Bow Before the Tiki Goddess

5.15.2014

*So I was at the grocery store the other week and the strangest thing happened.  I stumbled, fell into an end cap of expired strawberry daiquiri mix and bashed my head.  While unconscious the sweetened liquid seeped into my pores and mutated my genes.  Upon waking I found that I had the power to make decorative leis out of any craft supplies, knew how to mix any frozen drink and could play the ukulele despite never touching the instrument before.  I had been reborn as "The Tiki Goddess!!!" - rights pending.
Much like Michelle Pieffer in "Batman Returns," I was compelled to sew my own alter-ego outfit. But being in a much less mentally disturbed state, I decided to pass on a faux leather catsuit.  Let's face it, faux leather chaffs in the tropics. Instead the BHL Anna pattern was unearthed and paired with the tropical red and white print previously mentioned in the ridiculous dress sewing list post. Sure this fabric supposed to be for Butterick 6019, but no one tells the Tiki Goddess what to do.  Unless they are itching for a frozen drink thrown in their face.  Do not cross the Tiki Goddess my friends, she might be smuggling tiki torches under her skirts
Sewing this was pretty straight forward since I'd already fit the bodice for my Anna/Emery mash-up.  Basically all I had to do was cut the skirt down to non-amazonian height.  After all the Tiki Goddess is devoted to sandals since she has to attend a lot of beach parties. Spike heels and sand do not mix.

Pattern
By Hand London Anna.  I used the slash neck bodice and maxi skirt length with the slit.

Fabrics used
Vintage light weight cotton snagged on Etsy last year. Not that vintage since the fabric width was 56" wide, but who could resist such a great print.   The white palm leaf areas were semi-transparent, so the entire dress was underlined with some siri lining.
Pattern changes/alterations
1. I traced a straight size 10 and needed a little bit more ease in the waist area. About 1" extra ease split between the skirt panels.
2. Did a 1/2" hollow check adjustment on the bodice front.
3. Standard 1/2" forward shoulder adjustment.
4. Lengthened the bodice 3/4".
5. Lowered thigh slit 2".
6. Took  6" of length off the skirt.  Of course then I like the length of the skirt unhemmed.  Anyone else have this problem all the time? Because of that I did a very narrow rolled hem instead of my regular 1- 1 1/2" skirt hem.

Confessions/Advice
1. While making the Anna bodice the first time, I didn't read the directions at all and wondered why the armhole area was such a pain in the ass to hem.  This time I actually consulted the booklet and found you were supposed to hem the sleeves before sewing the side seams.  This does work a whole lot better...durrrrr.
2. Man is is easy to confuse what skirt panel is what, especially when you're a dum dum who seems to miss cutting half the notches. If I make the skirt again paper labels for each panel will be in order.

Husband Comment
"It's long and pretty."   He must like this one better than most.
My Final Thoughts
I didn't jump on the Anna bandwagon last summer, sticking to my staunch party line of "maxi dresses aren't my thing." But now I get it. They're pretty awesome, especially in Hawaiian-esque prints.  Froggie book me a flight to the islands, there are tiki parties that need my blessing. Make sure my minions meet me at the gate with a cart full of Mai-Tais. The Tiki Goddess demands libations!

* I contend that my made up origin story is no less ridiculous than some presented in comic books or movies. Thrown from a window and revived by cats? Please.

56 comments:

  1. I love the tiki goddess! Oh Heather, be still my heart, you look so lovely!

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  2. Tiki Goddess, I tremble before your beauty. This is magnificent. So glad you got on the Anna bandwagon - she's a smooth, summery ride.

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  3. Very pretty and perfect for summer! I picture you with margaritas in both hands :D

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  4. "It's long and pretty"= BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, husband reviews... they're my favorite. I'm singing a little song to myself right now that goes like this: "Heather B, Heather B, I'm in love with a girl named Heather B". I think the Tiki Goddess has love potioned me!

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  5. This is so fabulous, I love all of it tiki goddess! Now put that daiquiri mix to work and poor yourself a drink!

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  6. Fun! I would like to make an Anna this summer too out of some silk I have. I just tried to go buy the pattern, but it was out of stock. Total bummer.

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  7. Gorgeous :) and awesome super hero powers, Tiki Goddess rocks.

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  8. oooohhh tiki goddess indeed! this looks amazing on you--well done! i'll be over for one of those frozen drinks... ;-)

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  9. Gorgeous, Heather! I've been eyeing tropical prints these days, too. And is wide width fabric a recent invention?

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  10. You tell a great story and you sew good stuff, too! Love your blog.

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  11. I feel you on the maxi dress thing. I thought they weren't my thing (nor maxi skirts), but I've come to realize that the real problem is that I can't stand the horrible knit maxi dresses and skirts that are sold in stores. It isn't the length at all, but rather the horrid designs people keep wearing. I am falling more and more in love with the Anna every day. Yours is fabulous!!

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  12. You ARE a gorgeous goddess! Oh Tiki goddess...excuse me. Love your dress Heather! Divine.

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  13. Love this, Tiki Goddess indeed :-)

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  14. You crack me up. Love this dress on you and the back story you invented to go with it. I'm totally all about machine stitching a narrow hem on maxi skirts, having caught my heel and ripped out more than a few of the 1 1/2" hand stitched variety over the years.

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  15. Love! I can never get over how versatile Anna is. I was wearing one of mine yesterday as we had a burst of war weather here in Sydney, but now I am having to work out how to use the pattern for cold weather dresses

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  16. Gotta watch that daiquiri mix, doesn't mix well with head injuries. The end result is stunning though. margaritas for everyone!

