Thanks to Manolo and the Divas, I do know that we are in the throes of fashion week.
However, until I nail down the 'well-fitting' part of my mission statement (see title, above), the 'stylish' (i.e., fashionable) part has to take a back seat. I am enjoying reading about fashion week and I share the Divas' taste in clothing, but I must say that the disturbing concentration-camp-victim skinniness of the models is the first thing I always notice on the runway. How do those poor women manage without their comfortable, feminine curves?
To address the 'well-fitting' aspect of my goal, I'm working on two of the McCalls blouses, one in pink striped stretch shirting, the other in blue. I'm still going to ask Unique for a re-draft of this pattern, but I made a few adjustments to the custom pattern and went ahead, mainly for the practice. This is a great basic blouse pattern and I want to get very familiar with making it.
I've made the most progress with the pink one, and so far it looks great. I just got the collar and band attached and am working on the sleeves, which have a french cuff. I basted the side seams together and I think it's going to be wearable. The color is smashing on me, if I do say so myself. I could see that I didn't raise the underarms enough and the collar is riding too high in back--ironically opposite of my usual RTW problem of collars sliding down the back of my neck. I can address these concerns on the next go 'round, and I might have the redraft from Unique by then.
After these shirts, I've got 3 other projects cut out and waiting: A shirt in a black sweater knit and 2 pairs of pants--1 black and 1 blue. The pants are going to be another pattern that I will make a lot. This pattern was designed with a back zipper, but I closed that and added a fly front a la Pants for Real People:
This book has so much information--it is THE book to have for making pants. Can't wait to see how the fly fronts turn out!
However, until I nail down the 'well-fitting' part of my mission statement (see title, above), the 'stylish' (i.e., fashionable) part has to take a back seat. I am enjoying reading about fashion week and I share the Divas' taste in clothing, but I must say that the disturbing concentration-camp-victim skinniness of the models is the first thing I always notice on the runway. How do those poor women manage without their comfortable, feminine curves?
To address the 'well-fitting' aspect of my goal, I'm working on two of the McCalls blouses, one in pink striped stretch shirting, the other in blue. I'm still going to ask Unique for a re-draft of this pattern, but I made a few adjustments to the custom pattern and went ahead, mainly for the practice. This is a great basic blouse pattern and I want to get very familiar with making it.
I've made the most progress with the pink one, and so far it looks great. I just got the collar and band attached and am working on the sleeves, which have a french cuff. I basted the side seams together and I think it's going to be wearable. The color is smashing on me, if I do say so myself. I could see that I didn't raise the underarms enough and the collar is riding too high in back--ironically opposite of my usual RTW problem of collars sliding down the back of my neck. I can address these concerns on the next go 'round, and I might have the redraft from Unique by then.
After these shirts, I've got 3 other projects cut out and waiting: A shirt in a black sweater knit and 2 pairs of pants--1 black and 1 blue. The pants are going to be another pattern that I will make a lot. This pattern was designed with a back zipper, but I closed that and added a fly front a la Pants for Real People:
This book has so much information--it is THE book to have for making pants. Can't wait to see how the fly fronts turn out!
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