Pitchinwoo

Wadder Weekend

Exams were done and grades were in. I handed in my stapler and three-hole punch (this is actually a long nasty story, serious three hole punch nastiness). Then I was ready to start sewing proper. I'd been making runs to the fabric store regularly with the assistance of my lovely boyfriend/translator Andres. I was stocked and read to go. I made a skirt, too bulky....fail. I made a dress, too sheer and low-cut....fail. I made another skirt, too gappy....fail. I made a striped pink dress, too tight.....fail.

I had two sorta successes....at least successful enough to pack without any assurance that I will actually wear them. One pair of long shorts from Burda and a patternless skirt. If I wear them I'll take pictures.

Until then I will review the Burda Pattern that I used.

Cropped Trousers

 

First of all the instructions are complete crap. At one part it starts talking about the front skirt panel. Really I'm making a skirt now am I. So if you need to follow instructions I'd definitely bypass the pattern. Plus don't bother buying the trouser version of these pants. I am pretty certain this is the same pattern, but with the addendum of "add elastic at the cuff". They were too long on me to even be pants. But I'm 5'5" and wear a size 8, which are always long on me.....stumpy legs.

Anyhow I'm going to try to get a pic of these up here soon. Traveling right now makes it difficult. I don't think the priest and Hasidic Jew sitting in the airport lounge with me would appreciate a homemade fashion show.

 

Remembrances of Dresses Past : Vintage Dresses Loved and Lost. Part 1

Years ago the vast majority of my closet was vintage. Working in a thrift store before the entire vintage mania had many perks. Three years ago I did something I never ever thought I would do... sell every stitch of my vintage wardrobe. It paid for 3 months in Paris. As you know from my estomago post on my other blog I lost 87 lbs. None of my vintage fits anymore and I absolutely refuse to have plus size vintage to be taken in. Unfortunately I sold them on ebay and the woman who bought them sent me an email about how big they were on her and how she had to have them all taken in. This was quite a slap in the face as I let her pay much later than the normal time period and commiserated with her on her weight woes. And here I get the "dude you are so much fatter than me" email. Ughhh yeah, ok maybe I'm a little bitter and overly sensitive. Anyhow this dress was one of my favorite and now it's been unwittingly downsized. 

This dress was my "go-to" dress for nearly every occasion. Highlights include: Green Bay Rockin' 50's Fest 2002, Numerous Viva Las Vegas and High Noon at the Buddy Holly Festival in Lubbock Tx. I'm going to try to round-up some pictures of me actually in the dress.

I miss this dress and I wish it a good life, even if it was horribly violated to become thinner.

 

 

The American Look : Mid-century Modern Design

One of the things I love most about mid-century modern design is the fact that all your objects in the home were designed to not only be functional but innovative in design, especially when looking at new shapes.

Since I move frequently I have a policy, if it isn't functional I don't collect it. I never buy something just because it will do. I think it's common these days to buy something thinking that later you'll buy the item that "fits". Although I don't always succeed I try to be conscious of the disposable attitude. But I find here in Colombia I will buy things I would NEVER allow into my home in the states. I do this knowing that I won't be bringing it back to the states and I'll be selling it here. There is no problem finding buyers for second hand goods here as they are rare because they generally get passed through families.It's easier to part with things when they are hideous...hence all my laminate fake wood furniture here. If I can put it together myself it must be disposable.

Yay for the everyday object!

BTW...I'm pretty sure that's not just tomato juice in that Tupperware pitcher.

When I visualize future happiness it looks like this

The Stuffed Chicken Geek Video

So I finally got around to showing the prop chicken I made for the Senior Play here. One of my lovely Juniors volunteered to demonstrate.

Coffee Date Dress : Fail

So again I tried to sew a dress without doing some accurate measurements and before making my dress form. I must have some type of psychosis when it comes to measuring. I'm scared it death of it. I have nightmares of being restrained by measuring tape and ravaged by Jake Gyllenhaal...wait no....that wasn't a nightmare...that happened. Wait no.....

Anyhow, I started the famous Coffee Date Dress from Burda Style. I didn't measure. I made a bodice at least 2 sizes too small. I cut it from the cutest fabric that reminds me of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood when the trolley goes to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. I loved all those felt puppets.

Sample of the fabric from my tiny bodice.

Maybe I'll be giving away this tiny dress as I can't bear to just leave this fabric to die.

Anyhow I was smart enough to by quite a bit of this fabric and I have enough to start again. Plus I was stupid enough to print two copies of the coffee date dress pattern. Sometimes my stupidity rocks.

Tonight I measure.....I promise.