Foreword
“Without fruit” is my way.
The creation of the skirts as well as the short story give a first impression of the project. The whole collection will be presented in full glory at the final fashion show together with the book.
The project started long before the first skirt.
I needed several practice skirts until I finally found the right cut and design. I decided on the shape of a diamond. This is the unifying and recognizable element of the skirts and extends throughout the collection. The diamond changes in size, color, material, composition and direction, like the thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Buttons are another noticeable element. I play with the composition and the quantity. Initially recognizable is the number three for father, mother and child, then the two for man and woman and finally still the one for me.
In addition, I deal with the attitude towards life, the desires (top) and the circumstances (skirt). What I want and what I have are often far apart.
Ready for the road?
Dress 1 – Alegria
Everything started with “Alegria” joy.
My husband announced to me on our second date that he would like to push a baby carriage one day as a proud father, and that’s how I noticed that we both have the same attitudes and values about family and lifestyle. Thus began a deep love affair. I traded my countless suitcases for a house key to a great apartment and changed my adventurous lifestyle.
We got married and nothing stood in the way of wanting a child!
So it all started with the wedding dress!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside
diamond quilt pieces are sewn to it,
these are sewn together, pieced, quilted with 3 lines
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted with meander stitch
61 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
7 m cotton fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
7 m lining fabric for top and the diamond quilt pieces
7 m batting for top and diamond quilt pieces
8 m tulle and organza
Total 29 m -
colors
colors
white for fabrics, organza, tulle, threads, wool and beads
light green for some beads -
buttons
buttons
15 beads top (8 green and 7 white)
174 beads skirt (159 white and 15 green)
Total 195 beads -
material
material
velcro fasteners
bows made of organza and wool
hoop skirt under the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 2 – Joy
Our lives could not have been better. Happiness shone in both our faces. Professionally, everything was in order. I sewed my first children’s quilt full of love. I gave the quilt the name “Alegria” (joy). Our life and circumstances were balanced. A wonderful happy time. We were looking forward to having children soon.
Hope, joy of life, contentment and balance radiates from this skirt. For the lightness I used feathers (feather stole) as a connection between life attitude (top) and life circumstances (skirt).
Joy and happiness!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside
diamond quilt pieces are sewn to it,
these are sewn together, pieced, quilted with 3 lines on the side
and wavy lines in the middle of the quilt
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted with meander stitch
62 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
6 m cotton fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
8 m tulle and organza
5 m batting for top and diamond quilt pieces
Total 25 m -
colors
colors
bright and delicate light green for
fabrics, tulle, organza, feather stole, threads
white for organza -
buttons
buttons
17 buttons top
59 buttons skirt
121 green bows top + skirt
Total 73 buttons and 121 bows -
material
material
2,5 m bright green feather stole on skirt
0,75 m bright green feather stole as belt
5-6 m ribbon for the tiered skirt
velcro fasteners
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 3 – Paticence
Slowly, impatience crept into the family planning. The longed-for pregnancy failed to materialize. We were both around 30 years old, so there was no need to panic in this respect. The lightness and informality gradually crumbled away. We both didn’t let on and practiced patience. Soon the longed-for offspring will surely appear!
The attitude of life and wishes (top) are still full of hope and ease, but the circumstances of life (skirt) looks a little different. On the back of the skirt, barely visible, some diamond quilt pieces are missing and others are only embroidered with two buttons.
Everything in the green!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as petticoat, seam allowances on the outside.
sewn to the diamond quilt piece, these are
sewn together, tucked and quilted with 3 lines at the
side and quilted around the buttons
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted freehand like stones
58 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
6 m cotton fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
5 m batting for top and diamond quilt pieces
10 m organza
Total 27 m -
colors
colors
light, matt and dark green for
fabrics, tulle, organza, threads
green, orange, red for lining fabric -
buttons
buttons
8 buttons top
189 buttons skirt
Total 197 buttons -
material
material
Velcro fasteners
5-6 m ribbon for the tiered skirt
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 4 – Doubt
The first doubts made themselves felt. The casual life slowly changed into a monthly pressure. First visits to the doctor, examinations and tests were scheduled. Everything was in order. Hormone stimulants were used so that success could be achieved quickly. A slight, almost imperceptible doggedness crept in. A thousand reasons and doubts why it is not possible accompanied me constantly.
A dress that combines lightness, doubt and heaviness all in one, sky-high to devastated, like the monthly cycles.
I saw around me only pregnant happy women.
And me?
