Today's Bargain

I couldn't resist this bargain today. Old zippers on clearance for 5 cents each. I bought ten.

They're for my beginner sewing students. At that price they can practice using the zipper foot without any worries.

Line and Drape

This top caught my eye on Friday. It was worn by one of my classmates, who informed me that it's a current item in Jag shops. Unfortunately that means I almost certainly won't find it in a suitable size for my own particular combination of curves. In addition to the fact that it's one of my favourite colours, I was fascinated by the combination of soft and hard lines. Plus the use of a zipper as a feature, which is a trend I've been aware of lately. Coincidentally my friend V sent me this link. She's been given a pattern to test for Nicole Mallaleiu. The challenge is to see how the design works on different body types. I'd happily be a guinea pig for something like this. I'm always looking for different solutions to my various figure ideosyncracities!

Zip Zing

I removed this zipper from a t-shirt yesterday. What was a zipper doing in a t-shirt? Well may you ask. Apparently it was there as an embellishment. I liked everything else about the garment when I tried it on. The shaping suits me. The colour is one of my favourites. There's a bold black print, nicely placed across the front. Add to that some interesting hem details in a tunic-length top and I thought I had a winner. All except for this zipper. It was securely stitched to the left shoulder. Please note the use of the past tense. Now I have a spare zipper in a colour I like: I've noticed a trend to zips as embelishments over the past few years. At first I thought of it as an anti-establishment statement: something tough and functional, unusually placed to make an impact. But when I saw zipper rosettes on sale at a craft show last year I figured the trend had come full-circle.

Anyway, the unpicking went smoothly. I was afraid of damaging the underlying fabric. That would have been another statement which I didn't want to make. And if I get the time, I might make myself a little bag to go with this outfit. Then the zip will have a purpose in life.