By now you all know how the Selfish Seamstress feels about sewing for others. But mommy is an exception. I don’t know if it’s just the urge to relive the feeling of bring home a pretty drawing from school and have her face light up with delight, or perhaps the fact that I’ve realized in the last few years what a super nice person my mommy is (she’d do anything for us), or maybe I’m just excited to cut into the new, fabulous fabric I got for her S.W.A.G. project:
It’s a green shimmery lightweight taffeta, somewhere between apple and olive green, with metallic thread embroidery and greenish-gold sequins. Sure, perhaps not what I would pick for myself (I’m not so much on the shiny fabrics), but just perfect for my mommy, don’t you think? She loves elegant cocktail attire of the Ann Taylor variety.
Because the fabric is elaborate, I wanted to make something without too much detail, and I first thought of a knee-length sheath with some simple pleats around the neckline. But then when I got home and spread out the fabric, I started thinking that maybe mommy would not be so keen on glittery sequins from the neck to the knee. So, out came the giant stack of Burda, Patrones, La Mia Boutique, Mrs. Stylebook, Lady Boutique, and a couple of assorted others:
And I found this bolero from the 12.2008 issue of Burda (Bambi style! Everyone needs a Bambi gown because we all know how much of the population of Germany attends the Bambi awards….)
I’ll edit it for half or 3/4 length sleeves. If there’s enough fabric afterwards, I have my eye on a simple fitted shell from an Ottobre issue to make it a glamorous little twinset to go with the sort of elegant evening pants or pencil skirts that my mommy undoubtedly has hanging by scores in her closet. Off to S.W.A.G., catch you later!
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November 28, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Faye Lewis
Oh you selfish girl, you got me so excited about that sleeveless cowl neck knit top that I had to darken the doors of my local fabric store today to look for just the right black knit fabric to make it from. It will be cut tonight just so you’ll know. I couldn’t use the pattern you so generously provided, but I think I found one in my stash that I can work it from. Thanks for the idea though.
Love the dressy fabric you choose for your Mother. It is just right for the holiday party events coming up.
November 29, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Monica Smith
Your Mum will love whatever you make and will certainly wear it around her friends (just something my daughter made for me). I think you should make that dress with ruffle; maybe make the ruffle detachable. You are slim enough to wear it and can redesign it too fit your shape. It is better you make this dress than the McCall prom queen number; although your drag queen friend would be in your debt forever!
November 29, 2009 at 11:13 pm
selfishseamstress
Thanks– I hope my mom will like it! She’s picky about what she wears and she’s not the type to wear something just because her daughter made it, or to avoid offending me. If she doesn’t like it, she simply won’t wear it :) But I’ve gotten a second opinion on it (it’s almost done) and Dan says it looks like something my mom would wear, so fingers crossed!
November 29, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Ayleen
Hey,
nice fabric, your mom will be happy :) You are sewing her the bolero for x-mas? I love Boleros :)
Other question? Are you dancing ballet? Ore just jumping verry enthusiastly on your picture?
best wishes :)
Ay
November 29, 2009 at 11:10 pm
selfishseamstress
Yep- bolero is for my mom for the holidays, and it’s almost done (stupid Burda lining instructions drove me crazy until I decided to give up and do it the way I would expect to).
As for my picture, I’m not explicitly performing ballet, I’m just sort of in the middle of a field channeling my inner Kitri from Don Quixote for the camera. Not all that successfully, I might add ;)
November 30, 2009 at 7:17 pm
amber
Agreed – very hard to say no to mom. ;)
November 30, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Kathleen
I love tha fabric and I am sure your mom will too. It’s so pretty! And that troll who doesn’t like you can go back under their bridge
January 2, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I want to dress like my mom. « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] mom also graciously modeled the Burda taffeta bolero jacket that I made her for Christmas (a S.W.A.G. triumph!) with a green satin sheath dress that she just happened to have tucked away, which just happens to […]