I will attempt a post tonight, after half a bottle of wine. Not something I normally do, but I needed to blur the edges a bit…
And there is no sense putting a half glass back in the fridge…
I finished the prom gown re-do. I have to say this was a fun exercise, and I really enjoyed just plain sewing, and I kept remembering the original gown, the prom, and the guy I went with who was so much fun, who is actually a friend on Facebook, and who will remain anonymous…
Let me mention here that I have a $1500 sewing machine, which I completely adore, the Janome 6600, but I never figured out how to make buttonholes on it. I always dug out my old faithful low end machine and attached the old fashioned Greist Buttonholer to it. The last time I used my old buttonholer attachment, it broke and rendered the machine unusable, which I didn’t find out until much later, and I decided, that before trying the old buttonholer again on the replacement machine, I’d see what the Janome 6600 can do. Duh… Read the directions Daryl, the machine is only 6 years old at this point. It makes beautiful buttonholes, exactly the size for the button you feed it… There are no words of explanation why I waited so long to discover this…
Meanwhile, I was suppose to head off to my Thursday evening knitting group, which I do really love, but I was on a roll and didn’t want to stop. I realized that I needed to pick up the tencel Challenge Gown re-do, that I so unceremoniously dumped because I started traveling again. Most of what I’ve done this past year will be shipped off shortly to Convergence for their exhibits, so I want to have a new interesting jacket to wear to the conferences and workshops I’m teaching between now and August when I get the work back from Convergence. Hence the push…
And so dear readers, I had a stiff drink, and plowed into chopping up the teal tencel from the gown I wove for the Convergence Challenge project in 2008. I had taken it apart on the long car ride to my sister’s house for Easter dinner. That was so weeks ago…
I ended up backing the tencel, which was fairly dense and stable, but I wanted a more molded fabric for outerwear, and I used an inserted weft poly knit fusible underlining.
Some of the dress panels were a bit skimpy and I had to splice in butted selvedges, which I carefully pulled together by hand with a needle and thread, and once fused with the underlining and marked it was hard to tell where the splice actually was. I opted to serge all around the perimeter of each piece to stabilize since I will completely line this garment.
I adjusted the differential feed on the serger to automatically draw up the bust area on the side front panels. They eased in like butter onto the front panels. I didn’t have enough of the handwoven tencel to make the inside facing so I’ll opt for plan B. The facing isn’t actually visible in this design, so I can use an alternative fabric there. It is drying in the shower stall.
And now dear readers I am stuck in the dilemma that can cause the most confident creative people to run for the hills.
Buttons.
Problem with this jacket is I need to put the button loops on right up front, first step, and in order to make the loops, I need to know what size buttons I’m putting on.
The pattern calls for two inch buttons. These are two inch buttons. The third one is hidden under the large felted collar. Seem really really in your face. They compete with the felted collar (which is just pinned on to get a feel for the scale). I’m seriously thinking something slightly smaller and four instead of three buttons.
I have two contenders. The first two jackets on the right show the same button, but one view they are flipped over. The third jacket below has a different button altogether, I bought all of these when I was teaching up at WEBS last month. They have amazing buttons. I’m staring at the options and will probably revisit this post tomorrow to make my ultimate decision. There is something about looking at the images rather than the piece in front of you that gives a better perspective. Feel free dear readers to weigh in, but ultimately I’ll just go with my gut…
Stay tuned…
The prom redo is lovely. I love the colors. The jacket is fab also! Love the felted collar. As for buttons, my vote from the pictures is 4 smaller buttons, the ones with the pattern. They seem to compliment the earthy patterns of the felt collar. The ones in the bottom picture seem too shiny. That’s my 2 cents worth! Good luck. I know it will be beautiful no matter what you decide.
Love the blouse great redo. The more I look at the jacket the better I like it. It is stunning.
My choice re buttons is the four in the middle picture. They seem to just extend the flow
of the collar. Well that is my five, Canadian, cents!
I do love your blogs Daryl, always look forward to the next one.
Happy weaving and sewing and good luck at Convergence!
