Friday, August 14, 2009

Crazy Revisited


sneak peek, originally uploaded by littlegirlPearl.

Not really crazy, but you know, "what are you thinking?" crazy. You'll see what I mean in a sec.

I have been toying with this design for over a year now. I actually attempted it some time last Spring, but set it aside as needing to be reworked. I never did get back to it. Let me explain.

I am inspired in lots of different ways. Like most people who have a fabric addiction, it starts there. But what to do with all of those colors and textures?? In my flight attendant job, I see lots of fashion, good, bad, and ugly. And really, let's face it, most of it is ugly. Occasionally you see the gorgeously put together woman, but most of the time it's pajama bottoms and crocs. Seriously. In public.

But one day this gal had on a white top that was made up of lots of bias tubes (I think) set on the diagonal. It was a simple shirt really, but the detail made it interesting. So this sets off the percolating in my brain, and I think to myself, what if I did that on a smaller scale?? Vertical bias tubes of different coordinating fabrics? The easiest way to accomplish that, or so I thought, would be to make single fold bias tape.

The problem, of course is that when I stitched them down to the bodice, I didn't catch all of the fabric, and when washed, it would've basically come apart. I was pretty distressed because I had spent virtually the entire day creating three of these dresses in different sizes for a show in New York. They still sit on my pile of half-finished enterprises.



Fast forward about a year, and this idea had not gone away. The truth is that I really liked the way it looked. It was totally different from anything else I'd seen, and I knew it could be done. So...for fall I decided to do a pink and brown combination with a soft pink corduroy for the skirt. I chose 5 different fabrics, and gave my rotary cutter a workout cutting bias strips. I sewed the right sides together, turned and pressed. Then, starting in the center of one side of the bodice, I stitched them in the center, so that there is sort of a "flap" look to them.



I'm pretty darn pleased with the result, and I'd love to make more in different colors. I quite like the all pink version from before, and it would be cool to do one in red. Any other color suggestions?? Because, you know, I have all sorts of time on my hands...

8 comments:

Melissa said...

That is awesome. Truly spectacular. You are going to have to charge an arm and two legs for all that labor, though! And I hope I've never been on your flight in pj's and crocs. I don't think I've gone anywhere like that...but stranger things have happened.

Johanna said...

Wow, I saw this and actually gasped out loud. I LOVE it... I can't even tell you how much I love it. I'd love to see it in blues and aquas.

I'd even more love to see a tutorial! ...just sayin'

Keep up the amazing work. Any plans to be at SOWA? I know you were accepted, did you pick any dates?

littlegirlpearl said...

Yes Johanna, I'll be at SOWA tomorrow!!! Yipes!! And this dress is gonna be there, so you can see it up close and personal.

Becky O. said...

I love this look..don't you need a woman's sample for yourself : )
Good luck at SOWA! Get there early and I hope you sell out. I was there last weekend and it was packed with customers.

littlegirlpearl said...

Becky, as a matter of fact, I have a new line of women's skirts that I will be debuting there, so wish me luck!!

Banana Showcase said...

Love this dress! I love the way Jacy looks in blue so, of course, a blue version is on my wish list! ;)

Anonymous said...

It turned out wonderful! I love that you used pink corduroy. I used to travel a lot for my previous job and I must agree with you about seeing people traveling in crocs and Pj pants. When I traveled through Europe I always felt under dressed...people get decked out over there to get on a plane! (well some of them) :)

Jill said...

I love this! I've seen your work on mutual Flikr groups for a while, and finally got around to visiting your blog. I love your use of the Japanese fabrics. I use all repurposed/recycled or vintage fabrics, but occassionally will indulge in something new for one of my own kids.