pattern junkie

Pleat Madness

Take a peek at the note written on the pattern envelope for Vogue 7069 (one darn pretty dress!):

Ten yards of 45 inch fabric?  Could that really be the required yardage?!

I found a listing for it over at Lanetz Living (it's sold out) that shows the back view -- yup, depending on the size, fabric width and view, it calls for anywhere from 6 to 12 yards of fabric.  Can you imagine how long it would take to do all of those pleats?!

I bet the resulting dress would be a blast to wear, though -- so fun and twirly!  Alas, it would also be fraught with danger -- the slightest breeze or smallest subway grate would send it flying over your head, don't you think?  Your underwear would really have to be as spectacular as the dress itself.

Jumping in the Deep End with Lady Gaga

When it comes to learning and doing things, I'm a methodical researcher.  I study.  Start with the basics.  Read the instruction manuals.  And while there are pros with this approach, I envy people who have the guts to just jump in the deep end and see if they can swim.

Reader Rachel is one of these people.

She's a beginning sewer.  And she wants to replicate this Lady Gaga costume because it seems like it would be fun:

So, any advice for Rachel?  Obviously there's some serious structuring in that outfit at the shoulders and hips -- wire or super-strong interfacing.  Leave suggestions for her here or follow her new adventures in sewing at her blog, Pop Culture Sewing Projects!

Of Blog Neglect and Weddings

Hey.  Long time, no post.  I have an excuse.  You see...

Reader, I'm marrying him.  (Sorry.  I love Jane Eyre.)

Mr. PatternJunkie and I, after 14 years together, decided to finally getting around to making it official.  I had no idea that planning even a simple, casual affair could entail so much.  So, sadly, the blog has languished.  My pattern obsession has not.

I'm on the hunt for the perfect vintage pattern, which may just be Simplicity 1415.

I'd make the sleeveless version sans bow in front, in a nice shade of blue.  (I'm pale and white/ivory/eggshell makes me look like death warmed over -- plus, I'm a huge fan of color in general.)  For those wonderful peekaboo ruffles I'd use different colored fabrics, maybe even different subtle prints.  Polka dots and stripes -- something very Moulin Rouge-ish.

Sadly, I lost the eBay auction for it -- and weeks of trolling the Web for it have only uncovered it in a B29.  I'm a B34, and am worried that grading up 5 inches is too much of a task.  Writing about it has only reinforced my aching need for it.  Please, if you see this pattern running down the street -- grab it for me, won't you?

I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to adjust a pattern for a simple fitted bodice, A-line skirt dress.  I'm guessing that the back seam of the skirt simply isn't sewn together, and it's the ruffles that push it into the wedge shape.

Speaking of wedding dresses, I just sold an AMAZING wedding dress pattern from my etsy shop.  I've asked the seamstress -- who must have nerves of steel -- to share photos when she's done, but personally I'm worried that this is the kind of pattern that could kill off mere mortals.  Behold New Look 6360, which represents 80s excess like nothing I've ever seen:

It has bows!  Puffed sleeves!  Flowers!  Ribbons!  Lace!  To be exact, it calls for 25 yards of ribbon, 27 fabric rosebuds and ONE HUNDRED AND SIX YARDS of lace!

I can't wait to see this one made up!

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE NIPON WOMEN

The first rule of Fight Club is...YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE NIPON WOMEN.

The second rule of Fight Club is...YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE NIPON WOMEN.

Behold Vogue 2640 by Albert Nipon:

 

These two are late 80s "XRay Women" straight out of Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, don't you think?  But don't let the refined setting (a tony luncheon club on the Upper West Side, perhaps?) fool you.  Arms akimbo, they stand ready to drive a bony elbow into your side...or, if things get really serious, to do some damage with those pointy stiletto heels.

Waif-thin or not, don't underestimate these women.  They're tough.  Sure, their Master of the Universe husbands may trade millions daily on the stock market, but these Nipon women know that's nothing.  After all, this is a pattern that calls for seven rows of topstitching!  SEVEN ROWS.  If that doesn't take nerves of steel, I don't know what does.