Elisabeth Bischof
What a great idea to re-model the fabric from your Prom dress……It looks lovely and look how much you will enjoy wearing all those memories.
Look forward to seeing your jacket at Convergence…..Re. the buttons – I love the large ones – but who am I to say……I am sure you will make the right choice.
You are such an inspiration – I say this all the time…..
I go for the ones in the second picture.
Wow Daryl! Prom Gown re-do is beautiful!
Upcycled prom dress: Très féminin!
Jacket: Love, love, LOVE button #2. However, for this jacket, IMHO button #3 balances the piece better.
Daryl, I love your courage to cut up previously made garments in order to reincarnate them!
Now I understand why my sewing doesn’t turn out so well… I need wine! 😉
love the prom gown redo, beautiful fit and you look great in it. I love the jacket but I would go with buttons that don’t take away from the collar or the jacket. I would pick the buttons that ‘blend’ in with it more. Just my opinion but I know what every you choose it will be great! Your items always turn out so nice, maybe I need wine too before I sew up mine! HA.
Gorgeous work! I love the felted collar and I vote for the number 2 button option. Best to decide in person which side is up depending on the light play. Have fun storming the castle!
It’s so FUN that you share your processes with us and even let us weigh in with opinions!
I “second” Judy’s vote. Can’t wait to see the finished product; I’m especially interested to see what you do with the felted collar!
I would vote for the squiggly back side of the first button–echoes the squiggles of the felt. The front side is too “pictorial” and the other button makes a complete textural change (which could be good, tho). Thanks for all the insights into how you work.
I like the option of 4 smaller buttons, picture 2 from the top. The flipped over side looks a little dark, at least in the picture and you lose the nice pattern of the button front. Love what you did with my stash!
I love your new blouse and it looks amazing on you! I’m actually not going to wade into the button conundrum because I haven’t seen anything you’ve made yet that turned out badly so your gut is going to make the right choice.
Beautiful!
Boy you are fast! Love the blouse.
I would opt for buttons that would not draw the eye away from the felt collar. Fabric covered…with tencel scraps? Maybe with a few decorative stitches and seed beads in related colors, if it wanted just a bit of jazzing up.
Awesome new blouse — it will be fun to wear! Re the buttons — love the ones with the texture — both sides. Do you need buttons at all — you could do some kind of hidden closure — the buttons may detract from the fabulous fabric and collar — or enhance them — I don’t have a fashion clue in my bones! Looking forward to the next photos.
Really like the prom dress do-over. I agree with the four smaller buttons. very nice design.
You inspire me to get to work on some of my ideas that are incubating in my head. Thank you for sharing your expertise. See you at Convergence.
And– the felted collar is so current. Can’t wait to see the finished jacket
Love the repurposed prom fabric and tencel garment. I vote for (yikes) smaller felted collar and 5 of the smaller buttons or I like the bottom photo with 4 of the larger buttons. I don’t sew, not a great weaver but just came from the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit and that is just my gut feeling.
I’d like to be sharing some wine with you!
Great redo. Fun to wear and for memories. I like the flipped buttons. A little sparkle but don’t outshine the felted collar. Amazing and inspirational.
what about making some sort of frog & loop closure? It could blend in better & add a textural bit
Love the prom re-do.
I like the version 1 of the 4 buttons, the pattern makes it look mottled like the collar. It’s lovely.
LOVE the prom gown blouse. Its lovely on you!
Even better than the gown re-do is the hair makeover! You look great. Why did we ever do that beehive thing?!?!?!
Actually your hairdo wasn’t as bad as Marta’s. Marta had the real beehive.
Maybe today would be a great day to do a wedding gown redo since it’s your 34th anniversary! Not too many women can fit into their wedding gown after 34 years- I see a great outfit coming out of this.
Oh boy does the old prom gound look fab as a blouse! Who would have thought! I like Jenny’s idea for the buttons on the jacket. All the others seem to detract from the felt; which is perfect; but it’s your call so go for it.
How about making some thinner coordinating felt (maybe with a silk organza center) and cover some buttons?
You do have lots of options here, and I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful choice!