1953 coat for cora

I found this pattern at a local estate sale. I am in love with the fact that the pants have a cuff. This is basically the 1953 version of a snow suit.

Since snow is not common here, I decided to use a vinyl coated fabric and make Cora a rain coat. This is one of the most challenging pieces I have ever made. First, working with vinyl is tricky. It doesn't like to go through your machine with ease since it is slick. Second, there are a million pieces to a coat.

All of that aside, I am really happy with the way it turned out. And it will be just the right size for Cora when fall rolls around. Or when summer decides to dump two weeks of rain on us just for kicks!

Front (the tiara rarely comes off her head)

Back

Some twirling pictures

I love that Cora has the ever popular toddler scab under her nose. At least we know she plays hard!!

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a little sewing date

Last week I had my wonderful friend from The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife over, along with her two adorable little kiddos.

The goal was to sew one 50s tank top with 3 children ages 4 and under running around. I would have to say we were very successful. Not only did everyone survive (just a cat scratch, finger smoosh and major melt down) we were able to half way finish our project!!

I did actually complete my tank top a few days later and will post pics later. The top is going to my lovely friend Jessica. While I am madly in love with it, I sadly don't have the goods to fill it out. And to take it in as much as I would need to would really change the final look. I want you to see it at it's finest so until then these shots will have to do! I can't help but think how smokin' Joan Holloway would look in this!!

The Pattern

The Result


The kiddos running amok

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1967 jumper

Hello Middle School!!

This was a really fun and super easy. I have noticed the 34" busts are a little big on me even though I measure 35". I am not sure if I am just too nervous about using the whole 5/8" seam, or if the patterns just aren't that accurate, or if I don't know how to measure myself properly...who knows. (It is a little bit of an ego boost though!)

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vintage apron week

This week I am pouring my energy into vintage apron reproductions. I am selling the aprons at the Kenton Street Fair this weekend. These are so much fun to make and are inspired by an apron that my husband's grandma made.

Come to the Kenton Street Fair and say hi!

Here is an example of what I making.



So today is all about pressing fabric. I don't really mind pressing it that much, sometimes it can seem tedious but it is so necessary it is better to just embrace it. I can't wait to show you all the new aprons and pictures from the booth.

Oh and there is new pattern coming up too. Think Middle School 1967. Oh yeah!

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it's finally done

Quel nightmare. Let's breakdown the drama that was this dress. Well now that I think of it there was only one thing that really made this a) turn out looking like a Home Ec project and b) so not fun to make. Sewing normally bring me a sense of happiness. It gives me a chance to release some frustrations, tune out some of the things around me and tune in some creativity.

THE FABRIC RUINED THAT!

Totally and completely my fault. I picked a nightmare fabric. When I tell you what kind of fabric I chose there is a chance you won't read this anymore because if you have ever felt fabric you know that a polyester linen-look, is probably the worst idea ever, if you sew you have probably closed your laptop in disgust.

It just spoke to me, like "Hello I am a bolt of this fabic, don't I look exactly like what the girl is wearing on the cover? Doesn't it say that linens and polyester would be appropriate? Wasn't everything in 1969 made out of something like this? Ooh look at my tag, I am 50% off and so is my matching friend over there. Buy us!" So I totally did. And I totally shouldn't have.

What resulted was a project I just wanted over so I could move on to the next one. Which is what I will do now. Goodbye dress with cape.

(wow that is not a very arm flattering photo. so glad this dress is done.)

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sewing made easy

Jessie Burke, the owner of Posies Cafe in Portland, gave me this fantastic book!

Here is the cover!

Doesn't she look happy, I mean how could you not feel total bliss in that veil?

The back cover

I discovered I loved it even more when I took the cover off!

There are so many gems in here. I am sure I will come back to this many times throughout the life of this blog! Thank you, Jessie!!

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simplicity 8114 - continued

The dress is almost complete!! It took longer than a week and I am guessing that is going to be commonplace since I am busy with a 2.5 year old. So I am refocusing on doing a dress very two weeks instead of every single week and filling the space in between with awesome vintage and sewing things I find along the way.

Here is a sneak peek of the dress!!

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