ericamulherin.com » Fashion

Anthroplogie Capelet – almost done!

Erica — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:24:48 +0000

Well…as much as I wanted to sew a garment a week, I knew that would be stretching it, so instead let me introduce the almost-finished-after-a-year Anthropologie Caplet. In my defense, I actually ripped the whole thing out and started over. I am not much of a knitter, so this project is great. Chunky yarn on large needles makes it a quick knit. There are a lot of great examples of other people’s version, and here is the link to the pattern. I have a bit of a knitting bug at the moment so I think I will try the Teva Durham Ballet Pullover. An actual sweater!!

Fabric Stash: The Blue Period

Erica — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:35:57 +0000

With the resurgence of sewing energy I have been feeling of late, I think it’s time to address my fabric stash. I acquired 90% of these fabrics in a buying frenzy sometime last year, in an earlier attempt to sew my life-transforming wardrobe.

I did have to buy new fabric for my pencil skirt because, shock of all shocks, I did NOT have any black fabric in my stash. I told myself that the next thing I make will have to come from my existing store – no new purchases (accept for lining and notions and such). This is the part I totally suck at, and it renders me immobile- figuring out what to make with what fabric. So, let’s do a little analysis and brainstorming to see what we can come up with, shall we?

I think this was my attempt to get away from black, so I chose navy. These are all cottons, so right away I see blouses or dresses. Most are 59″ wide and are at least 2 yards each.

1. Broadcloth-A long sleeve button down shirt, perhaps.
2. Polka dot sear sucker- full skirt? Something twirly. Polka dots feel like they need to twirl.
3. Striped sateen, I think. All I know is the texture of this fabric is DIVINE. Light and silky and want to roll around in it. I suppose that’s a good thing for a garment – sleeveless shirt with a bow tie and ruffles down the front? Stripes and ruffles? I don’t know.
4. Another polk dot, this time with pinecones! That’s the problem with buying fabric online, sometimes you can’t tell what you are getting. I still like it a lot and you can’t tell they are pinecones unless you get reeeaaaal close -not sure what to do with this.
5. Another sateen. (I think) It’s got that same glorious texture as #3- Blouse with puffy sleeves.
6. This is a twill. I think. See…I threw away/lost/found/lost again the packing slip that came with this order, so it’s a bit of guess work at this point. It is heavier and stiffer than everything else, so it’s probably a good candidate for a skirt.
7. Gingham. Part of me is thinking I must of been DEL-U-SION-AL when I bought this. I mean, gingham? Really? I HAD to have something in mind when I bought this, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what it was. I’ll have to run through my inspiration images and see what prompted this.

Next step is to find a pattern to match. That shouldn’t be a problem as I have many, many, many to chose from. Years of buying 99 cent patterns on sale have left me with quite a collection. Time to bust into them!!

It’s friday already?

Erica — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:46:27 +0000

My oh my…where has the week gone? I am currently HOOKED on this paper-dolls-for-adults-fun-as-shit website called polyvore. First found via Angry Chicken, and then again by Posie Gets Cozy. This is my first try and I can see myself spending way too much time fiddling around with it. If I could only afford the clothing…

Last week I saw a post on Not Martha about Sparka Screenprinting workshops. The class I wanted was full by the time I found out about it, but I am thrilled to say that I am signed up and have secured my spot for the next class in Seattle in January. It’s great timing as I am prepping for a HUGE event in April, and I need to get crackin’. I am so excited as it will be a huge step for me personally, and for all of those people who have been asking about prints of my art – well, let’s just say I am finally (oi…years? years it has taken me?) getting around to making those available.

Oh god I love you Kate Spade

Erica — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:49:44 +0000

Anh-Minh posted about Kate Spade‘s new clothing line the other day and OH MY GOD I am totally in love. I must have a plethora of colored tights post haste! Polka! Dots! And I love, love, love that chartreuse green (or is it mustard yellow?). Serious inspiration.

Why I love the internet

Erica — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:15:10 +0000

I ripped a photo of a little sweater out of an Anthropologie catalog a few years ago because it looked like it would be such a sinch to knit. I even tried to figure it out myself once with moderate success, but these things are best left to those who know better, and not to sort of knitters like me.

I love knitting with thick yarn on large needles. Things get done much quicker and that is an added bonus to one-who-loses-focus-and-gets-bored-easily. This is also my first experience with the yarn over style raglan, which creates the decorative holes. Me likey.

Getting back on the sewing horse

Erica — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:51:25 +0000

School started this week and that usually means that I drop everything else I am doing or want to do because my brain can only handle focusing on one thing at a time. However, last semester was really stressful and it made me realize that I needed to keep these things, to help me focus on something else for a while and get my mind off of my classes. The first project is one that I started this summer, trying to appropriate Butterick pattern 5031 to fit the sloper I made last year. You can see the resulting mess above.

One of the things I love (but used to hate) about sewing is that you cannot half-ass it, or rush the process, which I am wont to do. This usually results in a waste of fabric and an ill-fitting garment that completely negates the intention of attempting a custom fit in the first place. I am horribly impatient and every time I try to short-cut the process I end up with a piece of crap – a tactile lesson reminding me that I need to do it right.

I am thinking of perhaps a charcoal grey cotton, something I can throw in the washing machine, and to keep things interesting perhaps adding a black band on the bottom.

I am finding myself shying away from any sort of patterned print, but I think a trip to the fabric store is in order. But, first things first. I need to make a muslin and made sure it fits first.

All of these thoughts on sewing are leading me to seriously covet a serger. Oohh…I want one so badly.