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Post-Bowler Shirt
March 19th, 2013
One of my favorite things is getting clothing commissions from other artists. Recently, I was lucky (pun intended, you’ll see) enough to work with Joe Joe Orangias, an excellent artist and a good friend, on a garment for his MFA thesis show Lucky Strike. Joe Joe’s work for the show was a series of objects crafted out of materials salvaged from the former Lucky Strike bowling alley. The alley itself is around the corner from ...
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Juniper: French Seam Pocket
March 18th, 2013
I’m teaching a pants making class at JP Knit & Stitch in April and we’re using the Colette Juniper Pants pattern. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical. I typically don’t wear pants as I have a figure that makes it hard to fit them and impossible to find RTW that works. Many of my students have expressed a desire to be able to make and fit pants, so when the Juniper pattern ...
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Shortening A Zipper
March 15th, 2013
Prying teeth off to shorten a brass zipper. The results look almost archeological.
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Ironing Board Shirt
February 27th, 2013
Lately I have been making easy, comfortable shirts to wear for the day-to-day. I’m not a big t-shirt wearer, so my wardrobe has had some gaps in terms of more casual shirts that suit my style. This is one of them. I drafted the shirt from my sloper, adding extra ease for a relaxed fit. The kimono sleeve is pretty close fitting, drafted with the help of my sleeve sloper. The fabric I used ...
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Snowstorm
February 10th, 2013
We had a blizzard last weekend…lots of fun. I invented some mittens. I will follow up with a pattern Daisy loves to play in the snow. We got about 2-3′. Our porch got about 5′ and had to be shoveled out by J.
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On Thrifting
February 7th, 2013
I used to do a lot of thrifting. When I worked in a vintage shop after college, I had reached a point where browsing thrift stores had become a bit of a sport. In the vast expanse of clothes, I could locate unique and old things and I had trained my eye to recognize them quickly. Every once in a while, when I have some spare time, I like to engage in this activity at ...
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WIP: Static dress
January 30th, 2013
I am working on a custom dress for one of the designers behind Possible Worlds. The fabric is one of their designs, in a lovely crepe de chine. Here are some in progress shots. I’m just putting the finishing touches on before meeting this week.
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Finished Object: Rebecca’s Blouse
January 25th, 2013
This is the finished blouse that I posted some in progress pictures of earlier. I think it turned out quite well, partially due to how wonderful the fabric was to work with. It is a wrap style blouse with a close fitting sleeve with just a little bit of gathering at the sleeve head (but not too much!) This photo was snapped with my phone camera, so the quality is not so great. The ...
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Slowness
January 24th, 2013
For a group exhibition titled SLOWNESS at the Howard Art Project, I created a grey felt jacket. The piece, Phantasmagoria: Greige Goods, is an investigation into the work of sewing and expenditure of time as it relates to our large scale consumption of clothing and our lack of recognition of the time, energy, and materials spent creating said clothing. Aside from the main constructions elements, the coats finishing is done primarily with stitches rendered in ...
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In betweens
January 21st, 2013
The last week has been a lot of little things and a lot of parts of big things. And working. And being sick. Today was taking it easy. Cleaning the room. Completing a small weaving. Too big for a bracelet… Too small for a belt… Shirt placket, headband, some other embellishment? made with a found kids mini loom from Danielle using twine, crochet cotton, acrylic and wool crewel yarn, and embroidery floss
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Relics of garments past
January 14th, 2013
I found two small pieces of what I imagine was polka dot terrycloth folded up inside the pieces of a 1950s vogue pattern. Somebody’s hands laid out this pattern to make something from the towely material. A beach jacket perhaps? I wonder how many different color polka dots this fabric had. The red black and yellow scheme is very appealing either way…
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‘Matelasse’ is French for mattress
January 10th, 2013
I’m working on a great wrap blouse for a client in a gorgeous fabric. It is a wool/silk blend fabric with a woven texture somewhere in between quilting and brocade. I have decided that it is ‘matelasse’. It is reminiscent of fabulous 50′s and 60′s dinner dresses like this one from Balenciaga. Such a fantastic fabric and a pleasure to work with…all the advantages and stability of wool with the luxury of silk. My client ...
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Little Fins
January 10th, 2013
Recently a friend of my husband requested some help making a pattern from a bag she had borrowed. It was made from a well loved red rayon faille, with a cute little drawstring. The shape was particularly intriguing…a sort of clutch wristlet with little fins to create its unique shape. The bag at first glance was sweet, but up visually deconstructing the shape and construction, it became brilliant. The proportions, the transformation between uncinched and ...
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House Blouse: Raglan Sleeve
January 9th, 2013
This blouse was designed to be an alternative to a button up shirt. Something classic & professional while still being easy, comfortable and barely avant garde. The sleeves and neckline on this brown linen version close with a wood bauble button.
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Curtain Crop Top
July 24th, 2012
This top is made from a fabric that hung as curtains in my childhood bedroom. The ombre effect on the fabric is due to fading from the sun. It has a cowl neck that can be folded outward to resemble a bandana. The waist can be worn loose or cinched.
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Seasonal Wardrobe Re-invention Tactics
April 11th, 2012
Since I live in climate where seasons vary greatly (New England), I have my entire wardrobe divided into two camps: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. I find that not only does a seasonal wardrobe keep my closet uncluttered, but it also keeps things exciting. It is such a joy to bust out fresh, exciting clothes for riding valiantly (via bicycle) into the springtime sun as well as pulling out all my winter cozies as soon as the ...
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Continuation on Wardrobe Re-something
January 15th, 2012
I have been busy with all sorts of things the past few weeks. One of them was developing a flowchart for use in hard to make clothing purchase decisions. One of the hardest things about keeping a concise closet is practicing thoughtful shopping. Many of us go out shopping for clothing, either for fun or because we need something specific, and often come back with more than we set out for. For many, this can ...