Whim 14 is complete. It’s blue flowers and exposed blue zipper made the decision for shoes easy, and Anna models it here with her Killer Blue Shoes. Oooh, these shoes! I remember when we found them, on a clearance rack, … Continue reading
I have been negligent to post an idea board for Whim 14. I selected a project, took the photos, even uploaded them to this blog, but failed to post. So here’s the plan for Whim 14, a little late, but … Continue reading
I’m happy with this whim-a-week project so far. I’m accomplishing the goal to utilize my fabric stash. I’m gratified to be working creatively, a healthy and satisfying antithesis to the straight seams and straight forward designs of my contract job (fabricating baby bedding, see About page). My mind is free to roam while I sew, and I am mentally designing whims to fill the weeks ahead.
Whim 10 is another unfinished project, a dress cut and awaiting completion, neatly stored with notions and pattern in a gallon zipper-lock bag on a shelf in my sewing studio. So close and yet so far. I purchased the fabric on clearance a few years ago, and cut the dress out last spring, thinking I would whip it up to wear in warm weather. When temperatures were dropping and leaves falling off the trees, I realized it would be a good project for next summer. That’s when it moved from a soon-to-sew-project on the side of my cutting table to a sometime-to-sew-project on my storage shelf. And now I move it to my Whim 10 idea board, destination my closet and my life!
Whim 10 idea board
A few years ago, gathered waist dresses begin to pop up on the runways and then in the pattern books. This is a good look for me. I’ve never had the long lean profile of a runway model, but I have always had a defined waist. I remember when this look was in style in the 80’s, and I’m glad to see it return, sans shoulder pads!
The fashion fabric for the dress is a sheer print chiffon, and I’m lining the dress with a golden shade of cotton sateen for comfort and modesty. I don’t want to wear a transparent dress and I don’t want to need to wear a slip. Using cotton for the lining means comfort. The skirt is cut to fall just below the knee, and I plan to make a contrasting fabric belt with a buckle I saved from the sleeve of a trench coat. I pulled elastic from my notions drawer, and several button options from my button box.
I just snagged a great deal on a boyfriend cardigan that will work great with the colors in this dress, so maybe I’ll even wear it before warmer weather arrives. It seems like warmer weather is never coming here in Martins Creek, PA. This is the winter that never ends. So if I can’t have warm weather, I can at least have a new warm weather dress. Whim 10 begins!
Lately, I’ve felt like counteracting the winter wardrobe blahs of practical warm clothing with a frou frou dress. Not this week though, but soon. Contemplating Whim 3, I went rummaging through my stash for inspirations. I found an Asian flavored jacket in my unfinished projects and decided on a whim…haha…to make it Whim 3. I hesitated momentarily, unsure I could complete it within the parameters of using only what I have on hand, because the project bag did not contain buttons or closures. But a quick search on the interwebs made up my mind. I can do it. I included the online tutorial for making the needed frog closures on the idea board. (A frog closure is the loopy-knot-thingy you see as fastener on some oriental style clothing.)
Whim 3 Idea Board
I modified this unlined jacket pattern to add the print fabric as lining, and also modified the sleeve, but I don’t remember how. It will be a sleeve surprise. I do remember cutting out this project in my current sewing studio, so the jacket began some time in the last six years. If the fit is good, I may use a piece of maroon raw silk from my stash for next week’s whim, and make something to go with it. One thing at a time. Who knows what I will feel like making next week?!
Week 3 of my whim-a-week project began with a whoops in the kitchen. I was prepping veggies for a lunch-time soup, and slipped with the knife, slicing into my nail and across the tip of my left-hand middle finger. But I will not be stopped! Whoops or no whoops, I will still be in my sewing studio creating something new from my abundant stash of fabrics and unfinished projects!
Week of Whim 3 Begins
Cindy Endres Couture 