Imitating Trees

“The Shift Dress-Shirt” Butterick 3114

“The Sunshine Dress” Colette Truffle #2

 

My photographer held out on me, I didn’t get this picture until today!

I am a writer and I find that I hardly have words to describe how this moment in time feels. 

I had my endoscopy and biopsy today. It was my first time ever being put under. I’ve never had any major health issues, nor have any of my close family members, so any experience with illness feels dramatic and strange to me. I know I don’t have cancer or anything, but I am shocked to see how detached the doctors and nurses have been on this journey so far. This may not be an extremely life threatening “disease” but it is still a very big life change. Literally, a paradigm shift. 

I knew that my small intestine would show the signs of celiac damage, but I wasn’t quite prepared to see the pictures right after waking up from the anesthesia. I’d hardly even realized the procedure was over when the nurse put the papers in my hands. My mom was at my side and knew what questions to ask for me, and I was grateful for that, but I didn’t know what to say when she asked me how I felt. “Are you mad? Scared? Nervous?”

I don’t know what I am. All I can think of are the dates that people use as their signatures on the Celiac.com website. “Gluten free since Oct. 9th 2001” and things like that. And now I have my dates, too. Today is the day I stopped eating gluten. Yesterday was the last day I ate ravioli. Last week was the last time I had my favorite amber beer.

Its all just so… strange.

I may get this symbol as a tattoo, or GF in cursive or something. Just to make it feel more real. 

“The Reverse Rhodie”

Colette Patterns Pastille Dress #2

Main: Cotton “End Pattern” 

Bodice Lining: Cotton Lawn        

This dress is not completely finished on the inside, but I could not resist wearing it on this fine spring day. I didn’t realize it when I purchased the fabric in late winter, but the two tones of purple exactly match the Purple Peter (Rhododendron bush) at my Mom’s house! 

Executive Assistant to the CEO Dress

I kind of can’t believe I made this… Photos were taken with Mercede’s digital 35mm Canon camera on National Secretary’s Day!

Sorbetto Top #2

I’d been meaning to make more sorbetto tops ever since I purchased a pile of sheer satin fabrics at a JoAnn’s sale in May, but I kept getting distracted by other dress projects. I finally got inspired to pull the free pattern out again this weekend after finding some lovely coral elastic trim at Josephine’s Dry Goods. 

In truth, I spent the better part of my Saturday afternoon trying to make a lingerie bra out of this sheer coral satin and the elastic. But my curves were too difficult to fit  without a pattern and I tossed the useless scraps asside. I was annoyed, but determined to create something cute before the sun went down! 

I decided the elastic could be used to gather the top of the Sorbetto, replacing the pleat with a little ruffle. I had a lot of black satin polyester left from the lining of my Pastille dress, so for modesty’s sake I cut the front piece out of it. I left the breast darts out, going for more of a chemise style. 

I connected the side edges and shoulders with french seams and pressed them toward the front, so you don’t see them through the sheer coral fabric in the back. Finally, I finished the hem and arms with simple turned edges and contrasting top stitching. 

I love this top! Its very modest in front and casually sexy from the back. I can dress it up with a short black skirt and heels, or keep it casual in cut-offs and Converse. But best of all, it’ll help keep me cool this summer in NYC!

Source: neoretro

“Go Ducks” Truffle Dress!

I didn’t realize when I purchased this polyester satin at a fabric sale that it screams green and yellow, just like my Alma Mater! I was more excited about using it for the Truffle pattern because of the beautiful flow it has, which is perrrrrfect for the big skirt ruffle. I didn’t grab an invisible zipper though, and when I rushed back out to Bolt on Alberta, the only one that matched was yellow. As I pinned it in place I finally saw it: This dress is all about University of Oregon!

There were a few mistakes that occurred with this project… First, the crisp cotton lawn was most wonderful because of how well it pressed, but I forgot what the right and wrong sides were at one point and inadvertently sewed one of the lining’s breast darts in the opposite direction. I almost scrapped the entire bodice lining, but then realized I could just sew the dart flap down and it wouldn’t show through my main fabric. Victory!

I also haven’t quite figured out how to correctly attach a bodice lining to the main fabric. I was tempted to just follow my own intuition, but then decided I should trust the instructions in my Collette Patterns Handbook. I’m not sure what happened, but it just kept turning itself inside out! I finally had to cut the shoulders and turn it right-side-out that way. This is why they look a bit odd, but it did inspire me to add these adorable plastic green buttons. More green and yellow!

My last error didn’t show itself until I zipped up the zipper for the first time. The waist seam doesn’t match up! Actually, there is a step measuring 1/2” that just kills me when I look at it. Luckily the busy pattern hides it and no one notices when I wear the dress!

The lesson I’ve learned is: It’s not whether or not you will make a mistake, it’s how you will correct it by thinking creatively. Happy Springtime Sewing Everyone!

Truffle Dress by Colette Patterns, made in honor of my alma matter. Go Ducks!