So after all my Christmas gift making madness (more posts on those later after I fully recover. ha!), I feel the need to go back to my sewing roots and make a garment.
I am in the middle of a weight loss adventure, and while I just cinch in my work pants with a belt for now, that doesn't work for the more active use that my dancing clothes get. After a few near wardrobe malfunctions on the dance floor (note to self, ALWAYS wear nice undies dancing, even under pants. Just in case.) So I need to make a few pairs of pants in my current size to get me through until I settle down at my "forever weight" and start making visions of gorgousness that I will wear everyday because they will fit me forever. As I ride my unicorn off into the sunset. :-)
I decided to try out the Hot Patterns 1091 Wong Singh Jones Marrakesh Drawstring Pants and I am currently searching for The Perfect Fabric--although I find it difficult to buy fabrics on-line when drape is a major factor in your results and this pattern definitely qualifies. I don't want to resort to Joann's, but I may have to in order to be able to feel my way to the right drape.
If any of y'all have any suggestions for a particular .com fabric you have run across that would work for this one, please throw them my way. I do need to be able to dance (and sweat!!) in them so it has to be fairly easy care fabric. And since these are "temporary" pants, I don't want to spend gobs of cash.
Showing posts with label hot patterns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hot patterns. Show all posts
15 January 2010
10 September 2009
Something for Me
October brings one of my favorite dance events of the year, Jammin on the James. It is a weekend of workshops and all night dancing in Richmond that happens every October--last year The Husband and I ended our honeymoon there! I like it because since it is Richmond, it tends to be more laid back and less rock-star filled than D.C. events, but since it is so close to D.C., they get rockstar caliber teachers and just enough rockstar drop-ins to make it fun, not intimidating. I am good friends with the folks that organize it, I am friends with two of the four teachers and have a passing acquaintance with the other two, I know a good portion of the dancers that generally show up; just all the stuff that makes a dance good for me.
I am trying to recapture my dance mojo, and I thought one way to do it was to create a fun new dance wardrobe for Jammin, despite the fact that I am generally not sewing clothes for myself until I lose weight. This is the plan for the dances; for the workshops I am just planning to wear yoga pants and some of the 10000000000000 dance event tshirts that I have.
Friday Night
-red twirly skirt, Jalie 2681
-black knit top with red accents, Jalie 2910.
-red grannie undies (in case of extreme skirt twirlage), Jalie 2568.
Friday Late Night
-pants, Hot Patterns Karate Pants (OOP)
-embroidered/appliqued tees, designs TBD
Saturday night
-1930s style button dress, purple and black fabric from stash,Decades of Style 3007 .
-some kind of groovy hair doodad, TBD
Saturday Late Night
-pants,Hot Patterns 1084 Dragon Beauty Cargo Pants
-embroidered/appliqued tees, designs TBD
Sunday Afternoon Dance
-Ha! Like I will have the time for more! But if I do, maybe another twirly skirt or something.
I will post status updates as I get things done. This is going to be fun!
I am trying to recapture my dance mojo, and I thought one way to do it was to create a fun new dance wardrobe for Jammin, despite the fact that I am generally not sewing clothes for myself until I lose weight. This is the plan for the dances; for the workshops I am just planning to wear yoga pants and some of the 10000000000000 dance event tshirts that I have.
Friday Night
-red twirly skirt, Jalie 2681
-black knit top with red accents, Jalie 2910.
-red grannie undies (in case of extreme skirt twirlage), Jalie 2568.
Friday Late Night
-pants, Hot Patterns Karate Pants (OOP)
-embroidered/appliqued tees, designs TBD
Saturday night
-1930s style button dress, purple and black fabric from stash,Decades of Style 3007 .
-some kind of groovy hair doodad, TBD
Saturday Late Night
-pants,Hot Patterns 1084 Dragon Beauty Cargo Pants
-embroidered/appliqued tees, designs TBD
Sunday Afternoon Dance
-Ha! Like I will have the time for more! But if I do, maybe another twirly skirt or something.
I will post status updates as I get things done. This is going to be fun!
17 March 2009
Hot Patterns Almost Success
So I made the Hot Patterns Kimono dress to wear for The Husband's birthday....and he didn't like it! So I ended up wearing something else to the big dance. He very diplomatically said that it was a pretty dress, but maybe didn't show off my fabulousness quite as much as other things I have in my closet. I tend to agree. He also said it looks like a bathrobe, which I think is not the case.
Plus after I made it, I realized it is not a practical dress to wear swing dancing. I would be fiddling with that belt all night and it doesn't wrap quite enough for it to not expose all my goodies when I spin on the floor.
It is a pretty dress and I like the idea of it. But on me it doesn't quite work. Some of that is the fit--I should have done a FBA--, but some of that is also that there are very few things that I think are flattering to my current figure.
Fortunately, my current figure is changing for the better. Down 8 pounds (only 40 more to go, ha!) so far on the new workout/food plans, so yay! Maybe I will make this one again once I reach the goal weight. Or alter this one to fit, since I love the fabric combo.
Pattern Review
Pattern Description: An exotic twist on the classic wrap dress, this deliciously flattering style is designed for drapey, fluid knits like silk(y) jersey, rayon or lightweight cotton knits. Fitted wrap Dress has a shoulder-princess seamed bodice with V-neck front wrap and an optional button fastening, neatly hidden by the waist ties. Dress has 3/4 length sleeves and a below-knee length quarter-circle wrap skirt, and features contrast neckband and wide, extra-long waist ties. This great Dress is sure to become a staple of your HotPatterns wardrobe-it’s your go-to style for dressy daywear, or a low-key evening outfit. Try it with knee-high boots, a slouchy bag and a pashmina for a daytime diva look, or add your favorite heels and an exotic clutch for an easy after-5 ensemble.
