Elissa Sews Issue no. 8 Bonus Blouse
Why I'm late to this bonus issue. The bonus blouse I made with deadstock Hugo Boss linen suiting fabric. A few quick thoughts on Kate Middleton.
Special Sewing
Hello! In the last issue I said I’d send out a bonus newsletter in about 2 weeks. It has been 3 weeks and that is due to a commissioned project that I ended up gifting to someone in my community. We have a sweet family nearby who is going through something hard. The dad is undergoing treatment for an aggressive cancer and the mom asked if I could transform one of his work shirts into a dress for their young daughter.
As usual, as I went about cutting and sewing with intention and reflection. I thought about the story that this reworked garment will tell throughout the years. A shirt that once was a work shirt, transformed to a dress for the young girl, with plans to then pass it down to her own daughter.
Cutting up the shirt was the trickiest part…making sure I saved elements of the shirt while making sure I had enough fabric to make it work. I am KICKING myself for not taking a before picture. That’s just how it goes! The sweet girl was thrilled with the end result and was happy with the pink pockets I added (if you’re going to sew a dress you MUST add pockets, especially for young girls).
I paused other projects to make this because I wanted him to see her in it!
Bonus Blouse
As previously mentioned in other issues I rewatched The Crown and LOVED the 80’s fashion. I very much loved the tailoring for Margaret Thatcher’s wardrobe. The costume designers used a fair amount of double breasted blazers and blouses.
It’s all about the styling…otherwise one could look like they work in food services. I took one progress photo to test out which shoulder pads to insert but, honestly that photo isn’t worth sharing…so here is the final result!
The pattern: Style 1093 (found via Etsy)
Fabric: Deadstock Hugo Boss Black linen from Stonemountain Daughter (it looks like they have some left in a YUMMY chocolate color) (I’m the worst “blogger” because I still haven’t set up affiliate links…I’m too busy sewing!).
I wore it to a kid’s birthday party, one day of errands and puttering around the house, AND on a day date with Mark. For his upcoming birthday I took him to the Ralph Lauren store on Newbury St. in Boston. Living near flagship stores is such a treat! It is the most gorgeous store.
Bonus Thoughts!
This review of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers gave me such a chuckle that all the songs have been stuck in my head. I turned it on for my girls. The way to get kids to watch the classics is just by turning it on. Don’t not ask them what they want to watch. Just put it on. I have never seen my girls dance around to a movie as much as they did this one. It was so fun and we are such fans of the character Millie.
As far as I am aware there is no “royal protocol” for edited photos. I know that people have blown Kate Middleton’s photo out of proportion for various reasons and theories. But those theories thrive in a the toxic land of social media. If people were to talk face to face about it there would be wildly differing opinions but we’d all stay level-headed. Whereas on the world wide web, people are mean, demanding, and angry.
I feel that the media outlets that caused this spectacle owe her an apology for ruining her Mother’s Day. And, if I were her I’d take more time away from the public.
One may feel that many years into her life as a royal, the physical form of Catherine, Princess of Wales, has become a commodity that the public feels entitled to consume. But, dare I remind us all, that shouldn’t she have a choice in that matter? Royal or not?
Speaking of The Crown….I saw this post about Princess Anne and her lavender coat that she has worn through the decades and lo and behold! Then I spotted that The Crown recreated it (photo on the right)! How wonderful. In another (or future) life I would LOVE to be a costumer designer for a show like this or for Saturday Night Live.
Reminder to put a brooch on your coats
Thank you once again for reading! Please leave a comment so I know what you liked!
-Elissa