tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20402559455643705122020-05-06T04:23:57.021-04:00Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.comBlogger374125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-21215779976028943952016-01-14T03:34:00.000-05:002016-01-14T03:34:16.870-05:00

I am working with this beautiful lightweight wool. More in a post on my new blog.

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-56993409363724774232015-12-22T03:59:00.001-05:002015-12-22T03:59:10.465-05:00

My blog has moved to a new address - check out the Faced waistband tutorial on my new blog

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-33950950629836763912015-09-23T10:02:00.004-04:002015-09-23T10:02:59.774-04:00

Thanks for visiting my new blog and subscribing to the feed. It is so reassuring to see how many of you remained loyal to Frabjous Couture and continue reading my posts despite patchy posting :) My newest post there is about a beautiful evening dress from 30s, which I found in the archives of the Nicosia's Leventis Museum where I volunteer. I hope you will like it as much as I do. As a little

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-7584796092694538592015-09-21T09:38:00.002-04:002015-09-21T09:40:37.301-04:00

Do you sometimes get a feeling that things that surround you get boring and you feel the urge to rearrange everything, have a fresh start. This is how I feel now. My blog has evolved in the past years and I feel that through this (though positive) development it is an utter shambles. I learned so much and kept adding categories, while at the same time didn't manage to reflect the presence on

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-89043079946879821952015-06-30T09:03:00.002-04:002015-06-30T09:03:50.098-04:00

Today, I finished a short shift at the Leventis Museum, researching the garments they have in their collection. I managed to examine four dresses - all custom-made - and what wonderful dressmaking it was. I'd really rather write about it now, but I got to finish my guipure dress by Friday.  I am sharing here a step-by-step work plan - it helps me focus and gives me a rough time estimate.

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-57988409847819234362015-06-29T08:40:00.001-04:002015-06-29T08:40:04.371-04:00

Almost a four-month blog break, and I am in need of a twelve-step blog recovery programme. The main reason is that I had to undergo a surgery in April. All is well now, yet, three months later and about 12 pounds thinner, I am crying out for a whole new wardrobe. The only thing I managed to finish is my Chantilly lace skirt. Which puts me on the accelerated path of making a few garments to

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-38665656019737759732015-03-06T09:49:00.004-05:002015-03-06T09:49:58.488-05:00

Being a small country, Cyprus has surprisingly a lot to offer to a textile lover. It may be due to the rich heritage and geographic position on the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East. The Island is a cultural melting pot, and living here you are likely not only to encounter the expected Greek and Turkish heritage but also to find traces of old Europe and, especially, the Middle East.

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-73191554443033196452015-03-03T08:38:00.003-05:002015-03-03T08:38:48.827-05:00

I can't have enough skirts - they are just the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe. You can dress them down or up, you can never get bored with skirts. Prada, who is a truly skirt designer,  said  in an interview with New York Times: "The skirt is a feminine symbol, and it's also something you wear every day. It's my T-shirt." I could not agree more, and so, even though I am planning to focus

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-54788474753515511152015-02-06T05:54:00.001-05:002015-02-06T05:54:55.925-05:00

After a two-month radio silence, getting hands eyes on a couture gown is almost all I needed to get my blogging mojo back. Add a new blog friend and a mischievous boy kitty to the mix, and I am back on track.  As usual for the COUTUREGRAM series, I will keep my comments to a minimum, but please keep yours flowing. Here is what we are looking at and learning from today: "Bubblegum pink silk &

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-90020923445178938492014-11-29T06:52:00.002-05:002014-11-29T06:58:20.944-05:00

I try not to write too many Craftsy promotion posts, but this is the sale you can't miss. It's the Black Friday Sale, readers, and it lasts only until Monday! The sale I was waiting for myself to purchase a few new classes for less than a half of the initial price. It seems only a few sewing classes were added since in the past three months. However, those few classes that were added are really

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-60389852571106382022014-11-20T07:39:00.002-05:002014-11-20T07:39:54.163-05:00

 I am in love with fluted skirts. I think this is a description everyone will understand, although it is also called trumpet skirt, bell-shaped skirt, mermaid skirt, peplum-hem skirt, fit-and-flare ... Now, while there are a lot of young and slim women wearing this shape in different lengths, I think it is a great skirt for women with curves as well. My body is changing outward and I am in

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-68926699467050615252014-11-18T09:18:00.003-05:002014-11-18T09:18:25.401-05:00

To complete our draft-along, here is the final part - tracing the front pieces. When I posted the previous post - tracing back pieces - my husband thought it was too complicated... So I thought I will try to make it easier for you and show it step-by-step.  Judging by the amount of comments here I can only guess what reaction I have caused by these posts. Please tell me honestly if this was too

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-21513302478252833342014-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:002014-11-17T17:00:02.976-05:00

This (short) post will help you to trace pattern pieces and join them in correct order. Each traced piece is color coded, I am showing how to join the pieces for one half of the skirt. The other half should be done as a mirror image. On the piece 2 (center back), you will need to join the three traced pieces (orange piece was traced on fold). The seam with two notches connects to the side

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-70923445600030114732014-11-17T07:44:00.004-05:002014-11-17T07:44:49.287-05:00

