9.03.2012

faux pas


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Well here we are. Labor Day weekend and I'm wearing white pants. Take that, outdated fashion rules! Although whether I have the chutzpah to continue wearing white pants past this point we'll just have to wait and see. I'm not a betting lady, but if I was, I'd probably say it's a safe bet to assume that these pants will continue to get worn as long as they fit, regardless of the season.

Before I go much further into the discussion of white jeans and what-not let me just say thank you to everyone who left a kind comment on my last post and to all you have stuck with me during this most recent unanticipated blog break. Word on the street has it that after I wrote that last post in a fit of "woe is me" I pretty promptly got my period. Needless to say things started looking a bit less "doom and gloom" from that point on! I'm not going to blame it all on womanly troubles, however, the move totally threw me for an unexpected loop - which was further compounded by a really busy and stressful couple of weeks at work. One of the toughest things for me to adjust to has been our temporarily restricted budget! All of our extra resources have been going to settling into our new surroundings (I could go into why we didn't have things like kitchen utensils or plates or a mattress or bedding prior to this move but its kind of a boring story - so just accept it as fact that my husband and I basically came into our new apartment relatively empty handed!) This means that I haven't had much time or funds to put into sewing. And that makes for a rather Sad Sallie. 

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So while I was getting myself all in a funk for not making anything new or having anything to post about I remembered these white jeans I made back at the end of July and never got around to photographing. These jeans have been getting a lot of wear and have become a pretty important part of the weekly wardrobe rotation. I used the same Built By Wendy pattern that I used to make my dark denim pair.  The fabric is some stretchy bottom weight cotton something-or-other from Tessuti (I'm sorry I totally forgot what type of fabric this is!) I ordered it specifically for this project back in April or May.  You know... in the spring... when white jeans would have been a bit more practical! But due to this and that they ended up getting pushed to the bottom of the sewing pile until the end of July. So really it's totally appropriate that they not get photographed until the beginning of September! Ah, such is the timeline of our lives...

This fabric had far more stretch to it than my dark denim and therefore I had to take these pants in something crazy on the sides (this was even after reducing the pattern to compensate, or so I thought, for the extra stretch.) Unfortunately this sort of threw off my back pocket placement - not anything serious, but they are a tad bit closer to the side seam than I would like. 

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These were also the jeans that I was lamenting about when I wrote this post. I don't know what my deal is, but I am constantly breaking twin needles! Okay... actually I know what my deal is... I keep trying to  make them go over my zipper teeth ... How else are you supposed to get the topstitching just right??! 

This top/tunic/dress is also handmade - but its really nothing to write home about. It's literally two rectangles of a dreamy silk jersey sewn together with holes for the arms and head. In a previous life it was a Drape Drape dress that I wore to a gala but it was far too low cut and revealing to wear in a normal context and I was too in love with the fabric to just let it hang there. So I snipped it apart and have just been wearing it around the house like this. Okaaay so this outfit is basically just my pajamas with a pair of pants and a necklace thrown on top of it to throw you off the scent! And yes, I'll probably wear it for the next three days solid. Easily.

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I think I'll leave you today with a few iphone snaps of our new place. I'm not much of a "nest-er" or really into the whole home decorating thing but I'm a little proud of how this place is starting to come together...

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xx

31 comments:

  1. Okay, I have literally NEVER had any thoughts that I wanted to make my own jeans until you started posting these and the dark denim pair. They look so so good, and the color of your topstiching makes them look so fancyyy! I would like to add a pshaw to no white after Labor Day, I wouldn't pay any attention to that business. What about winter white? The top looks great too and your new apartment is super cute, lots of light! Hope you're settling in nicely, glad to see you back!

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  2. Your jeans always look soooo good! So professional. I once made a pair of jeans and then could not wear them because they very quickly slid down my legs. Sad but true story. For a non-nester you sure do know how to nest! I love the look of your new apartment, those floors and those cabinets are great (red knobs!). I'm glad you're back, I love reading your blog :)

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  3. Hell, if I could look as fabulous and as sultry as you waltzing around the streets in my jimmy jams, I would be a tremendously happy lady. The top is gorgeous, and you can tell even from far away that that fabric is lucious. mmm. And I've been LOOKING for some white stretch denim for yonks! Maybe they still have some... will have to pop in on my lunch break. Looking gorgeous, as always!
    On the side - being unaccustomed to the clothing rules in the states - why is it inappropriate to wear white after Labour Day?

