pinky and the brain

update: WOW y'all thank you so much for the love!! i've been able to check your words as the day went on, via my tiny device, and will holler at everybody properly soon. but i just had to say THANK YOU. for now, back to a glass of bordeaux, and the original post....

The rugster and I lay in bed on Saturday evening, spent. Friday found us at a superb birthday bash till 4am, and the first official (groggy) day of the weekend was filled with the hollering of my overlocker, which is making a TERRIFICALLY harrowing knocking noise in protest of constant use.  Babe, Rob began the pillow talk, you really need to think about accessories for this next outfit.

I sat bolt upright, suddenly energized.  whaaaaaa?  YOU WANT TO TALK ACCESSORIES?! TALK TO ME BABY! TALK DIRTY TO ME!! YOU KNOW WHAT I LIKE!!!

Ahem. Per Rob's supersexy bedtime request, I went with afro for this second Project Sewn challenge: make it pink.

However, I went demure on the rest of the accessorizin', because, well. It is, how you say... kinda bright.

The challenge, issued from mistresses Elizabeth and Liz: "from rose, fuchsia, to blush, bubblegum, or neon--think pink!"  Yes. Well. After this second week, there's not much else I can think of, as I took the description quite literally and used every shade of pink I could find. The inside of my brain looks (and at the moment, feels) like cotton candy. Especially since I gave my first flushed attempt walking papers and started the new pink this time last Tuesday, finishing her twenty minutes before I took these photos Sunday.

Ever reminisce on your sewing journey and give yourself a pat on the back for all you've accomplished? I do. ALL THE TIME. AND IT ALWAYS BITES ME IN MY FORMIDABLE ASS. In my fledgling year, I was given a birthday subscription to Burda magazine. Minimal instructions, great drafting, I made a hot mess out of most of what I tried, and canceled after twelve months.

oona!  I said to myself. Isn't it wonderful you didn't toss these magazines when you didn't produce gold in that first year! Your skills are many and varied now! You whip through these patterns! You choose petite sizing, you add the correct seam allowance, you are a MASTER!

I think you know what path I was skipping down. In the limited time I had to sew this week, I ripped the perfectly stitched bodice entirely apart in favor of going smaller, and oh yeah,  I kinda forgot to interface the collar, collar band, and zipper facing.

SO, THAT WAS FUN.

I'm glad I wouldn't accept the brainfart as it was and took the time to (re)do it right, because I adore this dress, right down to the guts.  Clockwise from left: 1. contrast cotton brocade facing, 2. the overlocked innards of the dress, 3. magenta horsehair for the hem, blindstitched by hand, and pastel pink crinoline, 4. seams of draped skirt matching up with bodice (squee!!), topstitched in teal buttonhole glace.

Over the weekend, I draped the skirt portion. At first I went with an a-line, but in a shocking turn of events, Rob gave the wider silhouette a thumbs up. He declared it fun. She's 5 pieces, with gathers echoing the bodice gathers on cuff and insets. The crinoline is gathered and attached at the dropped waistline. SO MUCH GATHERING. The bodice zipper extends down into the skirt, as well as the contrast facing (I'll throw afull-lengthh guts shot up if y'all so desire). I was extremely chuffed that the topstitched seams all matched up exactly, but was careful not to pat myself too heavily on the already battered back.

Keeping in line with the way my brain works, I used the wrong side of this lurex, bought at Mood Fabrics online-- the cobalt blue pops through in an icier shade on the reverse, heightening the cornucopia of wildly blushing color...wow oona, que fancy description...at least to my brain it does. Confession: I get bored with a project 99% of the time, usually on the home stretch.  This fabric entertained my tetrachromat eyes non stop.  

Alrighty, if the spirit moves you, head on over to the competition and take a gander at my blushing compadres... i swear you'll end up with a cavity, SO MUCH SWEEEEEEET AMAZING...(eta: sadly, the posts from this season are lost to the void of the internet!)