Tie Dye–Step out of your comfort zone

I’ve always admired people that try very difficult things, pushing themselves WAY outside their comfort zone. Last week I went to a Natural Dye workshop with good friends. I SO appreciate @JeanHaleyDesign.com for sharing her expertise and even though chemistry is not my jam, I learned a great deal.

Using silk and we hand stitched this super cool Shibori design around the neck, sleeves and the bottom of the blouse. I did the same Shibori ‘scoop’ effect design on the asymmetrical skirt. After two dips, the fabric reached a beautiful pale blue, when dry it’s a silvery blue. So beautiful!

Here it is finished but not ironed

What can I do with a yard of fabric?

Don’t dismiss the lowly yard of fabric! I routinely let my finger wander through the remnants section of fabric stores. These are the bolts that customers bought first so I welcome the opportunity to use the remnant. Check out this lovely plaid which I was able to convert into a wrap skirt. It sits demurely at the top of my knee and I can adjust the fold in the front to either sit at the waist or be more interesting by lowering below the waist by 3″.

To begin the piece of fabric was 1 yard long and lucky for me the plaid was 58″ wide. My next step was to cut along the fold so I had a 29″ width but if I sewed the ends together, I now have a 2 yard long piece of fabric. I especially liked the selvage, it was a lovely blend of grey/white/black and created an interest I could definitely use along the hem of the wrap skirt. I wrapped the fabric around me to see how much of a overlap I would need. I pinned the overlap and then I went and sat down in the skirt. As you know sitting down adds a few inches to the overlap (if you want to be comfortable!) It’s the same principal I use when I make pants using my muslin pattern. The way we stand and the way we sit, means your fluid body is shifting and changing shape. I cut off the excess length and trimmed the waist and the wrap ends. Next I turned the skirt inside out and put it back on. Using pins I fit 4 darts into the skirt so I now had the rectangular piece of fabric contoured into my much smaller waist.

Once I sewed the darts I then decided about how would I close the skirt? I wanted flexibility so I could wrap at the natural waist or asymmetrically, the best bet are decorative pins. I love to take those large safety pins and wind beads into them.

Now my lowly yard of fabric was my new plaid wrap skirt!

Another Re-Vitalize Your Wardrobe Idea

Let’s take the situation of TOO LONG.  I won’t design a pair of pants and then make them too long!  Of course not.  BUT….when I bought these super cute sandals suddenly I thought those pants were too long.  I wanted to show off how fun the sandals look  with those pants hitting a ‘little’ shorter than my original design.  Simply measure carefully where I wanted the pants to hit – just above the ankles when worn.  Then it was easy to re-hem using my sewing machine zig-zag stitch.  I set the width to about 3 and then set the stitch length to just over 1 on my machine then I sew so the right edge of the pants fabric is just under the stitch.  This means the zig-zag will cover the edge of the fabric and it wraps over perfectly.  No need to fold!

Re-Vitalize Your Wardrobe

I am a self-confessed fashion maven so I design 95% of my clothes.  NO closet is large enough for my obsession.  As a result I am constantly going through my wardrobe to clear out oldies.  I either sell the excess or give my friends ‘first dibs’ before I donate.  There are some designs that I still like but I don’t wear, because it’s too short, too long, doesn’t fit or it doesn’t look good in the clear light of day…………

Perfect example is the bright blue knit dress, I loved the complex design of the upper bodice but I didn’t wear the dress because it’s a tiny bit too short.  So I measured where I wanted it to hit on my hips – just barely covering my butt but not too long because I’m petite sized.  Where you cut your new hem is critical!  If it’s too long then it will overwhelm my height.  Proportion is key, when you don’t have long legs then certain things don’t look as good on you as on someone else (with those long legs).

PS – knits are great because you don’t need to re-hem as the knit won’t run!

Fabric choices & do you really know your size?

Being curvy means that you are not as angular as other people (especially guys!). Figuring out the best way to present the design is entirely dependent on the fabric choice. Fabric is either a knit – which moves and changes, or it’s a static / stationary weave – which doesn’t move. My preference has usually been knit because it drapes so beautifully and the movement of the fabric as I walk is enticing. Plus knits travel typically travel very well.

I especially like a heavier knit for pants. We all love our Yoga Pant. The heavier knit has revolutionized the fashion industry, however ‘fit’ is a still key element to looking really good. Too tight and you can count the cellulite, too much fabric and you look bigger.

A few years ago I was analyzed by a fashion consultant as part of a employment perk, I was shocked when their number one critique was that my clothes were too big. They recommended I wear Petite sizes. I immediately went to the store and tried on the same suit in regular size and petite size. It was AMAZING how much better I looked in the Petite size. I’m 5’4″ and I’ve never considered myself petite however, my arms and shoulders are not regular sizes. The difference in comfort was immediate. The size of the armhole and the bust is different. I never knew this!!