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  4. Sallie, great job on those jeans! I'm happy to see you back on the blogosphere. I'm sorry you haven't been able to sew anything new lately. I know what it's like because whenever I go for a long time without sewing or drawing anything I get into a real funk.
    I hope you are able to start making beautiful new clothes soon and let me add that your new place is looking lovely and very homey. :)

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  5. You know... I have no idea. I don't think anyone has any clue where this particular idiom came from! And truthfully I don't think anyone actually follows it - or has followed it for a very long time. Google tells me this...
    http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/09/the_reasons_beh.php

    So I guess its partly a climate thing - labour day signifies the end of summer for us and the end of heat (ha! not so in my part of the world) and white is a light summer fabric choice. Plus it gets dirty in the muddy rain of autumn (?) Also some class stuff thrown in there about how rich people get to vacation and wear white and the poor working class doesn't and has to keep wearing navy wool all. year. long... or something along that line!

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  6. Sallie, your new home looks really lovely! Glad to have you back blogging, i'm always telling customers to stop by your blog to get inspired to keep sewing. I agree with Jen that I've never contemplated tackling jeans before, until I saw your dark denim jeans and now these white ones! The beauty with stretch fabrics is that you can get a great snug fit, but stretch wovens do vary so much. You almost need to find the same weight and stretch as is in the dark ones, to get the same fit. They say that stretch wovens with no more than 2-3% elastane is ideal. Glad you persevered with the white ones, they look fab and the back(side) looks good too...a true sign of a great jean!

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  7. Your jeans are great! Isn't it no white shoes after Labor Day? Maybe I've had it wrong all this time. As if Labor Day means any seasonal change down here...it'll be summer until at least October, so you're good.



    You have one of the old houses now! Aren't they fun? I have one too, only mine is a shotgun house and not so roomy.

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  8. Oh sallie... You make me believe I to could be a sewing superhero. I mean, those jeans! You make it look so normal to sew them and so easy! Well, apart for the breaking twin needles. I'm so glad to have you back to blogging!

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  9. You deserve to wear those jeans every damn day of the damn year they are so great. THE FIT! YOU JERK! THE FIT IS SO GOOD! I really want to follow your lead and make some jeans this year but the stretch factor is scary. I always buy jeans a size smaller knowing they will stretch after a day or so. Did you have to make your jeans a bit on the small side to avoid that? Because these guys look perfect on you. As for that top - if they made Slankies, Forever Lazies and Snuggies out of silk jersey I would totally get on board. Such a simple garment instantly looks a thousand times more amazing when silk is involved (is that Drape Drape book worth the $$$? I've been fence sitting).

    And your kitchen is the cutest! What a sunny, appealing place to cook.

    Welcome back my sweet Sallie! Hope you scrounge some cash so we can all drool over the next amazing thing you whip up (the problem with not being a stash-er is having to sit on your laurels when you spend too much money on spoons and sheets (or in my case booze & cat food - thank goodness for the stash sometimes - its like having a full pantry when you get down to your last $5 a week before payday and can't afford groceries)).

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  10. This fabric had crazy stretch (probably not the smartest choice for jeans in retrospect but I totally got it to work, so what the hell...) I would say these pants are more of the "jegging" variety - yes. There. I said it. And even though I thought I altered the pattern to compensate for the stretch - if I had it to do over again I'd probably draft a new pattern with no hip curve and an insanely tiny waist, because even though I'm happy with these jeans, after day two of wearing they need a belt. So yeah, the stretch factor is a bit unpredictable. But when I sew jeans I usually sew up the inseam, then baste the out-seam and try them on and adjust the fit as needed. Thats how I ended up with the back pocket placement being off, but otherwise these would have been HUGE! So I'll take a vaguely strange pocket placement... eh. Nothing's ever perfect!
    Also, Drape Drape book... mmm... I've made about 3 or 4 things from it. They're pretty easy makes and pretty interesting. But I feel like there are more impractical designs than practical ones.
    And you are totally right about the lack of stash. Its a bummer. I mean I do have a little bit of a stash but I'm out of things like interfacing or lining fabrics, and alot of my stash is just not appropriate for what I want to sew right now (woe). Its okay, I'll get over it, and I always can find an extra buck or two somewhere - right? I mean... do we REALLY need to eat? On plates? With METAL spoons?
    Just kidding... sorta....

