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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