Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Simplicity 1459-- Running A Mock.

Phew.

I feel like I barely have time to breathe!
Not that I'm complaining by any stretch, it's just that I can rarely bask in the small victories I've been accomplishing consecutively.

Consequently, it's been a great excuse to not fully commit to tackling those UFO's I've had lingering in a pile. A few weeks back maybe (?) I found myself with a stretch of days where I didn't have any orders or any binding to sew up... so I casually took to my Simplicity 1459 dress. Surprisingly enough, I was able to get passed the redrafting stage without any interruptions. I even got to the cutting stage!

I continued on it while I was work; that was my first mistake.
My colleagues had a gander at it, and immediately starting joking about the choices in fabric-- without first realizing it's meant as a mock. I chose the ugliest material I had available to me; admittedly, I have completely run out of muslin, and it's a good quality cotton... just not one I would immediately pick (or really anyone). I walked into that one.

As usual, we got busy again and I had completely forgot about working on it, and last week I had a chance to pick it back up. By then everyone, even my mother, was on board with the idea of this dress being one I should wear in public. Well sufficed to say, I was passed the point of saying 'no'.

So what began as a joke, became reality... 


My camera has died, and only today did I realize I had a very old but still functioning smart phone that I use primarily as an authenticator for my games-- remnants of a time when my hubs had a smart phone. Since then we've kind of banned them from our house; I am a flip phone user. It actually would've been nice to have had this realization earlier, as I was able to accomplish something that is as close to euphoria as I could ever achieve, but alas it wasn't for me or anyone I really know-- just a customer. Anyway, I digress.

The final draft came out surprisingly good. I did have to wrestle with it a few times for my SBA (small bust adjustments), because of the sheer size of the collar and the way it's supposed to lay. It's a good challenge.


The cotton I used is just a touch stiffer than the cotton I will use for my actual garment, so it has a few odd folds that I might tinker with. All in all, it's a passable redraft, so I might not. I think what I am most proud with this garment is the fact that everything (other than the thread and fabric) used in its construction was made during the 50's and 60's. A nice little side challenge to make things that much more interesting.

As for how it was received... well, let's just say I haven't blushed so much in a long while.
I had a little trouble styling it, but in the end I went with a milkmaid braid, some stockings (I was going to go with white socks, but it began to rain today), and flats. I wore one of my vintage velvet coats, and a little faux pearl necklace my mother had given me.


As darling as this dress is, I don't think I will be wearing it ever again-- it's just not my color. It was drafted from a size 16 (pattern size), and I have decreased the bust down to 34"-36" (what is typically around a size 14 in patterns) If anyone would like to purchase it from me please feel free to email me for price and any other details; lower price because the inside seams are pinked and faced with stitchwitchery, not serged. I would love to see this go to a home that will fully appreciate it.

With that out of the way, I am going to begin work on the final intended garment, which was to be the gender swapped Beetlejuice... but there's one thing. As cute as the sleeves are, I am half debating not adding them in... I request the aid of my readers, please help me decide! I will leave the poll on the side bar.

Until then!

14 comments:

  1. A lovely dress although I can understand that the colours might not be of your taste. It looks rather "true 50s", so you might be able to sell it off in the hitorical dressing community?!

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    1. Yeah, I was little uncomfortable wearing so much green lol... a little ironic that it happened to be St. Patrick's day.
      Perhaps I might be able to, thank you for the suggestion =)

      Delete
  2. It's pretty darn cute although I think it would look better without sleeves. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to like your real version much better on you. Even with black accents, it just seems weird to see you in green! (My mum always got excited whenever I wore something besides black, too.)

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    1. I don't look like 'me' do I? Haha, I didn't feel 'me' either... though I did consciously notice I would stiffen up into proper posture-- I felt like a blast from the past, in where my persona grew up with a book to balance on her head... heheh.

      I'm taking a small break from working on the real version as I type!

      Delete
  3. I agree it's a very cute dress, but the green definitely doesn't suit your complexion. If it were blue or red it might suit you better. I'm torn on the sleeves because normally I would say sleeveless, but the world of rockabilly reproductions is almost nothing but sleeveless anymore, so I find the use of sleeves rather refreshing. Plus it creates a nice balance in your overall appearance! :) I look forward to your final version.

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    1. It's my understanding that greens compliment olive skin tones but, I mean I certainly don't feel as confident wearing it as I would purple, heh.
      I'm hoping the end piece will look more Suzy homemaker than rockabilly in the end-- is that weird? Probably... but there's something about all those vintage books on domestic care I've been reading that ya can't help romanticize just a teeny tiny bit lol.

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  4. yes on what the others said already - that dress looks good on you, great shape and all that! but slightly odd color because its SO much fabric in green...

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    1. It is a lot of green! And it certain was a lot of fabric... truth be told I was a little surprised. Thank you =)

      Delete
  5. What a darling style and dress, I LOVE shirt dresses. I could see you in a purple dress with black trim :)

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    1. I was half debating scrapping the stripes in favor of doing just that! In fact the next dress will have that coming =P
      Shirt dresses are classy, and classic. I don't think they will ever go out of style no matter the era.

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  6. Very cute dress on you. I like the green and I am voting for no sleeves next time. Love the collar! :)

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  7. You look gorgeous but stick to the colours you feel comfortable in! That dress would be great with Gothabilly Halloween prints!

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    1. Heheh, thank ya.
      Yeah, I mean I get where people come from when they suggest dressing in more color... but if someone's confidence can rise just a little bit for wearing something as harmless as black or purple all the time, then why not eh?
      Oh yes, it definitely would look pretty dang cute in Halloween prints!

      Delete

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