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  11. Girl, you're rockin it AGAIN! I cannot BELIEVE you made those jeans; they look so damn professional!! And while those are utterly fabulous, I have to say, I really LOVE the top, and I don't care if it was once something else! LOL The back drape is so flattering! I have outfit envy!! ^___^

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  12. i can't believe you made those jeans. They look so un-hand-made! Not that we expect anything less from you Sal! You new place looks pretty rad too.

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  13. Thank you!! As always, the compliment means so much coming from such a cool lady ;)

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  14. Thanks Amanda!! I - unexpectedly - love this top too!! Mostly its just a lovely fabric to have drape all over the place.

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  15. I don't know that anyone actually knows the full details on that silly rule!! And yes! I'm in one of the old houses! I love it - well its still actually an apartment, but its funny cabinets and weird slanting floors are quite charming. My husband and I were pretty psyched about all the space (for a good price ;)

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  16. Sallie! You're back! Oh how glorious! I was wondering where you were. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate circumstances as of late but I'm glad that you've somehow trucked through and are back in the blogging and sewing world.


    The jeans are fab. If anyone knows how to sew jeans, it's you. And who cares about white after Labor Day! What about a white Christmas. Take that fashion rules! ha!


    Oh, and I love your new sewing room. It's your space :)

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  17. Thank you Colette! I so appreciate all the support :) Yes the stretch factor and the slight difference in weight gave me a bit of a run for my money - but I'm also glad I stuck with it because I love the snug silhouette and they are truly sooooo comfy! Like leggings!

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  18. Aw thanks Anto! Yes, not having any creative outlet can do a real job on the old emotional state, especially for us artistic gals. Suffice to say, I'm excited to get back into my routine.

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  19. Thanks Jen!! Always a huge compliment coming from you! I would love to see the jeans you would make! I bet they would be ferosh! And I don't throw around my "ferosh's" lightly...Also, yes, I love winter white :)

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  20. Thank you Caitlin! They gave me a run for my money, and I do remember thinking there was a whole lot wrong with them... but now I can't remember what all that was... funny how that works!! I love the red knobs and all the funny cabinets in the kitchen too!!

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  21. One of these days I'll get brave enough to add rivets to my jeans. I already have such a difficult time with the button. I swear getting the button on is the hardest part of making jeans for me. Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better. This summer has been quite a summer for mood swings of similar such nature for me. And, every time it still sneaks up on me. Gorgeous jeans, by the way.

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  22. thanks Maddie!! I'm like the energizer bunny, really "takes a lickin but keeps on tickin!!"
    Thanks for the jeans love, I'm so glad I'm starting to feel more comfortable making them because they really are a wardrobe staple for me!

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  23. Pshaw - your jeans are da bomb! I wish I had the cajones to do your awesome decorative pockets - but I fear that I'm just not that agile! Rivets and buttons are actually one of the worst parts of making my jeans too! So much cursing and so many bent and broken little rivets - and angry neighbors from all the hammering at, say, 11pm... woops...

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  24. Gorgeous, as usual. You are so good at jeans. Have you ever checked out Debbie Cook's jeans fly tutorial? You've probably seen it, but it was life changing for me. Glad you are settling in to your new place. It looks fab.

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  25. Wow - I've never seen that tutorial! Thanks so much for recommending it to me. I've always had some issues figuring out when to do the edgestitch topstitching along the CF and now that totally cleared it up for me!!

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  26. Welcome back! Your jeans all amazing, great job as always.

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  27. Wow! your white jeans look sensational! beautiful fit and I really love the beige topstitching! And I reckon white looks terrific all year round :)

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  28. Beautiful outfit! I love it! I never wear white as I'm a total slob, but you're SERIOUSLY tempting me...

    The new apartment looks great! I love the cabinets, and your plants are enviable!

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  29. your constant awesome friggin jeans, man. i kind of hate you.

    and a new space too? WHATEVER.

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  30. Cool jeans! The whole outfit is just lovely and that necklace! wow. I love how necklaces throw off the scent, which is one of my summer strategies ;). I so understand the starting from nothing stress of settling in. For the longest time, we would've rather had a puppy or art supplies than buy a kitchen table. Looks like a cute new place... a little bungalow?

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