

This is a self-drafted bodice, which I used to make three versions of this dress. On my YT channel, I mentioned I'd be putting up suggestions on what you can use to get this look--here's the thing, any bodice pattern with princess/prince/vertical seams will get you here, and I'm wrangling up a how-to video for you on that. But, for example, if you've got McCalls 8108, 8103 or 8094 in your stash, you're golden. Just take your underbust measurement, throw it in a circle skirt calculator, and attach the skirt at the bodice seam for 8108 and 8103. For 8094 (the closest match to what I did) you would slash the pattern at the underbust, adding seam allowance.

I used a half circle skirt (my favorite, lots of fullness with just one seam at CB!), and the addition of two gigantic gathered tiers, cut on the crossgrain, gave me the maximum swish I wanted.

Outside the Spectrum of Color...and the Pattern Envelope! | oonaballoona by marcy harriell

By the way, notice there are three current pattern options you can use to get this look, all of which came out this Spring/Summer? At an eventual point in your sewing, you learn that a lot of the new big 4 releases are versions of what you already have. And, while it's lovely to buy another pattern and go to town from start to finish, it's also wonderful to look at what you have, and how you can achieve a new look by adding your own tweaks.

Alright, I've got some shorts to make for Rob, who said that this dress makes me look like I'm carrying around my own personal spotlight. HOW CAN I REFUSE HIM SHORTS AFTER THAT. 

I'd love to hear about what you've been sewing! Wherever you are in the world, are you sticking with summer? Or onto The Season That Shall Not Yet Be Named? Do tell. You know, cuz I'm going to NEED breaks from figuring out my man's crotch curve. And sewing talk is the best break.

29 comments:

  1. This dress is so beautiful. You look stunning (as always). I hope you do find the right project to add a Technicolor ruffle to - it would absolutely pop!

    I've just finished sewing some multicolour felt boxes to organise clothes in my wardrobe. Got to use a millinery technique of steaming felt for sharp corners. I moved house in June and it always takes a few months to get my garment sew-jo back. Top of the list now is figuring out that 'internet sensation Japanese jumper' made of 4 triangles. The fabric is a stripey knit so things are going to get a bit wacky/twisty!

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    1. Ooooh having your closet organized that way must make it so inspiring!

      I have a feeling I tried this jumper on at an Anthro a couple years back...It draped so nicely and was truly just 4 triangles. I even snapped a pic to suss out the style lines. I hope your sewjo kicks in!

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  2. Ohhh, love that dress!!! The tiers and the colors are marvelous!

    I used to buy all the patterns...but I've caught on as well! It only took years! Although, I do scope them out for interesting techniques. And let's be real...sometimes I just like to buy new...but the big pattern buying thrills are in the past for me, I'm afraid.

    For sewing, I got a new serger today so after work, I figured out how to thread it and then I made my hubby a pair of buttery soft boxer briefs...with the super plush waist elastic. It's an odd inaugural sew...but I only had limited time and I knew I could get them done! :)

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    1. Now, okay, you win ALL the awards....first serged garment was a pair of boxers? PLEASE YODA DON’T LET ROB SEE THIS 🤣🤣🤣 especially the way you’ve described them. I’ll be on the hook!

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  3. I am so glad for Rob because you have enough fabric for Rob's shorts. I can guess that he would be devastated if that were not so.
    Wonderful dress!

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    1. It’s all he wants, really....a picture of us in matching outfits 😬😉

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  4. LOVE LOVE LOVE this so much! I wish you could come enjoy our summer, always be in summer. <3

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    1. I have long considered a life where we chase summer around the globe...

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  5. Gorgeous dress Marcy! Warm? You must not be in New York, where it's now 50 degrees, and the leaves are turning TECHNICOLORS! Love this season but not the nameless one to come...

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    1. Haha! Nope we’re still down south! NY has a habit of slamming the door shut on summer come September 1. But I do love those leaves!

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  6. That dress is so very very YOU! It, and you, almost leap off my screen with happiness. Great photographer too.

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    1. Thank you! The mural helped tremendously, as this one was me with a timer 😁

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  7. Howdy! Once again, I must express my concern that it is such a shame you are afraid of color. BWA HA HA HA HA!!!

    Am using up scraps of upholstery samples from a long-ago furniture marked in High Point, NC to make some whack-a-doodle lined jackets and skirts. Jackets and skirts are prim in silhouette, crazy in fabric combos.

    Have only sewn around 200 masks, my ownself, so far. But, my service sorority sisters want me to make some as a fundraiser, so ... I'll make some for a fundraiser.

    AND, our annual family Christmas party (which is always themed in rich and varied ways) will be "Merry Chrismask" this year. So I need to get cracking on making some festive facial covers for the horde of relatives who will descend on my sister's home this winter.

    Feel free to steal the theme. It's not copyrighted or anything.

    Love to you and the Rob boy and all your families.

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    1. Those whackadoodle jackets sound FABULOUS. I just bought some "outdoor fabric" for an evening gown!

      I may very well steal that theme. That is genius. I have a feeling I'm not done with mask requests, so might as well add another level of extra 😬

      Love to y'all, too!❤️

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  8. I recall the video of your birthday opening! Was hoping to see that glorious fabric made in a swishy twirly dress. You have fulfilled my dreams. So Beautiful!!!!!
    Pegeth

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  9. I love your dress. Wherever you wear it, anybody that sees you can't help but grin ear to ear. Now, when you and Rob have matching outfits, the smiles will be whole body.

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  10. What a lovely dress. I love your colors!

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  11. Gorgeous, happy, inspirational - the dress and you! Many blessings!

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  12. Oona, oh Oona,
    of planet and hair,
    aligned in a "SHeclipse,
    of tiers on a dare.

    The hemline hangs low,
    head thrown back high,
    no poly/cotton boxers,
    lest an unhappy guy.

    We travel with you,
    by picture and post,
    city limits beckon,
    come home to your coast.

    The Arkansas summer,
    pastoral, sublime,
    weather sez, Oona,
    it's homeward time.

    So gather your Rob,
    scissors and pearls,
    a triangular park,
    yearns for your twirls.

    And us in the balcony,
    watch all amazed,
    as you traipse to the city,
    in a segue, unphased.

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    1. Between these lovely verses and (my new favorite word) "Sheclipse" you just might coax me back to the city ❤️

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  13. Thanks for adding joy and color to the world.

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  14. Oh Miss Ooona Balloona you surely are technicolor itself.

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  15. Well what can I say, this is so you! I could never wear colours like these, they would swallow me up but you wear them perfectly and with flair. You definitely make the world a brighter place.

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    1. We've all got our style! I love to see someone rock all neutrals if it's their thing! (And, 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!