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S2282 - leather and lace plans
blessedtosew Intermediate AL USA Member since 4/16/08 Posts: 865	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/2/12 8:16 PM I have in my stash some beautiful medium yellow lace fabric, some ecru linen blend fabric, and one skin of light tan lambskin leather. I have been wanting to use those three pieces of fabric to make a dress. My next project is to sew S2282 in these fabrics, but I can't decide what would be the best combination. I plan to do the cap sleeve version with the peplum. The cap sleeves and peplum will be out of the leather. However, I am debating between two different possibilities for the rest of the dress. Possibility 1: Do the side fronts and upper back in the lace with the rest of the dress in the linen (except of course for the leather peplum and leather cap sleeves) OR Possibility 2: Do the front panel (this includes the front skirt and upper front bodice) in the lace and the rest of the dress in the linen (except of course for the leather peplum and leather cap sleeves) I have been losing sleep over this. I wouldn't tell anyone other than fellow seamstresses that, but I know you understand. I am thinking that the 1st choice might be more work appropriate. If I felt the lace was too dressy, I could put a jacket over the dress and the lace would be covered, but I don't know that I would ever wear it anywhere other than church. So, that makes me think just go with the second possibility and really feature the lace. What do you think?
arianamaniacs   Advanced AUSTRIA Member since 6/11/04 Posts: 958	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 8/3/12 3:28 AM Can you post a picture of your fabrics? Otherwise it's hard to imagine.
blessedtosew Intermediate AL USA Member since 4/16/08 Posts: 865	Login to reply to this post In reply to arianamaniacs << Like this post Date: 8/3/12 10:53 AM Here is a pic. The leather is the darker tan on the left. The more I look at it, I am wondering if it would be better to leave off the lace totally.
arianamaniacs   Advanced AUSTRIA Member since 6/11/04 Posts: 958	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/4/12 12:49 PM I think your idea with the lace upper is ok, but you are already working with three distinct colors. Do you have a lace that incorporates one of the other two colors? otherwise it might look too patchworky. If not, a linen dress with leather sleeves and peplum will look classy. Oh another idea. Use the edge of the lace just to peek out of the bottom of the hems on the sleeve and skirt, about a half inch. Ive seen that on some rtw and it looked sharp.
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 5/2/09 Posts: 1554	Login to reply to this post In reply to blessedtosew << Like this post Date: 8/4/12 4:37 PM I think I would use the leather for the peplum part then also maybe bind the neck or sleeves off with it. Just because you could leave it raw edged there, on all of that, and if all did not work out, you could also put a strip like a belt onto the leather peplum part and wear it separate over something else later, and still not waste the leather either. And also even still cut the peplum out of like fabric later if you wished. You could cover all the linen with that lace for all the rest of the dress, or maybe you could just cut parts of the lace out, and even applique it to parts of the linen dress. I think the lace might even look nice covering the entire center front portion of the front bodice and caught into the princess seaming there, and then more random appliqued in a longish shape down the center front of the dress going down below the waist area, and even down a lot of the front of the skirt, almost even to hem possibly?
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2532	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 8/4/12 5:05 PM Have you done a sketch to see how all these fabrics would look in the various combinations? I do like your fabrics together, but I'm having a bit of difficulty imagining this particular pattern done in colorblocking--in particular, I'm afraid that the leather peplum might end up looking sort of like an apron. I did do an image search for "contrast peplum" to see if I could find any real life examples, and I did come across this. I think I might be more inclined to use the beautiful suede as more of an accent--seam piping, perhaps, or like this beautiful tweed skirt. What I do like about both of those examples is how the accent color is used on the reverse of the peplum, so you see flashes of it in the folds. Here are a few more interesting examples: Peplum dress w/contrast waistband and piping Colorblocked peplum dress Lace peplum top with contrast & piping Another interesting use of colorblocking Bold use of contrast trim Peplum dress with mesh panels (One thing I'm seeing is that these dresses really seem to stick to *two* fabrics, and they mostly seem to be the same fabric in different colors. I think some experimentation is in order!) -- Edited on 8/4/12 5:06 PM -- ------ ~Gem in the prairie
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2532	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 8/4/12 5:17 PM Ok, a couple more examples from me! I think something like this could look quite classy, done in quality fabrics and a well-fitted pattern. I like the open lace at the shoulders and bottom of the skirt (as a previous poster suggested), along with the hint of leather trim (obviously, she's wearing a belt, but you could incorporate it in a similar spare fashion). You don't want an allover lace dress; you'd use your solid linen where the lace is over a lining. This is a similar example, where the lace is done in the top of the bodice and the sleeves, as well as the upper back, like you were planning. I think your instincts here were spot on--it looks very nice! In both of those examples, the peplums are also lace, which I think adds some nice continuity to the look--but since you're working with contrast fabrics, you might prefer to do something like this. Have fun! Lots of possibilities here! ------ ~Gem in the prairie
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7111	Login to reply to this post In reply to blessedtosew << Like this post Date: 8/4/12 6:12 PM Okay, here's what I would do: At the bottom of the princess dart/seam, on the pattern, I would draw a horizontal line, going toward the side seam and make that one piece with a seam allowance for the horizontal line. That would make the side front be separate from the front. Make this piece of leather. The rest of the dress, besides the peplum and the collar, would be in the linen. And the peplum and the collar in lace. Why am I going against the peplum in leather? Because leather is bulky and you might not get the drape you want. Leather, especially because it's a darker color, following down a princess line would make you look slimmer, curve your body more and I believe give you the look you want. ------ "We don't impose our rhythm on Nature. The key is to respect and live within Her." Jean-Charles Boisset, Winemaker "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit, and I'd like a refund" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln My Etsy shop: auntmaymesattic My blog: auntmaymesattic.wordpress.com Avatar: First place award for jacket at county fair
blessedtosew Intermediate AL USA Member since 4/16/08 Posts: 865	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 8/7/12 11:17 AM Thanks so much for all your help. I ended up doing the peplum and sleeves from the leather and I used an ecru lace on the side front panels. I will do review as soon as I wear it.
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2532	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 8/7/12 2:28 PM Can't wait to see it! You whipped that together fast!! ------ ~Gem in the prairie

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