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Sunday 10 August 2014

A touch of dark shadows for Visible Monday

This is my black silky gown/slip/night dress. Even double-size too big, I fell in love with it in the shop. It's old - you can tell by its general decrepitude and the wonky metal side zipper - and was probably home-made with its pinking-sheared seam edges, lack of labels, and hand-stitched hem. I resized it on my regular sewing machine playing with darts. But it cried out for a little Dark Shadows so I machine-stitched on a spooky rebel girl patch I'd made by iron-transferring my sketch onto a T-shirt scrap with serged edges.

The colourful striped cotton top was purchased for lots of money by a stranger in the past but I scooped it up for $5. (I thank her for donating it rather than throwing it away.) The knit is very delicate and the sleeves are extra long, perfect for the cool edge in the morning air. I'm also wearing a blue rhinestone necklace, a gift from a former housemate, a brown ball pendant thrifted decades ago, and the magic loupe from O. Those are my vintage sunglasses on my head, repaired for me by O. And on my feet are my thrifted D&G pony shoes.

This dress billowed thrillingly in the breeze, such silky swirling about my legs. The heft of my toolbox handbag and vigorous handling added manly ballast - I think spooky girl appreciated that. I always feel extra good when I wear something I've handcrafted. And you? Well, I know you do too - I always see it in your faces. 

I'll be slinking over to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style in this gown. Slink, slank, slunk. I'll be the woman in the dark corner of the yard standing motionless in an eerie mist, a glowing green drink in my hand, and purring on echo mode. I won't bite. Promise. 
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PS - In answer to the question, what is a serger?, from the previous post, look at the inside seams of a T-shirt or other knit garment - they were sewn together with a serger. With a built-in cutter, a serger also trims the fabric automatically as it passes under the presser foot. Sergers are also called overlockers. They look different from regular sewing machines because they have three to four spools of thread.

In my next post, see my new hair...!

28 comments:

  1. I've always had a thing for striped tops!

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  2. Slinky slanky slunk! I see you over there in the corner. Your home crafted dress is billowing madly and I'm scared to come and say hi. But you did promise not to bite...and your stripy top looks friendly...erm, ah, g'day ...sidle, sidle...my name is Jack and I'm from Australia...gulp!
    Hee! Can't wait to see the new hair. See my visible Monday post for mine :-) XO JJ

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  3. Oh.... New hair... Exciting.
    And eh. spooky, lurking in the dark girl... are you a witch by any chance?
    Greetje

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  4. Ooh, Melanie, you've gone over to the dark side, and I love it! Nice job altering the slip/nightie, and adding the spooky girl is the perfect finishing touch. Yes, you're quite right, wearing something you've made or altered is always a great feeling.
    Sergers/overlockers sound scary. You're not, though, so of course I'll talk to you at the VM party! xxx

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  5. Spooky and fabulous - I love these vintage slips/nighties, with zippers. I guess fabrics weren't stretchy yet!Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, you look eerily awesome. xox

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  6. You look marvelous, upside down and right side up. I have a love for black silky gowns, and thoroughly appreciate how you have added your personal touches to this beauty. How I wish I could have come across you on the street, swirling by in your splendor.

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  7. I LOVE this look, you look perfect!

    Such an artistic pose and post <3

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  8. I like the upside down pics, again only you and your wonderful artistis mind can think of those things - I love your applique on the dress, love your art -
    I have too i think, a few silky long gowns somewhere, you always feel so comfy and warm in them, don't you think?
    Hope you are doing well
    I'm doing fantastic!

    Hugs

    Arianexo

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  9. As always, I love the creativity that goes into your outfits. Love the stripey top (awesome colours) and the slip-dress. I have a slip that has one of those metal zippers. Old, man. Can't wait to see your new hair!

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  10. Is there a Barnabis Collins in here??
    Melanie, you did a fantastic job on this stuff. Love your art top. I haven't quite figured out how to attach things with my serger yet without cutting the edge off. I see the edging on the art patch but did you also attach it with the serger? Or use your sewing machine?
    Your creative has reached a whole new level. You are walking art!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Joni! I only used the serger to finish the edges and I attached it with my regular sewing machine. I would have cut a huge hole in the dress if I hadn't - I don't know yet how to do that attaching stuff either, AND my thread is almost out. Gaaa!

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    2. Don't panic! The easiest way to change your thread is to cut the threads close to the spool and tie on the new threads with a tiny knot. Turn all your tension dials to zero, (take a quick photo of the dials first if you're afraid you'll forget where they were set to) and then slowly pull the threads through. If your knots are tiny enough, the threads should go through the maze fine, although the needle thread usually needs to be cut on each side of the knot and then threaded through. Re-set your tension dials, and, FINGERS CROSSED, you should be good to go! Does that make sense?

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    3. And Joni, you might be thinking of a coverstitch machine which looks more like a regular sewing machine than a serger, but it creates those neato, activewear-like, serger-ish rows of visible stitching. Yep...a third machine to covet!

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  11. Love this. I now don't shy away from clothes with skinny straps now, just pop on a pretty t-shirt/blouse under and I can wear that look! Yeah!!

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  12. You are spooky, and it's not just the glowing green drink (Appletini with dry ice?). When I saw your spooky rebel girl patch I thought, Oh yeah, I've been meaning to look up serger (since you and Joni are always talking serger-this and serger-that). And then you told us - it was like you read my mind! Wikimelanie! So maybe you can tell me what to wear today.

    You got new hair?!?!

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  13. You're a blinking genius, this outfit goes down in history as one of my all time favourites of yours! xxxx

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  14. I see you're having fun with the transfer paper ;) The spooky little girl is the perfect addition to the dark-and-swishy dress. I had avoided wearing anything with spaghetti straps for a few years, but have started layering them over stuff like this, et voila! I automatically read "Slink, Slank, Slunk" in Boris Karloff's voice (he was the narrator of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, was he not?)

    NEW HAIR??! How exciting, must see!

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  15. Love your Spooky Girl. And the striped shirt too.

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  16. love what you've done with your nightie-dress, love that spooky rebel girl attached on the front of the dress, such a wonderful idea!, and love your striped top and leopardized shoes!, awesomeness!!
    you look fabulous!!
    besos & nighties

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  17. Must add hanging upside down pose to repertoire. Rebel girl is rejoicing with her new digs. What's all black and swishy with colorful patterns at either end?

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  18. The black satin nightie dress is divinely slinky and the addition of spooky rebel girl and striped top makes it perfectly dark and wonderful - hello to your shoes, they are gorgeous! new hair? oooh, I can't wait to see you! x x x

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  19. I wuv this dress BIGTIME! It's your Spookygirl that makes it special but you already know that, the colorful stripes underneath let the world know it's not all bad:) The last photo of you kicks ass!!! Everybody loves a tease and a new hair tease are one of my favorite, with you anything goes!
    Bring it!
    XXOO

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  20. I've always wanted a slip dress like that ... make one! What a good idea. Sweet Spooky Rebel Girl looks right at home, and you are right. A little Dark Shadows makes the outfit. Charming in a Wednesday kind of way, and I am a big fan of Wednesday!
    So happy to see you. When I'm at your place, I'm always reminded that there are better ways to view the world than my own, often mean-eyed view. Wish I still lived in the NW ... I'd beg you to come out for mass drinks with me at least once a week.

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  21. You sure know how to make a Monday Miz Bagg - and every other day too x

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  22. You own your style and it is completely you. I love this look...it is YOU!

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  23. Good grief you're awesome. Hardcore.

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