Infinity Banana

Yikes! It's been a while since I've posted. Sorry. Life.

Good news, though! I made my first article of clothing for another person! Soul sister of mine, S, professed a deep love of my Palindrome Dress, so I made her a variation... here's how it went down:

S: I love this dress!
Me: Bring me the fabric and a Diet Dr. Pepper and I'll make you one!
S: I can pay you.
Me: How about you don't pay me, but if I screw up you don't hate me either.
S: Deal.

S showed up with some fabulous stretchy banana fabric. And two months later (I got distracted), voila:
Fabric: Banana yellow cotton jersey - 50% stretch, fabric.com
Pattern: Palindrome
Belt: Banana (Republic)

Why am I calling this dress Infinity Banana, you may ask. Let's break it down.

Infinity:
I did use the same pattern as my Palindrome dress - but the fabric S chose was slightly see through. I decided to do a double layer of fabric. My brilliant idea was to have the inside layer be like a facing for the arm holes and neckline. I lined it up and sewed the pieces together as such - but when I went to turn it inside out, I found that I had turned the dress into an infinity circle. You could keep turning it forever!

A bunch of stitch ripping later, I settled on the facing technique for the neckline only. I ended up just hemming the armholes.

The lining side is also a little shorter than the outer dress, which makes the bottom of the dress a little translucent.

Banana:
I'm not going to explain this. I know you get it. I would, however, like to recall the wonderful palindrome "yo, banana boy!"

S was a willing model, so I give you Two More Views.

Dancing:
Showing off the Saab:

Needless to say, making clothing for others makes me nervous. The fabric sucked itself into the sewing machine several times and I nearly panicked. It's not like the fabric was super expensive or anything - my competence was just on stage, I guess! I'm happy with how it ultimately came out, though. What was the first article of clothing you ever made for someone else? Did it make you nervous?

Palindrome Dress!

Yes, ma'am, this dress is the same backwards and forwards, right to left and left to right. A veritable palindrome. To boot: I made it with one pattern piece - the first thing I've drafted myself.

But before we get to the dress, a few other palindrome faves:

Lived on Decaf; faced no Devil!

Yo, banana boy!

Party boobytrap!

As you can see, my policy is to end all palindromes with an exclamation point. It is absolutely necessary, thanks for asking ;)

Pattern: No lemon, no melon! (no pattern)
Fabric: Cotton jersey, from fabric.com
Belt: Vintage

My Process

I started with this Old Navy dress from several years ago. It's a knit, and I like how it fits me.

I folded the dress in half and marked the arm hole and hem on (what I think is) quilting interfacing with dots on it. I found it with the interfacing at Hancock Fabrics and figured I could use it to copy and alter patterns. I traced the waist and skirt, adding 5/8" for seams.


I then used my trusty french curve to form the arm holes and neckline.

I cut the pattern piece out of the interfacing. I then pinned and cut two out of my striped fabric (one for the front and one for the back), placing the straight side of the pattern piece on the fold. I was also careful to match the stripes along the side seam. I used the stripe right under the arm as a guide.

Finally, I turned in the arm holes, neck line, and hem by 1/4". It was here that I realized this all may be easier with a serger. Someday....someday.



As you can see, the dress is the same backwards and forwards. I finished just in time for fireworks.


The Truth: My original idea for this fabric was a beach cover up (before I botched my July 4th dress.) Given my intentions, I think I can count this dress toward beachwear for The Summer Essentials Sew Along 2011. Tragically, I only get to the beach about once a year - so having a dress/cover up is handy and efficient. I know this is cheating a little... forgive me?


One more sewing palindrome to sign off? So many dynamos! (over at The Summer Essentials Sew Along flikr group...)

Summer Essentials Sew-Along: The Sundress

Finally, I succeeded at making something for the Summer Essentials Sew-Along! After a major sundress FAIL (aka: stripes that look like cartoon prison wear) I decided on a knit maxi dress.


Pattern: Simplicity 2219
Size I used: 12
Size I should have used: 8
Fabric: Rayon/Spandex jersey
Notable traits: an elastic under the bosom

Once again, I trusted the pattern and made a size that corresponds to my measurements (touting only a 1/2 in. ease). Result: an enormous dress. It may have been that the fabric is four-way stretch, but really people, c'mon. Here's a little America's Next Top Model pose for you:


And that's all folks! Check out the Summer Essentials Sew-Along! Some very cool clothes are going on... on the flickr site!

Lazy Louisiana Dress

This dress is "lazy" on multiple levels:

• It's maxi length and jersey fabric means you don't have to shave your legs and you can eat as much as you want... and still look elegant.
  
• I sewed bra cups into the bodice - the stiff kind - so you don't have to wear a bra with it.
• I was lazy on the finishing - I used the machine where I should have slip stitched, I didn't understitch the lining... whatever... at least I hemmed it.
  
• It took me three weeks to make this dress because some nights I just wanted to come home and watch House Hunters International on HGTV. (I mean, it's important for me to know what to look for in a villa in Belize, right?)

But it was all worth it... because this dress is comfortable, flattering, and keeps the girls in their places. I wore it to pick up Gus for the evening... he lit up when he saw it! This fabric is a favorite of his (he doesn't like the florals I pick out.) I must admit - I'm a sucker for chartreuse and fushia together. Check out the lovely gathering at the waist:

Technical Aspects: I used Butterick B5491 for this dress. The bodice is lined - which included a magnificent line of stitching the traced the entire edge of the bodice piece...

My other project right now is trying to figure out the best way to photograph myself in the dresses I make. I'm a complete amateur, using my boyfriend's camera. Half the time the photos are just ever so slightly blurry. I tried taking photos on my patio today... but the Louisiana humidity fogged up the lens and it took me a while to catch on to the cause of the haziness. Here are some examples:

Tips on sewing project portraiture are greatly welcomed!