Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Panthea has something to show you... well, two things.

When last seen, Panthea was the secretary of the regional chapter of Arms Straight Out. Notice anything different?

Elbows! I have elbows!
She's on a 1990s knee-and-elbow-articulated Barbie body because the unarticulated Yasmins and Teresas had already claimed the tan Fashionista bodies.

Oh, and she has the first of the April dresses. It's the equivalent of a $15 Walgreen's dress -- nobody will mistake it for Fashion Royalty gear -- but it got done.



It's loosely based on the Kitschy Coo convertible braided strap sundress and made from a bandanna because I was feeling lazy about hemming.

My skirt does NOT need starch.
(Apologies for the ghastly lighting -- henceforth, I'm going to photograph several day's dresses in batches when there's sunlight, but the first one really had to be commemorated immediately, not way out on Friday.)

The back allows for creative braiding and knotting, though at the moment it's done rather simply.

Fortunately, I have a lot of friends to help me get dressed!
Lessons learned:

  • There is a reason that the bottom of A-line skirts is cut with a slight curve, which means they really shouldn't be attempted on handkerchiefs.
  • I need to look at how to cut backs of dresses with space for both a center seam and an overlap, as I was lucky to get away with what I did here, and it's technically wrong.
  • The damn handkerchiefs from SAS Fabric ("first on your list when you decide to slipcover six couches, five chairs, and a hassock") are really crappy quality -- stiff, liable to perforate, and scratchy. Do not buy more.
My portfolio shots can be so much more exciting now!

11 comments:

  1. Yeah for Panthea! Great job on the dress!

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  2. Love the dress - and the fabric you picked is perfect!

    And she looks great on the new body as well!

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    1. Thank you! It was originally meant for the doll I redressed for my sister, but it's much more "Panthea."

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  3. Hi, the dress is very cute! It's great to see someone else bitten by the sewing bug! LOL
    I love Panthea's new body butNow that she's gone "articulated" who will take care of the unarticulated masses out there?!?!?

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    1. Thank you! The unarticulated masses still have plenty of representation.

      I wonder if therapy should be required before qualifying for a body transplant. It seems so... sudden to have one's head moved to another body, just like that.

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  4. Even though it's not falling the way you want, I like the idea of using a handkerchief. No hemming is a plus as well as they come in some great colors.

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    1. I love the handkerchief concept -- it just works better for a gathered skirt or maybe gores that are meant to be pointy.

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  5. I like the carefree vibe of the handkerchief dress. It becomes Panthea ;-)

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  6. You didn't mention the pretty print!

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  7. The dress is lovely! I love the print!

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