Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity at the Met

Peggy N. and I had the opportunity today to take in the show "Impressionism, Fashion and Modernity" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.  What a very enjoyable show, both for the art and the fashions displayed!  Photographs of the exhibit were not allowed, a huge disappointment to me.  But I did find some links that allow you to explore the show.  

The Met's own pages:  http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/impressionism-fashion-modernity/introduction

A review of the show:  http://hyperallergic.com/65431/the-age-of-constricting-glamor-a-preview-of-impressionism-fashion-and-modernity-at-the-met/

Go to the second link and notice the purple and white striped dress.  The cuffs and skirt are a solid purple color.  They appear to be made from the striped fabric which has been accordian-pleated so that only the purple stripes show.

Many of the garments have tiny, tiny hems to finish ruffles, cuffs, and trims.  The stitches are amazingly even and so small;  I think there may have been 20 stitches to the inch in one piece.  We both marveled at the workmanship shown in the sewing as well as the creative use of trims, seam placements and fabric choice.  The only thing that could have made this show even better would have been if we could have touched some of the fabrics or gently handled the clothing to get a better idea of construction techniques used.

Handy-dandy carrier

Rolled up it looks like a purse.

But open it up and you have all your sewing tools handy.

The Sewphisticuts met tonight to learn how to make a sewing tools carrier.  Since so many of us take our machines to classes and other sewing meetings,  it is convenient to have a carrier for all the various tools that we need to carry along as well, such as scissors, pins, measuring tape, markers, etc.   We had a small snag crop up when a page of the directions seemed to be missing, the page that contained the cutting measurements for the pockets pieces.  Never daunted, we reverse-engineered our directions by measuring the finished sample and figured out the assembly order.  There wasn't time to finish the tool carrier this evening.  Perhaps anyone who finishes hers would like to post pictures here.  To have them posted, email them to maurakris@yahoo.com and please put "Sewphisticuts Post" in the subject line.




 

Wedding Veil

  Show and Tell:  Maura brought along the wedding veil she had made for her daughter.  Linda brought along samples of a machine attachment she had used to enable her to sew circles, but it can also be used to sew flower outlines.  Pat showed an adapted credit card wallet that she made for friends to carry their tea bags in when dining out.

Sew circles....

....or flowers

Tea bag carrier