Found gown and tunic

Well, Roxanne and I finished a couple of found-fabric pieces today. It is satin-y fabric, slick and slippery. The colors we found were jewel tones of burgundy and royal blue. There was quite a bit of the burgundy and not much of the blue. At the beginning of the summer, we cut out many items, most of which have been sewn up, now, but there are still a few things in the basket.

The first item from the burgundy fabric was a nightgown for Roxanne. I had a piece of flat lace that we could use for an embellishment of the neckband, and we made a very simple, long gown with raglan sleeves, gathered into a neckband. The second was a tunic top. The bodice of the top is made of the blue, and the neckband and body of the tunic are out of the burgundy fabric. The tunic is sleeveless.

Both of these garments have neckbands, and the one for the tunic had a curving kind of key-hole shape. It was a challenge, but we got it put together. On the gown, instead of sewing the outer layer of the band on first, we sewed the inside layer on first, and then folded the outer layer down for the finishing seam. It worked well, to be able to finish that seam in that order, instead of the other way round, where if you sew on top, there are places that you miss underneath, and if you sew it inside, the thread isn't where you want it on the outside of the garment.

I got pictures of the gown, but when Roxanne tried on her tunic, we found it was too small around (so I didn't take her picture in it). Does that mean it isn't useful? NO WAY! We will probably work on some embroidered embellishment of the neckband, and then donate it to the women's shelter. I did get photos of the gown, front and back, modeled by Roxanne (Hi Roxanne!), who is very happy to have a new nightgown.

My Challenge

So, I finally figured out my personal, creative challenge. I've been looking for it. I've been hunting for it. I've been gazing longingly at the challenges of others. Of course my challenge was here all along, like they are. I just couldn't see it for the trees. Or maybe the sewing...

So, what is my challenge? To make something useful from found fabric. Yeah, you already know this if you read my other blog. Still... challenge, meet blog readers, blog readers, meet challenge. Now, play nice.

For this entry, I'm going to talk about something I've already made that fits into the found fabric challenge. See, I told you it is something that I was doing anyway, but not keeping a record of. Now, I'm gonna.

My first found fabrics were some knits that I inherited from my mom. She had gotten the piece I used to make sheets, or maybe curtains for our travel trailer, which isn't around any more, either. I looked and looked for a lightweight cotton knit sleep shirt this summer, and finally made one. Roxanne (in case you don't know, Roxanne is my cousin, and we sew together about once a week, and we both love it!) and I also used the various knits from this stash to make her a gown, to make her grandson some pajamas, and to make t-shirts for her grandson and her 4 nephews.

I'll see about adding photos of some of those other things as I can. My sleep shirt - with matching shorts for lounging - is a light, minty green with dots and flowers. Just perfect for sleeping through. And, yes, my lovely model is better known as an office chair.

Resources

One of my last posts here was how reading Threads Magazine was giving me inspiration, from learning techniques, to being inspired by the creativity of others. Tonight I'm going to make note of a third avenue of inspiration... additional resources.

The editions of the Magazine that I've been reading are not incredibly recent, many more than 10 years old. Did I mention they were free to me? Yeah. So, styles have changed, but techniques have not, so I'm still getting some good information. Including from the advertisements. I've been looking up some of them online, and getting more places to look, be inspired, and shop. Some of the businesses and links are old, or no longer there, but some are fabulous.

Threads Magazine - I shouldn't be so surprised - is also online these days. Check it out if you haven't. It's more than sewing, and they have many techniques online. Enjoy!

Learning something from Gordon Ramsey

Ok, I'll admit it, every once in a while I watch Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, a show in which English chef Gordon Ramsey visits a floundering restaurant and tries to put things right. Because he is who he is, and uses bad language, and calls things like he sees them, he rocks the boat, and drama ensues... and then its television.

On the other hand, when it comes to restaurants, and cooking, the man knows his business. The messages he gives to the restaurant owners and employees are sound. A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode where Gordon went around the countryside near where the restaurant he was working on that week was located. He looked for the fresh, locally grown produce that he knew would make a difference in what was being served. Fresh ingredients = flavor. When he brought the staff apples, they were like, "yeah, apples, big deal." His response? If you don't love your ingredients, how can you love your cooking?