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  17. Louise Tomlinson-SylvestMay 16, 2014 at 2:05 AM

    I must have your sandals!!! I adore them. The dress looks fabulous on you. I have an Anna in planning stages and I hope mine is half as beautiful as yours

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  18. Hee hee Tiki Goddess is so wise to wear those cool sandals, she dances and runs around after naked Dons on the beach all day that her poor feet must be catered for. You look so stunning in this. I am on my hands and knees, Tiki Goddess, and bring you baskets of fruit and rum xx

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  19. You are so entertaining!!! and I love your Anna by the way.

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  20. go tiki goddess! this is amazing!

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  21. I bow to you, oh Tiki Goddess! Love this dress, perfect for summer!

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  22. I love the Tiki Goddess dress!! Heather you have out done yourself with this one!

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  23. This dress is beautiful! Looks gorgeous! Also your story is totally awesome and could totally be a plot line for a new comic. :)

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  24. Haa haa! Thank you Heather. The Anna bandwagon is pretty sweet, sometimes I'm just too pigheaded to notice. ;)

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  25. Thanks Kristin. Mmmm margaritas in both hands would be awesome and dangerous. :)

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  26. LOL, I probably should apologize to Cat Women since most of her outfits are pretty cool. Thank you for gawking!

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  27. Thanks Jessica. I'm a bit surprised about being able to pull off the maxi skirt length. The print probably helps a lot. :)

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  28. Thanks Debbie. Maybe I should actually attend the annual tiki party a high school friend always has.

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  29. Thanks Lori! I'll be sure to pour one out for you too.

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  30. :) Aww thanks Em. I'm glad you have my back on the superhero origin story.

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  31. Darn that sucks that the pattern is out of stock. Hopefully it will be restocked soon since it's the right season to sew up some summer dresses.

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  32. Thank you Sian. The ability to magic up some frozen drinks would be the best thing ever. :)

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  33. Thanks Lisa. I'll make sure to mix up a fresh batch and then we can gossip about fabric. :)

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  34. Thank you Morgan. Gah, can't get enough of tropical prints. Though maybe it's because there are virtually none in my stash. "Oh darn, have to buy something."


    So this is what I sketchily remember about loom width from way back in college. Most fabric was made on smaller looms when it was done by hand, which is why 36" fabric is the pretty standard width for vintage cotton. Once fabric production because more mechanized, they were able to build bigger looms for wider fabric. Probably also had something to do with materials being stronger too. I'm sure there's more info that I've completely forgotten.

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  35. Thank you Linda, glad you've enjoyed my crazy stories. :)

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  36. Thanks Laura. You might have something there about maxis. Most of the RTW ones are kind of a peasant girl look which has never worked on me. So are you adding Anna to your sewing list?

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  37. Thanks Margo. The Tiki goddess will send sunshine and warm weather your way. :)

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  38. Thank you Jenni. The maxi skirt really makes one feel all goddessy. hee hee!

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  39. Hee hee Cari, I picture you laughing in front of your keyboard. Ripping out your hems is one of those dangers of maxi skirts, isn't it. Noooo not all my hard work!

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  40. Thanks Kaitlyn. I will be making a least another one for our summer. Maybe you could extend out the kimono sleeves some for a cold weather dress?

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  41. HAA HAA HAA Becki! The tiki goddess will set aside an extra daiquiri for you.

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  42. Thanks Louise. The sandals are from Miss L Fire and you can get them from Modcloth.com or Miss L Fire's own web store. Good luck sewing your own Anna. Other than keeping the skirt panels in order it seemed pretty easy to assemble.

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  43. Get up Clarey S, the Tiki Goddess knows that you are goddess in your own right. We'll have Don bring us some drinks and kick back to soak up some sun.

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  44. Hee hee, thanks Jean. Glad to give you a smile.

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  45. Thanks Jo. It just seemed right to put this fabric and pattern together.

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  46. Thanks Vicki Kate, come share a frosty drink with the Goddess. She approves of your fancy dresses. :)

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  47. Thank you Sarah. I will give the tiki goddess all the credit for this dress. She knows her fabric selection.

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  48. Thanks Heather. :) Glad you enjoyed my silly story. It seemed wrong not to let everyone know about the tiki goddess.

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  49. Oh, interesting! Thanks for sharing the knowledge. :)

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  50. Love the red and white tropical print... Nice to see you made an Anna! (I have 3!)

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  51. Thanks Laurie. I love your Anna dresses and they were part of the reason I finally made one. :)

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  52. a) So lovely, this dress. It seems Anna can do no wrong. b) You must take up the ukulele. We need to get the sewcialist band together!

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  53. You're right! Anna seems to go well on just about everyone. I also agree about the sewcialist band. Maybe my FIL will teach me the Ukulele ropes.

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  54. I am definitely adding it to the list. The Gabriola skirt really changed my mind on maxis and I love the Anna bodice!

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  55. This is is very lovely. Your Anna looks great on you! Love your shoes, too.


    I know exactly what you mean about the skirt panels! I thought I was being careful but then after I attached the bodice I thought - did I attach the wrong sides of those last two back panels?

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  56. Thanks Chuleenan. Oh those skirt panels are soooo easy to mix up. This was one of those times that sergering before sewing wasn't helping either. It was hard to find those notches that were supposed to tell me which panel I was holding.

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