Film: Could Brad and Cate Change My Life?

Okay, maybe I'll finally have to give the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a chance.

1. On various sites I have seen that the costumes (more about those later) worn by Cate Blanchett were to die for and...

2. on Kay's blog I found a quote from the movie that really spoke to me; especially this bit:

"...I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

I think I want to start over.


Image: Jacqueline West costume design sketch

Working The Vintage Kinks Out

Oops, I posted this on SewRetro over a week ago, but forgot to post it here!

1. Version 1 McCall's 8251, 2. McCall's 8251 Final Version

I wrote about this top before when I first made it but I was never happy with the fit. Though you might not be able to see the difference this top has now been taken in quite a bit at the sides, the neckline width was reduced, the length was cropped, and it received an entirely new facing. I think the most noticeable change is the detail down the front. That was were I had to take a vertical tuck in the front because the neckline was far too wide to be comfortable or to keep from slipping off my shoulders!

I think I now know that I won't be making any more outfits from McCall's 8251 though I still love the "idea" of it so much. Trying to alter this pattern to make it workable has thoroughly frustrated me. I even thought I could find the pattern in the next smallest size and go from there but there is something odd enough about the sleeves and armholes that I'm not sure that would even work.

If anyone out there has made a similar pattern to this one that worked for them, like McCall's 8337, Simplicity 6634 (both below) or something else, please let me know, OK?

McCall's 8337

Simplicity 6634

Mosaic created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Soon...

I finished the Simplicity 3835 top and pictures are forthcoming. I also got very close to finishing my Anda dress; however, I can't seem to get the hem to hang straight. I used another dress to mark the hem but despite the hem being straight across, when worn the hem hangs in an arch. It's longer at the sides, forming a sort of upside down smile. Times like this I wish I had someone who could mark my hem for me.

I took pictures of this dress too. Again, forthcoming...

Yellow Dress Update

Both the chosen yellow dress, McCall's 3133 and another Simplicity 3835 top have been cut out. I'm working on the BBW top first to get warmed up and also for some quick gratification. I understand the love that Simplicity 4429 got in the poll, but I forgot to mention that this wasn't an old sheet, in fact, it had never been used. So the fabric has quite a bit of snap and structure to it that I think the more architecturally designed dress (M3133) would work better in. I do have a light cotton print, seen here, that I think I might make S4429 out of when I pick that pattern up again.

And I just added another project to my seemingly endless to-do list.

New Look 6939

A little OOP shift dress pattern, New Look 6939, that I love is now in the running to be made out of this Alexander Henry Chocolate Mocca print I bought two years ago.

I had been waiting for the right pattern and I had it all along. I was going to use S4429 but why mess around with pattern alterations when I KNOW I love this pattern AND that it will fit straight from the envelope? In fact, since I made the first dress over 5 years ago in leaf green linen, I've gained a bit of weight and the fit is different on me, less smock-like. I really like it now. And did you see where it says Easy and 2-Hour? Hey, it's calling my name!

Fabric image: Cia's Palette

Way to Wear Yellow!

From The Sartorialist.