So my brain cogitated over this idea for a couple of weeks, combining it with the reading I'd been doing (see previous post) until today, when it flashed to me. This is true for sewing/crafting too. If you don't love your materials, and know what to do with them, you're just making things. The creative joy, the spark, can continue as you learn more about your materials, practice more, learn and try more techniques. You may find your niche, or you may branch out, either way, the more you love what you are doing, the more inspired you will be. Hmmmm I think I feel a trip to the fabric store coming on... and the bead store, and....

reading and learning

I know that reading professionally can help keep one up on the latest techniques and theories. I do it when I can, and when in search of something that I feel my students use.

This summer, my friend Cindy cleared out some of her sewing magazines, and gave them to me to take to GHS to give to the sewing teacher there. While they are awaiting transportation, I've been looking through back copies of Threads Magazine. This is a magazine about sewing techniques, fashion techniques, quilting techniques, and evening knitting and beading techniques. Yeah, I bet you get the idea.

Most of the time - and one of the reasons I had never bothered to subscribe to Threads - I really could skim through it without reading many of the articles. Mostly they didn't apply to what I needed, or were beyond my useful skill knowledge. Now, however, with a year of sewing with Roxanne behind me - a year of sewing on an almost weekly basis - I have found some meaningful and useful information in several issues. For instance, last year, I did applique on a couple of garments, a denim jumper for Roxanne, and Raine's bionicle Halloween costume. In the first issue I looked at, there was an article by someone who designed appliqued garments, and appliqued the professional designer garments. The techniques that were written about meant something to me because of the experience I had. Where once I really had not been a fan of doing applique (but an admirer of the work of others), I feel the possibilities are opening up, and the creative juices are flowing.

There are also articles that I look at and realize I'm not quite ready for yet... a lot of the pattern modification, for instance. I'm getting there... I recognize what they are trying to do, but my brain and creativity aren't ready to get wrapped around it yet. On the other hand, I have asked Vic to include me in on some of her next projects to be created by draping. When I have done that, a little more, I'll feel more ready to cut up a pattern more drastically. When I get there, I bet I'll have a blast with it.

In the meantime, I think I will create a reference library of articles for myself, so that I can look back as I try out some of these new-to-me techniques, and advancements on my knowledge.

Knitted Socks... With Heels

I finished the pair of heeled socks this evening. I made them for Raine, because the smaller size would serve better when what I was really trying to do was make the heeled socks. I used a smaller yarn and smaller needles than I had with the first pair. I think they turned out pretty well.

I'm looking forward to starting another pair, something not in wool, or at least not completely, so they will be cooler. I also think they need to be washable. I mean, socks. Really. I also want them to be not in acrylic yarn. I would like to step up on my materials.

Being creative can happen in any price point, and I'm pretty happy about that, but the quality of materials can make a big difference in the finished product. In fabrics, a higher thread count can make all the difference in the feel of the fabric, something that is an important part of choosing a fabric for me. Now, of course, I am all for getting something on sale, and I do have a budget. Higher prices mean fewer projects. Still, I've become more particular about what fabrics I choose. Now, I'm learning about yarns.

Accepting the Challenge

After quite a while of poo-pooing the show, even though a good friend of mine repeatedly told me I would like it, I finally got hooked on Project Runway. I have enjoyed seeing how each of the designers meets the weekly challenges, and have thoughtfully considered what I would have come up with. Like Wheel of Fortune, I'm sure thinking without time limits or the pressure that comes from being in a competition, AND on television gives me a certain advantage. Of course, as I've mentioned before, I'm sure that all involved with that program would consider me highly style-impaired.

Still, I was offered a challenge, and I've taken up the gauntlet. Last week, when Raine and I were shopping we looked around to see if they had a dressy top that she liked. Now, understand that Raine does not wear dresses, or pink, or anything too "girly." My tomboy has definite ideas of style and fashion. I'm fine with that, but she does need something to wear on those "dress-up" occasions. She said, "Why don't YOU make it, Mom?" I said, "yeah, yeah," like one does and we went on from there. Then, yesterday, it came back to me. Why DON'T I make it? I accepted the challenge.

Today, Ron and I went shopping, including to Jo-Ann's and the Asian influenced brocades were on sale. Yay! I picked out two. One that was a black background that has a red flower, and some black textural designs, and one that is a red background, with black flowers in it. I've already passed the first test. I showed Raine the fabrics, and she liked them. Tomorrow, Dev and I are going to look through the patterns that she has, and that I have to see what combination we will use for her new dressy top. The next time she sees it, it will be clothes. Then, the true test.