My Self-Drafted/Rub-Off/Draped Simple Shirt

Sounds simple, right? I certainly thought so. I got really, unreasonably excited when I found this guide from Mad Mim on how to draft a pattern based on measurements. I had saved the last of the Christmas wrapping paper with this project in mind, and did all the math (dividing in halves and quarters and adding ease and so on) TWICE. Because, if you'll remember, I'm focused on doing things right. I drew out all the lines, measured down, double checked that I was perpendicular, connected the lines with my wonderfully useful drafting ruler, and ended up with something that resembled this:

If I were a bell I'd be ringing, amiright?

Yay! Let's talk about me! (i.e. play and costume ramblings...and sorry)

Yeah, the self-draft/rub-off/draped project is currently draped over the back of a chair, because Gennie is wearing GREEN this month! Congratulations to me, I was cast as Fiona in our production of Shrek: the Musical (Decatur High School April 3, 4, 5 - please come if you're Tennessee Valley adjacent!). One of the great joys of a show is costume discussion - we have a connection to a summer stock up in Michigan and are renting most of the pieces. They showed me pictures of this other Fiona, who was probably two inches shorter and a hundred pounds lighter, and then tried to tell me, oh, but the dress is stretchy!!....yeah, sure, it is... So I'm making my costume - HUZZAH!

Embrace it - the rest is all links. This is a PLANNING entry.

What Does the Fox Wear?

Ugh. I apologize for that. But every time I tell someone, hey, I'm making a shirt with fox fabric! They come back with some variation on the song title. But now it's out of the way and no one has to make that joke anymore. Ever.

Moving on: So I got this wonderful jersey from Girl Charlee and had no idea what I was going to do with it. I just fell in love and had to have it.

Isn't it wonderful?!

EDITED: Officially Finished!

Well, well, well - turns out it was pretty easy! I am done with the colorblock muslin and I'm fairly pleased with how it all turned out!

Look at me balance awkwardly on the edge of the tub! (Shoulda left my shoes on...)

Pulling the Trigger

I had an unanticipated burst of doing-ness this weekend, so I used it on the color blocked muslin - hooray for me! - and watching Star Trek.

As I've mentioned, I am highly nervous about cutting fabric. My selected size never seems to work out - I can use high bust instead, or try to go by the finished ease, or just cut down a size or two...it just never works and I invariably have to go back in and fix. And I really, really hate that, guys. Hate it so much. So, with the wonderful addition of Genevieve to my life (yes, she has a name now), I decided that I would be super meticulous and thoughtful and responsible and I would do a tissue fitting on the spectacularly patient Gennie.

An additional note - this pattern (Simplicity 1586) is one of their Amazing Fit products, which means that in addition to the normal sizing anxiety, I have to choose a cup size and then slim, average, or curvy fits. SO MANY PANELS. I ended up going by the recommended cup size panel (which, for the record, was definitely not the cup size I wear. A thought to keep in mind in your cutting) and cutting out the average fit. In hindsight, as I've become rather pear shaped with the secretary-spread and all, the curvy fit might have actually been the better choice around the hips.

Note to self - avoid picture-taking situations with real self from this angle.

Wonderful Christmastime

Life gets in the way, doesn't it? I got pretty well slammed with work and the show I'm directing and oh, it's Christmas already? But everyone did and everyone does and so it will be through the end of time. The good news of all of this is that my color-block muslin was back-burner-ed. What say you? How could that possibly be good news? I'll tell you - by SHOWING you:

Inspiration Strikes

I was reading this illuminating article from Fast & Co. on the realities of the Golden Age of flight (save you the reading: it was less Golden and more smoky), and I happened upon this wonderful picture:

Image: Flickr user 1950s Unlimited