Not everyone of my projects ends up being absolutely awesome, I have to say. Some things are just a little ordinary and maybe I should write about them too, in the interests of passing on what I have learnt.
This tunic started life as a cover-up for plane travel. Australians are cursed with very long flights if we want to go anywhere but New Zealand, and achieving any sort of comfort is not easy in cattle class. The cotton seersucker I used does not crush and is light and breathable. Planes are often hot, especially when the airline wants you to sleep, and the air is invariably extremely dry. Having a cowl around my face to breathe into saves my air passages from becoming dried out and vulnerable to infection, and a light cover over any exposed skin stops the rest of me from turning into a prune.
There was no real pattern, only a very large square, with dropped shoulders to just about my elbows, and sleeves starting from there. As much as I used to love wearing a tent, these days that seems a tent pole too far. But the tunic had also been very useful in previous years as a light cover when the days are warm enough for short sleeves or even sleeveless, but the mornings are still cool. So instead of keeping it only for travel and make something new to better fit my now preferred silhouette, I decided to fiddle with it, taking out volume and making the dropped shoulders less extreme.
I liked the result a lot, that is until I saw these photos. Funny how some things look so much better in the mirror! I don’t mind looking short and round instead of long and lean, but judging from the photos the wide hem across my hips doesn’t do me any favours, at least not when the black underneath highlights it as it does. Maybe it will look better over a light coloured top, must remember that next time I wear it.
The cowl is quite long and I think would look better just collapsing into itself rather than being rolled like in the photo. That just makes the whole top look even more chunky.
On the upside, my new haircut looks rather good, which is a win. I can take the tunic off, but the hair is more permanent, at least until it grows again. After 15 years of a more or less shoulder length bob I took the plunge and went short, sort of by degrees, but the latest iteration is really really short! I must say I love how easy it is to maintain, because I have quite thick hair and when it is long it takes forever to blow dry. With this cut I just blow it about with the hair dryer for a couple of minutes after towelling it off, without even using a brush or trying to shape it, then brush through it and I am ready to go. How good is that!
I was lucky to find a hairdresser who doesn’t object to someone my age still wanting to look as good as I can, and was prepared to put some effort into making it happen. Worth his weight in gold, that man. For anyone in Sydney, allow me to recommend Ambrogio in Crows Nest. I am in no way affiliated, just a happy customer.
This is the photo on Pinterest that inspired my latest look. Doesn’t she look great!
ramonasct said:
I think it looks great and I love your new haircut too! You kept me in stitches as I read through your blog. Thanks for the laugh and sharing your thoughts with all of us!
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Rivergum said:
Thanks for your kind comment. I do aim to see the funny side where possible.
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katiesnana said:
Love your haircut!
I think I would chop off the entire hem and do a narrow hem. Bet you would love it
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Rivergum said:
Yes, you and M-C seem to be in agreement. I will try it, easily done.
And thanks for the positive comment about the hair cut, going short is always such a big step.
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M-C said:
I second the suggestion to make the hem more proportional. And your idea to avoid wearing it with black. But my lung dr gave me some good advice about the air: open up the airflow valve above your seat and aim it in front of you, not in your face but more toward your lap. Gives you a fresh air supply without making you feel like you are riding a motorcycle for 5000 miles..
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Rivergum said:
Oh, if only there WAS an air valve! I haven’t come across one of those in decades, at least not in economy. You get a light and nothing else now.
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Roxane said:
What if you wore the top with slimmer pants–maybe knit ones for comfort? I like to wear big tunics with skinny jeans and flowing pants with more fitted tops.
No air valves? On flights from Australia to anywhere? Are you kidding me? I would pass out.
Love the hair! After fifteen years of wearing mine short and spiky, I am growing it out, probably to a choppy bob.
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Rivergum said:
I wish my hair did spiky! Unfortunately it just sits down nicely, that’s why I need the asymmetric bit, or it would be too plain.
I do wear slimmer pants with this top too and it probably does look better. Haven’t made any photos though, so it is difficult to tell. The mirror can be deceiving.
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Peggy said:
I’m a great fan of your blog; very inspiring to us southern sewists. Like you, I am short and in my mature years, shall we say, have lost a lot of weight recently and also cut my hair quite short after years of a long bob. (Yours looks great!) I find that after the 16 kilo weight loss I don’t want to wear loose and baggy any more, mostly because it does not look good on me any longer. Too bad about all of those size 16 clothes I wore to cunningly disguise my rolls! So I’ve taken a hit on those and in making clothes I now go for hems that end at hip length (rather than mid-thigh), silhouettes that hug rather than hide, and slimmer pants. But a little baggy sometimes looks good so before you do anything with the top (other than re-hem), try it with slimmer pants or ¾ leggings. You’ll look fabulous!
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Rivergum said:
We sound like twins, you are describing me pretty accurately, LOL. I am also going for a slimmer silhouette now. Leggings are actually a good idea, i must try those. I have a big bum and saddle bags, but the top is plenty long enough to hide them.
Thanks for your kind words about the blog. 🙂
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Peggy said:
All I need now is a blog that tells me how to take in all those clothes! No need to reply or even post this, just power on and keep that blog going. 😎
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Vancouver Barbara said:
You look great with your new “do“ and so does your inspiration.
I like your top and think the reasoning behind it is brilliant. We need all the help we can get when travelling these days because travel is brutal and not for the faint of heart. It’s so easy to get sick on a plane so you have inspired me to make a similar garment for my next trip.
I was out at a very inspirational sewing meet-up today and two of the ladies had made the latest Marcy Tilton pants pattern, View C. One had made the short version in a lovely plain Japanese cotton and the other made the long version in a very drapey silk noise. Each looked really terrific and the silk ones are going on a trip to Holland in a couple of days because the maker thought they would be so comfortable to wear on the plane. Just saying…
I immediately came home and ordered the pattern.
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Rivergum said:
Gee, thanks for that tip! Must have a look at the MT pants immediately, one of her older ones is my favourite pants pattern.
Yes, long haul flights are the pits. Apart from wearing super comfortable clothing I also keep a couple of beach balls in my carry on. You should see the funny looks when I first start blowing them up, but they make terrific cushions. I usually book a window seat which gives me a couple of extra inches of room, but the arm rest on the fuselage side is a nuisance when I try to sleep. One beach ball makes it more comfortable and the other is a sort of foot stool.
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Vancouver Barbara said:
Very clever beach ball idea. I may try it next time. The word “noise” in my previous comment should have been “noile” but I imagine you figured that out. Sometimes the “smart” aspect is just too darn smart.
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Stephanie said:
I liked the top and my only thought was it would look better with set in sleeves but that is probably because my preference is for set in sleeves helps minimise the size of my bust. Loved the cowl the shape really sets off your new hair do – great inspiration picture.
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Rivergum said:
Yes, I mostly do set in sleeves these days, except when making very short tops. You are quite right that this is more flattering.
And I am even more into cowls now than I have ever been, not just for the way it looks, but very much because cutting all my hair off is quite chilly! I can pull the cowl up around my ears to keep me warm. Hoodies would be even better but they aren’t quite my style.
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