orange you glad....

So this is project number three. Not much diffrence from the first one that I made... except for two things.

1. It is an actual wrap skirt--with a waist band that ties at the back
2. It is reversible

It is a boring gray, first and foremost.

But when you look closer, it is orange underneath. Some orange peeps through--if you like, along the curve.

I'm a bit disappointed with the curve on this though... this is lesson learnt for me, SPENDING TIME ON SEWING PAYS!

I will keep that in mind when I do my next projects. I don't want great cloth to go to waste!

Now, the fun part!

O R A N G E

In your face too.

I figured, the only way I could possibly wear this color was if It was not too close to to my face (as I have glare issues) and if it is dramatically toned down by a boring gray--something more... me.

pink(y) poppy(ng)

I made this last week but only managed to wear it today because there were too many tailors' chalk markings so I had to have it washed.

I thought it was too pink, it is odd that wearing it with burgundy--which is, well on that color palette too made it seem less candle-bubble-gum-ish.

I had been exchanging a lot of cloth emails with my Mom the past few days, I think that she is as excited as I am with these projects.


Wearing this skirt today gave me the boost I needed, being woken up by a call from the person I'm with, asking if I had made it to my lunch appointment with a good friend--at noon!

Obviously, I had to call to advise my friend and ask her if we could move lunch by 30-40 minutes.

I was ready in 20 minutes! Of course that left me breathless and by the time I got to the resto, I needed to sit still for a while.

The good news was that I made it within 40 minutes--and that my friend was very understanding.

Even then, I feel real bad about this :(

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I thought I should end with something positive.

Lunch was really good, and with excellent company too :)

mello yello

It had been a very long time since I sew anything from scratch. When my mom came over to visit bringing a small trolley filled with jersey fabric, I knew the universe was telling me that it was time to pick up the hobby again.

I could not count the times I had the idea to sew something, but because I hardly go to the fabric store, I end up just forgetting about it.

Luckily, the inspiration to come up with something yellow--and in jersey, came almost as soon as I saw my stash.

Today, the insipration materialised :)

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I woke up knowing that today was THE day. No surprises when I ended up wearing it this afternoon! I was just too excited.

I initially intendended to do a royal blue and yellow colour blocking. And I was almost ready to go when I thought "Snow White!". I was not about to go out wearing that--not this close to Halloween, at least.

So I opted to go as a hard boiled egg yolk. When overcooked. Gray and yellow.

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On our way home, the person I'm with said "Wow. Your skirt is quite bright in the dark". Yes. It might as well be, the light that led us home.

inspired

After visiting a shop that only sold handmade clothes, I was so inspired to sew. As I found that I wore the maxi jersey black skirt that I sew a few months ago, I decided to make something similar.

This is the finished product. I love how it is very comfortable and cool--perfect for the weather where I live in.

It is amazing how you can manipulate the cloth when you make your own clothes, you can make it so that it fits you wonderfully. I don't think it would be too easy to find a jersey skirt that would fit me the way this does off the rack...at least not it the stores I go to.

new home, new projects

I had been sewing the last two days...I got so inspired by a store that sold only handmade clothes. When I think about it, the reason I started sewing was because of my love for handmade things. Well, that and the fact that I sometimes can't find clothes that I imagine in the stores.

I haven't got photos of them yet but I (1) embellished a man's shirt, (2) make an ankle length skirt and (3) sewn a obi inspired belt.

It would probably be only when I get my room in order that I'd be able to post photos. I hope that is this weekend.

hobbies

I was talking to a friend about hobbies and how, when you think about it specialty stores survive.

It is because hobbyists are a little nuts.

For instance, because I love to sew, I have five different colored tailor's chalks. Who needs five? I don't. But I got them all. I would have gotten more if there were more colors available.

People who love to do something would give in to little things that potentially could improve their craft.

I love how at times I get a little crazy about sewing that I can't think of anything but what I am going to sew. But at the same note, I am quite thankful that I had not gone mad and gotten an industrial button hole maker, serger, embroidering and sewing monster.

