The Yamamoto Rectangle Dress

photos from SAM

I first saw this dress on the last day of the Future Beauty exhibit at Seattle Art Museum in 2013.

(I only got to go that one time)

https://erniekdesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/future-beauty-finally.html

I was smitten.

From the Barbican book of the exhibit:

Black is such a bitch to see details on.

I took awful notes in a notebook, and then I lost the notes.

I made one for myself out of black poly crepe, and I put an instruction sheet up on Craftsy, but I wasn't happy with it. And Craftsy is no more. I'm still not satisfied with the original instructions from 2013, but I can't seem to correct them to my satisfaction, so I'm just putting up this illustration here. It's dead simple. The central pleats are the conceit, otherwise it's just another rectangle dress.

The trick on this is to cut the front piece in two, and make three big pleats up the center seam. Finish armholes and hem and neckline to taste. I suggest making a facing piece for the back of the neck for comfort and stability. 

After a crepe dress hangs for 5 years, the folds flatten out in front.

I needed to puff them up.

So I cut stuffing pieces from some super fat felt I have in the stash

And stuffed them into the seams

(yes, these are the overexposed versions of these photos)

I am going to redo this dress, probably in a different color of crepe, with the bigger gathers as in the original, and some organza in the folds for floofiness.

I even wore it out of the house to Seattle Frocktails 2018.

Yes, all photos taken in a cave, in the before-times.

Once again, a tip of the hat for the reminder that it's a rectangular world of free patterns
http://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-magic-rectangle-dress.html

Repair Cafe with Dragon Poodle: The Upside to Staying Home

Cheryl of Dragon Poodle Studio is my sewing machine hero. In addition to her instruction, her good humor and generosity, there's MINIKENNIE LOVE! And courtesy of socially distanced times, we can see her doing her stuff online, now posted on YouTube.

https://dragonpoodle.blogspot.com/2020/08/workshop-up-on-youtube.html

 Repair Cafe is an inperson meetup in many areas, where you bring in your broken or injured object and the coaches help you determine what's the matter and help you fix it. It's the best idea ever, but in these distanced times, impossible to meet up for.

Except online.

https://youtu.be/z_LCxh8YnQA

It was a genuine thrill to watch this live. Yes, I am that geek. Cheryl gives very good advice that is well worth your time. Even if you never repair your own machine, this maintenance instruction will keep your machine and you very very happy. I cannot stress this enough; it's solid gold.

LIVE! I watched it LIVE.

In the same vein, the Costume College moved online, so I got to attend some of the panels, albeit after they ran. Here's your cheat sheet to links to those events. I'd like to thank Cindy over at Cation Designs for the nudge and the link up.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kqbvE_sdgdZyjHxxwUtC8Pmn_MPAuA7z/view

My bucket list now has fewer things on it, though I would ADORE the chance to attend any of these events in person. Any opportunity is a pleasure.

But what about..... San Diego Comic Con? And MST3K? 

https://youtu.be/E_cL3l76EwM

I got to go to Virtual Hall H at San Diego Comic Con for several events. You can use the video link to find the others on YourTube. His Dark Materials and Nathan Fillion were two others I watched.

(I can't post you the link to the Phineas and Ferb panel because it's now blocked in the US. Damn you Disney!Spoiler: we get one more movie later this August)

Adding one more helpful link: Atlas Obscura has loads and loads of fun and weird online events. I have 'attended' a concert of sound effects for horror films, a private tour of a comic book collection and hope to hit a few more.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/experiences?

This is no replacement for the real thing. But these are things I have wanted to do for some time and been unable to attend for time and money and access issues. Because of online access, I've been to concerts in people's homes, a lecture on the costumes of the Ballet Russes, a couple of Mark Morris Dance Company events, I finally even saw Basil Twist and Joey Arias. I have been happy to pay for the privilege, nominal amounts given the costs I would incur in person.

Until the time we can meet in person again, I am going to enjoy what I can in the meantime.
I hope you can, too.