The final drafting post is done, readers. It took me a while to find explanation to certain construction decisions, but now it's all over. The only post that I plan to upload for this draft-along is final pattern layout, including tracing individual pieces and placement of grainlines. But back to front pleats.  The front pleats are quite different from the back pleats as they are drafted at

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-81995651124476681402014-11-06T09:10:00.002-05:002014-11-06T09:11:13.292-05:00

I like writing reviews, but considering how many people may review one and the same magazine I thought I'd go beyond my personal picks and give you an overview of the garments that can benefit from couture construction.  So, here are my picks: 109A, Burdastyle magazine 11/2014 I like this foulard coat (#109A) a lot. The pattern mix is beautiful, and meticulous sewing will make it look

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-50123989427628350612014-11-04T01:16:00.001-05:002014-11-04T01:16:07.796-05:00

I hope you had a happy halloween, readers. Sorry I haven't offered you any spine-chilling stories on the occasion (children kept me busy throughout the entire last week), but I enjoyed reading about Oonaballoona's post-drink? spooky encounter with a ghost.  Oona, keep it coming, pls. ... but back to the nerdy business our draft-along, readers. It takes me longer than anticipated to produce those

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-3956735230750059192014-10-29T08:30:00.000-04:002014-10-29T08:30:00.173-04:00

... Kristin Jones! She said:  "I keep trying to take up embroidery, but without a proper teacher, or even a dedicated learning resource, I always set it aside. This book looks perfect for me, and I absolutely adore the project you've highlighted. It's a bit hard to choose my favorite, but I think it might just be the cloud shaped pillow. This book looks incredible!" Kristin, please send

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-16019989925666526652014-10-28T23:30:00.000-04:002014-11-04T01:35:01.106-05:00

Finally I got it all in one place. In this post I will explain how I draft the master pattern, which we will can also use as a pattern for the skirt lining and, optionally, a petticoat. Using the formula from the previous post I calculated that the radius for the ‘waistline’ circle will be 30.1 cm. The length of my skirt is 60 cm. I am taking a sheet of pattern paper that is wide enough

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-1157508962074700862014-10-28T00:53:00.000-04:002014-10-29T00:55:22.046-04:00

How I wish I was in NYC next week! On Tuesday, November 4th, Laurence King Publishing is hosting a draping event at FIT. Karolyn Kiisel, the author of a now sought-after solid volume on draping will be doing a live demo draping of the iconic bateau neck dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's.  The dress is featured in her book Draping: The Complete Course, and is a perfect

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-40761193872237457702014-10-24T06:19:00.001-04:002014-10-24T06:19:23.106-04:00

DREADED MATH Circle skirts have varying fullness depending on whether we use the full circle for drafting, or only a part (segment) of it. Most common variations are a full circle skirt, a three-quarter skirt, a half-circle skirt and a quarter-circle skirt, with the last one having the least fullness. The waistline is defined by the inner circle, and the hem line by the larger outer

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-60192490930210102452014-10-22T02:32:00.000-04:002014-10-22T02:32:31.385-04:00

I am so excited that we got quite a group for this Draft-Along, and it was great to see my New Yorker and US sewing friends among participants. Being so far away now, I really miss meeting up and taking sewing or drafting classes together. The draft-along feels like an improvised reunion in a way... As I was reading your comments and questions, I realized that I  need to add some introduction

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-4272112737175250342014-10-20T05:59:00.000-04:002014-10-29T01:58:52.736-04:00

I was very enthusiastic about reviewing the book despite the fact that, as a couture blogger, embroidery has been of interest for me only when related to garment embellishment. Yes, the book is cute, very cute. Just as anything that appears in Mollie Makes magazine if you are familiar with it. But this cannot be the only reason I'd recommend it. So, what makes this new publication by

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-14291044346361578102014-10-17T05:35:00.003-04:002014-10-17T05:35:39.924-04:00

When I featured this pattern find on my blog about a year ago, it seems to have kindled your interest. This is a 1959 pattern by Vogue Patterns. The envelope describes the style as ... ... a flared skirt in two length, which has deep front and back box pleats. Front pleats cross over at waist line. Wide shaped and narrow straight waistband. Four gored petticoat also in two lengths...

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-36264520552950075912014-09-30T05:17:00.004-04:002014-09-30T05:17:50.516-04:00

Hello to Dublin, where the lovely Inna decided to pass on the blog hopping baton to me. You have to check out her blog - not only she shares the love for couture, but also has a great eye for prints. Now, the questions... WHY DO I WRITE?  to connect to the sewing community, share... Of course! But blogging for me is also an educational process, when, after researching and making, you sit

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040255945564370512.post-21395603372781554122014-09-19T10:26:00.001-04:002014-09-19T10:26:18.015-04:00

It has been only a few weeks since my last Craftsy class review and there are already several new classes that I really liked. Since it is again a Big Fall Sale on Craftsy (you get up to 50% off) I thought I'd share a few thoughts on those classes I liked. Some classes are less than 30% off. Don't purchase them right away. Craftsy offers you an additional 33% off for one class in an email you

Marina von Koenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08005718145291109978noreply@blogger.com10