Of course it is not without saying that any day now, I will reward myself with an adjustable mannequin. Why not? :)

pillow talk

I was inspired to do some light sewing yesterday that upon waking up this morning, I immediately revisited my cloth vault--which quite simply, is a large plastic storage where I dunk all the cloth I haul and receive as gifts.

(That is another blog entry I should write--gift fabrics and what they had become, reserved for another day.)

I remember that a friend who had recently moved to Singapore bought navy bedding (thanks to my willingness to go ikea shopping--secret motive: check out cloth on discount), I decided to make a welcome gift.

Luckily, I found a navy and mandarin kimono cloth that featured some dragons and blooms--remains from an obi I sew a while back, that would match the sheets.

Below is a photo I got back--with thanks.I'm quite happy that the pillowcases I made went well with the navy and orange rambutan printed quilt cover. I don't think I could be any more pleased :)

Now that I think about it, I also used some of this fabric to embellish jeans.

that's my.,,

Why do I like this photo?Well, it really, isn't the photo. It is more what is in the photo. It is the fabric of the bag. It is exactly the same cloth that I used when I sew a dress a while back :)Everything comes from China!

making mine

For a few months now, I had been looking for a cotton stretch maxi skirt. It is odd that there aren't much around--in fact I have not seen them in the proper stores. I would chance upon t-dress versions--which there are a lot of, that would be my consolation prize or work around but each one fit poorly. Think bulges in wrong places.

Maybe it is my body, but clothes should fit the woman, not the other way around. At least that was what my ergonomic teacher would probably say. Clothes, machines, work stations--airport luggage carts especially ;)

Out of this frustration bore the inspiration to make my own. It is these situations that got me sewing in the first place.I put some details just so that it looks more interesting.I also put in a thick elastic band (care or Rochness) to make sure it doesn't slide off.I'm quite happy with the end result.

Guess that I am wearing today.

third day

I had been looking for a tie dye print I am willing to wear for a while now. I saw this under the yellow light of my favorite store and I thought I had found the perfect one.Imagine my delight when I found out that it stretched too!

History repeats itself. I stayed late at that night to sew my find to something.

Before going to bed, I was quite happy with the finished product.

Waking up was a completely different story though. Cayote ugly?I realised that the cloth color was perfect--as backdrop for a play about the Genesis. Particularly the third day. Go figure.

After not a lot of action with the sewing machine, I have a dress that fit well. Not to mention that it is very comfortable and virtually zero maintenance.

The drawback is that wearing it makes me feel like Miss Earth. :(

summer print

While I am in awe of handmade cloth--and design (e.g. embroidery, dye, etc.), I love that technological advancement now allows patterns in cloth that were not plausible in the past. We can now have picture like quality print on cloth :)

I went to my favorite craft store yesterday and found this. And after my sewing skills' months of hibernation, I was suddenly inspired to sew.People who know me would most likely say that I wouldn't go for such bold print--as I sometimes get literally dizzy with specific prints. However, there are tons of reasons why I would go for this. First off, it is of white background, the print is of cut out picture-like flora and fauna with some watermark effects. Colours are also concentrated on specific areas, hence a lot of white. It is also perfect for the season :)

Well, seasons are not really a big factor where I live as it remains summer weather the whole year round with some now unpredictable unwelcome rain.

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I was too excited to sew. I had long debates with myself--in my head about what type of skirt I should make. In the end I opted for something I would wear on weekends.

When I got home, I could not stop myself from feeling the fabric.

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It was past 1AM when I finished fixing up and was ready to sleep.

Only, I couldn't. I ended up not only cutting the cloth but also completing the skirt sewing exercise.

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Upon waking up, the first thing I did was try it on again, for the nth time. I have a feeling that I would be wearing it today.

come together

Someone gave me a bag organiser and using it made me realise how much easier life is when each little thing in your bag has it's own slot. Well, the ratio is not exactly 1:1. Nonetheless, what relief!

