Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Inspired.

So I sewed a blouse. The inspiration was this beautiful sleeveless blouse from Anthropologie, and I considered what I could do this time.

Instead of concluding that I should place an order for it, I picked up a summery cotton with a cheerful print, printed out Fluorite dress pattern, made a front opening with narrow plackets, attached a pair of ruffles, and cut it in blouse length. And there you see,

this.

You may say that I stole the design, and I'd reply yes and also continue that it was an interesting project. Yes it was interesting, and what is interesting more to me is that now I start to guess that I am much happier in my blouse than I'd be happy in the Anthropologie's by which I was inspired. (I hope that you know that I don't mean that mine is nicer than the one from Anthropologie in any meaning.) I'm telling you that the blouse grows into almost exactly what I personally wished, while the all processes of my sewing.


Although it was only partly, size, design, fit, material, and style, I could control on it because I made it. And for that reason, it turned out to be a lovely blouse which was no longer a substitution for something, to me. I can not be very sure if it is good to copy designs from retailed clothes, but for me, simply looking at those beautiful clothes in the magazines and such is indispensable process of my clothing. It doesn't need anything to be similar or different. I just love the spur. I hope I'm enough understandable. I know my story is even vaguer today. I apologize for that. Talk to you soon!!


Love,
yoshimi


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pattern: Fluorite dress pattern from Tamanegi-kobo (PDF pattern)
applied a set of front plackets, with ruffles. made it into a blouse.
fabric: cotton voile, thin, light, crisp, dry. not so sheer.
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

yellow silk and floral ripple cotton

How are you doing?
Recently I'm in the sewing mode. At the moment I'm at a strange stage too. Each day, I feel as if I can find very pretty new-to-me fabrics and useful sewing notions within my stock. It's just that I don't remember what I bought in the past. However it's funny for me feeling like I'm getting lovely things for free each time I look into the shelf without actually buying them. I'm very forgetful and I usually feel humiliated by the fact, but this time it's amusing... at least, to me.

I found this yellow silk satin in the bottom of my drawer when I was looking for something colorful. It was a small piece of fabric, which I bought for a lady who was asking me to sew her dancing costume. When I brought and showed it to her as one of fabric suggestions, she didn't like it. I probably kept it in my drawer since then. I didn't like it either (uh-oh) some three years ago, but the point is, I liked it a week ago.

I made it into a sleeveless top, which I think is really pretty. I agree with you that it's VERY yellow and VERY silky (Indian dance was her speciality!) almost too much, but who cares?

I also found a ripple floral cotton which was neglected for long on my shelf. I tried to remember my thought on the purchase... and it was "It's a ripple fabric and has an intense print. It must be cool in it in summer time. I can wear it as a single layer. Though I don't like the print, I have to get it." Ha. I like the print now. Thus I insist that nothing is eternal.

Anyway, I made a dress with it. Every summer needs at least one summery dress for an appropriate start, I guess. I love its neckline, which is much higher than the past recent years. I feel it very new.

I hope you are sewing happily too!


Love,
forgetful yoshimi



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yellow sleeveless blouse
pattern: from MPL, "curved neckline sleeveless dress" (paper pattern)
fabric: silk stretch satin, silk95/PU5
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floral sleeveless sheath dress
pattern: from Annee-patterns, "8Charleen" dress (PDF pattern)
fabric: cotton ripple, almost same as Tana Lawn Liberty weight
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