Tag Archives: outfit

Souffle girl

November 25, 2013 Peneloping

dress: self-made // tights: Chinese Laundry // belt: stolen from Boyfriend

This dress is going right at the top of the “I have no idea how this happened and I’m pretty sure I will never be able to recreate it” list. I decided that since I’m wearing a giant cupcake one of the days for PAX, I should probably go for a completely opposite silhouette for the second day just to give myself a break. This one is based on Oswin Oswald’s dress on Doctor Who.

I started off with Simplicity 2018 and then completely deviated from it pretty quickly. I used an existing dress with a similar silhouette and used that to lengthen the pattern pieces to dress-length. I also folded the back top pattern piece over so there would be less material and it would lay flatter. And then there was the front piece, which was the absolute bane of my existence for three hours two Saturdays ago.

The front part of the pattern was similar to what I was going for with the Oswin dress, except the Oswin dress has that inverted drape where one side is higher than the other, and it’s a thicker material than the pattern was meant for. I had a vague idea of how to cut it, went for it, and realized about three seconds later while pinning that I had epic failed. Spacial reasoning is not my friend. Somehow through the use of lots of pins and some handstitching, I managed to cobble together a neckline that looks pretty much like the original and doesn’t totally suck. There are still some issues to iron out (Metaphorically. I tried actually ironing them out and it didn’t work.) that I hid with strategic photographing but I have until April to figure those out.

And now I have one of two of my outfits for PAX East 2014! Just have to figure out the shoes. She wears red sneaker wedges in the episode but I absolutely abhor sneaker wedges so we’ll see if my footwear hatred outweighs my need to be screen accurate.

Oh and I hope everyone had a good Doctor Who 50th! Which was Saturday. Because normal people totally consider that a holiday.

A wearable blanket

November 13, 2013 Peneloping

sweater: self-made, pattern here // top: blogged here, pattern here // pants: Paige // boots: Clarks

To me, cold weather means snuggling up in front of a fireplace with a mug of a tea and stack of favorite books. I don’t have a fireplace but if I did I’d be snuggling the shit out of this sweater in front of it.

I wanted it to be really drapey and soft so I used Berroco* Ultra Alpaca and got exactly the effect I wanted. I ended up making** another one for my sister’s birthday present. It really is a totally effortless pattern. The instructions are super easy to follow and aside from the ribbing on the edge, it’s all stockinette. The only effort-ful thing about it is getting yourself to sit through hours and hours of mindless stockinette. I made this a while ago but I’m pretty sure I didn’t make any adjustments, except possibly adding an inch to the length. You can check out my Ravelry page for yarn details and amounts.

And actually, I just bought a couple skeins of navy wool to make another one. :]

*Does anyone else spell Berroco wrong every damn time? I swear I am constantly thinking “Ok, I remember this time. Two C’s and one R.” But nope.

**Took me two years and I made her finish the sleeves. I am a bad sister.

21 Comments outfit datura - effortless cardigan - knitting - outfit - stockinette - sweater - turquoise

Versatility

November 11, 2013 Peneloping

dress: self-made, based on this one // top: Theory // shoes: Seychelles // tights: F21

Back when I was tiny, I absolutely adored Alice’s (as in Wonderland) outfit, especially the pinafore. I have no idea what was so appealing about a garment meant to keep clothes clean during playtime but I desperately wanted one. (I also desperately wanted a tail after I saw the Disney version of Robin Hood, so apparently tiny Ping’s mind was a strange place.)

Anyway, a few weeks ago, Katie over on Skunkboy posted this outfit and I nearly fell out of my chair. (Who am I kidding? I was snuggled up in bed like a lazy bum.) It’s so simple and kind of basic, but the possibilities seemed endless! I envisioned wearing it with stripey long-sleeved tees, with collared shirts, with a sweater over it..

It was pretty simple to put together. I started with the bodice, and just took a piece of paper smashed against my chest and marked where I wanted the top bit to sit. Then I cut two of that piece, marked where the darts should go, messed up and ripped, and re-marked them. Next I cut out 4″ strips for the straps, and a 5″ strip for the waistband (using the usual make-a-tube-and-topstitch-both-edges method.) For the skirt, I just did a regular pleated skirt and did an exposed jeans zipper in the back.

