Here's the Alabama Chanin Wrap Dress

Here's my take on the Alabama Chanin wrap dress I mentioned last week. I made it without any alterations and it is a good fit through shoulders, bust, waist, and hips, although there seems to be some extra fabric just under the bust which allows the front panel to hang too low. I've pinched a wedge-shaped piece out of it, and will sew it again with that change. That should make the bottom front hand evenly across. I'm not sure what the trouble is--a small ribcage maybe?

This is the mid-length, sewn in cheap jersey from Hobby Lobby. Earlier someone noted that the photos at AC make it look like there's a lot of extra fabric in this dress--there is not, actually. It is quite sleek, and nothing bunches up--at the same time, there's enough in the overlap to keep the dress from flying open. So that's good.

Alabama Chanin's Wrap Dress

Having downloaded the pattern, I'm trying out this Alabama Chanin wrap dress. The instructions are over-optimistically sketchy, I think, especially for that bust dart. It can be hard to get the corner point to lie nice and smooth. But we shall see.

I'm on my second go-round, since my printer actually gave me a slightly shrunken version of the pattern. My usual size was a little dainty. Currently trying again.

A Shawl of My Own Devising

I've made a handful of the Alabama Chanin ponchos--they're the simplest thing you could ever sew, and they are nice! Useful!

 But I'm not a huge fan of asymmetry and I don't want to have to be constantly monitoring accessory placement. So I tweaked the design and put the seam in a new spot (and stenciled it with a little bit of the Magdalena stencil):

Just right for the symmetrical shawl-wearer.

Some Embellished Jersey Skirts in the Shop

Hop on over if you like gorgeous jersey things to wear!

I'm @ The Factory

It's close enough to my birthday/ the Composer is always up for a little road trip/ who needs a reason to visit Alabama Chanin again?

A jumble of salvaged chairs painted in cheery colors.

Stenciled pieces available for sale. I think these may be journal cover size.

The collection garments are so substantial--even monumental--in person.

I absolutely love the varying shades of white and cream and the different elaborate treatments in the wedding collection. Of course.

My real business today was choosing a small palette of fabrics for some new summer clothes. Two pale grey, some hyacinth, and a dab of pink.

I tried very hard to stick to my plan. And also remember to get foldover elastic. Done.

Eye candy: this "Lace" stencil which is one of my favorites ever. Here are three treatments. I love the top one because of the extra row of stitching above the edge of the design, which carries the embellishment further into the plain fabric (this is an elaborate scarf, so beautiful). Also love the coppery sequins filling the cut-out spaces at the bottom.

Then here you can see the same stencil treated differently--the dark areas are totally filled in with coppery bugle beads. Oh my word.

And finally, below, the same stencil done in a black appliqué on pale pink, with all those openings filled in with black beading. Just like glamorous lingerie from the fifties.

Jersey Table Runner + Oranges

I started this appliqued table runner almost a year ago for the sole purpose of having a hand-stitching project on a trip to New York.

It's appliqued, with each design element cut out as needed from the applique fabric. Not the best method, since it's possible to mix things up accidentally (don't ask).

Still, I love the process and the end result.

Alabama Chanin jersey in Natural, and one of the pale grays for the applique. Blanket stitching around the outside edge.

Alabama Chanin: Beaded Magdalena Corset

This is made from two layers of medium-weight jersey, stenciled with the Alabama Chanin "Magdalena" stencil, and then each shape was stitched around with bugle beads.

It is such pleasant work.

Gold Beading on a Corset

I'm working away, not in any hurry, at a jersey corset. It's stenciled in the Magdalena pattern (a favorite) and I am doing a bugle bead quilting stitch around each shape.

This is the first time I've done my stencil in Liquitex paint made for airbrushing. It's much more fluid than the stuff I've found in the past--and I really like it. I bought it at the Alabama Chanin store and I know it's on the website too. A little goes much farther than the stencil paints I've tried before.

A Beautiful Morning at Alabama Chanin

The garments on display--the current collection--are beautiful shades of cream and ochre.

Someday I'll do this myself--the appliqué over a vintage quilt. Gorgeous!

Ice cream shades. Yum. And look at that subtly-curved side seam.

Sample garments to try on before you DIY. Brilliantly, all the smalls are gray, all the mediums are black, etc.

A look at the sample books, of course,

And one last bit of drooling over the elaborately embellished collection. Breathtaking stuff.

I shopped quite small this time--I'll save my major yardage purchases for a sale weekend. But I wanted to put together a project for Clara's Christmas present. I bought the Climbing Daisy stencil, realizing I couldn't face cutting that one out myself. So many little petals. She'll make it up by embroidering it with cotton tape. 

Artful botanical things: gladiolas on the front desk, and galvanized steel tubs of reeds outside.

A Weekend in Alabama

The Composer and I are off on a short trip away to Florence, Alabama which is home, as you may know, to the Alabama Chanin jersey company. We'll be hitting The Factory pretty hard tomorrow.

Tonight there was just time for a bountiful dinner at Yumm, an Asian restaurant. We were full of plans to go to Odette, but it was closed for renovations and we will miss it, sad face.

I couldn't believe how much food the Composer ordered (and ate). Then we strolled around the University of Northern Alabama campus, which was beautifully lit.

Jersey. Tomorrow.

The Loose Ends After the Wedding

It's been two and a half weeks since Giles' wedding, and Clara and I were just thinking today that things almost feel back to normal. All the things that got pushed to "after the wedding" have been settled--almost. We're still in the middle of a big project of sanding the staircase up to the library. My poor husband--he's the one doing that nasty job. As soon as he finishes we'll clean everything up, remove the plastic sheeting that's draped everywhere, and finish furnishing the library.

And that will all be before Friday, which is when Felix is coming for a visit!

Bella's life doesn't return to normal until after this first term of summer school, when she can stop studying night and day. I'm so proud of her: she is working her tail off to succeed in this class that requires tons of memorization.

I've been working on this Alabama Chanin-style table runner. It's got a lot of applique, and now I'm quilting around all the pieces. When I can get back into my sewing room I'll find some sequins (matte white) and some embroidery floss, and keep on going. It's what I do when I have to sit.

A Hooded Jersey Coat: McCalls M6442

The pattern makes a hooded coat with a full circle skirt: too much skirt. I cut it down to about a half-circle, and that's plenty. It has pockets in the side seams, a hood, and a self-belt. I added crocheted belt loops and also a snap at the top of the coat, for coziness.

I was out of fabric so I lined the hood with a little bit of lightweight jersey in the "same" color--but you know dye lots. It's not quite a match, and I like it that way.

All the edges are finished using jersey strips sewn down with a rosebud stitch. Yes, it took forever.

There are some good tips for converting a standard pattern to use with jersey in Natalie Chanin's fourth book Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns.

Coat in the Alabama Chanin Style: Winter-Blooming Rose

Inspired by a project Natalie Chanin posted several years ago, I'd intended for a while to embellish this plain black coat. 

I made the enlarged stencil last year, but it was only Sunday that I got around to gathering the coat + stencil + felt + chalk.

The project went shockingly fast! And it was a pleasure to work with the wool materials, especially the felt. 

I don't really wear black anymore though, and I no longer wear a size 14. So I don't think I'll be wearing this. If anyone is interested, it would be $80 including shipping. And please note, the coat itself is in great shape but the pockets (invisible, in the seams) are tattered and would need mending or ignoring.