Chanel Inspired: Argyle Skater Outfit

A few days ago, my friend and former roommate, Brandy McNeace gave me a piece of this pink and grey argyle sweatshirt fabric. It was about 30" x 60":

It made me think of those Scottish Chanel dresses like this one:

It also made me think of this little skater outfit in a Clark's ad that I cut out a few months ago and really liked for some reason:

I also have been seeing a lot of dropped shoulder patterns for fall and winter lately like the one in this picture from October 2013's Marie Claire:

So I made this. It went really fast. I think pattern, cutting, and construction took about an hour:

I didn't do much to keep things symmetrical since I had to be a bit utilitarian within the dimensions of the fabric. That's also probably why I got it done so fast. Symmetry adds a lot of time to construction. The grey bands around the bottom hem of the shirt and the sleeves comes from that green skirt I used to make these couple shirts.

I did something different with the sleeves. It is sort of a modified batwing. (Most batwing shirts are constructed of one piece of fabric.)

Also, it is two pieces: a shirt and a skirt. This way they can be worn together or separately. (The elastic comes from the grey skirt I used to make those same couple shirts.)

The End!

Chanel Inspired: The Scottish Renaissance Nightgown Dress

So...these are some looks from the Chanel Pre-Fall collection. It looks like everyone is in Scotland circa 1500.

Here are some more that I chose to try to emulate.

I really should have just tried the one above, but I decided to go for it and do the poofy volume of the one below.

This is what I came up with. If anyone is filming a horror movie and needs a scary white dress, call me!

I did something I'd never done before and that was machine basting. I'd always hand-basted before, but this was too much material and I was impatient. At least now I know I can machine baste from now on!

Very voluminous! I pinned the sides up at the bottom because it was so long. This process made me feel much like Aaron and the golden calf. I sat down at the machine. . .and this dress popped out! It took a ton of work, but for some reason I kind of don't really feel responsible for it, to be honest.

Because the eyelit material was see-throughish, I lined it with the white part of the Ralph Lauren bedskirt that I'd cut the "skirt" part off to make this skirt. It was crappy material to make anything important out of, but it does make for a good lining!

The back.

This dress actually took way longer than I'd expected or what it looks like. Never underestimate the time that goes into making a moo-moo! It was yards upon yards of fabric, plus you have to try to get the lining to match up underneath. Most of the time was spent on tailoring the top part! Then I sewed more eyelit trim on the bottom. If I ever do this again, I am going to use wayyyyy less material and shorten it. Where am I ever going to wear this??? It was a good learning experience, but it's just not practical. I mean, have I been casted in a play about Mary Queen of Scots that I don't know about?

This is the front. Ironically, it's actually the back, but I sewed the gathered part of the dress with the main seam going down the front by accident and didn't realize it till I was done sewing. My seam ripper is still AWOL, so...the front became the back and the back became the front, and never the twain shall meet. They actually look better reversed, so. . .that was a freebie!

Then my husband came home and told me that it made me look fat. Not really, he's not that mean to say something like that. . .but that IS what I heard!

So I added some grey ribbon to the front.

The End!

What Is It? A Bag or a Scarf?. . .It's Whatever You Want It to Be!

I am introducing a new item into my Etsy store: The Cambodian Scarf Bag. It can be used/worn many ways by men or women.

All of the following looks can be achieved with any of my scarf bags.

What way will you use yours?

Go to my store: here.

cross body bag with tassels

asymmetric scarf

pull through scarf

short over the shoulder hood

infinity scarf

cross body bag without tassels

over the shoulder scarf without tassels

large fairy tale hood with tasseled bib

ascot hood

one shoulder sleeve scarf

twisted beach bag

knotted short purse

twisted and knotted hanging scarf

assymetric twisted and knotted scarf

doubled over twisted hanging scarf

Scottish one shoulder sash bag with tassels

90s grunge hood

hipster scarf

inside out one shoulder sleeve bag

tasseled cape

small backpack (back)

small backpack (front)

cross body folded strap bag

twisted hanging scarf

doubled over and twisted ascot

small knotted hood

hollywood glamour handkerchief 

doo-rag

flapper headband

doll carrier

collegiate cape

semi twisted one shoulder beach bag

semi twisted hanging scarf

folded loose knot neckerchief

folded one shoulder neckercheif

grilling apron

barbeque bib

folded and knotted pirate belt

hip hugging sarong

large shawl

The. . .End?