So, once again - this project is not working quite like I had hoped/planned. The crafting is definitely happening, the blogging not so much. I have a few weeks to update you on, so here we go!
Week 7: Playa Del Carmen Halter
I finally got out of winter weather and headed down to Mexico for a few days. I've had this fabric lying around forever, I can't even remember what I originally bought it for. I've also had Amy Butler's Cabo Halter pattern for a while. It's been a long time since I've made any clothes for myself, so I thought this would be a fun addition to my vacation wardrobe.
I wasn't sure about the fit on this - I think I remember reading a review on PatternReview that said the bust shaping was a little lacking for a bustier figure. I anticipated needing to adjust and/or add darts but surprisingly when it was all done it fit perfectly! In fact, the only alteration I did need was to take in the center back seam, and this may have been partly necessary because my fabric had a bit of stretch to it. It will be interesting to see how it fits in a fabric with zero stretch - and I did like this pattern enough to make it again.
As far as the pattern goes, it's quite well written and clear. One really nice detail is how the directions specify the points where the garment can be tried on and adjusted easily, which is something an inexperienced stitcher may not know. Don't look too closely at my zipper - I don't have an invisible zipper foot, so I did a sort of cheat where you press the zipper open, baste it in, and stitch it using a regular zipper foot. Acceptable, but not my best work.
Final result - LOVED it. Fits great, not too skimpy, very flattering. In fact, it was the first thing I pulled out of my suitcase when I wanted to change out of my grubby airplane clothes. Perfect for a warm Playa del Carmen evening :-)
Week 8 - Beach Finds Necklaces
Playa's beaches were restored in the last few months and are now an even more enjoyable place to wander and collect treasures. I came home with a ziploc bag full of shells, coral, and the ultimate treasure: a shark's tooth!
Once again, I was able to use materials I already had - for some reason I had 18 gauge jewelry wire (why? no idea!) and even though I've never done any wire wrapping I figured it couldn't be too hard. I plunged in and this what I came up with:
Shark tooth! So cool - haven't seen one of these since my brief stint in Venice, FL, where they are everywhere.
I really liked the color of this shell, and I tried to do an interesting wrap thingie. I stumbled on some cool texturizing when I needed to cover up a couple of bad twists of the pliers. I just squeezed and squished gently along the wire which helped strengthen it as well as make it look a little cooler.
I haven't actually worn either of these yet, but since the weather here is slowly getting beachier, I think I will be sporting one soon!
Very nice halter top, what a great way to use shells by making jewelery.
Posted by: Annie | March 27, 2010 at 06:26 PM