Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Back to the Unknown

If you read my previous entry carefully, you'll notice I refer to the Rainbow Cheetah Skirt as being a "test run." Well, here's what the test run was for:


Several years ago, when the first Frozen movie was all the rage, I'd picked up an organza-like mystery fabric, with foil snowflakes on a sheer turquoise woven. Whatever it was, it needed to be hemmed, and at the time I didn't own a serger. So, it spent a good 5 years in my stash before acting as my impetus to learn the rolled hem on my serger, as well as how to make thinner seams. But when a Frozen print showed up at my door just in time for the Frozen 2 premiere... it was too perfect a pairing not to use.


To make my Frozen Mystery Fabric skirt, I the used the construction methods I'd developed on the pink stretch mesh. In this case the "top" layer was 5 yards of snowflake print gathered into a single layer, with four individual 5-yard layers of tulle underneath. In retrospect, 5 layers of stiff skirting was overkill. Live and learn, I suppose.


For the top, having just had success with a Fun tee/Delaney/Isla short-sleeved combo, I decided to go with what worked; this time in a long-sleeved version. I got brave an tried a hi-lo skirt instead of straight, which I think was a nice addition. I also shaved an inch off the bodice, so it wasn't so long-waisted on my daughter. This Frozen print looks great with jeans, and paired with the skirt, the outfit really comes alive.


It's always a good feeling to turn some long-hoarded fabric into something beautiful, and in this case I feel extra good that the outfit I made is both perfect for the fabric, and perfect for the moment with my daughter. She's in love, and you can see pictures of her rocking this outfit at the Frozen 2 premiere here.


It's the perfect outfit for a stirring rendition of "Into the Unknown" for sure.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Boys of Frozen

My daughter isn't the only Frozen fan in the house; my son also loves Elsa and her friends. So for the Frozen 2 premiere, he too got a few new duds. Initially, he was overjoyed to receive a "Boys of Frozen" raglan, with Elsa + the male members of the cast.


This was a super-quick (and relatively inexpensive) project, consisting of a custom panel and some solids from Purpleseamstress. I used the MegaMax Raglan for the pattern, and it came together in an afternoon. I even snuck back on the site and bought a second panel for one of my son's friends, since it came out so nice.


But apparently fate (and Frozen!) wasn't done with me. When all was said and done with my daughter's peplum, I caught my son admiring that fabric too. It turned out there was *just* enough to eke out a second raglan and so... here he is in his *second* Frozen shirt.


Same pattern, same big smile. Now my son could match his friend OR his sister! 


Here they are partying it up in their matching outfits at home...


... And here they are having fun with friends at the Frozen Premiere! With WAY too much going on to look at mom and the camera, no less.


Friday, January 10, 2020

A Rainbow of Discovery

For several months now, I've been really admiring some of the tulle-Skirted creations I've been seeing online in my sewing groups. Sew Stylin Stitches, Kendall Paige Designs, and a number of other designers over at the TulleTastic and Fancy Pants Fabric groups have all been posting fun, colorful, full-skirted outfits that capture my fancy. A collage of some of my favorite examples from Tulletastic and Fancy Pants is below.



I'd dismissed the idea of recreating one of these dresses myself as a passing fantasy until one seamstress posted of a customer's Very Good Idea, and it happened to be a 'dress' that was actually composed of a peplum top, and a separate tulle skirt that went under it to create the look of a dress. Well, wait a minute... I could do THAT. Having 2 separate components meant the wearer would get more use out of the top after hours spent sewing it, and it minimized the odds that would I ruin a good bodice with a bad tulle attachment.

Conveniently, right about that time 2 yards of Rainbow Leopard Print from Oh So Pretty Fabric graced my doorstep, and my daughter fell in instant love. I paired it with a "Casa Collection" stretch mesh from Joann's, since this outfit it was essentially a test run.


For the skirt, I used 4 yards of stretch mesh. I sewed the ends together, then folded the circles of mesh in half height-wise to make 4 gathered layers of fabric. The length was near enough to my daughter's knees that I did not have to hem. I also cut & sewed a small (1.5x  my daughter's waist measurement) woven lining to ensure the skirt was opaque. For the waistband, I used a strip of CL cut to 8 inches wide and 0.8 x my daughter's waist circumference in length.


To construct the skirt, I put the layers of mesh, the woven fabric, together, then I sewed the waistband to them front to front. Then I then stretched the waistband over and tacked the raw edge down in the back using a zig zag stitch that enclosed the woven and mesh. I also ended up having to add a band of elastic inside my folded-over waistband, since it turns out 4 layers of stretch mesh is heavy.


For the top, I knew I wanted to match one of the lovelier creations I had recently seen; a beauty with a bow back, puffed sleeves, and a peplum, skirt. For the base & sleeves, I reached for the Sew by Pattern Pieces Girl's Fun Tee, which is fast becoming a much-loved basic at out house. For the bow back and neckline, I used the CKC Delaney. The peplum skirt was a mashup of the girl and baby Isla, to give me the waistline and length I needed.


For all the fussy elements, the top went together pretty quickly; the Delaney bow back was the only part I hadn't tried before, and while I'm not crazy about the construction method (exposed seams in the back), it came out fun and cute without *too* much extra time. Definitely a neckline I will incorporate into other creations. Here are the top and the skirt, paired together like my original inspiration:


And how does my daughter feel about it? She loves it. I think I was spot on when I judged the top would get a lot more wear if I detached it from the skirt; it's gotten worn with jeans on a number of occasions.


The skirt, well it sees a little less action, but it was essentially a learning tool that turned out surprisingly well. That Casa Collection stretch Mesh from Joann's does seem to wear and wash pretty nicely, so I wouldn't hesitate to get it again. And my daughter sure does have a blast when she's wearing it. So, I consider it a job well done.