Saturday, October 4, 2014

Tats So Cool!

How do you like my new arm tat? I think it looks pretty cool. I am sitting on the deck watching the leaves fall, and procrastinating about raking them up. Raking is a thankless task, more leaves will fall every day until the trees are bare. I might as well wait until that happens.



 I am drinking a seasonal brew,  Legend Brewery's Punkin Ale,  while admiring the lone pumpkin my garden produced this year.  DS#1 was going to brew his own pumpkin ale using small sugar pie pumpkins from our garden. As you can guess, we had to change our plans. We bought already brewed  beer to enjoy in the pleasant fall weather. 

The tattoo is fake. It is a nylon sleeve printed with a tattoo, which I bought to freak out my kids, impersonate certain sewing bloggers, or wear for Halloween.

I found some printed mesh fabric at Fabric Mart that reminded me of  arm tattoos of the type shown below.


Tatoo by Nazareno Tubaro
 I wondered if it was sheer enough to look like my fake tattoo sleeve.  So I put a yard in my shopping cart. It was printed on a white background and wasn't quite as sheer as I would have liked. But I went ahead with plans and  used it as the sleeves in T shirt pattern  123 from BurdaStyle 9/2012.

Burda Sept 2012 123
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The pattern  included front shoulder  panels, which I made out of  leftover suede scraps.  I did not use the neck facings or make the slit at the back neckline as shown in the pattern. The neck is bound in self fabric and fits over my head with no problems.



 I  also sewed a pair of pants from  Burda 7746, an out of print  envelope pattern. The fabric is dark brown poly, rayon, lycra  also from Fabric Mart. The pants are okay. A bit looser in the hip and crotch area than I like.  This is not a criticism of the pattern, more my body shape and the pattern design. Other reviews were very positive.

Burda 7746
 
 
 
I took a couple days off work this week. They were compensatory “comp” days for working 3 of the 4 days of the labor Day weekend. We won’t talk about how jealous I was of bloggers who sewed that weekend. I  wore the T shirt and pants to a Sewing Expo. I took the classes below with some of my  favorite instructors, and made a couple of fabric purchases from the Vogue Fabrics booth.

  •  Cutting In...Cutting Out: The Latest One-Seam© Pants  Instructor: Louise Cutting
  • Guide to Modern Tailoring: Pre-Construction Prep  Instructor: Cynthia Guffey
  • Essential Tips for Fitting Instructor: Sarah Veblen
  • Iconic American Sportswear  Instructor: Sandy Miller
  • Guide to Modern Tailoring: Finishing for Fashion  Instructor: Cynthia Guffey

  I  ran into several sewing friends I had met originally at other events;  Pattern Review  Weekend in  Phila.  ASG sewing retreats,  ETM, DC.  It is so fun to make new friends and then see and talk to  them again at other sewing related events.  I also got to meet Meigan from Get My Stitch On  when she came up and  introduced herself.  I was glad she did. I was disappointed I did not get to meet her when she was in town for the Hollywood costume exhibit earlier this year. I had a great time.
 
 
I should be raking
 .
Hiding behind the wood pile
 

22 comments:

  1. I love the top with the patterned sleeves. Definitely filing this idea away for a future outfit! And I'm jealous of the classes with Cynthia Guffey - I just love her!

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  2. Audrey, you got me! I was frantically trying to incorporate the tat into my vision of you. Love your style!

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  3. You got me! I said she got a tatoo...really?? You always look so good in your clothes. The top and the pants look as though they were made for each other. That top is HOT...so stylish...love it!

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  4. Nice outfit but not very convincing in the tattoo department as was the first photo!

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  5. Love the Tat! I really like your fabric combinations for your top and the pants look good as well, although I hear you about your own fit.

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  6. This is a fantastic top! Looks very fun to wear!!

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  7. Well the tat fooled me! The outfit looks comfy and smart at the same time.

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  8. I need to get a Tat like that. It would blow my DGD's mind! ;) Like the top and the contrast. Well done!

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  9. I love the tat, too! And great idea to make a long sleeved top with printed sleeves. I shall by stealing that idea ;)

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  10. I knew that tat had to be a fake, lol. But the outfit is sterling, and I'm jealous of all your great classes.

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  11. So thrilled the tat is fake. I can't get past my generational view that tats are worn only by criminals and bikers. Not true today of course. Love your tops, but how dare you dream up the same idea as me for using my faux leather scraps and mesh fabric pieces!! I traced the pattern as my perfect solution.

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  12. I thought that tat was real and loved it. I'd love to get a sleeve but the husband would kill me. The pain might too. I have a rose and vine around my right upper arm which encompasses my armpit and I'm sure I don't need to tell you how painful the armpit tatting was! Love the tops. I'm in the process of adding to my collection!

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  13. I love the top and pants! Cool faux tat!

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  14. It was great to meet you too Audrey!

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  15. You can still do a "pumpkin" ale. You don't use pumpkin for this brew, you use pumpkin pie spices. Check out Big Dan's Brew Shed website (bigdansbrewshed.com) to contact him for recipe. I love your new tat!

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  16. Love your outfit! Perfect for raking the leaves. And I'm still chuckling over that tatoo sleeve. hehehe...

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  17. Hahaha,I love the fake tattoo!

    And what fun details on the shirt - the shoulders and the lovely sleeves. Very pleasing mix of fabrics.

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  18. Just catching up on blog reading and laughing at your tat. Love the outfit so much, wonderful upscale casual and chic. (Note to self: must steal this look) So glad you enjoyed the expo. A little too busy and far away for me this year but sounds like you had some inspirational sessions to enjoy.

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  19. Your new top is great. But OMG! The fake tat is so cool. I thought it was real.

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