July - TSW Instagram Challenge Sewing

 My July sewing was motivated by the  The Sewing Workshop Instagram challenge! #tswxmunuochallenge

 We were to take inspiration from the  colors and patterns in the works of artist Naomi Munuo, and using TSW  patterns, sew a garment (or a whole outfit) and post it on Instagram with our inspiration story.

I chose the painting The Fashion Project.  

I was attracted by the garment sewing related subject and the red and yellow print fabric. 

I get a visceral uplift  just  looking at red and yellow prints. It probably goes back to the emotions attached to a favorite childhood top sewn by my mother in a similar print.  And a red and yellow print quilt I made years ago. That I love so much I want to be wrapped in it in my casket.

Mood Board

My yellow and red fabric was a  cotton/lycra knit print from Nick of Time Fabric,  I loved the name printed in the selvedge of the fabric.  "Tijuana Tattoo”  It made me imagine a scenario of getting a bad tattoo in a Mexican town after a bit too much tequila.  To get back on track... The pattern for the T shirt is the E  Tee. The neckline is  trimmed in a red and white striped knit (stash).   

Tijuana Tattoo print

 I used the  Helix pant pattern. This pattern is designed for knits. So in addition to my normal fitting adjustments (low flat butt, add length, etc.)  I had to make some changes for the woven fabric. I added additional ease (circumference) in many areas and  an invisible zip in the center back seam.  As a decorative detail I added transparent silk organza  fabric strips (a nod to the transparent pattern pieces laying on the fabric in the painting) in  a center front seam of one pant leg.  The effect of the transparent fabric strips with their darker hemmed edges,  laid over adjacent strips, creates interesting stripes. 

Strips before sewing

The idea came from the Japanese sewing magazine ミセスのスタイルブックMrs Stylebook, Issue #197 2019. I have wanted to try this idea for a long time. I was reminded of it, while planning for the challenge, by the piles of silk organza in the sewing room, supplies for a class in Bojagi ( Korean Patchwork) I was taking on  Domestika 

Idea for pant inset stripes

E Tee and Helix Pant