Sew Wrong

Where in the World??

Heh, I guess that last blog post didn’t prove to be true at all, did it? I finally got my *new* laptop yesterday after Dell delayed the shipment…twice. Plus, the borrowed laptop I was using would only let me use it for 20 minutes since it would then overheat and shut off.

So for the last two weeks, I’ve been only able to do important stuff, like check email and pay bills. Oh, and order some fabric…

This is the fabric that I ordered for the Mini Wardrobe Contest but didn’t have a swatch for for my storyboard. Isn’t it to die for?? It looks like something straight from the Anthropologie catalog. I whipped this up into my good ol’ standby pattern for knit tops. Pictures to follow (after I wash it).

Just cut this knit out this week, but haven’t gotten that far along with it. I can tell though, with the drapey neckline, the stripes are going to look really cool. This will be my stand in top for the contest if it looks better with everything than the floral tee.

And now, I present you my new friend Ethel. I’m a little…unsure how she’s going to work out with me. She’s much broader through the shoulders than I am, and (surprisingly) much flatter than I am. All of her bust measurement is through how wide around she is, and not with how much she can fill out her shirt.

See? Looks how flat she is in my suit jacket:

Poor thing, she’s like a prepubescent 12-year old girl.

So I adjusted her down to the smallest measurement, bought a sew-in swimsuit bra for her, and pinned it to her and stuffed it with batting. I’m not sure how it’ll work, but at least it’ll give a more accurate depiction of how a top will fit. She’s been a great help so far in modeling the overall look of a garment. It’s nice to step back from a project and take an objective look at what you’re looking on. It’s easier to judge a garment when it’s not on you!

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Mini Wardrobe Contest II

Unlike the past Mini Wardrobe Contest this year, I actually think I’ll have time to complete this one. This challenge represents the transition in my wardrobe from college student to first job. Each piece can be dressed down or dressed up, depending on what it’s paired with.

(from Pattern Review)
The 3/3/4 Mini-wardrobe Contest.

This is a contest to create a 4-piece wardrobe in 4 weeks. You will determine what clothing pieces you use in your wardrobe.

The catch is you must include (at least):

-3 different types of garments
-3 different colors in the wardrobe

and they must combine to make

-4 distinct, different outfits.

All pieces must coordinate with each other.


Since my job requires me to wear all black with 10% color, it makes this contest a bit of a challenge. I want to make a mini work wardrobe, but being that it has to be predominantly black, the only way I can incorporate color requirement into the wardrobe is by using a multi-colored fabric for the long sleeved top. I’ve seen some of the other wardrobe storyboards, and for the most part, they’re using a lot more colors in each garment than I am.

This is also just a rough draft of my storyboard as well. I ordered the stripey fabric last night off of Gorgeous Fabrics (c’mon, she’s having a sale!) as well as an Anthropologie-like floral print. I couldn’t post the picture of the floral print since I bought the last yard and the picture is no longer available. But that fabric is to be my back up for this top if the long sleeved one doesn’t work out. Or if I like the floral print better for this challenge!

So here’s the patterns I’m using:
Jacket: Butterick 4610
Top: Vogue 2945
Pants: Vogue 1051
Skirt: McCall 5523

And the outfits:
1. Jacket/Top/Skirt
2. Jacket/Top/Pants
3. Top/Skirt
4. Top/Pants

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