Mystery Challenge: People and Moments in Time

Wow, this challenge totally stretched my creativity!  Hi! And welcome to my May Mystery Challenge post.

The current challenge is Moments and People Throughout History, and the very awesome Tasha from Friends Stitched Together gave me my topic... Mrs. Jackie Kennedy.  

I will freely admit, I considered asking for a different subject as I was finding myself less than inspired... but I decided that it was a great chance to get my creative juices working and that I wasn't going to back down.  I actually bought fabric three times for this challenge.  I started with a pretty black stretch taffeta, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with it, and it was just SO DARK.  So then I picked a pretty powder blue satin, but I kept staring at it with no real inspiration, so I tried one more time.... and ended up with a bright coral taffeta AND an idea.  That other fabric will find its project soon lol.

Meet my Miss Kennedy:

  

She may not be *quite* as elegant and graceful...

  

So Mrs. Kennedy... the picture perfect First Lady.  Perfectly put together and inspired a generation of fashion with her iconic looks.  So I attempted to create a child friendly version of one of her iconic dresses that has the Kennedy elegance and timeless fashion.  Here is where I got my Kennedy Inspiration from... (photo courtesy of the JFK library). 

Now, while Mrs. Kennedy is wearing an Oleg Cassini in apricot colored silk... Inara is wearing the slightly more accessible "Calypso" taffeta made into a modified "Jackie" from Muffin Head Patterns.  And I paired it with some stretch crushed panne gloves using the Princess Plum Dress Up Gloves from Zuzzy Patterns.

In order to complete the look, we added some *pearls,* white dress shoes, and a little clutch.  

And put it all together and we have my silly Miss Kennedy, as I have been referring to her since.  She found it a ton of fun to be able to dress up and play the sophisticated girl.  She even curtsied to her friends she saw while we were in town.    

The pattern had the shape I wanted before even starting, which made the alterations easy.  The designer helped me reshape the neckline (I was worried I'd mess it up lol).  And then I used the gathered skirt that is part of the pattern and did some big pleats on the back and for the front I did a large pleat in the middle.  And then I made a narrow bow to attach to the front, though I only pinned it on, as I was worried it would get ripped off when she wore it to school.  

 I think that the dress its just a lovely look on Inara and since she is my little fashionista, even though her fashion is a bit ecclectic, I think that a Kennedy look is perfect for her!

So thank you for stopping by to check out my creation and I hope it gives you a bit of inspiration!

Make sure you check out all the other bloggers posting with their awesome categories too! I've been totally wowed by everyone so far!

 

5/25│ The Berry Bunch - Frank Lloyd Wright │ Sew Not Perfect - Lucille Ball, I Love Lucy

5/26 │ Create 3.5 - George Sand

5/27│ Zoe and Ted - Suffragetes

5/28│ House of Estrela - Woodstock/Fall of the Berlin Wall  │ Pen Seb Rox - Piet Mondriaan

5/29│ Friends Stitched Together - Impressionist Movement │ Wining Wife - Judgement of Paris

5/30│ Super Stay at Home Mommy - Madame Tussaud │ Keep Calm and Carrion - Jackie Kennedy  │ Gloria June - Florence Nightingale

5/31│ Sofilantjes - Andy Warhol │ Busy Little Bee - Marie Antoinette │ Amanda Rose - March 9, 1959 Barbie

6/1│ Pienkel - Bianca Jagger │ Huisje Boompje Boefjes - Anne Frank

6/2│ Taking it Up a Notch - Queen Victoria │ Amazing Adventures with Bubba and Bug - 1964 New York World Fair │  Kelly's Sewing Creations - Steampunk Mary Queen of Scots

6/3│ Mae & K - Tesla │ Pretty Little Blog - Moon Landing │ Knot Sew Normal - Lutie Eugenia Sterns

6/4│ Sew Starly - Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II │ Hibbadoray - Amelia Earhart │ Sew Far North - Countess Markievicz (1868-1927)

6/5│ Made By Sara - John Dillinger/Roaring 20's │ Friends Stitched Together - Prohibition/Roaring 20's

