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Pure Imagination

stitch-1

SUBMITTED BY:

Christie Johnson (Ayita)

LINKS:

(click images to to enlarge)

Outline the story …

“Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination. We’ll begin with a spin, travelling in a world of my creation.” Pure Imagination, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, 1971
I struggled with this year’s theme for a couple weeks. Then one day, the song ‘Pure Imagination’ popped into my head. I therefore decided to create pieces that provide you with a glimpse into my creative World of Pure Imagination.
Crocheting is my passion (more of an obsession). I envisioned an ensemble that represents my creative mantra, Re-Imagine Re-Design Re-Purpose. I chose an 1870 petticoat from The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady’s Calendar, and a ‘Peasant’ bodice by AlterYears. As I often say, “Think outside the box & color outside the lines!” I sent out the word to my minions to save all the pull tabs they could from beverage and food cans. Interests were peaked. Q: What are you going to make with pull tabs? Answer: A bodice! Materials for the petticoat had to be just as unconventional…organza ribbon!
With crochet hooks at-the-ready and cordage wrapped around my fingers, construction commenced. It has been several years since I created a costume for myself. I love the results. This ensemble will continue to grow, as I have envisioned several other design elements to complement it.

Outline the construction…

The body of the petticoat is constructed of 1/4” organza ribbon using Tunisian Simple Stitch. It is crocheted as one large piece, containing several gores for shaping and sizing. To keep track of stitch placements for the gores, I charted the entire piece on graph paper. It was then seamed using the mattress stitch for a virtually invisible seam. The waist is adjusted with a simple drawstring.
The bottom border is crocheted in a cotton blend fingering weight yarn using 3 stitching methods: Tunisian simple stitch, slip stitching and double crochet beading rows. It is hand stitched to the petticoat. The bottom border is interwoven with velvet ribbon. The slip stitching was surprisingly problematic. I took this opportunity to delve into the technique of Bosnian slip stitch crochet. I even constructed a flat hook from a butter knife. The flat hook made doing the slip stitch sections much easier.
The pull tab bodice was a construction challenge. I used .8mm nylon cording to ensure strength and abrasion resistance from the 1460 pull tabs. Any sharp edges on the pull tabs had to be filed smooth. Thank goodness for rotary tools. Each section was worked against the AlterYears paper pattern for shape and sizing. The front bodice closures are keepsake box clasps, turned on the vertical. Sides and shoulders are laced with same ribbon used for petticoat. A few rows for single crochet about the perimeter finish off the edges and provide a bit of decoration.

COMMENTS

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4 Comments

  1. Kitty Mortensen Kitty Mortensen on April 20, 2024 at 6:46 am

    I really enjoy the way you made your closures in the bodice and the scallop trim on the dress. It must have taken forever to crochet this entire piece.

    • Avatar Anna-Catherine Sendgikoski on May 2, 2024 at 12:12 am

      Wow, such beautiful flow! You do such wonderful work!! Just lovely!

  2. Avatar Holz Lastname on April 21, 2024 at 7:28 am

    Wow just wow! I looked and I was like is this chain mail even better. I live all the creativity that went into this. It came out beautifully ❤️ super great job. I hope you continue I can’t wait to see what come out of your mind next

  3. Constance MacKenzie Constance MacKenzie on May 13, 2024 at 8:19 pm

    I love the different textures and fabrics you have bought together to create your ensemble

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