Since I didn’t use a pattern there was some trial and error involved, but I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out! I was actually kind of surprised that it worked with in a slightly dressier outfit since I was planning on styling it more casually, but I saw the pink top and had an idea and ran with it.

PS Thanks to everyone who shared their own stories of mental blocks! It’s so nice to know I’m not alone. :]

17 Comments outfit black - copycat - dress - modcloth - outfit - pinafore

A is for Another Archer And An Aidez

November 4, 2013 Peneloping

shirt: self-made, pattern here // sweater: self-made, pattern here // leggings: self-made, pattern here // glasses: Bonlook // necklace: Modcloth

Today’s post is a two-for-one!

This sweater is one I made aaages ago and sort of forgot about it. It was pre-dSLR and pre-knowing-anything-about-how-to-photograph, and apparently before I had learned that taking outfit photos in a dark room with the shutters closed isn’t terribly effective. Anyway, you can find all the sweater info in this post. I’ve been thinking of making another one and I’m thinking maybe a dark red.

Next up, my latest Archer! Funny story about this one. I was perusing an online thrift shop and they had a ballerina pink silk button-up top from JCrew that was absolutely gorgeous and I needed it. Except my bank account started crying and then I remembered that I had just inexplicably without a project in mind purchased rayon challis in the perfect color and was also itching to make another Archer.

Let’s just say this one was not nearly as fun as the other ones. I always get distracted by how soft and pretty rayon challis is and forget what a bitch it is to sew with. Let’s just say it’s a damn miracle the shirt got made, and we’ll be rolling up the cuffs on this one. It’s a tiny bit embarrassing. I was able to French seam this one though, and I love that every little seam is neat and hidden.

In other news, last week I decided not to do Christmas knits this year. Yesterday I realized that I came to the same conclusion last year and then was overwhelmed by guilt the week before Christmas and ended up spending a full week knitting nonstop. SO I ended up buying yarn for ten people’s presents to get started early. I may have also bought yarn for three presents for myself. (How did that happen?) I feel so accomplished except that technically I haven’t even started yet. Yikes. Christmas knitting really needs to be started in May.

PS Epic apologies for taking ten years to respond to comments. I absolutely love hearing from you guise and I got totally sidetracked this last week due to life and things.

PPS I am in a very silly mood today. I think maybe I had too much caffeine..

9 Comments outfit aidez - archer - cables - knitting - outfit - pink - rayon challis - sewing

Cecile’s cousin

October 30, 2013 Peneloping

dress: self-made, based on this lovely number // tights: F21 // shoes: Chelsea Crew

When Dear Creatures’ new Autumn 2013 line came out, I nearly squeed my pants off. You may have witnessed my mad pinning session if you follow me over there. Shocking, I know. Pretty much half of it went on my to-sew list (and the other half went on my presents-to-myself list). First on the to-sew list was the Cecile dress.

When I saw this dress, something sort of nagged at the back of my mind. It seemed familiar maybe? I dug through my pile of patterns and then felt pretty stupid because it was almost identical to Burda 7309, which is one of my go-to patterns. I hadn’t realized it at first because I’d never actually made the skirt before!

I made no alterations to the bodice, but switched out the sleeves for a lengthened version of Burda 7739. For the skirt, I cut and marked most of the pattern as drafted, but added about an extra inch on either side to create darts to line up with the bodice darts. I think the back already had darts so I just cut and sewed those as indicated.

Once everything was more or less put together, I started hand-stitching the trim. I debated how to do it, and tried several things before finding something I liked the effect of. First I tried satin ribbon, but didn’t like how shiny it was. Then I tried the back of the ribbon but I still wasn’t sold on the color. I thought about making bias tape and using that but then decided that making three yards of bias tape didn’t actually sound all that fun. Plus, I couldn’t find the right shade and texture of fabric for it anyway. Finally I meandered over to Sarah’s shop, beaten and broken (hah — just kidding) and she saved the day with some amazingly smooshy ribbon that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of. It’s like grosgrain but made of rayon (I think?) and suuper soft. I may have spent about ten minutes petting it before I actually started sewing it on.

Anyway, yay! I think the dress fabric is mostly wool so it’s super warm and only a tiny bit itchy. I’ve been wearing it with a long tank top underneath and it’s been totally warm and comfy now that it’s suddenly freezing.

22 Comments outfit burda 7309 - cecile - copycat - dear creatures - dress - outfit - sewing