Draping Is Fun

What is draping?

It is pattern-making in a 3-dimensional way (not by drafting). You place a piece of cheap muslin on the dress form mannequine, and then do whatever you can to shape it into a dress (or a shirt, or a pant ) that you design. You do folding, cutting, pinning, measuring.......WHATEVER. For example, if you need a dart on your skirt, you have to gather the extra fabric and make adjustment and smooth out until you got the fit that you desire, then you pin the dart and make marks. After you remove the muslin from the dress form, you draw lines according to the pins and marks to guide your sewing. Our teacher said in order to draft a good pattern on paper, you need to have clear concept of draping first. You could also duplicate a favorite piece of garment that you have with ease (without having to rip it apart) if you have enough draping knowledge.

I am not good at this becuase I have a very poor sense of spatial relationship. You really need to be able to shift your mind between 2-D and 3-D quickly in order to do nice draping (and pattern-making I guess). You want to ask me what the hell is spatial relationship? Well, remember the kind of questions in an IQ test that ask you what an odd-shaped box will look like from a different angle? That's it. I got zero point at that part of my IQ test, which is good, becuz I feel I am entitled to be slow and dumb at our draping class. It's stress-free.

To watch that piece of muslin slowly change into a piece of clothing right on the manneqine.......it's totally magic.



The collar & the sleeve.











When you sew the bodice and skirt together, the darts and side seams have to line up.

Can't Wait for Spring to Wear This Dress

When I saw this dress at Mango, I knew I want it right away. I love the fit and the lace on the shoulder. Usually anything more than 1-2 inches above the knee is a no-no for me. But for some reason THIS dress is different. It's like love at first sight and there is very little reason in it.

The Chinese writer Zhang Ai-Ling once said: most women paid more attention to choose a hat than they do to a husband. Yes, wearing a hat that's not for you could be an immediate disaster. And I believe most women can identity their dream garment at a big store right away, but to identify your soul mate? Well........

It's Good for Our Planet, But........

This white dress was bought about 16 years ago, and I am still wearing it--in a different way, though.

To consume less is good for our planet, but it seems to be against the basic logic of capitalism. Now that the economy is so dreary, should we good citizens shop more often? Anyway, to be a guilt-free shopholic isn't that bad.

$25 for a Genuine Shearling Coat?

Yes, that's what I paid for this vintage coat on Ebay.

It's warm and in very good condition. The only thing that I am not happy with is that it's waaaaaaaaaay too tight, even for my skinny body. When I wear it I have to first make sure that there will not be too much movement for me on that particular day. I couldn't even use my hand to show direction when someone offered to drive me home.

In Love with Your Own Shoulder

Donna Karen said: every woman loves her own shoulder.

I think she is right.

Sewing Project 003: Blouse

We did this at our sewing class. The pattern pieces were cut by our teacher so all we did is putting them together. To ease the sleeves (curved and bigger than the armhole) is the most difficult part.

Canadian Geese in Bowne Park

Last night at around 12:30 am, they left.

And they came back this morning at 11:30.

From my bedroom I can hear the noise that they made when they are landing or taking off, just like an aircraft. They look like aircrafts, too, at those moments. When they leave, they will glde forward gracefully upon the lake at first, and then moving slightly upward for a distance, as if following an invisible track that's placed at a small angle against the ground......finally, they shoot off and disappear into the bottomless sky.

Many nights when I sit along in front of the computer I will hear them. I know they are going home. And I know that even though the Twin Towers could vanish in a few minutes like dewdrops, these animals will come back for sure. And that thought makes me feel anchored and safe.