merry christmas!

Look for new dresses in the new year!!! Until then enjoy the holidays! Eat, Drink, Be Merry!!

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brrrr beret - mccall's 9448

Well it has been a long time since my last pattern and alas you only get a hat. Now that isn't to say I haven't been sewing up a storm (knitting, too), just nothing suitable for the blog.

I did make this ultra cool beret though from a pattern I found at thrift store in Camas. The fabric is wool from a maxi skirt I bought years ago but never wear. I know maxi skirts are making a come back, but I am convinced that they are never a good choice for someone as short at me, no matter what the magazines say. So, into the cut up pile it went.

Evidence that the skirt did once exist. Sure, I look like a bag lady, but at least the scenery is to.die.for -

The pattern - 

The hat - 

Crummy picture quality but whatev.

The jacket I am wearing I found at the Goodwill bins. On second thought, it deserves it's own post. My vintage coat collection is both hideous and awesome. More to come...

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Butterick 4427

Now that Halloween is over I had a chance to make a dress. I was pretty excited to try something a little different so I chose a decade I haven't worked in yet - the 1940's.

The pattern is from 1948. While I am trying to make sleeved items, since it is almost winter and all, I had to chose the shorter sleeved version of this dress. With the shorter sleeves there is a chance I will wear it. Honestly, as I was assembling it I made a mental note that it looked it's best with no sleeves at all and I will need to revisit it this summer.

Another thing that I skipped with this dress - shoulder pads. I know they were huge (he he he) in the 40's but, I am short, like really, really short. They make me look like a box with ankles. I was worried, however, that the shoulders would slump really badly without them but, actually they turned out great. I am not sure where you would have fit the pads in.

Without further ado -

The pattern -

The front -

The back -

My first Victory Rolls. Not perfect by far but, yay for trying new things -

And yes that is the same belt seen here and here. I love that belt. Skinny white belts for everyone!

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facelift for the blog

Like the new digs? I was so sick of the orange swirls!!!

Stay tuned for a new dress - well an old dress, in new fabric.

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good cause

I was contacted recently by a couple of friends to see if I wanted to donate an apron for the silent auction and dinner, "Our Grey Matters." I was so happy to be asked and even more happy to have the coordinator excited to have one of my aprons. This is a very important cause to me as my daughter needed neurological care from Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and a very close friend was a patient of the leading surgeon.


Here are the pictures of the apron!

Other side -

This is an apron inspired by my husbands grandmother's vintage apron (c.1950). I chose some yummy fall colors to hopefully inspire delicious fall feasts! 

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style 1729

I made a dress! About time!!

This pattern is from Great Britain. There isn't a date on it but I am guessing it is early 60's.

Very simple and very fun! I wanted to make it in a very basic print so I chose navy with white polka dots. Probably not the best choice. It ended looking a little like a granny dress from 1988. Also it is supposed to have a belt at the dropped waist but I could not make that look good. However without any belt, it looked like maternity attire gone wrong. So I just threw it around my middle. Not too bad.

The pattern -

The Dress - 

Same belt from this post.

Want a closer look at the groovy things behind me?

The yarn art was my grandma's and the mood lamp I got on etsy from String Theory Knits.

All in all it wasn't a complete waste of time. I actually really like the idea of the pattern but it needs some tweaking to be something super wearable. Man, it felt good to make a dress again though!!

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embroider me happy

I was doing my bi-monthly Paws-n-Claws (a local thrift store) cruise when I came across the find to end all finds.

That's right an half finished vintage apron!! The embroidery hoop was still attached!!!

I imagine the wonderful woman died, probably in some very bittersweet way, before she could finish it,  (there could be a more boring store that involves arthritis but I am romantic) and now it is my duty to make sure this apron is finished and loved!

Details -

***** Remember when I used to sew dresses?! I still do!! Watch for next week, I have a pattern from across the pond.*****

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crochet passé mccall's style

My Aunt found an awesome book of crochet patterns at an Estate Sale. I think she even scored it for free!! The copyright dates range from1956 - 1970. So awesome.

I was going to crochet up a poncho for myself but I got a little bored with it and made it for Cora instead. I also skipped the fringe. If I ever get quick enough to make one for myself I am totally not skipping the fringe. It is just so cheesy. I love it.

The book -

The original pattern - 

The finished product -

Yeah, I am pretty sure I need make one of these for myself. It is just so silly and cute. 

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butterick 6492

Fall is here. Well, not officially, but it has hit the PNW, so a cardigan seemed appropriate. I had a little trouble with sizing this one. I took in the bust but I also took in the waist which was a mistake. The button holes also gave me hell, which sort of surprised me. So the fact that they are crooked was a little upsetting.

Truth be told, I will not be wearing the adorable cardigan much. It is so tight in the waist that I had to wear a corset to get it on. That is why you can't see my face in these pics....it was turning blue.

The pattern (c.1953) -

Front -

Back - 

I love the sleeve detail -

And to prove that it is a functional piece of clothing - 

Not too bad for my first time working with this fabric. I actually really enjoyed this little project and learned a few things for next time.

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sour puss - butterick 6994

The lemon skirt is done.

I pulled an awful face when I made the pictures trying to "pucker". 

It sums up this skirt. If you glance quickly - cute. If you look closely - disaster.

