SEASHELL NELL

This is my Camino. Welcome.

I just bought four and a half yards of material

Because my fam hosts a dance in like a week and a half (link because: you’re invited) and you know what? I’m down for that challenge.

Why accomplish anything unless you have tight deadlines, right?

Jesus help us.

I went to one fabric store earlier this week. The stuff was okay, but not great. So then I pulled out the big guns. The fancy fabric store downtown. (Did I even go to JoAnn’s? No. Not this time. Ain’t. Nobody. Got. Time.).

Thing about the fancy stores is, all the stuff is expensive, you know?

DSC01130.JPG

This particular store, man. I walk in and it’s like the air is more expensive.

It sure is beautiful, though.

One time, when life was rough and full of stress (was I in college?), I remember that I came here in the dead of winter and sat in front of their remnants shelves and refolded all of their piles of fabrics for, like, a couple of hours, which sounds silly and stupid, BUT, in that moment, it was the only connection I had to beauty and I took it, man.

I ended up in front of the remnants shelves again today. I pulled out material after material, held them up, under my chin, in front of the poorly lit mirror in the back (I find that a huge part of material selection is…does the color look good?)

And I found one! A sweet vintage-y poly-mix print that’s a soft blue with a whisper of purple (shall we say…periwinkle? It’s fun to say, at least) and it has an abstract-like lily-of-the-valley print scattered all over it.

lily-of-the-valley-03
These are Lily of the Valley. For reference.

I’d take a picture but it’s dark out, ya’ll. And darkness makes not for good photos.

ANYWAY.

Now it’s time to pick a pattern.

(Did I lose EVERY MALE READER yet? Almost? A girl can try).

Want to look at patterns and vote?

LAUREN? DO YOU WANT TO?

Not saying your votes necessarily count because, it depends on the sales at JoAnn’s (*cough*) sometimes, man, but, here is what I like:

1. Full skirt
2. Fitted bodice

The classics.

I will also add pockets to just about everything I sew from here until the Lord takes me home. I have decided. I am an adult, I pay bills, and I have decided.

Other things that I think might look good with this particular vintage-y print:

1. Subtle sweetheart neckline. If done well, it screams vintage
2. Cap sleeves

ARE YOU READY TO LOOK AT PATTERNS AND DISCUSS IN THE COMMENTS?

I thought so.

Behold ye–in the order I found them, not in the order of favorites:

sim-8294
Simplicity 8294. I think the sash is presh. I think the collar is presh. I don’t know that the skirt is full enough for my preference, but all in all–presh.
sim-8259
Simplicity 8259. Check out that button detailing. That subtle sweetheart collar. Those cat eyeglasses. Meow.
2
This is the same one. I just wanted you to see the skirt.
sim-8248
Simplicity 8248. I’M FLOORED BY THIS PATTERN. I think that it is darling and beautiful and precious. I’m not sure it’s the right one for a dance…but isn’t it exquisite and classy and mysterious and feminine?? I want to wear it to a train station in a 1930’s-based mystery film for the silver screen.
sim-8051
Simplicity 8051. The back detailing is bae. Obvi.
sim-6393
This particular one is Simplicity 6393, but I have similar Princess-seamed patterns at home. I just thought I’d toss the option–simple, classy, elegant.
sim-6675
Do you ever look at a pattern and think, “Geez, if it doesn’t look good made by a professional and on a size negative four model, maybe I won’t have much luck with it either”? Ladies and gents (if any gents made it this far)…I present…New Look pattern 6675.
vogue
I DO NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE THE PINTUCK SKILL NECESSARY BUT LOOK AT THAT BACK DETAILING OH SAINTS HAVE MERCY. Vogue pattern, though. Of course. Us peasants don’t usually have things that nice. Vogue 1446.
b-6412
Butterick 6412. The sleeves would probably not happen…but the bodice detailing? I like it. I like the skirt flair, too.
6094
Butterick 6094. Two words: back detailing. Need I say more? LOOK at that back detailing.

AND NOW I MUST GO.

Those hyperlinks take you to more pics of each dress, too. So, look, listen, access. And then comment. And I’ll see those in the morning when I wake up and from there prayerfully discern my future.

My future with the dress, that is. My future with anything else would take more prayers.

Other things that I will need to do, then: check the sales this weekend at JoAnn’s. 😉

Ya’ll are the best and that’s why I love you even if you were the worst and lived under my bed as a dust bunny.

<3,

Nelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

 

4 thoughts on “I just bought four and a half yards of material

  1. I like the grey one with the button details and the neckline. I wonder if you could make the skirt more full with a crinoline. Otherwise, I like 6094. That skirt and back detail says party to me. The vogue one is so beautiful, but looks awfully complicated.

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