Wednesday 9 March 2011

WIP Wednesday. Help Please!

So, it’s WIP Wednesday again, thanks Tami for hosting, which is hugely fortuitous, because I need Help! Help with a WIP! Help and Advice! First though, let me just show you a photo of me which I took with the help of my new tripod. I am hugely encouraged that I managed to get all of me in the photo at a not-mad angle, and I think this bodes well because now I can take photographs of my clothes on me, which is better than on the model. Obviously the downside is I might have to shave my legs and stick a bit of lipstick on, but, swings and roundabouts.
OK, I know. But try to imagine me without the coat on
It was cold this morning so I rushed outside in the bit when it wasn’t raining without brushing my hair and all bundled up in my winter coat. I would like to say I normally look more stylish than this, but, hmm. Anyway, I will brush my hair if I do a proper photo shoot because nobody ever sold a recycled scarf top looking like a gonk.

Now onto my WIP. Advice please! These photos are hot off the press (I am sewing this now), so, you cannot see it very well but bear with me.
Gosh is it by Issey Miyake? No
It is a skirt with some smallish pleats in the front and some box pleats in the back. I have finished it apart from the hem and the waistband. You can’t see the fabric properly, but it is a thin brown polyester which is not dressmaking fabric (I acquired it). I think it is very cool, and am going for a kind of billowy-scruffy-parachute silk kind of look, if you know what I mean. So it is supposed to look a bit deconstructed. It fits great and looks exactly as I want it to look thus far. This is my problem.
There, look at the loose threads. You can see the static in action
It is so static! When I sew it, the thread floats about! When I wear it, I can actually feel myself walking about in a cloud of static electricity. If it was anywhere near my face it would probably be unwearable, but as a skirt I might be able to get away with it. But what do you think? Am I going to spend all the time I am wearing it plucking it out from between my legs and swearing? Is there anything I can do to make it any less static? I have probably got enough lining fabric to make a lining (or some cotton), but, I don’t want to sacrifice my good fabric if it won’t work, because I was only intending this as a semi-disposable toile experiment to wear a couple of times. Should I just make the best of it, wear it and be damned and go and find long-haired animals to rub up against and annoy? Have you ever had this problem? What do you think?

If anyone wants to say ‘I had exactly this problem and then I wore it for 10 minutes and all the electricity entirely disappeared. I didn’t need to line it or anything’ then, that will be a particularly welcome comment (you’re not going to say that, are you, though?).

There. I manipulated WIP Wednesday into providing guidance on a thorny issue (thank you in advance ;-) ). But, for more successful WIPS, go and have a look at Tami’s blog post – you might find some new blogs to follow. There are people out there making some lovely things. I am going to have a cup of tea, blog hop, and make myself jealous ;-).

13 comments:

Tami Klockau said...

Hmm, when I first started reading the problem, my thought instantly went to a lining. I'm not sure if it will work 100%, but it will definitely cut down on the static, especially against your legs. Has it been windy while you've been working on it? I wonder if it's extra staticy now due to weather/static electricity in the air.

Is the fabric washable? They make those dryer sheets that are supposed to help with the electricity too!

Amanda Sheridan said...

Invest in an anti-static petticoat/slip - makes almost anything wearable. Or even better, make one!

Mumma Troll said...

Check out this page,
http://www.arco.co.uk/1/1/1498-dr-martens-workman-safety-shoe-black.html
I'm wicked I know,hehehe.xxx

Susie said...

Ha! Who knew you could get anti-static shoes? :-).

I think the fabric would be washable if I was gentle. I'm going to have to line it, aren't I? :-(. The lining fabric I've got actually says it's anti-static. I'm not sure it's ever been put to the test quite like this, though...

Chrissy said...

I know it's old fashioned but ao go with a petticoat. You can then use it with other staticy clothes.

By the way isn't a tripod wonderful?

Susie said...

Oh, God. The tripod is the *best thing ever*. It may revolutionise my photo taking. (Says she hopefully).

Marushka C. said...

We used to use a (probably very toxic) aerosol spray called Static Guard on skirts during the winter, but the anti-static petticoat sounds like a much more eco-friendly option.

katili said...

I'm not very knowledgeable in garment sewing, but I suspect a lining will help keep it from constantly sticking in-between your legs.

Petticoats are so much fun though, so you could also make/get one of those.. it'd have the benefit of being usable with other skirts you might make, instead of having to line them all individually.

Personally, I'd probably line it anyway.. I love the clean look and finish that linings provide.

Naomi said...

honestly? I could never sew or wear anything 100% polyester because i can't cope with the feeling...but your skirt rocks

Paula said...

When everything in the house was sticking to my new sofa, someone advised wiping it down with a dryer sheet. It worked like a charm. Maybe it's worth a go on the underside of your skirt?

As an aside, "swings and roundabouts" is my new favorite phrase...

Affiknitty said...

I am no help in the anti-static dept. but the skirt is beautiful! Off to look up "swings and roundabouts" . . .

Susie said...

Swings and roundabouts means the same as what goes round comes round ;-). You'll all be telling me you haven't heard 'couldn't stop a pig in a ginnel' next.

I shall have to line the damn thing. {Goes off muttering}. I'm liking the petticoat idea though, I think I might make one of those next.

(Marushka, I wouldn't care if static guard was toxic. I get so static! I will look out for it. In Tesco. *evil laugh, ha ha ha*).

J.G. said...

I vote for Static Guard, too. It is probably giving me cancer but at least my clothes don't stick to me.