Susan Khalje Boatneck Top Pattern

What a joy it is to once again be able to do the things I enjoy doing. Breaking both the bones in my right arm at the wrist took so much out of me. But, I am back, and it feels so very good! 

I love to make quick, simple, fun things as much as anyone, maybe even more :) But, I also love to put more effort into a garment. I have had the cotton boucle that you see below for quite some time. It's just the perfect weight for summer.    

I have decided to use the Susan Khalje Boatneck top pattern, but extend it into a dress. 

I'll be doing the version with the little cap sleeve. I especially love the darts, perfect for fitting. I've ordered silk organza to underline the dress. The fabric will need some quilting in order for it to hold its shape. I think I will most likely quilt along the black lines of the plaid, and in both directions. I've also ordered a beautiful piece of white silk charmeuse to line the dress. What a dream this will be to wear!!! 

Susan Khalje has a wonderful subscription group on Facebook, the Susan Khalje Couture Sewing Club. It's a fabulous opportunity to work virtually with Susan. The subscription includes all the videos that Susan has done for the Couture Skirt, the Boatneck Top, and now a brand new course, the Parisian Jacket. You can find all of Susan's pattern's HERE. 

On Susan's website, you will find classes for the French Jacket, Cocktail Dress, and the Couture Skirt, but you will only find the video instruction for her Boatneck Top, and her new Parisian Jacket in the Sewing Club. I think that the videos alone that are included in the subscription of the sewing club make the price of membership truly a bargain! And then too, the club gives you the opportunity to ask Susan herself for advice. Score!!!

I'm off today to get muslin to begin the process of my dress. I'm so excited as I will have the opportunity to see the Dior exhibit in Dallas around the middle of August. Dallas will be so hot, and I'm sure the museum will be freezing cold, so this little dress should be perfect as I will be able to add a...well, I was going to say a shawl, but wouldn't it be great if I could get a coordinating Parisian Jacket finished for the occasion? 

Stay tuned!!!

Rhonda

Monday Morning Inspiration/Dior, Part 2

I always find the link between what's happening at the moment, and a suddenly remembered event to be so fascinating. When I started to feed the dogs Saturday morning, I realized that I had forgotten to buy dog food, all I had was about a tablespoon of dry food in the canister. Since I wasn't about to rush out at 7 in the morning, I decided that it was a "make it work" situation. I had some leftover rice, and hot dogs. So I heated the rice, sliced the hot dogs, added in a little pumpkin(they always get a little pumpkin), and served it up. When Berkley took a look at the food, the look on his face was priceless, it was like, "Really???" 

When I was maybe 6, we had been to visit my grandmother. Her favorite thing to bake was banana bread, and she loved to share it with anyone who happened to stop by, with a family who had just lost a loved one, and send a loaf home with us when we visited. My mother considered the bread to be cake, so she would only give it to us as a dessert, or an afternoon treat with tea. Since we had been away, and she had not had time to shop, there was little in the way of food in the house. I couldn't believe my eyes when I came to the table, and there in front of me was a slice of banana bread, and some canned peaches. SCORE!!! I couldn't believe my luck, I was actually getting to eat banana bread for breakfast?!! And, I think that's exactly how Berkley felt when he saw that bowl of rice with cut up hot dogs :) 

Before I fell and broke my wrist/arm, I had gone to the Dior exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. What a wonderful treat it was! So happy that I had the opportunity to go. The first post I did on the exhibit, you can see HERE. In that post I shared the incredible muslins as well as the black garments that I thought were so interesting. I took gobs of pictures. It's wonderful to have an opportunity to experience something like this, but why keep it to myself? While my pictures here on the blog do not begin to compare to actually being there, at least it gives those of you who have not seen the exhibit, a bit of a taste.

Today I would like to concentrate on construction.

This jacket took my breath away. While it is very much a period-like piece, the construction, especially that of the sleeve is perfection. 

The sleeve is actually a two-piece sleeve, but take note of the dart that radiates at an angle toward the hem.

Here you can see the dart and how it radiates from the seam. Just an incredible bit of construction.

I did my best to get an up close picture of the bead work. From a distance, it's lovely, but up close, WOW!

The construction of this little sheath dress is another work of art. From a distance, it looks as though someone has walked through a forest, or field and picked up every bit of greenery they passed. 

In reality, the dress was created with layers of ribbons, sequins, and feathers.

Each piece molded perfectly to the curves of the dress.

When I saw the exhibit, I had recently completed the Poppins Bag that I shared HERE. When I saw this jacket, I immediately thought of that bag and all the lines of stitching I did in order to create body. 

Without all the stitching lines, and the interior interfacing, this jacket would just hang rather than seemingly stand at attention. 

I'm sure that most of you remember this incredible gown that was worn by Nicole Kidman. What a treat it was to see it in person!!!

From the hand-knotted back mesh panel... 

To all of the intricate embroidery...

This is truly a work of art. Look closely at the embroidery and you'll see that it is the tambour embroidery technique that I shared with you HERE last week.

I hope you enjoyed taking a look :) I have lots more to share, and I am feeling more and more like myself with each passing day.

Have a wonderful week, and I hope that something will happen to spur some sweet memories for you! 

Rhonda