22 November 2006

Paralysis of Analysis

OK, my head is ready to explode! Every time I think I finally have a SWAP plan set in stone, I come up with another brilliant idea that trashes everything I have done up to that point. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to plan a formal wear SWAP that I will actually wear. Add in that I am trying to use all vintage patterns and things are just compounded.

I have about a million different dresses I want to sew up, so narrowing down the possibilities to four is not easy. Also, the requirement that each dress and all the tops and bottoms have to coordinate with at least one jacket is tricky too. At this point, this is what I have settled on so far:

Dress 1 of 4: Vogue 2903 in black satin brocade - I saw the exact fabric I want for this dress at Fabricland the last time I was there.








Jacket 1 of 2: Vogue 2934 as my reversible garment with black velvet on one side and black silk dupioni on the other. I have the silk, but I need to purchase the velvet.


Bottom 1 of 2: Simplicity 3881 in the same black silk dupioni as above.











Top 1 of 3: Butterick 3301 in a knit with black flocked lace on brown backing.





Dress 2 of 4: Simplicity 7990 in a mottled satin that has green, orange, brown and cream in it.







Jacket 2 of 2: Butterick 8020 in the same mottled satin fabric as above.












Dress 3 of 4: Butterick 8020 (the pattern right above) in a brown silk dupioni for the highwaisted skirt portion and a brown ruffled fabric for the upper bodice. I got the idea for this dress from a great vintage dress for sale on eBay. It was featured on the clothesaholic blog (third dress down on the Nov. 20th post).



Dress 4 of 4: Butterick 4991 in a wonderful burnout silk velvet that
Julie has for sale. I want to place the dark part of the fabric at the hem and have it get lighter as it ascends the dress to the bodice and shoulders.







That leaves me with 2 tops and a bottom on which to decide. That is, assuming my head doesn't actually explode!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Shannon, pattern 3301 looks a little low cut - how do you manage to raise the neckline to cover a bony chest? I can't get my head round it: taking an inch off the shoulder seam makes the armholes too small :(