Summer Nights (Days?)
It was such a nice day today I had to take pictures to share!
I found two big spiders:
The view from the front of my house:
Our garden gargoyle:
The goose:
The backyard, all sunny and nice looking:
Also, here’s a sneak peak of the dress I am currently making! I finished the bodice and pinned it to Debbie:
It’s made of green dotted swiss shirting, and lined with unbleached cotton muslin. It’s based on this pattern from Retro Butterick:
I just realized, though, that I am zipperless (at least mint green zipperless). So I’ll have to pick up a zipper before I can finish, I suppose!
Friday = Linkday.
Hey everyone! Here is a gathering of interesting tidbits from the Interwebs!
Karma Cards. I dare you to buy (or make) these and leave them in public places!
Great Tips for Fabulous Posture by Gertie. No more slouching for you, Missy.
Donate to these girls - they are sending Dawn dish detergent down to help volunteers clean up the wildlife!
Read about this girl’s project - to live by the laws of Seventeen Magazine for 30 days! Her posts are all very witty and entertaining. Make sure to read all about prom, Seventeen-style!
Teacher fired for premarital sex. WTF?
How To Be More Self-Sufficient
I like this series by Drumbellina called “How to be More Self-Sufficient”. It is in three parts and covers in detail, basically, how to be greener and less expensive.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Fabrics and Seasons
Most people know that colors have seasons. They probably also know that fabrics have seasons as well. So what fabrics go with what seasons? Well, here are my opinions:
Spring and Summer
- Seersucker - this is the classic summer fabric. In fact, Senate has an official seersucker day during the summer in which every senator sports a seersucker shirt. Seersucker usually comes in gingham and stripes but can come in all types of patterns. What makes a fabric seersucker is the pucker. The threads are woven in such a way to make the fabric pucker.
- Swiss Dot - usually a light fabric, Swiss Dot is commonly found in pastel colors or in floral prints. It makes for light, flowy dresses or cute button up blouses.
- Eyelet - the tiny holes in this fabric usually feature very cute embroidery.
- Toile - this fabric always has an 18th century scene as its pattern. I in fact have a summer top made of blue toile with brown print.
- Lycra - because that’s what swimwear is made of! And if your summer is like my summer, your swimwear gets good wear.
- Silk - synthetic is my preference (as if I can afford real silk!) but you can get legit silk made from cultivated silkworm threads, as well. Silk is often featured in lingerie as silk charmeuse but habutai, dupioni, and shantung are commonly used in garments such as dresses and tops.
Fall and Winter
- Corduroy - most often seen on pants, corduroy is a very fall/winter type of fabric. It can be used in jumpers, blazers, bags, and more. It should not be used in things such as baby slings though, because the grooves (called wales) weaken its holding ability. Usually corduroy is in a solid color but sometimes it come in prints as well.
- Wool - warm, functional, and forgiving, wool is a longtime winter favorite. I like it on a-line or straight skirts, and in the form of jumpers.
- Flannel - It’s usually used on pajamas, and it looks adorable that way. Pair it with some flannel sheets and you should be as snug as a bug in a rug.
- Double knits - these can be used to replace woven fabric in form fitting garments to make for an easier, comfier fit. They are relatively heavy and compare to wovens such as wool. They don’t stretch the way most knits do but have a certain give to them.
Seasonless
- Printed cottons - you can get these in almost any color and print imaginable. This versatility lends itself to using cotton prints during any season. Just make sure you feel the fabric thoroughly before buying - to make sure it has the drape you want.
- Denim - as shorts and miniskirts in the summer, and as jeans in the winter, denims are used in any season. Just make sure you avoid using denim as a top. Especially if you’re already wearing it as a bottom.
- Lace - which season your lace belongs to wholly depends on the color. A lilac lace would be best worn in the summer, while a deep red lace, in the winter.
- Jersey - this is an extremely versatile stretch fabric. Usually it has a one way stretch and it comes in all colors, and even prints. It is frequently used in sundresses, stretchy tops, and panties.
Fifties Fashion Article
Hi you guys! I wrote a series of 3 articles for my fashion class final - one on fifties fashion, another on a dress recon, and the last a tutorial for a bag. I am not going to post them all at once - to avoid overload! - but here’s the first, on fifties fashion.
The Fashion of the 1950s
Shaving? Yes or no.
Personally I enjoy posessing hair free legs BUT I also think it is a personal decision. Of course it’s better for the environment not to, but I feel that I do a lot of green stuff that I can excuse my shaving habits.
Anyway, read this blog post by Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls. It’s interesting.
Ready To Wear items for sale
Baby top/tunic size 6-12 months
Baby dress size 16-24 mos.
Wrap skirt size S/M
Another apron!
I made another one of those cute ruffly aprons, this time for my Spanish teacher’s friend.
By the way, in case you were wondering what my working space looks like these days:
