Mortem's Tricks or Treats: McCall's 7019

Ok, so when I took a break from my sewing due to an overload of tote bag creation... I expected to explore my horizons, and perhaps pick up on other hobbies that have been left behind in Canada-- like wire working, or sculpting with polymer clay, or even henna wood burning! Yeah, that thought was exciting...

What I didn't expect from this period of liberty was for it to sling me into a creative slump.
It took all my energy just to flip the switches of my machines; an action that I took more pleasure out of then I should've in the past.

Thankfully, by the grace of some deity, I pooled enough motivation to sew something last night. It was something easy, heh; high satisfaction, short build up.

It was McCall's 7019, variation pull over knit tops. I had my eye on view C for its apparent bustleyness (lolwut?). I am also going to give myself a pat on the back for using fabric that is older than a year old to my stash. I used a black interlock knit with open work pattern, and a very beautiful heliotrope spiderweb foil nylon filament material-- both from Joann's. I don't care that the latter fabric is cheap costume stuff, it's gorgeous! This combination of colors is my absolute favorite.

I must admit, my sewing is getting less and less exciting... part of that is because I really don't go out. No really.
Generally, I go outside (literally step outside my door) once maybe twice a week-- not including work hours, of course. That is why I make such a good employee-- I have no social life to speak of, so primarily my focus is work. When I don't have work, such as my current state, I become one with my zodiacal sign; the crab.

What does that have to do with the apparent simplicity of this particular project? Actually nothing, but I didn't say I wasn't prone to tangents. This top was truly deliberately plain; my train of thought was to make a better compliment to my corsets and waist belts, to kind of soften them up for casual wear. Something elongated, had a little something to it, but wasn't overly froofy. The hi-low hem was the sell point...

I tried making lettuce hems on this via pull and stretch method, but I didn't quite succeed; the weft and warp of the flounces were both cooperative and uncooperative, leaving me with a half assed look. In order to cut down on the costume factor of my focus material, I sewed the silver foil down, so that the webs were not as in your face in person.
I cut out a size 16, because I wanted a little bagginess to the top itself-- I'm split as to whether or not I like the silhouette it casts, but it is supremely comfy. Especially when I put on the accessories it was intended for.

I made zero attempts to modify the pattern, and I wish I had because I don't think I like the neck band either. Seems a little big, even for a size 16-- next time I think I'll just overlock and understitch, seems like that might give it a much better finish. I am also kicking myself for not going with my initial gut feeling of just cutting out the half sleeve instead of the full sleeve... way too much sleeve for this style of top. I'll have to go back and redo that.

Overall I think I would give this pattern a C. The neckband turns an otherwise nice top into something borderline juvenile. I would remove it or thin it out by about half the thickness. The long sleeves are not flattering in the least on a pear shape or hourglass, best to halve them regardless of the view-- the long sleeves bring way too much attention down where there is already some due to the placement of the gussests and flounces. Having them at the elbow helps to create a visual balance.

A nice evening project, I would say-- to remove yourself from a creative funk. Gets those juices back to a flowing state... so now I have to continue tackling the knitting of that Doctor Who scarf... almost done...

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Devil's in the Details

Good day, my fellow darklings!

Once upon a time, there was a vintage non-stretch cotton top that fit our protagonist beautifully-- she loved the cut very much!
Sadly, dear readers, it was plain, and it was boring! There was nothing that made it distinguishable and it fell between the cracks of her wardrobe into the abyss known as 'The Project Pile'...

For years our protagonist waged war on this pile, digging and pondering 'what shall I do?!'
And for many years the blouse lay there, as it did in the vintage consignment shop...

Until a night like last night, overwhelmed and not wanting to do other projects, our protagonist dove into her wardrobe, needle and thread in hand; she fought her creative block tossing venetian lace trims and antique lace collar appliques. Cutting and measuring, and pinning and poking! Oh she wanted that shirt's fit, she wanted it so badly she fought all night!




And when the dust finally cleared, and the battle ended...

Hark!
Hear ye trumpets of triumph!

Our protagonist won! Oh glorious beautiful victory!
Though, dear readers, her spoils did not stop there-- oh no.

The meat of her battled waged in wanting to replicate the top into luxurious fabrics and notions!
And so the story begins again, as this one ended now...

The end... ?

So. Yeah. Didn't have that much trouble-- but calculating seam allowance, pleats, and darts was a bit of a drag.
I have this wine colored crushed taffeta that I bought with the intention of making a tie on bustle, or a capelet-- but I just may make another one of these tops with some minor but significant alterations to pieces to make it my own. The original top seemed to be handmade itself, perhaps from a basic pattern too-- it's not that fancy at all, but the various (and too many, if you ask me--total of 14) pieces hug the form so well.

Featured self-made jewelry in this post:

Skeleton Closet: Venetian Details

I always seem to have this issue of not feeling like I look goth during the summer months despite wearing black all over. So as often as I want to, I'll be posting up my outfits for the public to decide whether it's just black clothes or gothic summer time flair.

Today's showcase is the outfit I wore to meet up with friends of my husband's.
It wasn't particularly hot in our area, but where we ended up was; and this time it didn't occur to me to bring my parasol and I regretted every minute I didn't.

Anyway, I digress.

 

 In this outfit I wore two articles chock full of venetian details, which ultimately made the outfit-- or so I hoped it did.

I wore another lovely little lace vest number, that has an oh-so-yummy-lace fringe around the bottom. It was bought brand new at a shop in a mall I had previously worked at called Latitudes. The tag, just like many others, has been cut and long has the exact brand been forgotten in my head-- the only thing I ever recall about this one is that it was made in Italy, from the same company that made the lace over-top in the previous post. The skirt was thrifted and is just a simple black hobble pencil skirt.

The top underneath was a surprise gift from my younger brother (technically the majority of my clothes are gifted but one or two were bought for me without my knowledge). But I know exactly where he bought them because there is only one store I know of back north that sells this Seduction brand, and that is Sirens.The straps of this top are detailed with venetian lace, the front is accented with venetian lace over satin, and has a cute lace detail which you tie into a bow. The back of the top is smocked, and the cups are padded.

My make up was done relatively the same as the last post; I'm not very creative when it comes to my make up.

This time I used a darker shade of red lipstick: 36 Black Cherry by Estée Lauder, with a touch of a black gradient effect using Annabelle Smoothliner waterproof in Black (I know it's an eye liner, but it really does go on smooth and stays on for a very long time).


The shoes I chose to wear were pumps I haven't completely broken in... so they killed my feet-- they are black lace with scalloped trim, open toe with a bow detail. The lace is really hard to photograph as it was so subtle and it just looks like a black shoe.



And finally we come to the single piece of statement jewelry I wore. It is one of my own creations (I very rarely wear jewery I didn't make), and I think my favorite one to date. It has a ribcage cameo and I always get a lot of queries and compliments when I wear it.

So... goth or not?