Lunar New Year : Obi-belt

Every Lunar new year, since I was very small, there is a tradition of wearing new outfits for the celebration. This year, I decided to make something to spruce up my new dress, since it was black color, which is kind of an inauspicious color to wear for the celebration. I decided to make an improvised version of an Obi-belt ... on the eve of the Lunar new year!

I used the leftover orange colored fabric from Irene's wrap pants, and the teal colored fabric for my wrap pants. For the feature, I used fabric 'I' from my Fabrics Galore entry. I sewed the orange-colored fabric into 3-layer 88cm(L) x 15cm(W) base. The ends were tucked in ...
... and sewn across the end-side. Across the 15cm width, I marked every 1cm.Then, I sewed the sides of the base piece, long-side, spaced at 1cm apart as marked earlier. After that, I took out the patterned fabric and measured it against the base piece.I cut the patterned fabric, to be sewn into a smaller 2-layer 72cm(L) x 13cm(W) feature piece. Later, the feature piece was pinned in place, right in the center of the base piece, and sewed both long-sides, onto the base piece.
Then it was the teal colored fabric, sewn into yet another smaller 3-layer 79cm(L) x 5cm(W) belt loop. Repeated the 1cm spacing straight stitch long-side. After that, I placed it on top, in the center, of the feature piece and pinned in place. At this point, the obi-sash is taking shape.
Repeated the 1cm spacing straight stitch long-side, again, but all throughout the width of the whole obi-sash. I used only the orange colored thread, so it would add to the detailing as the different types of fabric piled on. An overall view of the 1cm spaced straight stitch. When I reached the teal colored belt loop that was held in place with pins, I just stitched right across on both sides.
After finishing the straight stitches, I made a 2-layer 187cm long ribbon-belt from some more teal colored fabric, and stringed it through the belt loop with a big paper clip.Inching the paper clip with the end of the ribbon-belt all the way through and then, centered it to exposed almost equal length of the ribbon-belt at both ends.Here we are, on the first day of the Lunar calendar. I wore it with the ribbon at the back. Against my all black ensemble, the obi-belt stood out like an alarm.As the day progresses and a lot of foody goodies later, I swung the ribbon in front. *wink*Gong Xi Fatt Chai to everyone!!!

Capt Cyke : Tweed Vest with Brass Details

This is a vest I made for last Halloween, when I went as Capt Cyke. I have been meaning to write about it during Halloween last year, and obviously it didn't happen until now.

It was hacked from a long dress I bought from the Salvation Army thrift store. It was some kind of tweed/wool material. Since I need the overlap at the front of my vest, I decided to use the bottom of the dress which was wider. I drew a line across, allowing the length of it to suit my torso.
After I cut along the line, I picked the bottom seam and the seam at the back split of the dress apart, to reveal it as a long strip. With the whole length of it, and roughly sketched the pattern right on top of it, and cut. I decided that the back should have a different kind of fabric. I tried to line up the other existing seams to my bustline (top to bottom). It was a flat front panel, which I later added darting for contouring it into the perfect fit.
For the back panel, I took out the leftover satin fabric that I saved from my Roman costume.
Again, without an existing pattern, I took out one of my jacket, and traced the back pattern off of it, and right onto the satin fabric. It was about 4 pieces, all luckily within the size of the leftover fabric.Then, I joined the front panels and the back piece together. From my side seams, this is the kind of fabric effect I intended for, in the same color, yet in different texture.At this point, I tried it on, inside out, and pinned up the side seams until I got my desired fitting, which include darting at the bust. After that, I sewed it all together and finished hemming all the ends.
The end result, after I added a bit more details at the front and at the back. And of course, the collar in tweed material.
For the front, I used brass buckles, D-rings and fabric straps, which were made from leftover fabrics from my wrap pants project. Again, same color, different texture. For the position and setting out of the straps and buckles, I had to put on the vest and sketch it on in front of a mirror, until I was satisfied. (note the white chalk markings behind the buckles)And for the back, I found some really interesting brass chain (I am not quite sure what it is exactly used for), and attached it to the back with the same kind of straps I used for the buckles in front. Due to the weight of brass chain, I lightly sewed it onto the middle seam so it would hold its place.On Halloween 2008, I wore it over my blouse which had a cravet-like detail. Spunked it up with my mecha-monocle, badge-of-office, pin-stripe pants and my old boots. (Since I only had time to make one side of a spats, so I didn't end up wearing it)

This is C J Morta & Capt Cyke.

Converted into Jewellery Box

It's spring cleaning time again, and I am clearing up my dressing cabinet, when I got really annoyed with my accessories which I keep in vintage bowls on the dresser top all gathering dust. So I decided to store them in a box.

Hunted around and found in my stash of "possible projects", 2 boxes Irene gave to me when she bought ginseng. They were sturdy boxes which I thought would be a waste to throw away.

I cut up partition strips of strawboard where the width equals to the depth of the box. 3 of them, the length equals the width of the box and 1 the same length with the box. I got the idea from my beading box where the partition are removable. I also cut into the boards at the intersection, just as shown in the picture below. I glued the long strip in place and the smaller strips for the 'tracks'. And insert the removable strips when the glue dried.Ta-dah! A new home for my accessories, some I made, some bought, some given.I didn't like the original images on the box, so I covered it up with leftover wallpaper, which we used for the feature wall in my room.

Another Wrap Pants

I made some modifications to my earlier wrap pants pattern. A much simplified version, with less pieces. From 8 pieces to 4 pieces.

Steps:
1) Red & Orange - sew the reds together, and the oranges together. Both of the same piece.
2) Green & Blue - sew the green on one piece to the green on the other piece. And repeat for the blue. At this point you'll have the legs.
3) Cyan & Magenta - sew the cyan on one piece to the cyan on the other piece. And repeat for the magenta, until it becomes a loop.
4) Yellow - attach the top piece to the bottom, all along the yellow line.This time, I tried it with separate colored cotton silks, and this is for Irene. (fabric F&G from Fabric Galore entry)

Papercraft : LBP Sackboy

I recently discovered the most amusing and adorable little video game character nicknamed Sackboy, from LittleBigPlanet. He is custom-able in the game and out of the game. For some quick fun, I downloaded the pdf file and added simple texture to him, printed it and made him 3D.

Here are some really good examples of how others creatively customized him. (link)

For your share of sackboy fun, download the pdf file, by clicking the image below. Good luck!