- Mundane Sewing Discussion -

[gem]

I think a pretty dress sounds fabulous. You know how to make a maternity adjustment to a pattern, but if you want to skip that, I know Kwik Sew has at least a couple maternity dress patterns. This one is cute:



You, of course, would make the sleeveless version out of some fabric that was actually pretty.

[LadyStitch]

I think a pretty dress sounds fabulous. You know how to make a maternity adjustment to a pattern, but if you want to skip that, I know Kwik Sew has at least a couple maternity dress patterns. This one is cute:

You, of course, would make the sleeveless version out of some fabric that was actually pretty.

::Give gem the 'silly question' look::    I've actually got a simular really nice sleeveless pattern that is designed for different cup sizes, so that would be simple to do.  Then just do the adjustment.  I'm sure I can find something cute in my stash. Or I might bat my eyelashes and see if I can 'talk' the PP into going to Joanns. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Must be nice to have a hubby who can not only be sent to pick out fabric, but can also be trusted to return with something perfectly suitable!  Lucky woman...   

[LadyStitch]

What can I say, he has far better tastes than I do in mundane clothing.    Seriously I saw some yummy dark lavender linen that was on sale this past week at Joanns.  A nice dress out of that is calling me.  Or at least a top and pants suit thing.
I got 'cursed' by one lady at church.  She didn't think it was faire that I could make my cloths and she was out $30-50 a item for herself.

[Rani Zemirah]

I bet if you offered to teach her how to sew them herself she'd say no, and she'd still complain about it not being fair...   

[gem]

Dark lilac linen sounds smashing! If you weren't pregnant (for which you get a pass on many things), I'd probably go with something a *little* dressier for a semi-formal wedding, but because you ARE pregnant, you DO get a pass, particularly because we know you have far more important things to be sewing right now! Garb for you, and darling little smocks and biggins for Wee Stitch. 

[LadyStitch]

wee stitch is cute, but my MIL calls the baby "Fuzzlet".  If you have seen pictures of the PP, you know how fuzzy his face is, hence 'Fuzz-let'.

I was looking through the stash and I found some yummy red & burgundy velevet which would be great for garb or something Christmas for Fuzzlet. I however do NOT want to be wearing velvet in July/ August.  I would hope that the bride would forgive me for the linen because of the heat.  If I wasn't expecting, I would do my turcoise satin vintage 1950's dress with peticoat. 

Rani: I have offered but she is so busy with her work she never has time to sew.  I would be more apt to have her hubby sew than her.  Though the fact some of my fave maternity tops are actually maternity scrubs patterns 'might' entise her to buy a couple from me. hmm.....

[Rani Zemirah]

Maybe you should start your own line of maternity wear!  Women are always looking for cute things to wear when they're pregnant, and it's obviously not easy to find, so your market is ready and waiting!

[LadyStitch]

I keep being baggered to just start a etsy account so I can start doing my bibs, ruffle socks, mundane materity stuff, and  maternity Ren stuff.  I mean seriously, how many of us wouldn't mind something that didn't cost a fortune to wear while expecting at faire.  Or at least get the maternity bloomers.  Those are already making me happy.

BTW keep your fingers crossed.  I'm hoping to cut out a new maternity top at lunch today.  I really want to freak out a coworker how I can cut it out today, and have it ready by Friday. 

[Auryn]

Ok I have kind of a weird question.
this isn't really mundane stuff, its for cosplay but it doesnt fit into ren stuff so I figured I would ask here.
I want to turn a one piece catsuit (with a full back zipper that goes basically below the butcrack up to the base of the neck) into two pieces- top and pants.

My first thought was to remove the entire zipper, reinforce the edges and add grommets to lace the thing closed. Then cut in the middle where I want to separate it and add bias tape to the edges- to create a waist on the pants and a waist on the top.
This is the catsuit I am using. What do you think??

[Rani Zemirah]

Can't you buy stops for zipper tops?  The things at the top that are just basically crimped onto the teeth to stop the pull from going beyond a certain point?  That way you could keep the zipper for the pants and lace the top...

[Elennare]

Alternately, you can just sew back and forth across the top of each half of the zipper to make your own stop.

Sounds like you have a pretty good idea, but I'd be worried about it gaping in the middle.  Since there won't be any seam allowance, the top and bottom will only overlap by however much you add on with the bias tape.

Depending on what the fabric is made of, you might want to consider buying some hook-and-eye tape and sewing on the "eye" side for lacing, instead of punching holes and adding grommets.  It looks like it might not hold up too well to having holes added?

[Auryn]

Rani, I'm not sure, I will go look it up. Having the pants still zip up would be nice and definitely facilitate going to the restroom.

Elennare,
is the hook and eye velcro or hooks and eyes like what we have on bra straps?? I like your idea of not punching the fabric, its thin and stretchy and I definitely don't want a grommet popping.
I'm ok if it gapes a little in the middle because it will hopefully help me keep cool, and I've been working out for 2 months- have 3more months of intense working out ahead of me, so hopefully a little skin showing won't be too horrendous to a passer by.

[Rani Zemirah]

You could also sew small lacing rings onto a piece of tape that matches the trim that's already on the suit, so it all sort of coordinates. 

[Elennare]

It's pretty much the same stuff as on bra straps.  Here's a picture, randomly pulled off the net:


hmm...pic's not working on my screen for some reason, so just in case, here's the link: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wmboothdraper.com/TapeLace/images/hook_eye.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wmboothdraper.com/TapeLace/tapelace.htm&usg=__O7xuTVWfq9trw6UM-L1wsB5Yer8=&h=493&w=131&sz=12&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=MQiNrqYlJYs-CM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=31&ei=6PnKTd78JIHJgQePvfiGBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhook%2Band%2Beye%2Btape%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1077%26bih%3D530%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=235&vpy=29&dur=1204&hovh=394&hovw=104&tx=89&ty=260&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0

Or, if you can't find the tape form of it, you can make your own by sewing the eyes from a box of hook and eye fasteners onto bias tape.  I've used that method (well, I just sewed the eyes right onto my fabric, but I'm thinking the tape will help stabilize them in your case) a couple of times, and it works really well.