It shouldn't have been hard. It was an ridiulously easy pattern. I did a great job (for me) on the invisible zipper. The fabric is super cute. I had 3 yards and I used it all. That is how many times I screwed up the waist band. It was just the waist band!!! The problem is the size was for a 25" waist. Does anybody even have a waist that small?!? Don't answer. Really easy to make it bigger because skirt is 6 pieces. I just narrowed my seams. But the waist band was a total nightmare. I should have graded it like a good girl but instead I went ahead and just made it bigger and figured I would trim down as I go. How hard can it be? Screwed it up the first time. The second time I did the pattern upside down, so the print went the wrong way. By the third time I was heading into week two on a two hour project...I finished it. But that is really all I can say.

Let's look at some hokey pictures, shall we.

The Pattern -

I really didn't intend to flip the bird in this picture. Honestly, it was just in my heart so much that it snuck right out there.

Notice how the waistband separates on the left? Yeah, not supposed to do that.

And last but not least, "the face" I look like a man!! I know we live in the time of digital photography and I could just take a better one. But it seriously fits this stupid skirt so perfectly, I have to keep it.

I have lemons and I am going to put them in a delicious hefeweizen. The cute belt was purchased at Urban Eccentric.

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now for something completely different

I recently started hookin'.

Okay it is an old and well used crocheting joke but it makes me laugh every time. Hooker. Hooking. It's funny.

I was going through my Sister-in-laws stash of knitting books and found one that has both knitting and crocheting in it. It isn't vintage (I do have a few vintage crocheting books around) but it caught my eye because all the project only require one skein of yarn. I was up for something different to get back in to the swing of things after lounging in Las Vegas and this looked easy. 

Easy. Hooker. Vegas. I know one blogger who is going to hell.

I picked this little clutch because it is going to totally go with all my vintage ensembles. I chose white because I have this ridiculously huge ball of cheapo white yarn. I sort of consider it my muslin. I do trial runs with it. Only if I like the project will I cough up the dough for something fancy.

It sort of looks like a snail. There is a zipper closure, which didn't turn out perfectly but since I didn't have to rip it out, I consider it a success.

Fun! I think I will make another from this cute little book - One Skien: 30 Quick Projects To Knit Or Crochet.

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mccall's 5025

I am going to come right out and say this is the bravest thing I have ever done, next to maybe having Cora. But at least when I had Cora I was medicated.

I made a swimsuit.
And I am showing it to the world...on me.
A month before my 10 year H.S. reunion.

Without going into too much detail, I have realized that having stretch marks, a soft tummy and big thighs are so far from the worst thing that can happen. In fact, I am pretty darn lucky. So here is the suit in all its glory.

I actually only had the pattern, no instructions for this so, I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. And I love the print.

1976, eat your heart out. Oh, and I slept in curlers last night for a party I went to today. That is why I am rocking some sweet hair!!

The pattern -

The Suit - 

I figure if I can show it to Las Vegas tomorrow, I can show it to you. Off to make a cocktail....

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mad men casting call

My lovely friend from The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife, Twila Jean, has entered the Mad Men Casting Call Contest.

She is perfect for a walk on role. Check her out here!! Mad Men Casting Call - Twila Jean

Good luck Twila!!!

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simplicity 5389

I have been saving this fabric for a while. I knew it could look a little matronly if I didn't pick my pattern wisely.

I was so excited when I found this pattern. It was exactly what I was looking for! I wanted a sheath dress or a wiggle and this is sort of a cross between the two. It doesn't taper like a wiggle normally does but it hugs the bum like one. And now I have a great dress in my wardrobe to wear to weddings and picnics and all other wonderful activities that are going on this summer in the PNW.

I know I have been doing a lot of 60s but the patterns are so dang cute I can't help myself and a lot of my other eras are more appropriate for colder seasons so 60s it is - shucks!!

On to the pictures.

The pattern. You can see the original owner doodled on it it pencil a little. I love that. I also love it when I find notes on how to make the pattern. They are always written in beautiful handwriting that looks like my grandmother's.

Front

Back

kinda showing the "wiggle" aspect

I chose to omit the bows on the shoulders after careful consideration. I couldn't decide if they had the right feel. So I made the whole dress and then decided. I like them without it and I didn't feel like anything was missing.  I still haven't perfected zippers but I am getting a little better. ( I am less scared of them at least.)

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simplicity 3749

Can we say Mad Men? (A show I still haven't seen even though I love vintage clothes and worked in marketing. tsk tsk)

I am in love with this dress. It was the first time I have ever graded or resized a pattern and it went really smoothly. The dress was originally an 18, which has a 38 inch bust. I wear a 34 inch bust or about a 12, so some serious down-sizing was needed.  I used this helpful tutorial and got great results!!

I chose a simple cotton in a coral color. Basic quilters cotton, especially solids, are affordable, easy to work with and drape nicely.

To get started, I needed to trace the original pattern. I also do this when a pattern hasn't been previously cut, so I can preserve the original pattern.

Then, I needed to resize it. You can see I had to shorten the waist by almost an inch.

The results were a great fit and a dress I have worn 3 times already. Check out the cute brooch I got at Treasure House for $2.99!!!

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new book for my birthday

I got this great new book from Bri (my sister-in-law) for my birthday.

Haslam System of Dresscutting - Vintage Pattern Making for 1950s Fashions - Spring and Summer

It has all of these fantastic patterns that you make with your own measurements.

 I have never attempted anything like it! I can't wait to try it. Especially the following - 

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