All posts by Peneloping

Floppy donuts

Bust cut-out dress

Bust cut-out dress

Bust cut-out dress

Bust cut-out dress
dress: self-made // tights: Modcloth // shoes: Nine West (thrifted) // scarf: French flea market

Birthday dress was a success! It’s slightly difficult to type though because my fingers are frozen. Cannot wait for warmer weather!

I used this pattern along with a self-drafted circle skirt. I was going to include the sleeve caps but a combination of having nearly run out of time and deciding it looked better without them led to my leaving them off.

For the skirt, I folded a square piece of fabric over halfwise twice, and then measured a 10″ curve at the waistline. My waistline is 24″ so I wanted the skirt to be about 1.5″ wider than my actual waist so there would be pleating. Then I measured from the curve down to various points about 20″ (skirt length + hem) and cut both curves so that I was left with a large floppy donut shaped piece.

Sorry if that’s absolutely incomprehensible. I’m terrible at explaining things.

And yes, I totally caved and dyed my hair. Eek!

17 Comments outfit - - -

Brainstorm

Birthday celebrations are happening this Friday and I’ve been doing that thing where I suddenly hate everything in my closet.

But today I got an idea!

I bought this pattern the other day:

And then I saw this on Pinterest.

So now I want to make the Burda dress in black, but with a shorter skirt and with horsetail braid in the hem to make it swishy.

And definitely with the bow!

*Neither of these images is mine, and they both link to the original owners.

9 Comments sewing - - - -

It’s late, I’m tired

hello

Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes, you guys are the best!

I knew that I wasn’t going to be up for anything terribly exciting on a Tuesday night after class so I decided it’d be fun to do what we do every Tuesday night, which is to nerd out at a bar.

It was pretty awesome. I brought my camera with my vintage 50mm lens to play with and I’m pretty impressed! I’m still absolutely terrible at holding it still but to be fair it was 10pm and super dark and some of the photos still managed to look like they were taken at high noon. I need to start using this lens for outfit photos!

mtg

On a completely separate subject, I’ve been wanting a new camera bag lately and since my bank account weeps every time I visit Kelly Moore or Jo Totes, I decided to go the DIY route again like last time. My last bag was great and I love it, but the new camera is really just too big for it. Plus I always hated that I didn’t think to get a bag that had a zip closure on top to protect gear from the elements. And it literally just fits the camera and one lens and possibly a set of keys. Possibly.

This new bag is all kinds of amazing. It’s absolutely huge but still usable as a purse, it zips across the top, and it has a front pocket! I’m so excited to be able to take my camera with me everywhere! Plus how adorable is the carpetbaggy print?? I ruv. Now, what color to make the inserts..?

new camera bag!

I also finally got my paws on this lovely pattern! I’m convinced that once I start making exclusively spring-appropriate clothing, the weather will take a hint. I can’t wait to get started, I already have so many ideas!

belladone pattern

I’m pretty exhausted today for no apparent reason, so tonight is just lounging in Boyfriend’s sweatpants watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls.

Don’t judge me. I hate myself for it. I blame Alexis Bledel’s eyes.

2 Comments life - - - -

J’y vais par avion

Par avion knockoff

Par avion knockoff

Par avion knockoff

Par avion knockoff

Par avion knockoff

Par avion knockoff
dress: self-made // top: Ross // tights: Hue // boots: Clarks // earrings: thrifted

I think I’ve figured out what’s so fun about replicating designs. When you’re designing something original, you can do whatever you want with whatever you have. You get to make all of the choices. When it’s something else that someone else has created, you almost have to be more creative because the resources you have might not be the same as theirs. You have to take what you can find and somehow maneuver it or tweak it to look like something someone else created. I guess this is more valid with fantasy costumes than everyday dresses, but it still gives me a rush when I finish a project and it looks more or less like the original.

I saw this dress on Delightfully Tacky a few weeks ago and it jumped right up to the top of my to-do list. The original is (wait for it, it’s totally shocking!) by Dear Creatures. (No seriously, I’m slightly embarrassed and considering renaming my blog The Dear Creatures Fan Club.) I used Burda 7309 for the bodice and collar, but extended the front piece sideways by a few inches and cut two of them (well, technically four including the lining) in order to create the double-breastedness. Since the Burda collar only has front pieces, I also had to draft a back piece that goes around the neck and connects the two front ones. That took a bit of trial and error. I have no idea what the technical term is for the way I pleated the skirt but I’m going to call it a double box pleat because that’s essentially what I did. There’s also an extra snap button right under the left collar holding that side of the bodice up.

Holy crap though, nine buttons and a zipper does not make this the most practical piece of clothing to get in and out of!

Now I want to make this blouse to wear under it!

26 Comments sewing - - - - - -

When to break up with a project?

Beaded collar progress

Beaded collar progress

Beaded collar progress

Beaded collar progress

Beaded collar progress

Sometimes I’ll be working on a project and I just won’t be feeling it.

A number of things can be going on. Sometimes the pattern pieces just aren’t fitting together right and the whole thing looks silly and unsalvageable. Other times I look at it and wonder if I’ll ever wear/use it. Or maybe I had an idea in my head that just isn’t translating. Sometimes all you need is to step away for a day or two and come back with fresh eyes. Other times stepping away only leads to lack of motivation and your project ends up in a dusty “Someday” box.

We’re all taught the importance of perseverance and finishing what you start, but there comes a point when you’re just wasting your time. When do you decide to call it quits and move on to something else?

I’m having trouble with this collar. I think I made it too big, or the pearls are too big, and I’m doubting whether I’ll ever wear it because it looks slightly wonky, which makes me not want to put in the time to finish it.

But it does look pretty cool so far and I do feel like I’m kind of pre-judging it before seeing the final effect. Plus, I’ve seen a ton of gorgeous beaded collars on Pinterest and I’m sure they looked at least a tiny bit wonky before they were finished.

Hmmm.

How do you decide whether to give up or keep going?

11 Comments diy -