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside
sewn to it diamond quilt piece, these are
sewn together, tucked and all free-motion quilted with a
freehand quilted with an inward running triangle
simple top without sleeves,
fabric free-motion quilted with bias strips
63 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m cotton fabric diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric top and diamond quilt pieces
8 m organza (incl. belt)
6 m batting for top and diamond quilt pieces
Total 26 m -
colors
colors
matte green light brownish top and diamond quilt pieces
green, orange, red for lining
different shades of green for the diamond quilt pieces
green grayish for bottom and back diamond quilt pieces
light green to dark green organza
different shades of green and brownish for the threads
chaotic color scheme -
buttons
buttons
14 buttons top
84 buttons skirt
12 green buttons on belt
199 green buttons in the belt
62 crocheted tassels
total 309 buttons and 62 tassels -
material
material
velcro fasteners
green wool for the crocheted tassels
5-6 m ribbon for the tiered skirt
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 5 – Difficult
Doctor’s visits, tests and hormone therapies were part of everyday life. Everything revolved around just one thing. Doggedness slowly turned into bitterness. The first tensions in the relationship, at work and in the environment became noticeable. It was an irritable mood. We had to get through this now, next time it could have worked out. Tunnel vision set in. It was difficult!
The skirt changes from green, like hope to light brown. The inner doggedness and bitterness is externally concealed with a soft brown. The emphasis is on the belt, the connection between attitude to life (top) and the circumstances of life (skirt). With all means I tried to keep my world in balance.
Outwardly, everything was fine after all!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside
sewn to it diamond quilt piece, these are
stitched together, tucked and all rounded with 3 distinctive
lines around, seams attached lengthwise,
one of them with an emphasizing zigzag stitch
simple top without sleeves, fabric with vertical stripes
freehand quilted
71 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m cotton fabric for diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
6 m organza (incl. belt)
1 m batting for top
4 m thin batting for the diamond quilt pieces
Total 23 m -
colors
colors
light brown for the top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
matte light brown for the diamond quilt pieces
light brown lining fabric
light brown to dark brown organza
different brown and dark green threads -
buttons
buttons
15 buttons top
114 buttons skirt
70 half loops wool top + skirt
7 buttons belt
total 129 buttons and 70 half loops -
material
material
velcro fasteners
green wool for the half loops
5-6 m ribbon for the tiered skirt
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 6 – Questionmark
It was an up and down of emotions. The hormone therapies were intensified once again, various options were tried out. A break was out of the question. It could have been exactly then that the hoped-for success set in. We must not miss this moment. The strain on the body, mind and relationship were enormous. Our social contacts were reduced to a minimum.
With every disappointment I fell deeper and deeper into an endless black hole. Nevertheless, I had reached the point of no return, not after all the efforts, examinations, tests, expenditures, renunciations and ordeals. A kind of dependence set in. By hook or by crook, it had to finally work out for us.
The whole situation was messed up, now the brown color dominates. The skirt is bogged down, so you can’t see that parts and buttons are missing and the workmanship is very poor. By all means, success was sought, on the outside a lot was hidden and only when you look closer you saw the crumbled facade.
I questioned the whole situation!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowance on the outside
sewn to it diamond quilt piece, these are sewn together with a
sewn together with a zigzag stitch, all quilted with a free-motion pattern
quilted in square shape
simple top without sleeves, fabric with a freehand pattern
quilted in zigzag shape and emphasized corners
64 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m linen fabric for diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for diamond quilt pieces
8 m organza and tulle (incl. belt)
1 m batting for the top
4 m thin fleece the diamond quilt pieces
Total 25 m -
colors
colors
strong brown for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
dark brown for the diamond quilt pieces
dark brown, dark blue lining fabric
different brown, black, green for organza tulle
brown to black threads -
buttons
buttons
10 buttons top
59 buttons skirt
63 bows organza, tulle and pompom skirt + top
21 pompoms belt
total 69 buttons - 63 bows - 21 pompoms -
material
material
velcro fasteners
5-6 m ribbon for the tiered skirt
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 7 – Trail of tears
After a seemingly endless time living between hope and disappointment, I took the decision to stop hormone therapies. My body and my mind were at the end. The endless examinations and monthly ordeals left their mark. The relationship was under a great test of endurance. My decision did us both good.
The skirt consists thousands of buttons and is a symbol for the endless suffering, the deep sadness, the many disappointments and bitterness. Each button represents a tear.
Although I have not shed a single tear to this day!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
diamond quilt pieces all decorated with buttons
so that the dress can wear the many buttons
the underskirt is reinforced with suspenders
75 diamond quilt pieces -
fabric
fabric
5 m cotton fabric
5 m fleece (adhesive on one side)
5 m lining fabric for the backs
Total 15 m -
colors
colors
Diamond quilt pieces in light, medium and dark blue -
buttons
buttons
3032 buttons -
material
material
Velcro fasteners
ribbons for reinforcing the waistband of the skirt
suspenders
Dress 8 – still hope
I started a new job, which I liked very much. The focus of life was put on something else.
