Friday, August 12, 2011

Sailboat Dress Part II

I finally finished. Although I might redo the hem- but for my own purposes let's just call that finished. There are some things about it I would still definitely change, but for one of my first efforts at reconstruction I must say I think I did pretty well.

I know it kind of looks insanely short, but you should know that I have crazy long legs and there's still a good deal more under the dress before my crotch, and it gets longer in the back. So no worries. Also ignore my awkward facial expression etc, I didn't feel like spending too much time on these pictures- it was like 9 and I hadn't eaten dinner yet.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Come Sail Away With Me...

To a land where you just can't seem to get the perfect god damn fit for your dress. Ladies and gents- if there's one thing that really gets to me, it's fit. If I sew something and it doesn't fit like a glove, I will not be pleased. When I took on the alteration of this dress, I didn't realize what a chore it would end up being.

First on the list was the bodice. I don't know when this dress was made, but it must have been in a time when it was deemed flattering to make your boobs look big just by wearing a dress with puffy folds on the bust. I think I will pass on that look. Unfortunately, I neglected to take a picture of this piece before I started digging in, but those 2 pieces of fabric hanging down in front are what composed the previously puffy bust area- just imagine the ew.


In order to ensure a good fit, I pinned the lining along its original seams and stitched it up. After sewing the bodice together in what I originally deemed an appropriate manner, days later I found myself staring at the dress and just being extremely displeased with the results, so I took her apart all over again. Poor thing.
For shits and gigs: my cat gettin' all up in my space.

When taking another look at the dress, I realized I had made a glaring oversight. On the side of the dress are 2 panels of stretchy fabric, to give the dress some elasticity in the fit. Well, I managed to not notice until then that one of the panels had almost entirely come undone, whereas the other one looked as fresh as the day some woman in her early 30s probably bought it at Macy's in the 70s. Anywho, as I'm sure you can assume, this isn't something that's going to fly with someone who's so picky about fit. So the panels came off:


That's really as far as I've gotten. I've been busy people. Kind of. Mostly I'm just sick of fiddling with this bitch and I need a break from her. So this will be a 2 parter. This post gives you a taste of what it is I do, and part 2 will show the finished product, if I ever make it there.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Welcome Bitches.

Welcome. I've decided to start a blog devoted to what just about any fashionable girl in her 20's wants most in life: to look good, have swag, and do it all on a budget.
Since moving to Seattle and starting college I've had to adjust my lifestyle to fit in a smaller budget, yet manage to still be awesome and outlandish. I think I've succeeded.

I will use this blog to give updates on my current sewing projects, show off the clothes I wear and love, pine for all the things I wish I owned and love, share the things that inspire me, and of course: post pictures of my cat. She the fuckin' best.

A little about me: My name is Kaley. I grew up just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a small affluent suburb filled with vapid morons. For this reason and many others, I fled to the west coast for college. I moved to Seattle two years ago and I love it. Other things you should know: I'm very crass. I swear a lot. I have 8 tattoos. I'm 5'11". I'm a bitch. I hate most people. I'm very sarcastic. In a nut shell, that's me.
Capitol Hill Block Party last day. Tired. I'm the one on the left.