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Me Musing .
. . November
28, 2006. . .
YOWIE!!!!!!
This dressmaking stuff keeps one busy traveling . . . which is more
fun than hanging around LeChusa (formerly 'Big
Red') trying to fit a pattern to her!
All of a sudden
I realized that in February I will turn 60 . . . which turned my
thoughts to what would be a good celebration for entering into 'Elder-hood'.
Last year two
of my friends turned 60 . . . one decided to climb
Mt. Shasta
and the other decided to enter a triathlon. Those of you who know
me KNOW that anything that makes you sweat is NOT high on my priority
list of fun things to do.
Soooooooo I
spent a few days pondering WHAT would be a really different, meaningful
new adventure.
As you know,
Paris and London have been on the radar-screen and in the mail I
got a little self-published book I had ordered called 'Fabric and
Fashion in Paris and London'. As I read through it, I marked places
and websites that sounded interesting. One was this listing:
London:
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Short Courses in Fashion Design and Construction
Hmmmmmmmmmm..........I
checked out the website, but discovered that many of the courses
lasted 5-6 weeks. It did, however, get my 'adventure cells' tingling
so I googled 'Tailoring classes' + London and began to sift through
the websites. One was Imtaz,
Bespoke Tailor. I had no idea what a 'bespoke' tailor was, so I
clicked on it and read that she had been named by Cosmopolitan as
one of the 4 top tailors in London!
One
of the tabs was about Tailoring Classes, so I clicked on it and
read:
"Imtaz
Khaliq offers tailoring classes at all levels
from beginners to advanced,
to suit enthusiasts or professionals.
The format and times of classes are completely flexible -
they are designed to your needs.
On completion of your course
you will not only have learnt a new skill,
you will be able to take home
couture patterns and garments for your wardrobe."
Now, how cool
is THAT????!!!! I could feel a big 'YES!' right down to my DNA cells!
I, of course,
emailed her and asked about coming to London to work with her in
designing a couture dress pattern made especially for me that could
be made in casual fabrics to dressier ones.
The next morning
when I opened my email . . . there was a message from her that she
would be happy to work with me!
I immediately
freaked out about: money, the long flight, money, where to stay,
money, best time to go, money . . . (you
know the routine!)
That lasted
a few minutes, then I got myself back on track about 'what I REALLY
would like to do' and got to thinking that we might be going to
Arizona in January or February for some sunshine and perhaps I could
find someone like Imtaz there. I tried everything I could think
of googling and not much sparked me.
Finally I found
the Palmer-Pletsch website where they teach sewing and fitting classes
in their Portland, Oregon location (inside a HUGE fabric store).
(Can you believe it??? I
had never heard of them while living outside Portland, but after
I move from there, I find them!)
I was interested
to see that their patterns are based on cup sizes as well as dress
size. I like THAT idea! I have ordered a suit jacket pattern to
try.
They had a
list of certified Teachers, so I emailed one in Arizona and we have
been emailing each other. She teaches beginning sewing; however,
is searching out someone who might be able to give me some instruction
while we visit there.
Meanwhile,
back at the ranch . . .
I was determined
to slog on with LeChusa, trying a pattern for a woven top.
When I pinned
the pattern tissue to her, I realized I would have to add 1-1/2
inches to the front side seam and take about an inch away from back
side seam so they would meet in the regular side seam area! Then
I had to put a dart in the front underarm area and add a lower dart
in front and also in back to take out some of the excess from where
I had added to the side seams . . . geez . . . just like real-life
. . . you do something here and it has affects over there!
I didn't use
muslin to cut out the garment as all the books tell you to do. I
dug out some $1 a yard rayon/polyester mix I had gotten at Walmart
and decided to use it . . . on the off-chance that IF it really
did fit, then at least I'd have a wearable garment . . . and if
it didn't fit, then I wasn't out much money!
Everything
was sailing along as I found it sooooooo much easier having LeChusa
there for fitting after sewing darts, shoulder seams and side seams.
Then I came to an abrupt halt, realizing that all the alterations
I had done on the back and front would somehow be reflected in the
sleeve . . . only I had no idea how to match the sleeve to what
now looked nothing like the original pattern!
I remembered
that a friend was working on a wedding gown for her daughter, so
I rang her up and explained my project. She told me it was no big
deal, just measure here and there, etc.
5 minutes later
I called her again and said I thought I'd better have her see it
in person!
So today, LeChusa
and I took a little trip down the road to visit Georgia. Imagine
the trauma LeChusa encountered when all of a sudden there she was
placed next to a perfect size 4 dress-form sporting
a strapless gown! I had no idea they even made dress-forms that
small!
I think if
she had legs, LeChusa would have immediately walked out of the room.
And since she has no head, the grimacing could only be felt and
not seen. (Talk about 'body language'!!!)
We measured
and oohed and aahed over how well the garment fit LeChusa and it
was decided that the original sleeve would work fine, even after
all the alterations. Needless to say, LeChusa couldn't wait to get
back in the car and head for home.
Once home,
I cut out the sleeves, sewed them in and they actually did work
well!
The
REAL test then was . . . how would it fit on me????
Mission
accomplished!
Now
all I have to do is decide on a good sleeve and garment length for
hemming . . . or maybe I'll just take a break and order a London
map so I can begin charting where all those interesting fabric stores
are . . .
Until
soon,
Che'usa
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