Qi Pao

I just finished a project this week for Sailor Venus. She needed a Chinese qi pao for a wedding. It wasn't a Chinese wedding, in fact it was completely opposite. The wedding was culturally diverse and the bride asked guests to come dressed in the clothing of their culture.

I don't have pictures because we were in a rush, but I'll give you some fun tidbits.

Here is the fabric I choose. The right side and it's reverse is equally beautiful. I had a hard time choosing, but I finally decided on the gray side with black flowers. Since she was going to a wedding I didn't want her to go in black. I also really liked the design since it isn't overtly Asian even if the design is a qi pao. Nor was the fabric shimmery and glittery which was one of Sailor Venus' requirements. I guess she didn't want to be the gaudy Asian with a fully sequin dress. I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to be gaudy, I guess there's no accounting for taste.



Sailor Venus didn't have time to do a fitting so I only had one chance to get this dress right. It's my first time taking measurements of a person and taking it to a pattern. For class, we usually fit a dressfrom and whoever fit the dress would model it. But then how did I fit Grip N Flip in her dresses you ask. She is dressfrom size so I don't have to do major measurements or alternations to fit her in any of my patterns.

It was exciting and scary to do it this way. Of course I can always take things or let things out. But she was flying out right away and I wouldn't have much time. It would be easier if I was able to fit her perfectly the first time.

It was a slow and tedious process, since I don't have very much experience. But the good news is that it fit her EXACTLY. It was very flattering and extremely tight. She said that it's corset like. But who needs to breathe when you look beautiful. And if you know me, you'll know how ironic that phrase is coming from me.

I also got to try my hand at Chinese Frog Buttons again. I don't know if they're considered Frog Buttons, feel free to correct me. I had a better idea of what I needed to do this time around. It also helped that I wasn't using a limpy wimpy fabric like silk. If you don't know what I'm taking about please refer to Chinese Empire Gown.

Parts of the button design are taken from several other buttons that I admire and other parts of it were free handed, letting the button tell me where it wanted to go. I'm thinking of making some themed buttons, for example clouds, butterflies, flowers, or even animals. I'll have to see where the wind of inspiration takes before I say anything else.

I have a lot of fabric left over. I bought extra just in case, but I have more than I anticipated. I bought 3 yards but I only used 1 1/2 yards. I guess it also helps that the fabric is 60" wide, More bang for my buck. I'm thinking of making a boustie with the left overs using both sides of the fabric. But yet again I better let the wind of inspiration take me there before I make any plans.

African Fabrics

Here are some fabrics that I picked up from Togo, West Africa a few years ago (around 2007 . . I think).

I love all the vibrant colors. The hard part was remembering that my skin tone CAN NOT pull off neon green and yellow in an African print.

The red fabric I had to lay open so you can see the whole print a little better. And my FAVORITES are the blue and brown fabric of women pounding fufu (bottom right). OMG makes me want to eat some fufu right now!!! I bought it because of that image.

These are traditional fabrics that are used only in special occasions and obviously a little more expensive. My friend had bought me one of the blue ones. I ended up buying another blue one and a green one. They're sooooooo pretty.

I think my only problem is figuring out what I'm going to do with all these fabrics. I'm open for ideas!!!!

Sheepcap Fabric

I originally bought white fleece for this project but Fork found it lacking and would have like something woollier. Thus, I was sent out again in search of a fabric that would be more sheep-like. What I found at Joann's was Poodle Fur:


I bought a yard for $6 with a 1/2 off coupon. I don't think I would have bought it at full price. One yard may be more than I need for this project. But I have no idea how it will turn out or if I'll need to do a few testers. And extra fabric never hurt anyone!!! But I guess it isn't very convincing coming from a packrat that has a garage full of extra fabric that isn't being utilized.