Vogue Vintage Vogue Competition – An Update
Remember
back when I wrote that I had submitted an entry to the Vintage competition
being run by Sew Today Magazine? Well, I
would never have thought that I would be writing a post like this.... but, I am
so chuffed to say that I was awarded a place as runner-up! I can’t remember the last time I entered
anything, let alone got a prize! I am
over the moon, and also more than a little embarrassed. I was archetypal over-achiever at school,
but always used to get quite embarrassed if I won anything, and sulk like mad
if I didn’t. Must have been a joy for my
parents/ siblings, non?
Anyway,
my prize pack included a year’s subscription to Sew Today and two patterns of
my choosing. I tooed and frowed (how is
that spelt?!) for ages, thinking: I should get one of the really outlandish
patterns, that I would never normally pay for... but then I figured that the
cheap part is buying the pattern, so I should really choose ones that I would
actually make. So I plumped for:
Vogue
1324 as I have had a crush on this skirt and blouse combo ever since it
came out, and I have appropriate
fabric lurking (read: making me feel guilty) in my sewing room
As
an aside, I would REALLY like to
make Vogue
8858 for next year’s Burns Supper, but 7 metres of material is really
putting me off, not to mention all the hems that are bound to be on the edges
of all those flounces. And ultimately
I’m a tad worried I wouldn’t end up having the chutzpah to wear it and it would
hang forlornly in my wardrobe (which let’s be honest, has a disproportionate
amount of evening wear given that I am not a society gal).
As
a further aside, do other hobbies give pleasure and guilt in equal
measure? I mean, sometimes I look at the
fabric, makes, patterns, books and various other accoutrement's in my sewing
room (thank heaven it’s a boxroom!) and think – I could have done something serious with all this! My wonderful husband maintains sewing is
serious. There is no doubt in my mind;
that man is a gem made especially for me.
First
and Second prize went to two ladies who really knocked things up a level:
- The winner of first prize inserted a lace panel in the back (very on trend for A/W 2012/13) shortened the skirt and used a different fabric (and colour I wager) from the original pattern.
- The second prize went to a lady who took a pattern with a readily recognisable vintage style and changed it completely through fabric choice and by essentially changing the skirt from beyond full to straight. This has such an impact on the end result!
To
me, both of these examples taught me a few things in terms of design: how
important perspective and relative scale are, and how fabric choice can impact
overall design. I had never thought of
making either of these changes to either of these patterns (not that I’m
suggesting my ideas should be the litmus test for whether something is clever
or not – rather this is evidence of the lack of creativity I have for a
creative person).
The
prizes for first and second place were sewing machines.... so guess what I’m
hoping Sew Today will do next year? Yup,
run the competition again.... Hey, I never said I was bashful ;-)
Congratulations! That flamenco dress is pretty amazing, but I'm sure you'd get more use out of the two you chose! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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