Getting our Christmas Tree and You’re Wearing That Out?
Posted in: Crafting Japanese, Family, Finished Project, Sewing
After all that gorging on food, shopping, and partying, (basically doing nothing creative, well not counting drawing) I HAD TO SEW. I wanted something simple and fast so chose project 1 from ISBN 4579111494. Then on Saturday night I tried it out on muslin. When I was done I wasn’t sure about it. I was thinking maybe I’d do it shorter. I was going to ask you, the internets, before I made it with real fabric.
Alan thinks it looks like a shapeless sack. But it’s not. It’s not that awful potato dress that I WILL NOT link to. This actually has shaping. It’s subtle but it’s there. I love the neckline but I wasn’t sure about the length. I kept asking Alan what he thought, trying to convince him that it didn’t suck. And on Sunday as we were getting ready to go out to buy our Christmas tree I put it on and asked Alan again for the umpteenth time. His response was, “get over yourself and let’s go.” Not much help there. So I threw on some pants and said, “ok, let’s go!“. He’s all like, “you’re wearing that out?” I looked in the mirror. It didn’t look bad. In fact it had grown on me. So yep I wore it out. Just threw on a little camisole underneath since the muslin is a little see-through.
“See? It doesn’t look bad does it?” was what I was saying in this picture at the Christmas tree lot. I didn’t mind wearing it there. I kept my coat on. But then we ran errands. We were inside and it was warm so I took off my coat. I felt so self conscious and all of Alan’s comments came flooding back: I was wearing this muslin, shapeless, long thing. So what do you think? Should I make it again? Yay or nay?
Ok let me “get over myself” and talk about our Christmas tree. We usually buy it late and then piss and moan that we don’t get to enjoy it for very long. So this year we got it together and bought it early! EARLY EARLY EARLY! (Actually I looked up the post from last year. We got it early last time too and you have to go see how small and still baby chub Isabelle was).
We go to a Christmas tree farm to get our tree. I’ve become very particular about this. One of Alan’s coworkers just buys a tree from the supermarket or Target or wherever. Nice and cheap, doesn’t see the point in spending the money. But surprisingly enough this is one of the things I don’t go cheap on.
I was wondering why that is? Then I realized, it’s a tradition we’ve started. It’s a warm fuzzy Christmas memory. Where’s the warm fuzzy feeling from grabbing a Christmas tree from Target? It just isn’t the same.
I like going to the family owned lot, walking down the green aisles while oh so helpful people ask if they can haul my tree away. I look forward to drinking their warm spiced cider, maybe riding the little train, and looking at their ornaments. This year Isabelle ooohed and ahhed over the tiny lighted houses and watched with interest as they shook all the bugs and loose needles out. And then they baled it up and when Isabelle gets older we’ll have her baled too. And she’ll remember all of that as part of the holiday season.
Ah, making lovely memories! What a neat family outing it is to go to a Christmas tree farm!
I like the long length. And I’d like to see you make it in a slightly heavier, maybe textured fabric to see what it does. Muslin is great for fit testing, but it’s hard to know how a pattern will do with shape and drape until you commit to the real fabric. I say go for it.
I like the tunic – it looks really comfy. I think with the current length, you could wear tights or leggings under it as well.
But I can also see that Alan might want to see a few more of your curves?
If you take in the sides (to show off your waist more) and make it out of jersey, it would show off your curves and still be comfy.
I don’t like the tunic at all. If you were pregnant, sure. It’s a shapeless sack. Tell Alan I agree with him.
I like that it looks really easy to wear. Just maybe in a printed fabric so it doesn’t look like a sack.
And maybe side pockets!!
I like the neckline and the sleeves. I would take the sides in a little so that it fits you a little more closely, and make it a few inches shorter. That should get rid of the sack look. Nice sewing!
Okay. I’m going to just ignore the “get over yourself” comment and move on… I know absolutely zilch about sewing garments, but I think all you’d need is some fabric with a little more drape, like a knit or jersey, like Dalila suggested. I wish I had half the sewing skills you have!
I like the dress. I like the length. I like everything about it. If you still wanted more shape, you could either put some princess seams down the sides, you know, right under the middle of your breasts; that would keep the look of the tunic yet add some shape and it wouldn’t matter what fabric you used. Or another thing you could do that I would totally love it to add a gather under your breasts so it would be an empire top. It could be with elastic or regular ribbon and pull the ribbon out from the middle and tie it into a bow. And if it still looks a bit maternity, well, who cares! Who really cares about the thoughts of those who have no sense of style. Men, particularily have no sense of style, unless they are gay. I wear empire dresses and tops all the time. Then I do my hair up all Greecian-like and then I look like a Greek Goddess, and what’s not to love about a Greek Goddess? You of all people could really pull it off especially with your hair, all gorgeous and curly. Why wasn’t I born with your hair? No, but I like my hair. Anyways, then, those who have style will actually recognize what you are doing and think you look fab. But, really, who cares what anyone other than yourself thinks, as long as you like it and are comfortable. If you are going to wear a sack, go out and wear the sack, and wear it with confidence, even though I don’t think it looks like a sack at all.
Actually it looks real Rennaisance like. I think Alan just doesn’t get it, that’s all. It is a Rennaisance top. You could put flowers in your hair and go to the Rennaisance fair.
the dress over pants look is one of my favs and i agree that it would look great in a patterned material.
I think the top would look better about 3-5 inches shorter. Maybe experiment with a belt (high or low). I’m usually scared of belts, but I saw a blogger who made a similar shirt and she showed pix with and without a belt and the belt actually made the shirt *stunning*.
I say cut it 5 or 6 inches shorter. I think Alan just can’t see it in anything but the muslin. But with color and some drape to the fabric (get a good quilting cotton!) it will look lovely.
I think I know what blogger futuregirl was thinking of…was it this?
It’ll definitely look less sack-like when you make it in the good fabric. I think it’ll look good with some handkerchief linen. It’s thin enough to be lightweight, but still has that nice linen drape which will make it less billowy.
i like the top! and the length! even with this muslin! coz with this length and the plainess of the muslin you can go wild with the leggings! if you ever fond of matching it with bizarre tights
i actually like the shape, not body hugging, very comfy and the sleeves too!coz i’m not into sleeveless..or you just add a wider colorful trim at the near bottom.. that would something bohemian?! simple and nice 
I like the top a lot. I’d totally wear it with jeans to go out. I say go for it!
The sack-like dress is so hot this season. Go look at all the women’s clothing sites and stores, you will find tons of them – Victoria’s Secret, J.Crew, etc….
well, i personally would LOVE to have a wearable sack – since as of today NOTHING in my wardrobe fits me anymore – i may even have to resort to wearing my husband’s hockey jersey for the next 10 weeks {which smells like hockey, no matter how many times i wash it in lavender vanilla detergent
}.
while i don’t think your dress looks quite like a sack, i think bringing the sides in just a little bit will give the shaping a little more definition – the length is more of a personal thing, so go with whatever is the most comfortable for you. It will look great with jeans or leggings, can’t wait to see it!!
Ok maybe not a choice I would make but it looked cute on YOU! Go for it. Try something. But WaWa would say the same thing if I asked him which I wouldn’t because as long as I like what I wear then it doesn’t matter what others are thinking! HA. SO THERE!
Love the tree lot. We have plastic. Yum. Plastic. heehee