Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVIII

[Myrna]

Myrna, very nice top.  I love the fabric, too

Thanks Janis and Madrona. The fabric is what my friend refers to as a "snappy" knit. It recovers fabulously. It was so wonderful that I went over to the store to see if I could get more in a different color. I did. YES!

- Myrna

[RuthieK]

I've been sewing along with Elizabeth (ejvc) on her 6 piece Autumn Collection, and then added a few pieces to meet the PR wardrobe contest.
I also altered a too large top from SWAP 2007 and some co-ordinating RTW items and have loads to wear now in this colourway.
A lot of it also works with the SWAP I did last year although that was teal with black not with navy.
I am fed up with teal and navy now though and SWAP 2010 is going to be chocolate, cream, gold and red-orange :-D



These items were all sewn in November.

[AnnRowley]

Wonderful collection Ruthie - you have been busy!

Fabulous colours too - but I can see why you now want a change...

[BetsyV]

Very nice grouping, Ruthie! I saw it on your blog last night. You always do a great job with your collections/coordinated pieces.

[DeniseM]

Lovely collection, Ruthie. Good luck on the wardrobe contest.

[tumblina]

Wonderful wardrobe, Ruthie! And from totally-new-to-me eyes, beautiful colours!

[Myrna]

These items were all sewn in November.

WOW! Very inspiring. Looks fabulous.

- Myrna

[Marji]

Ruthie, what a pretty and wonderful collection. The colors are so nice together, and are indeed reminiscent of the sea.

[marciae]

Ruthie - wonderful collection.  I love your choice of colors and patterns.  Very goodjob!

[fzxdoc]

Your Autumn Collection is very see-worthy, Ruthie!  The oceanic colors are beautiful.  I can understand why you would get tired of sewing so much of just a few colors though. No wonder you are veering over to the warmer side of the color palette for your SWAP sewing.

You really did a wonderful job on each piece. Can you describe the blue knit top with the teal embellishment a bit more? It's really eye-catching.

Kathryn

[Carole]

Very inspiring, Ruthie!  You look so well in those colors.

[shams]

Ruthie, I just went to your blog this morning, looking for an older post and I saw your autumn collection.  Gorgeous!!!!  You brought your vision to fruition very successfully.  Brava!!!

[Karendee]

Lovely collection, Ruthie! Congratulations!

Karen

[mardel]

What a lovely collection Ruthie!  The colors are fabulous and look gorgeous on you.  I can see why you might be tired of those colors though, you have spent a long time with them. Each piece appears so beautifully done.  Congratulations on finishing it all.

Myrna, what a pretty top.

[fzxdoc]

Here are some photos of a dress that I made for my DD back in August. When she came home for Thanksgiving, she asked that I make a silver lace cummerbund for it so she could wear it to some holiday parties.


It is made with Slinky fabric, which wears like iron and washes beautifully.  Those are essential criteria for anything my DD wears in her hectic life.

I wrote about the construction of the dress and the cummerbund on my blog:  

And there are photos in my Flickr album:

This was my first Slinky project, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

Kathryn

[stashpanache]

Beautiful, Kathryn.

It looks like there is something down toward the hem....a shiny strip.  What is that?

[RuthieK]

Your Autumn Collection is very see-worthy, Ruthie!  The oceanic colors are beautiful.  I can understand why you would get tired of sewing so much of just a few colors though. No wonder you are veering over to the warmer side of the color palette for your SWAP sewing.

You really did a wonderful job on each piece. Can you describe the blue knit top with the teal embellishment a bit more? It's really eye-catching.

Kathryn

Thank you all for so many nice comments, I have had great fun.

Kathryn, the top is the little shell from Simplicity 2603 with the sleeves from the cosy added to make a long sleeved top.
The turquoise flowers came on a strip which I cut apart and then hand sewed the flowers around each petal arranging the petals nicely so they did not overlap. The handsewing took ages but was me starting to practice for SWAP thinking about those little extras.




Loads more pictures on my blog as I don't want to hog any more space here
http://ruthieksews1.blogspot.com/

A slinky dress is a great idea, does it not cling to every lump and bump? (Maybe your DD doesn't have any and its OK, but I meant bra straps and pantie lines showing I guess)

eta: tags to change name of link to an image 

[vtmartha]

Ruthie, your productivity just blue me away. 

Kathryn what a gorgeous dress for your daughter.  I love the idea of the cummerbund. 

[BetsyV]

Kathryn

lovely dress and I love the cummerbund idea to dress it up! I would also like to know about slinky and its clinginess over bumps. I've never thought about using it for anything and the only knit dress I have clings a little too closely.

[fzxdoc]

Thank you Betsy, Martha, and Stash for the compliments on the little Slinky dress.  Stash, the "band" you see at the bottom is the translucence of the skirt fabric due to the flash on the camera.

Betsy and Ruthie, I wear RTW Slinky t-shirt type dresses in the summertime, and with a smooth cup bra, the lumps and bumps do not show, but that is because they skim my body--they are not fitted The fitted Slinky tops that I wear, purchased from Chico's, are double layered, much like I have done with the many medium-to-lightweight knits that I have sewn with in the past. That way there are no lumps/bumps visible either.

I didn't double layer this dress because I barely had enough fabric to make it in the first place. My DD had chosen the fabric and pattern from my stash and had her heart set on on it.

