I finally dyed my "vintage" velvet for Vogue dropped overlay Adele Simpson

According to the Guardian newspaper fashion gurus, we're going to be looking at dropped waists, a lot of beaded hems, long knotted pearls, and a rectangular silhouette in 2011 because of the influence of the new television series, Boardwalk Empire. So long, Mad Men. Great for vintage sewing, right!

This means that my retro vintage Vogue "Adele" in the cut velvet with the dropped waist tied overlay and possible beaded tassles will be very fashion forward in an unexpected way.

I finally dyed the Thai silks' cut velvet this morning, and you know how sometimes you think your life is going to be complicated, so you procrastinate? I nervously bought dye sachets of navy, royal blue and dark grey, only to find out that one sachet of royal gives me a gorgeous blue. I'm into blue, thanks to the success of the ruffled satin blouse the other night, a detailed on my blog last week. (Please no smart alecs remind me that this is "Our Lady's" colour, or they'll send me back to Catholic school days. I prefer to think of this as a true Renaissance colour. I have a wardrobe full of black evening wear. Enough. Nobody died.

In case you find my dyeing completely boring, you can gaze across our front yard for a glimpse over the fog covering Geneva and the lake of Leman at the Alps. In this photo, Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain, sits dead centre. It looks a little low to the ground because our farmhouse is already at 1300 metres.
For more photos, see my blog Chanel No. 6
Okay, I know I'm lagging on this sew along thing, but I've got husband's birthday pajamas under needle.

Cut Velvet for Adele

What am I thinking? I couldn't find appropriate fabric to do my muslin this afternoon at the local, so I just freak out, go ahead and order 2.5 yards of 54 inch cut velvet from Thai Silks which suddenly I envisaged dying a lovely blue-grey to keep the 1920's feeling of the design.

Have I lost my mind? Is this what happens when you join a sewalong? Next thing you know, I'll be ordering an ivory cigarette holder to go with it, and I certainly don't even smoke.

Yuk choice for my Adele Simpson

Went to local fabric store today to look for something nice as a wearable muslin for my Adele Simpson Vogue Vintage. Found nothing that would work for spring (or any other season for that matter.) The problem is I need a nice draping crepe and everything was nasty poly or winter weight or T-shirt knits.
Hmmm. this may call for Thai silks....

A Workable Vintage Skirt Muslin

Spent yesterday on pattern preparation.  I actually had to grade this pattern up almost 3 sizes to fit.  As easy as a skirt pattern is, I really actually stressed over it, but finally got a hold on myself and just got it done. 

 
When I chose this pattern I was so sure that I could do this, but when it came down to starting the project I began to doubt myself. In grading up 3 sizes, I need to add 10 1/2" to the waist and 5" to the hip area of the pattern.  My problem was in trying to decide whether to divide by four and add the results to the side seam allowance; or to divide by two and add the results to the center front and back of the pattern.  I thought about Nancy Zieman's "PIVOT AND SLIDE" method or her "SLASH AND SPREAD" method.  I decided to wing it and go with the slash and spread option.

My muslin is a little large in the waist and hip areas, but I've made notes and adjustments on my traced pattern to help me remember what changes to make.  I think I've got a workable muslin, my fabric has been pre-treated, and now I'm ready to pin and start cutting.  TOTAL SEWING PARALYSIS averted...

DIDN'T I SAY THAT I WOULDN'T BE JOINING ANOTHER SEW ALONG FOR QUITE SOME TIME???:

I know, I know, nobody twisted my arm to join I just kinda wanted to be a part of this. I heart plaid pleated wool skirts, so when Joanne told me this circa 1980's pattern qualified as vintage I jumped right on in, yes, yet another sew along boat.

My fabric is a wool blend that I scooped up at Hancock's last year.  The pattern is one that I found at a thrift junk store that me and my friends cruise every once and a while.  It reminds me of a skirt I made back in the 80' that I loved so much.  The pattern challenge is that it's a size 12, and I am clearly not there (not with all of my holiday eating that is).  So I will need to grade up at least one size to make it work for me.  I think it's quite doable.  This a unique pattern because the pleats are located at the side of the skirt.  I'm already planning the look I want for this project:  a black or red sweater, black wool blazer, boots, gloves, and my hat.  I can just see me wearing it now.

Vintage pattern circa 1980