6/6│ Country Bella - 1900's World's Fair/Art Nouveau │ Lulu and Celeste - Rosie the Riveter

6/7│Sew Domesticated - 1960's/Civil Rights Movement │ Rebel and Malice - French Revolution/Joan of Arch │ The Fabric Hoarder - Gypsies

Pattern Review The Jackie from Muffin Head Patterns

Testing for Frances from Muffin Head Patterns was sort of an awesome chance for me and I'm really excited to get to show off my Jackie(s).   The Muffin Head Patterns are professionally constructed with beautiful results that have this really awesome modern-vintage feel to them. 

Exciting sneak peak?!?!

The Details:
Availble in two size bundles (sizes 2-8) and (sizes 10-16)
Multiple Sleeve options: Short, long, sleeveless
Collar or no collar
Gathered or A-line skirt
Lined Bodice.
Optional Belt
Zipper closure.

Pattern difficulty: Intermediate.  All steps are clearly explained in a manner that someone with sewing experience will understand.  I think that an Adventurous Beginner could take the more difficult parts slowly and still be just fine.

First of all, I just love the look of the pattern.  It screams classic.  The multiple options included in the pattern make it a great pattern to run wild with. 

The dress screams classic, Inara screams drama

For my first one, I used Michael Miller Fairy Frost for the Bodice and this lovely Alexander Henry Floral for the skirt.  I had picked a light purple for the belt first, but it seemed to wash out.  So I tried a blue, and that didn't pop either.  The black Fairy Frost really works, I think.  I decided with Summer coming that I wanted to do a sleeveless dress, and I thought that the flowers would look lovely with the gathered skirt option.  The length on this dress is perfect as well.  Its conservative without being frumpy, and makes it perfect for wear to the park or to church.

This one was supposed to be my "patriotic" one, but we've all concluded that she looks more like a dressy Wonder Woman.  The top print is a Riley Blake and the skirt floral is from Marshall's Dry Goods.  The white to accent at the collar and belt is the very last (*cries*) of my white MM Fairy Frost.  This one is the sleeveless, with collar and a-line skirt.

Measurements are given for the gathered skirt and for the belt .  The rest of the pieces are all printable pattern pieces (bodice, sleeves, a-line skirt, collar).  All of the pieces are clear, well drafted, and go together easily.  For me this is a huge plus, since I am usually trying to piece patterns on the floor with two kids dancing on them.

The back closure is a zipper.  First, let me address our front porch. I have no idea why it is covered in like astro-turf stuff.  It was like that when we bought it, but it's held in with about a billion nails, so I haven't been able to get it up yet.  It's a source of embarrassment for me, if you couldn't tell. 

Okay, back to the important stuff.  Never done a zipper?  DON'T WORRY!  Still buy the pattern!  Frances does an outstanding job of explaining how to place the zipper, and I think that even a zipper-newbie would be fine with her instructions.

The other skill you may want to practice before starting is whipstitching.  I will say, this is one of the most relaxing parts for me. I just sat down in front of the TV to close up the bodice lining.  Why is this nice?  It totally encloses the waist seam of the skirk, making the inside of your dress look just lovely.   If you don't like whipstitching, you can always topstitch the lining to the bodice at the end.  Either way, for this step - my glue pen is my favorite tool.  I can tack the lining in place to ensure that I don't have any seam showing.

So maybe not a modelling career in this one's future? lol

I know we've discussed Inara's seam-pickiness before, and this dress totally takes away any issues with that.  Plus, I just can't get over how classic she looks in it.   She loves the belt and insists on wearing this dress at least once a week.  And I will definitely be making more of these.

The patterns are available in the Muffin Head Patterns Etsy Shop  and stop and join the Muffin Head Patterns Facebook Group to chat with some lovely ladies.


OH!! And while you're in the shop... pick up the Morgan Top and Pants for your baby!!  This is my new go-to fast pants/shorts pattern for Connor and the little top is so cute with the shoulder snaps!  And this one is designed for beginners, with the same loving detail and professional construction as her other patterns!