But the many hormone therapies had left their mark. My body was worn out and sick. I got breast cancer and had to undergo surgeries and radiation treatments. I recovered and the years went by without any major problems, life just flowed by.
The question of why always stuck somehow. I began to search for answers from acupuncture to Reiki to visits to mediums. I did many things without questioning. Everywhere hope was proclaimed, which I eagerly accepted. These “false” hopes to possibly still become pregnant, awakened forces in me that I had not thought possible. This gave my life, which was flowing along, a meaning. Inwardly I had not yet given up. I never communicated this to the outside world.
The skirt is all in gray for the years of the life flowing away. The small “false” hope that gave me the daily energy to get up is sewn in pink and almost invisible in the diamond quilt pieces.
Even the smallest hope can move mountains!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside.
sewn to the diamond quilt piece, these are sewn with 2
seams next to each other and one
vertical seam sewn together
tops are quilted with an almost invisible thread
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted with an almost invisible
freehand quilted meander pattern
61 Diamond quilt pieces
62 Hexagon with button
5 Hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m cotton fabric for diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for backs of top and diamond quilt pieces
1 m felt for the hexagon with button
6 m organza and tulle (incl. belt)
1 m batting for the top
4 m thin fleece the diamond quilt pieces (adhesive on one side)
Total 24 m -
colors
colors
gray for the top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
dark grey, different shades of blue for diamond quilt pieces
grey for lining and organza
white felt for the small hexagon
gray and pink threads -
buttons
buttons
9 buttons top
59 buttons skirt
12 buttons belt
total 80 buttons -
material
material
velcro fasteners
5-6 m ribbon for the belt and the tiered skirt
a hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 9 – Empty
I went slowly towards 40. But I still had hope in my heart, even though it was smaller than the smallest unit of measurement, but this gave me the strength to get up and master the gray everyday life.
My cycle became very irregular and every time I was over the time, an indescribable joy ignited in me. I secretly bought countless pregnancy tests – all of them were negative. I kept the disappointment and the deep fall afterwards to myself. Over the years I built up a good protective shield that I cherished and cared for very well.
The skirt is sewn in light gray and almost falls apart. Buttons are becoming hooks. The extremely small hope is now sewn almost invisibly into the diamond quilt pieces with an almost invisible pink thread.
I existed and that was all!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowances on the outside.
sewn to the diamond quilt piece, these are sewn with 2
seams next to each other and one
vertical seam sewn together
laces are quilted with an almost invisible thread
badly sewn together
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted with an almost invisible
meander pattern freehand quilted,
fine vertical zigzag stitch attached
65 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m synthetic fabric for diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric for top and diamond quilt pieces
6 m fishnet-like curtain fabric
1 m batting for the top
4 m thin fleece the diamond quilt pieces
Total 23 m -
colors
colors
light gray almost white for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
brown, blue and white colors for the diamond quilt pieces
light grey for lining
white fishnet like curtain fabric
gray, white threads, for the tops an almost transparent pink -
buttons
buttons
2 metal hooks top
62 metal hooks skirt
total 64 metal hooks -
material
material
Velcro fasteners
5-6 m ribbon for the belt and the tiered skirt
a hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces
Dress 10 – Final
I was again over time, this time already a few weeks. All pregnancy tests were negative. Still, I had hope. We visited a doctor. The result was devastating, I was in menopause and that at 39 years!!! Now it was final, there was no child! That day my world collapsed. Nobody noticed this from the outside. I kept my composure. The bitter disappointment in life and the bottomless sadness I hid deep inside me.
It is a sad black skirt with many big and heavy buttons. These stand for the heaviness of the situation. I did not shed a tear even at this moment. The whole skirt is covered with a white coat made of organza. From the outside everything looks beautiful, almost enchanting.
What was below that, I kept to myself!
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sewing technique
sewing technique
tiered skirt as underskirt, seam allowance on the outside
sewn to it diamond quilt piece, these are bordered with a
black ribbon, quilted with a zigzag pattern
simple top without sleeves, fabric quilted with
freehand quilt pattern quilted
56 diamond quilt pieces
5 hexagon -
fabric
fabric
1 m cotton fabric for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
5 m synthetic fabric for diamond quilt pieces
6 m lining fabric tops and diamond quilt pieces
6 m organza
1 m batting for the top
4 m thin fleece the diamond quilt pieces
Total 23 m -
colors
colors
black and white for top and 3 diamond quilt pieces
gray fabric with black ribbon for diamond quilt pieces
black lining fabric
black organza for the tiered skirt
white organza for the cape
black threads -
buttons
buttons
16 buttons top
324 buttons skirt
143 pearls
total 340 buttons and 143 pearls -
material
material
velcro fasteners
30 m black ribbon for the tiered skirt,
the diamond quilt pieces and embellishment
hoop skirt supports the skirt with the diamond quilt pieces