Monday, September 29, 2008

What's next?

Pattern Description: Cropped, lined vest with darted front and back, CB seam.

Pattern Sizing: Mine. Approximately a 38 in BWOF/12 in Big 4.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? It looked like what I had in mind, more or less, which is always gratifying.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I'm starting to work on a gray-themed wardrobe. The first piece was a white shirt with gray vintage buttons. The shirt decided that even with those buttons, it was too plain and it wanted a vest to jazz it up. I didn't have a pattern for one in my stash, and after going through 3 years of BWOF issues, the closest I could come up with was the vest from the 2/2008 issue with the shoulder ruffles and the peplum. I traced off the basic pieces - back and front, minus the peplum, extending the shoulders out and narrowing the front. I also cropped the pieces about another 2" to get the length I wanted.

Fabric Used: I didn't have anything in stash that would work with the gray bottom weight fabrics that this is intended to be worn with, so I hit the thrift store down the street and a skirt that I liked. Soon it was a skirt no longer. There was just enough fabric to cut out the major pieces, plus the facings (which were pieced as neatly as I could). The lining was made from a poly satin blouse from the same thrift store. Total cost for fabric: $3.45.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: Once I pinned the vest together, I knew I was heading in the right direction, but even roses on herringbone wasn't quite enough. It needed more. I remembered that I had a roll of black leather piping squirreled away from a purse project that had gone nowhere, so I tried that and liked the effect. But it needed more leather! My original thought was to make leather ties for the back, but I thought that was too expected. Then I remembered that last year I had purchased 3 of these miniature black and silver buckles at Pacific Trims in NY for a BWOF jacket that hasn't yet come to fruition. That was perfect.

I lined the jacket with poly satin using Sandra Betzina's method from Power Sewing Step-by-Step, except I left the entire bottom open because I was still fiddling with the length at that point.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I won't sew this exact vest again, but the pieces I came up with fit well and I could maneuver them into something different if I took the time. I'm not big on vests, but there are a few fabrics that are thinking they might want to be combined into another one. We'll see.

Conclusion: This is piece #2 of the gray wardrobe. I really need to get cracking on a pair of pants and a skirt. I wore this vest and the white shirt today with an old RTW gray skirt and I like the outfit, but the skirt's a creeper. Now I remember why I wanted to replace it.

And the poor receptionist at my job is getting tired of (and no better at) playing fashion photographer, but she's come to expect the request when I come in wearing something new.

5 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

It's very cute and I love the details!

Little Hunting Creek said...

What a great vest and what a good reminder to check out the local thrift and consignment shops for just the right fabric and accessories. Plus doesn't that count as recycling? So it doesn't count as fabric buying, right? :)

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Ha ha, I love that you have someone at work to be your photographer! Vests are very hot right now, you're totally in style.

Kitty Couture said...

Great outfit, Karen! You look stylish, but with a difference. Style with a twist.

Unknown said...

Karen, I love the way that outfit worked out. Maybe you should get your attorney to act as fashion photog. g