Monday, November 28, 2011

Weekend Update

Hi Folks!  Back to the grind, eh?  I have lots of things I need to do today, but I wanted to show a couple of the things I accomplished over the weekend.

First off, I finished the first front of my 1958 sweater and started the second one! It's coming along so nicely:

I've already steam blocked these two pieces.

Yesterday, I finally sat down and began my muslin for the Peony dress.  A real, honest-to-goodness muslin, made out of actual muslin fabric!  My first time ever! This dress needs it; in contrast to most of the other things I've made, the fit is important on this one.  I'm only doing a muslin of the bodice though:


I traced out and cut a size two, and then ended up moving the lower front darts one inch out toward the side seams, and shortening the bust dart by one inch:



The fit is almost there, but there is a little poufiness in the stomach area that I'm not quite sure how to deal with.  I'm continuing to read the chapter on fitting in the Colette Sewing Handbook, so I'm hoping to find some info that will help me correct that.  This is the first time I'm making significant changes to a pattern, and I'm a little scared but also proud of myself!

Finally, after all the knitting and sewing were done, I sat down and put this on:

Zoya Kristen, Feel Collection winter 2011
Isn't that lovely?  The color changes depending on the light, sometimes leaning grey and other times leaning almost aqua.  I can't stop looking at it!

12 comments:

  1. Looks like you've been busy
    and have accomplished much.
    And still had time to do your nails.

    I'm off to do mine RIGHT NOW ! ! !

    Have a great week, Gail.

    hugs

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  2. Doing my nails in the evening is my reward after cooking and doing the dishes!

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  3. I'm so excited to see your Peony! Also, congratulations on your Colette feature - I loved that outfit and your Jasmine inspired me to finally purchase the pattern.

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  4. Thanks, Lizz! I'm thinking of making another Jasmine soon. I'd love to do it in silk charmeuse!

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  5. Ahem! I thought *someone* wasn't going to get the Feel collection? ;-) I'm wondering what you think of Carey, Megan, and Kendal in terms of whether they're too similar to the Cocktail Bling collex?

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  6. You must have me confused with someone else. (*blushes*) Hehehe I said I wasn't sure if I was getting them. Obvs, I did!

    I did some swatches on tape, and Carey looks pretty much the same as Cocktail Bling, but Megan and Kendal are different from either Cocktail Bling or Bangle Jangle. Megan is a lighter heather color - lighter than Bangle Jangle by far. Kendal is along the same lines as Cocktail Bling, a blue-grey lavender, but several shades lighter.

    So, Megan and Kendal = not dupes. But the Avery shade is pretty much the same as Brooch the Subject. And Carey = Cocktail Bling.

    What can I say? I'm a sucker for a set!

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  7. Oops, sorry - mixed them up. Kendal is the pinker one and Megan is the blue-grey lavender.

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  8. Haven't had a chance to post on my Peony STILL (ugh!), but I used Gertie's curved dart method for the waist darts to eat up a little bit of the excess fabric at the stomach:

    http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/2010/12/crepe-sew-along-5-pattern-alterations.html

    I would have done another muslin and changed things up a bit if I had had more time (the back darts are too pointy-- ick!), but hopefully yours will fit better than mine!

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  9. Oh, thanks for that! I'll definitely check it out! I'm also going to try the Small Bust Adjustment from the Colette book; was reading it today. But I need Hubby to help me find my Bust Apex!

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  10. The muslin is gorgeous ... you can see just from the photo what a beautiful fabric it is. I love how you process the changes that you need to make to adapt the piece to your body. It's really impressive. As for the nails, love 'em!

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  11. You're so productive! I'm so intrigued by all the Peony modifications... this is going to be a master piece!

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  12. Well, if not, at least it will be a learning experience!

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