EvaDress 40s Fling Contest is the perfect excuse!

[motorharp]

EvaDress is having a contest to sew something from their 40s collection of patterns. And I need nicer clothes for performing on the harp!  What a fortuitous coincidence.

The contest runs from April 16 to June 1 and you can post your project on the facebook page that's linked above.

I chose the pattern D40-3863, view 1. This dress style works well for playing harp because it doesn't have an armscye right at the shoulder, so there's nothing to bind when I'm reaching my arms forward.  Straight skirts don't work for sitting behind the harp, and this one looks to be A-line, and the wrap will probably give me even more room.  The higher neckline of view 1 seems to work better on me. And the long sleeves are good for hiding chicken wings. =P  Although, it looks like the sleeves could easily be left off, if desired.

I want to get an asian jacquard in either a black and gold combination to match my harp, or some sort of emerald green. Or some combination of the two.  I think it will suit that dress well.  However, I have no idea if that's something that will look good on stage.  Do any of you know anything about dressing for the stage?  Patterned fabric, yea or nay?

Then I thought some sort of embroidery would look lovely, even though I swore after my western shirt I would never do embroidery again, especially on black fabric.

I've already gone shopping for the jacquard, but my usual fabric store changed their line of asian jacquards: they all have religious symbols integrated into the patterns.  Um, just chrysanthemums for me, thanks.

Since I haven't even found the fabric yet, I have a feeling that I will be behind on this project. On top of that, my lack of facebooking means I won't be able to easily post my results, and possibly won't enter.  But I can still use the timeline!

Then in the midst of this planning, McCall came out with their latest Archive Collection patterns...

McCall M7154

Droooool.  This would be a perfect dress, too.  I don't know when/if I'd ever need something quite that fancy, though.

Comments

[sewaddicted.livejournal.com]

I think you *do* need something as fancy as that McCalls repro pattern! But I conceed that maybe I'm a sewing enabler

I can only comment on sign language interpreter clothing (darker ie high contrast to skin tone for anglos, I had an anglo sign language interpreter roomie years ago), no patterns so that hands are clearly visible) which doesn't really equate to performance clothing. Though maybe for the harp as it's in front of your body the same things would apply?

[motorharp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure what my hands look like when I play. I just did a practice performance this weekend and video recorded it, but after watching myself talking at the beginning, I'm afraid to watch it. Talking, and waving my giant hands around. Maybe a patterned dress would distract from them? Or maybe I need pockets in my dress? :)

[sewaddicted.livejournal.com]

Well it's hard to play the harp with your giant hands in to-appropriate-scale giant pockets ;)

I just googled concert harpists and most have solid colour dresses, but there are a couple of florals. If it were me I'd tend to err on the side of solid colour, maybe contrast texture .... but it's not *me* so my choices don't apply.

[motorharp.livejournal.com]

Haha! The pockets would just be for before and after playing. Or I could make some sort of giant oven mitt things.

I didn't think to do a search like that - I was just searching for "dressing for the stage" and got zip.

[gorthx.livejournal.com]

Hah, I saw the thumbnail image of that dress & thought it was a picture of you for a second! Clearly, you need it.

[motorharp.livejournal.com]

Clearly. Great! Another project! :p

[sewaddicted.livejournal.com]

I meant to include that the wrap may be a mock wrap - but that you can still leave most of the under panel unstitched in the side seam - maybe the top 8" to help keep it in place, but loose below that so that as you sit it doesn't restrict your movement the way a straight skirt would.

[motorharp.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's a really good point. I think I'm going to need to muslin the crap out of this dress.