The Facts
Fabric: 2 yds Spiderman cotton print $10.32 (in sale), red sheeting from stash.
Patterns: McCalls 6324.
Year: Contemporary.
Notions: 14″ atomic red zip (I like the geekiness of it
being ‘atomic’ red) $2.99, 1 sheet of shrinky dink plastic from craft
stash, thread.
Time to complete: 16 hours (I was having too much fun).
First worn: 1st July 2012.
Wear again? YES, YES, YES….probably first to go and see a movie, are there any good movies out this week?
Total Cost: $13.31 (£8.50).
The challenge: “Red, white and/or blue”.
“Listen Tempest, with great style comes great responsibility”.
“What’s that, Style Sensei? Reee-sponsi-silly-billy-tee? Nope, you’ve lost me there, can’t we just try that wax on, wax off stuff again? It cleared up my moustache and my hairy legs. Or practice the walking with books on my head, I liked that session”.
“NO! Tempest. This is important. If you are to be a style superhero, you must learn to curb your childish ways, you must learn to concentrate on building a colour palette to match your skintones…Tempest!…..Tempest!!!”
“Wheeeeeeeeeeee, look! I’m flying like that Superman guy…..
“Stop that at once! This is what I mean. That doesn’t even make sense. You’re wearing a Spider-Man dress. He doesn’t fly. You have to EDIT, stick to one idea, not be off on a tangent……are you even listening to me Tempest?”
“Spider-Tempest, Spider-Tempest, climbs up into webs, and…..gets stuck…..and doesn’t rhyme-est”.
“Tempest, you drive me too far. I’m beginning to think you’re a lost cause. Name me one thing, just one thing you’ve learnt from style superhero lessons”.
“Erm…….colour-blocking….? And, adjusting the pattern to be a 20 from neck to bottom of armholes, 24 from there to waist and 26 from waist, hip, onwards? Taking the waist in slightly more as I’ve now learnt that I actually have a waist and this is more flattering than empire-line on me. Honestly Sensei, I am trying to learn about this mysterious world you call Style”.
“O-k-ay….perhaps there is some glimmer of hope there, young grasshopper….what else?”
“Erm…ooh, ooh, I did an exposed zip!”
“Good, good, that almost excuses the matching shrinky-dink Spider-Men earrings and zipper pull you made and added to the outfit. Don’t think I didn’t notice those. Too matchy matchy. Edit, edit, edit!”
“But he’s hanging upside down on a white elastic ‘thread’ Sensei…doesn’t that make you smile? It makes me smile”.
“Fashion is a serious thing my apprentice…..”
“Ah, stuff this for a game of soldiers, I’m off to play with my kids!”
Happy 4th of July to all you Colonials out there, just let us know when you’re ready to have good Queen Liz back in charge ;)
PS. Thanks for not throwing me out of your country. It’s very nice here. You might not have marmite or frozen yorkshire puds, but you do have exceptional fabric and crafting shops. Thank you once again.
PPS. McCalls 6324 – very straightforward to put together. But on reading reviews by other sewers, I added an inch on the neckline. I like good coverage of my bra-straps and not to be repeatedly pulling dress straps up. And rather than have a full lining for the bodice as per the instructions, I made bias tape out of some of the left-over Spider-Man fabric and sewed it on the insides of the ‘holes’ but overlapping slightly so it looked a bit like piping. I think if I make this again, which I probably will, it’s a great day dress for Arizona’s current temps (it was 115F/46C today during this photoshoot), I’ll make the length slightly shorter to sit mid-knee. I think that’s all the pertinent points :)
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