Fabric Used: Scraps from the Jalie dress, originally from Gorgeous Fabrics.
How were the instructions? Fine. Like most Hot Patterns, they are skimpy if you are used to the Big Four, but more than enough for a somewhat experienced seamstress.
Construction Notes: When I did the ties, I thought they were ridiculously long. But once everything was put together, I liked being able to double wrap it. I did do the optional buttons, but it felt pretty secure for a wrap dress even without them. If I wasn't so full in the bust (and thus paranoid about wardrobe malfunctions) I doubt I would have bothered.
The dress was just the right length on me, so if you are even beginning to approach normal height, you would probably want to add a bit to be on the safe side.
Likes/Dislikes: I like the style. I didn't like the way it looked on my teapot body. This is an ongoing theme for me, so I am beginning to blame my self-image issues WAY more than the patterns.
Would you do it again? Would you recommend it? I would recommend it as it is a wrap dress that is different enough from the million other wrap dresses to stand out a bit. Plus it is a pretty easy sew and came together pretty quickly.
Conclusion: This is the closest I have come to a success with Hot Patterns. That said, it will probably languish in my closet for a while unworn until I alter it to fit a slimmer me or I give up on it and give it away.
ETA: Yes, my hair has blue streaks in it. And yes, it is intentional.
Plus after I made it, I realized it is not a practical dress to wear swing dancing. I would be fiddling with that belt all night and it doesn't wrap quite enough for it to not expose all my goodies when I spin on the floor.
It is a pretty dress and I like the idea of it. But on me it doesn't quite work. Some of that is the fit--I should have done a FBA--, but some of that is also that there are very few things that I think are flattering to my current figure.
Fortunately, my current figure is changing for the better. Down 8 pounds (only 40 more to go, ha!) so far on the new workout/food plans, so yay! Maybe I will make this one again once I reach the goal weight. Or alter this one to fit, since I love the fabric combo.
Pattern Review
Pattern Description: An exotic twist on the classic wrap dress, this deliciously flattering style is designed for drapey, fluid knits like silk(y) jersey, rayon or lightweight cotton knits. Fitted wrap Dress has a shoulder-princess seamed bodice with V-neck front wrap and an optional button fastening, neatly hidden by the waist ties. Dress has 3/4 length sleeves and a below-knee length quarter-circle wrap skirt, and features contrast neckband and wide, extra-long waist ties. This great Dress is sure to become a staple of your HotPatterns wardrobe-it’s your go-to style for dressy daywear, or a low-key evening outfit. Try it with knee-high boots, a slouchy bag and a pashmina for a daytime diva look, or add your favorite heels and an exotic clutch for an easy after-5 ensemble.
Fabric Used: Scraps from the Jalie dress, originally from Gorgeous Fabrics.
How were the instructions? Fine. Like most Hot Patterns, they are skimpy if you are used to the Big Four, but more than enough for a somewhat experienced seamstress.
Construction Notes: When I did the ties, I thought they were ridiculously long. But once everything was put together, I liked being able to double wrap it. I did do the optional buttons, but it felt pretty secure for a wrap dress even without them. If I wasn't so full in the bust (and thus paranoid about wardrobe malfunctions) I doubt I would have bothered.
The dress was just the right length on me, so if you are even beginning to approach normal height, you would probably want to add a bit to be on the safe side.
Likes/Dislikes: I like the style. I didn't like the way it looked on my teapot body. This is an ongoing theme for me, so I am beginning to blame my self-image issues WAY more than the patterns.
Would you do it again? Would you recommend it? I would recommend it as it is a wrap dress that is different enough from the million other wrap dresses to stand out a bit. Plus it is a pretty easy sew and came together pretty quickly.
Conclusion: This is the closest I have come to a success with Hot Patterns. That said, it will probably languish in my closet for a while unworn until I alter it to fit a slimmer me or I give up on it and give it away.
ETA: Yes, my hair has blue streaks in it. And yes, it is intentional.
12 March 2009
Holy Bat Ties!
I have been merrily rolling along on the Hot Patterns Kimono dress, which so far is going very well.
I was pressing the waist ties, when suddenly I realized how very very long they were. I took a picture as proof....
That is me (in my Mickey Mouse pjs, yeah!) standing on my very tippy toes holding up one of the waist ties as high as I could. Granted, I am slightly above hobbit height, but STILL, those are some Seriously Long Ties. And these aren't even as long as the pattern called for because I ran out of fabric and had to shorten them a good 6-10 inches!!
And if your recognize that fabric, yes I am using the scraps from the Jalie dress I made for a coworker. Thrifty and environmentally responsible, yay!
I was pressing the waist ties, when suddenly I realized how very very long they were. I took a picture as proof....
That is me (in my Mickey Mouse pjs, yeah!) standing on my very tippy toes holding up one of the waist ties as high as I could. Granted, I am slightly above hobbit height, but STILL, those are some Seriously Long Ties. And these aren't even as long as the pattern called for because I ran out of fabric and had to shorten them a good 6-10 inches!!
And if your recognize that fabric, yes I am using the scraps from the Jalie dress I made for a coworker. Thrifty and environmentally responsible, yay!
23 January 2009
WANT WANT WANT
New Hot Patterns Wong Singh Jones Tokyo Joe Top
You will be mine. Oh yes, you will be mine.
p.s. still on bed rest from surgery last week, so nothing more than pattern lust to share. sigh.
You will be mine. Oh yes, you will be mine.
p.s. still on bed rest from surgery last week, so nothing more than pattern lust to share. sigh.
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