I had made a little fitted tube dress with straps (a slip, really) for my DD several months back to wear under one of her RTW knit dresses that is very thin.  She wears a similar slip under this Slinky dress, although the way the skirt flares, there are no VPLs anyway.

The best Slinky is acetate, as this fabric is, and I liked sewing with it.  In sewing for my DD, who needs a wash-and-wear type of wardrobe, this dress fits the bill nicely. It is pretty and classy-looking and can be washed and dried on a light setting and be ready to wear quickly without any ironing or steaming.

Again, thank you all for the compliments.

Kathryn

[tumblina]

I love the dress, and the cummerbund is perfect for it! (why have I always pronounced that "cumberbund"? apparently I've never tried to write it before!)

Is the acetate "warm"? I try and stick to natural fabrics because my skin gets irritated when sweat gets trapped, so I've stayed clear of the slinkies.

[fzxdoc]

Jenna, there are definitely people who cannot wear poly or acetate knits because they get too warm in them. Neither my DD nor I have that problem.   Slinky is a fabric that folks seem to either love or hate.  I do not find it any different, from a comfort point of view, from any of the poly knit fabrics. But then some people hate poly knits as well.

Many people have a problem wearing pure wool, too. Many fabrics can be uncomfortable or irritating to wear--that's another great thing about sewing. We get to choose what suits us best.  

Thank you for the compliment on the dress and cummerbund. I agree, the spelling looks funny, especially since it is often pronounced with a "b" in the middle.

Kathryn

[marciae]

Great dress Katherine - and what a great idea - a fancy cummerband - just the ticket for the holidays!

[mardel]

What a lovely dress Kathryn and the cummerbund is just perfection.  What a great suggestion from your DD, and of course your execution is fabulous as well.  The dress looks so festive with its holiday decoration and yet it is still just as useful and versatile.  I'll have to go off and read your blog later.

I've wondered about sewing the acetate slinky; I think I have been afraid it will be difficult, but since there is some in the stash waiting to be transformed into things for DSD, perhaps it is time to get started.

[DebbieY]

I love the dress, and the cummerbund is perfect for it! (why have I always pronounced that "cumberbund"? apparently I've never tried to write it before!)

You're right in pronouncing it and spelling it Cumberbund (which is also what we Aussies call it), but Cummerbund is right too (I have never heard it called that).
This is what I found after a quick google search ....

                  "A cumberbund, also called a cummerbund, is a wide pleated sash, or waistband, worn instead of a vest"

[Janis]

What a lovely addition to a beautiful dress!  I would never have thought of that.  You and your daughter are very creative.

Stash, I see you have your holiday picture done.  Now you need to take a pic of DGD alone so that we can see that beautiful dress.  Cute picture, btw.

[Patti B]

Wow, Ruthie, what a great wardrobe! And I understand about wanting a change of colors. That said, you will wear these lovely pieces and forget the sewing boredom.     

Kathryn, what a super cummerbund! I love that dress pattern and have sewn 2 for my DD; now you've given me a new idea for another one.

[Carole]

Kathryn, what a pretty color that dress is, and an excellent idea to dress it up.  "Understated elegance" is how I'd describe the piece.

[indigotiger]

Ruthie, your wardrobe looks so wonderful, I find it an inspiration, and look forward to seeing what you choose for your SWAP! The teal flower appliques are just the right tough to bring the eye to your face

Kathryn - Your daughter's dress is so festive with the lace cummerbund. I am glad to hear that slinky is a good fabric for wash-n-wear, and that it isn't too difficult to sew; I have a length of slinky in my stash that I've never been brave enough to do anything with. I bought it for the great color and subtle print, then lost my nerve.

[Karendee]

Beautiful dress for DD, Kathryn. I especially love the evening version with the silver cummerbund. I also appreciate all the sewing information about this on your blog.

Ruthie, I've enjoyed seeing all the components of your new grouping. They are lovely.

Stash, do I spy a gorgeous new Christmas pic of you and your darlings? You look great in your pic, BTW. Could we see a larger shot?

Karen

[Madrona]

Wow, Kathryn - that dress is so beautiful!  Your daughter is so lucky to have a mama who is such a great seamstress!  I hope to follow in your footsteps. 

[lessalt]

Kathryn, great dress and how wonderful you had some silver lace on hand.

[Ann]

Ruthie, what a wonderful 11 piece wardrobe for you to have made in a month. Good thing for TNT patterns. I don't have any of those patterns to my name. I have to TNT the new ones to see how they fit. Anyways, I do like the colour and my favourite one is the teal velvet top with the pants. It makes you look long, lean and tall.

Kathryn, I do love your daughter's dress and how it can look great for work and then be dressed up for the evening or holidays. With the hot climate we are retiring to, I have a feeling I will stay away from fabrics that trap heat. I am also watching what fabrics I buy as I am battling eczema. I have figured out some things like chocolate, hard water, stress, and some fabrics cause me to have flare ups or itchy skin. I am planning on using cotton, linen, silk, wool (lined) to begin with. Then I will branch out from there.

Ann

[stashpanache]

Karendee, this is the best I can do.  They are not much more than thumbnails at this point.  We are using these online to choose pictures and there aren't really any of KK alone.  I will take one of her on Christmas day.  My little Christmas Cherubs.



Stash

[vtmartha]

That dress turned out so well, Stash!  It looks really cute with the bow in front.