Sunday, October 11, 2009

Careful what you wish for..

You just might get it. My eldest is daughter is wishing for this formal gown to wear to her Year 12 formal on 5th December. It was designed by her talented 13 year old sister and will be made by her mother the "sewing elf". In fact the whole family will be involved because her daddy will pay for the acres of purple silk chiffon required to make it!

This design will test my skills but I like a challenge. I think that it will require a boned underlining and draping for the bodice with a gathered overskirt. I'm combining several patterns that I have, plus using my pattern making bible Patternmaking for Fashion Design for the bodice.
So by next weekend I plan to have a pattern drafted perhaps with some help from my old pattern maker/tailor. Then we make a muslin and then, and only then, do we buy fabric. My DD would prefer to avoid these steps and go straight to fabric purchase. All that preparation is soooo boring.

DD also wished for a "quick 'n dirty" dress to be made from some pretty floral in my stash. Mother duly complied and whipped it into shape despite her misgivings about the design. I really wanted to make BWOF 07/09 116 but she as insistent as only a teenage girl can be that she wanted a tank style top with a high waisted gathered skirt. Well, as she tripped out the front door wearing it, she announced that it needs splits in the sides so that she can walk properly in it!

Meanwhile I have actually begun sewing my Chanel jacket! I'll post a progress pick on the Chanel Sew along site shortly.

9 comments:

  1. Love the lavender chiffon dress. Also love the "quickn'dirty" dress. Nothing like instant gratification to separate the lengthy projects!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fab design, your daughter is very talented indeed. This be fun to follow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Her dress will be gorgeous!!! Very neat how all of you are involved!! I can't wait to see the final dress.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I like where this is headed! It is your own personal Project Runway, isn't it? You have a client with specific ideas and you've got to figure out how to put it together, make your client happy, and not lose your own style and aesthetic. Or something. Exciting! It will be fun to follow your progress. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love it that the whole family is involved in this special dress. I hope the right fabric leaps out at you after all your preparation.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You got a very talented daughter! I get a real Madame Gres vibe from the sketch, very Grecian goddess.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's a very sophisticated design from such a young designer - one to follow in the future! I'm really looking forward to seeing it realised.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really like the high-waisted two fabric dress! Did you use a pattern for it?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good luck with your pattern drafting...keep us informed of how you get along.

    ReplyDelete