Faded beauty

At the last washing, I noticed how faded the colors of these pants have become. The red is no longer very bright, the white is no longer very…white. No surprise, really, since I’ve mended them several times.

When I made them some 3 or 4 years ago, it was the colors that attracted me, and the pattern which makes me think of balloons. I didn’t quite have enough fabric, so I had to attatch a piece. Instead of making it invisible, I pointed it out with a thick, bright red seam to make a detail out of it.

I also love the decorative seams on my machine, used this one at the hem and at the top. photo full figure:  Paddy  K  details: mine

Baby mods

In a thrift store today I found these absolutely lovely vintage patterns. I hesitated since I find it unlikely I’ll ever use them, (children’s sizes!) but in the end couldn’t resist.

Not that I lack patterns in any way, but the cuteness of it all!

Time is on my side

As I was trying on my outfit yesterday for the evening’s performance, the small plastic hook attaching the strap to the bra broke, leaving me without outfit. But what do you know! When I looked in my bra sewing bag, I had one!

And I had time to fix it.

More purple

This is another of my early outfits. I wanted this one more sober, there are purple sequins sewn on to it that will shine when the light hits them, though.
I made the bra from an old one that fitted really well but I replaced all stretch parts with sturdy cotton. The skirt was made from a rectangular piece of cloth that I more or less sew on to my hips, it’s open in the side. The material is a stretch velvet so it works really well to dance in, The bra is covered in the same fabric.

Photo:  Clara Ingemarsdotter

Not so invisble straps

Today I finished the bra with invisble straps I needed for a strapless evening gown.

Coming to think about it, I doubt I´ll use it the intended way, for obvious reasons

Luckily, I made it with detatchable straps, so it will serve as a halterneck bra for my next dance show. (with straps that are visible but hidden!)

For those interested in making their own bras, I recommend Bra makers supply for patterns and materials. I started sewing bras around 2006/2007 and haven´t bought one ready made since then. Takes a bit of practice, but they fit soo much better and it´s not that difficult.

Good evening beautiful mask

out of this lovely… curtain? (semi shiny, pale green with the leaves in fake velvet)

I want to make a stunning fifties evening gown, something like this

only I want it to be strapless.

So I’ll just need to finish the bra with transparent straps I’m working on first

Purple and blue

I made this outfit in the late nineties when I had danced for just a few years. I still use it occasionally although these days I prefer performing dark fusion

photo: Clara Ingemarsdotter

Representing Latvia

My partner and I were invited to a Eurovision party. We were supposed to bring food from a randomly selected country, in our case Latvia. I at once started thinking of costumes, and inspired by the red and white Latvian flag, thought of sailor’s costumes. So I set to work. The hats were found by my partner a few weeks before the event.

I’m also thinking they will serve well at some  Lindy hop event.

Photo: Harvey S