Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Sew What?! Pineapple Princess

For as much sewing as I do, the sad fact is that I kind of hate it - the cutting, the pinning, the hours spent hunched over the sewing machine breaking needle after needle because I am too lazy to remove pins (which only results in more work/time changing the needle).  When the mood strikes, however, you will always find me hunkered down there in the "treadle trenches" armed for battle with my disappearing-ink pen and scalloped shears.  Never knowing when inspiration will come, I of course shroud surround myself with an endless supply of fabric, thread, and notions so that I will have everything I need (except, of course, that one thing for which I will invariably have to make a last minute run to the fabric store).

As organized as ever...

As reluctant a seamster as I may be, the prospect of designing garments is my ideal.  The challenge of designing/constructing something with very little time and very little material creates enough motivation to rouse a little fire in my evidently-dormant competitive gene.  Last Saturday we were headed to our pal Emily's birthday barbecue.  Having just created one of my floral, basket purses as her gift, I still had some residual creative energy and found a scant yard of vintage, pineapple-printed material that we had picked up in a homemade, roadside, thrift shop on one of our desert adventure days.  Confounded for about a year over what to do with the material; the answer was really a cinch - a gathered bra top and bolero!

The yardage was just enough to eke out the top and the outer shell of the
 short-sleeved bolero (I had to piece together leftovers to make the string halter).
  Wanting to line the bolero with a solid grey like the one found in the pineapple
 print but knowing that I really didn't have enough time to go to the store AND
finish the project, I lined it with a remnant of white cotton that I had on hand.

I can't show what she wore on the bottom because I didn't have time to make ANYTHING!!!

The teal, grey, and white color story was one I had never used before and
I quite like it.  Next up will be some kind of coordinating skirt, shorts, or
combination of the two - inspiration might have struck but the clock was
 striking too and we didn't want to be late for the party!  

It is often believed that Annette Funicello never wore a two-piece bathing suit but the clip below not only provides thematically-appropriate musical accompaniment but also proof to the contrary.  YOWZA!!!

"Pineapple Princess" - Annette Funicello


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

20 comments:

  1. that song plays at work ALL THE TIME and i love it! now i'll think of that scandalous bikini when i hear it!

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    1. Annette was definitely not the world's greatest singer, but I LOVE her just the same!

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  2. Love it! I'm the same about sewing; sometimes it's a pain in the rear and other times some kind of inspiration takes over! Of course, none of my projects are half as good as yours ;) I love looking at your sewing projects!

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    1. Thanks Jana! Yep, it is a necessary evil just to get my ideas out of my head and into real life. I guess there is a certain amount of satisfaction knowing that I created something, but sometimes a on sewing elf would be great!

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  3. OH. MY. GOD. YOU SEW OVER PINS? FOR SHAME! That wreaks TOTAL havoc with your poor sewing machine; for godsake STOP IT!

    Or, LEARN TO SEW WITHOUT PINS! Pins are not used in commercial sewing; they are too inefficient. There is a method to pinless sewing; it's not that difficult. It's all about holding the fabric in a particular way to keep it from shifting. Do try to locate a video showing the technique. I know Jeffery Diduch wrote an article on it for Threads magazine; maybe he has a video , too! If you think removing pins 'takes too much time" then think about how much time is wasted while the machine is at the repair shop! Although I totally get you about "hating the sewing part", especially "cutting out". BLAH.

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    1. I have "sew" few vices, I'm afraid this is one bad habit I will probably never change.

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  4. Beautiful pieces Mr. Tiny!! Although I think the top could be a little fuller; more, er, cupped if you will?! But maybe that's the way Mary likes it? Anyways, pure genius as always!!

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  5. It looks wonderful! I love the print too. I really enjoy sewing but some projects are much more tedious than others.

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    1. Thanks Mariela! I enjoy that my idea gets fully realized but if I think about cutting and pinning too much before I start something, I'm liable to stop before I begin.

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  6. I am with you, my friend. I can't stand sewing. Funny, because everyone always used to tell me I should do it for a living. I'd rather wear polyester.

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    1. It's a necessary evil. You and Mary are both tall; you almost have to sew to have dresses at a proper length! I'm glad you feel the same way. I am also glad you persevere because everything you make is AWESOME!!!

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  7. Please be my wardrobe designer, Mr Tiny, PLEASE!!!

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    1. As soon as you move me to London, it is a promise...I'm serious!

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  8. WOWEE! As soon as I pry my drooling girlfriend away from the computer i'll finish this comment.... Okay back. what a sensational peice! It looks so flattering on Mary, and I just love the color and print on it, haha (Girlfriend patricia in back ground yelling "Why cant YOU sew like that?! Ask him to make me something!!!") Haha fantstic work!

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    1. Thanks Mick! With all of the theatrical people in your life, you guys have to know a costumer! Patricia just needs to become best friends with him/her! Hahahahaha!!!

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  9. You may not love doing the sewing portion but my oh my you are so wonderful with a sewing machine Mr. Tiny!

    What a wonderful print you selected / had left over from your purse creation. Lucky, lucky Mary.

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    1. Thanks Wendi! I am passionate about the creative process so the sewing will probably never cease...I guess it's not that bad.

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  10. Sewing and I have a love/hate relationship. I simply adore the excitement of starting a new project, picking out fabric, seeing the project come together. But I absolutely LOATHE pinning and cutting, and hemming. And I usually start of tire of a project when I am nearing completion. By then I want to move onto something else.

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    1. I can't take on a project that will take me more than a day or two max - any longer than that and my fruit fly attention span is exhausted. I love fabric shopping, drawing/designing, and usually the finished product but all that stuff in between is a bore!

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