Load ’em up.
Stack ’em up.
Roll ’em out.
Send ’em out.
RAWHIDE!
Anybody else remember the show Rawhide?
I’ve been wrangling my closet into organization for fall. That includes getting rid of things I haven’t worn for a year. As boxes fill and space opens up, this song plays in my head on repeat. It’s a song that motivates action. It motivates me to send my old, once-loved pieces to ThredUP, where, hopefully someone else will discover them and give them more life. YEE-HAW!
Rustlin’ up a backless treasure
With the closet thoroughly wrangled, I turn my attention to making new favorites, like this backless dress I made using Sew House 7’s Bridgetown dress pattern.
Pretty much all my new favorites these days start as patterns by Peggy of Sew House 7. I love the styles of her designs and her instructions are clear, which is vital for a newbie sewist like me.
You may recall my recent posts about the Montavilla dress and my Nehalem pants. These are both Sew House 7 designs. My Bridgetown backless dress pattern was just as easy as the other two, if not more so
This Cowgirl Loves Her Some Pajama Fabric
My backless dress has the feel of pajamas without actually being pajamas. The fabric is breathable, super-soft viscose linen noil from Blackbird Fabrics. I know some people can make pajamas look like they fit on the runway, but none of my pajamas do, so I’ll stick with dresses that feel like pajamas.
Backless is fun and practical!
The backless feature of the dress provides loads of fun style opportunities as well as much-appreciated ventilation. Most of the time I wear a cami beneath it, but as summer turns into fall, I see layering long sleeves under it. Until the long sleeves come out, though, I welcome every opportunity to keep my body cool. A cooler back means a cooler me!
The only downside to my dress is that it slips off my shoulders easily. Once I add a snap or strap to the back, I should be able to wear this without worry.
Move ’em Out!
So now the closet is wrangled. Time to move ’em out so I can get back to rustlin’ up fun projects on my sewing machine.
AFFILIATE LINKS DISCLAIMER
ThredUP, Sew House 7, and Blackbird Fabrics have not paid me to write about them. I just appreciat
Whether you click on those links and shop or not is up to you! I am glad you came my way. I hope you find some fun things to read while you’re here. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m going forward and backward in your recent posts as I try to figure out where I left off.
You could say that I took a break from media but really the demands of life and needs of people I love had to be a priority for a while. I feel oddly disconnected from my blogging buddies.
This backless creation is very cool and sophisticated and a perfect subtle sexy as well. I also imagine that you can catch a welcome breeze and make a hot flash disappear?
This pretty dark blush color is very flattering!
Please know you’ve been missed in the blog-o-sphere, Jude, but you’re right that the people you love take priority. I hope everything is okay with you and those you love.
Sending Loads of Hugs,
Sherry
[…] feeling so good about my sunset-colored Montevilla dress and my backless Bridgetown dress, I hit a creative wall going 100 mph. Not even the comfort of the dress makes me want to wear […]
Awesome make, yet again, Sherry. A great piece for any season, and a piece that feels like pyjamas definitely has my vote!!! I always think backless is also much more intriguing than a plunging neckline, like a wink over the shoulder.
Good job on the wrangling. Heh! You look very organized with a wheelie cart and everything.
I remember that show Rawhide too, but they had a commercial once that used the words, “Gravy, gravy, gravy/New Chuck Wagon gravy” for pet food. They ruined it – or else made sure this tune stuck in my head forever. I often hum it in my head. Gaaa!!!
Thank you, Mel! That wheelie cart hit me in the head when I was loading it up, so don’t be too impressed by my wrangling skills! It was not without pain! Ha ha ha!
I like your idea about the backless dress being like a wink over the shoulder!
Hugs,
Sherry
Another winner and you’ve got me excited to see more Sewhouse 7 makes. You really have a knack for styling her patterns brilliantly. It makes me curious if you have a vision for the pattern before you start sewing it, of if the styling aspect evolves over time?
The more stable the knit (as in the less stretchy), the easier the sewing experience, IMO. Starting your knit journey with the SH7 toaster sweater would be a good start.
I too love your hair. The cut is superb…the length of your hair and the angle of the cut…somehow your stylist has created more volume at the ends. (I was going to say hem, LOL)
Thank you, Sue! I’m going to take your advice and try the SH7 Toaster Sweater this fall. I think you had mentioned you had created this pattern yourself? (I will go search for it on your blog!)
As for styling, it’s kind of a mix of seeing in my mind how I want to wear it and the style evolving.
I’m trying to get to the point where I force myself to be patient before jumping in on a pattern or fabric. When something leaps up at me and says, “You can make THIS with THAT!” That’s when I feel the best about the end result and the styling that follows. I’ll share more with you later about the Charlie Caftan but that make is an example of me not having patience and the end result not being my favorite. More to come on the blog about that as well.
And my hair! Thank you! I guess it took me 40-someodd years to find this stylist. She’s the first one I can remember who sees my hair and grasps its particular idiosyncrasies. Then she works her magic and, voila!, I have a style that is easy for me to duplicate and change-up. I will pass on to her your and Suzanne’s comments!
Hugs,
Sherry
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the process. Funny. I was just re-reading my Midnight in Paris Dress post (your lovely comment led me there) and that make was really ALL ABOUT patience and vision and desire.
I can see myself moving towards really thinking about ‘what’s next’ on my sewing agenda.
PS I bought the Jasika Blazer pattern….so….looks like I might be making my own blazer this winter.
xo
I’m so glad to hear you got the Jasika Blazer pattern! Every time I see something about that blazer–which is a lot because they just had that great push for the online workshop!–I think of you. My fingers and toes are crossed that you have fun making whatever style blazer you have in mind! Are you thinking of doing a short suit, that is, a suit with shorts instead of trousers?
Also, I can totally see the patience and vision and desire in your Midnight in Paris dress. The genius of that combination (patience, vision, desire) is vivid in your make.
EEEEeeee! All of these things are so fun!
Guess which song’s been playing in my head? Yes, you guessed right: RAWHIDE! Thank you for that 😉 I usually do my wrangling in October and April, when I change over my wardrobe. But I don’t go as far as getting rid of anything that I haven’t worn in a year. Just the things I think are no longer me, or which have mysteriously shrunk (euphemism, obviously). That backless dress is gorgeous and looks amazing worn with jeans. I’m hearing you on the slipping off the shoulder thing, though. Should be any easy fix I guess. I’m a bit envious that you’ve already done your wrangling. Not something I’m looking forward to. There, I’m exhausted already 😉 xxx
Ha ha ha! Maybe the song will help you move ’em on out once October hits and you start to change over your wardrobe.
My “haven’t worn in a year” rule isn’t hard and fast. There are some things I keep for years and rarely wear because they have some type of sentimental value. There are other things that I have less attachment to and those can easily be let go of.
I’ll be rooting for you as you start your own wrangling!
– Sherry
It looks like you are turning your entire closet into “you made” treasures! I’m impressed how you’ve managed to embrace sewing and how well you are getting rid of items from your closet.
The dress really does look comfy and your hair looks fabulous! It is just me or are you changing it up all the time? Seems like every time I see you it’s a bit different.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
I would love for my closet to grow into “me made” treasures! I have years of practice ahead, though, before I can sew like Sue and produce things like lingerie and jeans. At this point, knits are a bit scary for me but I’m starting to get curious about making my own leggings, so that may be something I try sooner than later.
As for my hair, I finally found a stylist who gets my hair and understands what I want from it. She’s given me a cut and color that is easy to style in different ways.
That being said, I wonder if the way I light my photos makes it look different each time? What are you seeing that’s different?
– Sherry