My closet was always schizophrenic. As a kid, I loved to crash bang through a riot of color, and come up with a different character every day. Given my penchant for costume and spotlight, acting was the obvious path for me. Having many roles imposed upon me by many eyes meant having many outfits! YES PLEASE.
Long before I sewed, I turned to RTW to play the part I was after. And then Stitching Superpowers entered the mix. Armed with my new skills, I could truly make whatever "costume" I needed!
....except the role I've really always wanted to play is Technicolor Free Spirit, so whatever pattern I usually cast myself in (Business Woman, Ballet Patron, Demure Yogi) gets hacked & colorized so much it turns out to be nothing like the original design (see; Free Spirt), and nowadays I'd diagnose my closet as Delusional Bohemian.
Example: This is Vogue 9106, a Vintage reprint intended for crisp fabrics, not the swooshy drapey viscose you see here. Also intended: cut on sleeves & knee length skirt with side gathers and CF seam.
But I changed the role to suit me, with a button placket extending to crotch level, and a gathered waist that attached to a curved hip yoke that attached to another curved, gathered skirt panel...
And elastic picot trim on the neckline & armsyce, when I decided to lose the sleeves! I know it's a bit hard to see the style lines for the floral bouquets (See; Technicolor), so here's the line drawing, and here's what I did:
I forgot to draw in the added back waistline gathers. Listen... I'm no Gillian, with the cute computer sketches!
I wish I'd snapped a before/after pic, because removing those sleeves really changed the whole vibe for me. Also wishing I'd added some piping to highlight the intersection of hip yoke/gathered skirt panel, but, c'est la vie. I'll keep it in mind for another role.
This is the kind of typecasting I can get into.
Hey, wanna see another gal's take on this fabric? Unbeknownst to either of us, Sallie Oh and I cast ourselves in the same fabric, different colorway, for our June Mood Sewing Network projects. Sallie made a gorgeous knee length semi-shirt dress for a very romantic role indeed. Shorty made the maxi, Legs Diamond made the knee length! I smell a screwball buddy comedy in the making.
Truly fabulous, even if you think it needs to change 🙂 As Mr Sewsmart says, the creator only sees flaws, everyone else sees perfection.
ReplyDeleteMr Sewsmart lives up to his name :)). Rob often reminds me to say thank you before rattling off any flaws!
DeleteThis is so beautiful I love the boho style!
ReplyDeleteFrankie
http://knitwits-owls.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks Frankie!
DeleteBeautiful! I love it. And you are my idol - you with all your colors and your pattern hacking. You inspire me to do what I really want to do.
ReplyDeleteLynn, I don't picture you doing anything but what you want to do, we are of the same tribe :))
DeleteMostly I do. I haven't always and sometimes I still question the appropriateness of what I do but I think I'm getting a bit too old to be appropriate. ;-)
DeleteOh yeah, my high-tech sketches on my ipad? :P I love your dress - and I love seeing Sallie's take on the same fabric. Different look, but same casual summer vibe!
ReplyDeleteTHEY ARE JUST SO GOOD. I try to sketch with my finger and end up yelling at my gorilla paws 😂
DeleteYou are radiant in this dress and the sketch of your modifications is so much more dynamic and interesting than the original pattern. It's inspiring to see how your interpretations elevate and give life to what could be a standard and dated hippie dress style.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, what an eloquent compliment!
Deleteso gorgeous in every costume! This one is a stunner!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey girl! Thank you! That reminds me, I've had your flirty kicky yellow dress post open for daaaays...
DeleteSuper cute! Very inspiring. :)
ReplyDeleteThankya!
DeleteI love the lines of the pattern, but just didn't think it could really work for me... until now. I love the way a drapy fabric looks! It's really fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThe lines are what drew me in, too! It does really change with a drapey fabric. If you go for it, be prepared to cuss a little bit on the darted gathers. I imagine that's an easier road with a crisp fabric ;) Now I want to do it up in a taffeta!
DeleteReally lovely dress....your vintage pattern, modern version is great. I love that original pattern design though, I'll have to look forward look alike.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see your lookalike :))
DeleteBrilliantly done as always! The colors and flowers really suit you. If ever anybody could inspire others to sew, it's you and your sheer enthusiasm. Cheers, Cindy (Creative Hormone Rush)
ReplyDeleteI really like this fabric!
ReplyDeleteWhile it is important to be sensitive in our use of language, context matters. I see nothing wrong in referring to your own wardrobe as "unhinged" or "crazy." If you'd shown me your post beforehand, I would have pointed out that "schizophrenic" does not mean split personality, although the term is frequently misused in that sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that your use of the term was dismissive or hurtful of people with mental health issues. But good for you for engaging with a reader who disagreed with you. It's always better for a blogger to gracefully consider someone else's argument than to be defensive and nasty.