Thursday, December 12, 2013

Sewing Daydreams

I spend a lot of time commuting back and forth to work especially during this time of the year when it seems there is so much more traffic.  I spend a lot of that time surfing the web on my iPad and dreaming of sewing projects.

Although lately I've noticed that even though some of the garments inspire me, I'm much more interested in figuring out the garment's construction versus actually sewing it up.  So as I was perusing Erdem's Pre-Fall 2014 line, I happened upon this dress...



I like this dress.  I really do.  It's the combo of printed top, solid bottom and turtleneck that caught my eye.  But I have a really long list of garments I want to sew this winter and I know that only a half to 2/3rds of them will actually make it from idea to my closet.  So what to do about all of those other things that inspire...

Sewing daydreams...where I take a few minutes/hours/days to work the construction out in my mind.  For the dress above, I realized that I could use my TNT pattern as the basis.  I've already used the crossover v-neck top, a band and a skirt bottom on two summer dresses I made back in 2007 ~ here and here (the post accompanying the dress' photo is actually quite funny). BTW, I wore both of these dresses last summer, though I've made some alterations to them to fit a little better.


That part of the dress would be covered.  It was how do I make the turtleneck work and it hit me - dickey sewn into the dress. I could take an old cotton turtleneck or buy one and cut it up to add it to the neckline.  The thing is that I would want the dress lined so I would have to work out how to add a lining, but it could be done.  

The only thing I don't like is that there is no back shot of the dress. Since these collections are just being shown and not shipped to the stores yet, I really have no idea of how the designer made the back.  Me, though, I would use an invisible zipper in the turtleneck and dress back.  Why?  It would just make the dress easier to get into.  And why a back zipper versus a side zipper in the underarm?  I don't like side zippers but it's definitely an option.

Do you see now how I can while away hours sitting in bumper to bumper traffic happily immersed in sewing daydreams?  And it's not only the construction but what fabrics would you choose to make this up in ~ that can suck up hours of time, too.

Now I'm sure you're wondering, why go through these exercises if I'm not going to actually make the dress.  Sometimes it's just because.  Sometimes it's because it gives me clues/answers to future garments or things that are languishing on my must sew list...and sometimes after going through the construction sequence, I get inspired and the dress makes it onto my must sew list.

So while I may not be physically sewing...I am always sewing in my daydreams. How about you?  Do you have sewing daydreams?  Do you think about how garments are constructed and work out construction sequences? Just wondering if I'm daydreaming alone! *LOL*

...as always more later!


28 comments:

  1. Heeheehee, I spent a stupid amount of time daydreaming about sewing! I'm glad I'm not alone. These are super cool dresses!

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  2. I also love this sort of mental exercise!! Cute dress!

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  3. I do a lot of sewing daydreaming to the point that when I think I am ready to sew, exhaustion sets in from all the mental calisthenics.

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  4. I daydream too cos I sure am not sewing. The other day we had a lawyer come in to update us on family law matters. She had on a grey dress suit and the jacket had the lapels made of a floral silk scarf type of fabric. It ran down the front of the jacket and apparently came to a V at the back (I missed that, but others noted). She also had fishnet stockings on! And she looked so good. Checking our what trainers are wearing always makes it more interesting :)

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  5. I daydream about construction too.... Glad I am not the only slightly obsessed one!
    -sewingelle

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  6. Another advantage of public transportation!

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  7. I know exactly what you mean. I am always thinking about what I want to sew and saving photos of garments that strike my eye.

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  8. I think all sewists daydream about sewing fashions we see everywhere everyday. Fashion/sewing is on my mind several hours a day especially since I've retired. Hours spent in my studio are so inspiring even if I don't actually sew. Fondling fabric, envisioning it's possibilities as a garment and looking at patterns is so relaxing and yet creative.

    Karen

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  9. I daydream about sewing a lot and have many fantastic ideas. I only wish more of them made it into my closet. I like your daydream dress!

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  10. I daydream, too. Right now I am thinking of ways to refit some existing garments I have. It must be common to do a lot of thinking before sewing. I usually figure out the puzzle several days later when a solution jumps into my brain!!

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  11. Another who daydreams about sewing and construction techniques.

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  12. Oh Carolyn you have me laughing at you and me. I don't know if I would call it day dreaming, but often I analyze what people are wearing. Sometimes it is figuring out how it is made, other times it is how to correct a fit.

    Also, I am with you on the back zippers instead of the side zippers, especially on long sleeved garments. Love your posts.

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  13. That's definitely me, however I'm doing too much day dreaming about it and no real sewing, LOL.

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  14. We all know that we have to keep the mind active ~ use it or lose it!!! ... J

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  15. No you are not daydreaming alone. I don't have the commute you do, but my lunch time is filled with day dreaming about a next or future garment. I look at magazines as well as online sites to get inspirations for new projects and yes I am thinking about how I would do it; as well as thinking about the gazillion patterns I own and that I probably have one to match up with the daydream garment.

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  16. I do these mental exercises all the time. It certainly keeps your brain active and your creativity flowing.

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  17. Nope your not alone but I'm more of a "trying to figure how that is drafted and if i can do it" daydreamer. I tend to work out how to sew it once I've cut out the muslin and need to put it together.

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  18. Ah Carolyn you have identified the long-running movie that plays in my mind, 24/7!

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  19. Daydreaming helps me to practice patience. It helps when I'm standing in lines listening to people complain. I just start daydreaming about a garment or how to solve a sewing problem. :)

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  20. I daydream about sewing quite a bit! I've read that athletes have greater success when they visualize themselves succeeding, and I try to apply this method to things that are tricky for me to sew or when I am trying a new technique for the first time. I also picture myself wearing the full ensemble the garment will be featured in, esp. when there is a lot of hand sewing, to inspire myself to keep going. Imagining is fun! There also seems to be more time for daydreaming than actually doing...

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  21. I'm with you... it seems that wherever I look I see clothing that I think, hmmmm how would I make that and what would I use fabric wise. I saw a cute sweater on a movie the other night and I thought; I could refashion that from a long sweater. Too little time... so many projects!
    I must say that the models for the dresses you like look really put out! Then again, if I had to be that skinny, I would probably be grumpy looking too! LoL... Cute dress.

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  22. Love....Love....Love...your dress!!!

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  23. Hehe, YES!! I am always sewing in my daydreams too! And it's not just not having the time to sew up everything I'm dreaming about, but would I even have the time to wear them? prob not! ;)

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  24. What else am I supposed to think about while my co-workers are parping away, at our weekly staff meeting? I've solved many a clothing-construction problem during the weekly devotional silent prayer time (I work at a church. Prayer is required, not forbidden, lol.) Mr. Jesus understands me only too well.

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  25. Sooooo nice to know I'm not the only person that spends an inordinate amount of time fantasy sewing! I love to problem solve garments, too. And BTW, your dress is TDF. Flattering cut and gorgeous fabric.

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  26. I love to plan out a new design or new construction method and sitting staring at a garment or outfit (often on someone...oops) trying to figure it out is a regular occurance!

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  27. Dear Carolyn

    Thank you for inspiring me. I love how you show the garments on the patterns then your excellent interpretation. I can relate to this more than other blogs, which has made me dust off my sewing machine.

    I don't think you realise just how inspiring you are. I look forward to following your blog

    Fay from England

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