I imagined how much the experience could improve if (1) each item actually had a slot, and (2) the slot was the exact size.

Soooooo, I made an organiser :)

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I rummaged through my tela container and found a bright skull print--and some dark wash denim. I experimented a bit on the possible combos. In the end, I decided to use the right sides.After sewing the basic pocket, I fitted all my stuff and marked where I should sew.And then...everything fit perfectly! It was also a bonus that it rolled quite nicely. My layout plan worked. Yey! As I placed the items strategically, the case falls flat and doesn't unravel by itself.I am now ready to throw it into my bag!Of course I would probably make another one if one day, I find that my replacement item is in another shape or size--but, I'd think about that when I have to.

choco polka

I did it! I sew something on Thursday.

(As if you haven't figured it out) I made the top.

This top is especially good for fat days. Or when you are anticipating a heavy meal.

dragen jeans

I aged another pair.I wasn't really planning on another project, but someone stepped up and got me some sandpaper. As you can see, I managed to thin out some areas, I like how those places turn into a brighter blue. I'm so happy with how this project turned out.

Here is a mirror photo. Hence, the sudden shift of the flower and dragon from one thigh to the other.

I got carried away and accidentally made a hole that is in the wrong place, so I had to mitigate the situation by placing a flower over it. While it closed the gap, it doesn't change the fact that it still fell on the wrong place. I had to sew on a dragon to sort of balance things out. Of course it is not one of those screaming dragon prints. It is in fact very subtle and you won't realize what it is until you look very closely--as if it is a secret.

The dragon and flower came from the same fabric that I bought a few months back to make a kimono with. I ended up with a kimono with butterflies--and jeans with a dragon.

Sometimes things we don't plan for happen, and it isn't always a bad thing.

wHOLEsome

I didn't make the jeans. I did however, distressed it.I'm not really the type to wear barely-there-might-as-well-wind-strings-around-yourself clothes, so I didn't go overboard. I just put some details here and there.I admit then when I initially thought about distressing jeans, I wasn't sure I would wear the end product. After I was done though, I was sure that I would. In fact, I could hardly wait. Maybe I'll wear them tomorrow.

take a (giant) bow

It has been so long since I last sew something. I'm not sure if the sewing mojo is back for good, but I'm glad I was able to jab into it. This is a hybrid of a balloon and a wrap skirt. The fabric is cotton although I think it is a blend due to the shimmer. I will take decent photos after it has been washed and pressed. I like how it provisions for a giant bow. I am thinking of making it a bit shorter. Hmmmm. (In case you are wondering, the kalat on the floor is what is left of the cloth after I made the skirt.)

strike out

The print is made out of countless three-dots-skewered-by-a-single-beige-colored-line pattern set in alternating columns, hence the blog entry title. After making tucks, the pattern became semi irregular and made it more interesting. I think this dress could be useful when performing hypnosis.

Stare at the dots.... You are getting sleepy....

zippered

After a year of doing without zippers, I am suddenly unable to think of sewing anything without zippers. This is the latest one I sew. The zipper runs diagonally across the chest then down the side.It is funny how excited I get whenever I put the dress on. Zipping up and down had never been this fun for me. Hahaha.
Forgive the dirty photo.
I really need to get his dress washed and ironed. Can't wait to see how it looks then.

jap waves

I had drew some japanese waves on one shoulder. I intended to do something else but because of desperation (long story) and inspiration (from our soup bowl), I ended up marking the dress with rainbow patterns.
This was the project behind the zipper tutorial entry. The fabric is canvas, what is commonly used as flour sacks in the seventies. It looks crumpled, so I would probably wear this without having it ironed.

I know that the dress should be about the details but I am still to be convinced if it looks done. I might end up putting some more work on this.

three straps

There was a cotton fabric sale so I jumped at the chance to get some. When I got home, I realized that I actually bought so much. My intention was to sew tops, but how many tan crumpled stretchy tops can one have? Soooo, I made this dress.

There are some details on the straps as well as on the dress but aren't evident in the photo.