Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Velvet Fallback

I'm an overly cautious person. Always have been. So I like to have a Plan B, in case things don't work out the first time. I did this during Season Two - thrifted multiple themed and plan to continue to do so for the current season as well. In fact, for the velvet challenge, the project I submitted in the end was actually Plan C. Plan B was an utter disaster. As my husband put it, I looked like I was headed for a renaissance festival... to play the jester. Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but certainly it wasn't competition worthy, or even Internet worthy for that matter. What follows was Plan A, which turned out fine, but I didn't feel it had that "wow" factor needed for the contest. It began with this lovely smocked velvet robe.

Velvet Tulip Dress - Before

I began by removing the collar, then the zipper, then the cuffs, and then the sleeves.

Velvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In Progress

I cut open the sleeves and began draping them on my dress form to experiment with different ideas. I ended up going with something similar to this.

Velvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In Progress

Going back to the rest of the robe, I opened up the side seams, down to wear the pockets were attached, and cut off the upper back. I sewed the back to the front panels along the sides and shoulders, which I utterly failed to document, then I hemmed the front edges of the front panels.

Velvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In Progress

Next I chopped off the smocked yoke. I tried to pick out the smocking to salvage that fabric, but it was really tedious and left the fabric with little holes. So, sadly, I just tossed it. I removed the pockets (I know, that doesn't sound like me at all, but I was worried about too much bulk at the hips) and restitched the side seams. Next, I folded my skirt at the center back so the front edges were aligned and cut a curve around the front corners.

Velvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In Progress

I rehemmed the skirt from the top of the front edge, down the curved corner, around the bottom of the back, and all the way up the other front edge. Then I attached the bodice to the skirt, making sure I had my top front panels and my skirt edges overlapping in the same direction so it would look like a faux wrap dress in the end. A little elastic at the waist, and I was finished!

Velvet Tulip Dress - In ProgressVelvet Tulip Dress - In Progress

I really do like it and will wear it once it gets cooler, but as I said, I wasn't sure it had the umph the make the cut.

Velvet Tulip Dress - After

Velvet Tulip Dress - AfterVelvet Tulip Dress - AfterVelvet Tulip Dress - After

Velvet Tulip Dress - After

If you haven't cast you vote yet for the velvet challenge, there's still time! Voting ends Friday, so be sure to check out all the entries soon and pick your favorite!

Velvet Tulip Dress - Before & After

11 comments:

  1. Velvet seems like a tough challenge to complete once let alone 3 times. Hope you still have time for the refashioners jeans challenge as well.

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    1. Luckily, Refashion Runway should wrap up around the beginning of September (unless I get eliminated earlier of course), and The Refashioners challenge lasts through September 30. So yes, I think I'll still be able to do something "jeanius" for that. ;)

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  2. I love this. I would hate to think what qualifies as a disaster in your book, lol. Really, I DO hope you post about Plan B as well so your readers can be the judge.

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    1. Ugh. Maybe, after a cooling off period, I won't look at it with such hatred for wasting my previous time when I was on a deadline. Perhaps then I'll be able to share it with the world. :P

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  3. I almost missed this piece, thinking that I had already viewed the velvet adventure. This dress will be the perfect Holiday party dress . The draping from the shoulders to the skirt bottom is perfect. It really is a Winner, Carissa !

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    1. Thanks, Linda! I was thinking the same thing - holiday party when it's much, much cooler. :)

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  4. I love the new drape-y bodice and the tulip hem. Very nice. I had fallbacks last season too... but not three! :) You've been a super busy sewing bee!

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    1. Well, when #1 is meh and #2 is ugh, you've just gotta keep truckin'!

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  5. I think you knocked the ball out of the park with this gorgeous dress, Carissa. It looks so nice on you. Everything you make is well done to the finest detail, but there's something about this that is masterful. All I can think of is Fancy Christmas Party or Evening At The Hi-Falutin' Theatre/Opera. (But if you're like me you may not have those things to wear it to!)

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    1. It's true I don't go to many holiday parties, at least not fancy ones. But my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary are both in December, so perhaps there will be an opportunity to wear it to a nice restaurant or something.

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