New Look 6799

I have a pattern collection by accident. I try not to buy patterns unless I really think I'll make the garment. I have a particular weakness for dress patterns and own quite a few. Okay, more than a few. If I do the math (pattern+amount of hours to complete) I cannot sew all these dresses up in my lifetime. When contemplating my next project, I went through a few of my patterns (alleged pattern collection) and did not feel that little tingle. You know the one. So.. I went to the store and bought this pattern. Okay, I know. I am a very responsible consumer. I do not practice over indulgence as a rule. But seriously isn't this a really great dress? I have named her Ava Rose. Enough said.

Simplicity 2528

So, I made vintage simplicity 2528 which is a wrap around skirt with large patch pockets. Did I happen to mention that the pockets are large? I trimmed them with bias contrast that is the same dotted print from the reverse applique flower detail. After the skirt was finished, I realized that it needed to be shorter. Not wanting to loose the great rick rack action, I had to shorten it with small pleats. The hemline is now weighted and holds its shape much as it would with a petticoat. Happy accident.

Bye Heather

See you later.

Channeling my inner Laura Ingalls Wilder

I come across vintage crochet aprons every now and then. These aprons have no function, but are the most beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. I do not crochet so can only imagine the amount of hours it takes to make one.

I made the skirt out of both vintage and new fabric. It is wrap style and will fit several sizes. I appliqued dogwood flowers on the front. The edge of the design is raw and will softly fray when washed. The apron is attached to the skirt and becomes a layering element. This skirt is in my etsy shop.

My Crush

Dear Austin,

I have a huge crush on you. Does it even matter that we've not even met? That I am a happily married women? That the reality of you may leave me flat and disappointed? No, to all.

Austin, Texas you lure me with your cowboy hats, with your vintage shopping, and your honky tonks. You entice me with your bold statement that you are the music capitol of the world.

Someday Austin......

pattern dating

This image is from http://www.cemetarian.com/. The website has a page where you can click on a company name to go to a history and dating site. Pattern companies repeat numbers when they get to a certain point, so you need to know the approximate age of the pattern. Ballpark, using indicators (hairstyle, silhouette of garment, etc.) This is a really fun time sucker. I have found it useful because the copyright date is not always on the pattern.

Click on the tab that shows the change in standard sizing through the years. This helps explain why a vintage pattern size 12 is not the same modern size 12 we buy today.

Cemetarian also has an ebay store. I have never bought from them but they do have an excellent ebay rating.

Because...

every little girl needs a reversible jacket to go with her 50's twirly dress.

The jacket is made from a reclaimed chenille bedspread. The lining is from a vintage sheet that I purchased from an estate sale.

Madi got the jacket dirty before I could even get the photo.

Simplicity 3457

Child's one-piece dress: Dress has lowered neckline, full gathered skirt and front button closing.

I pulled up the pattern dating website and this little cutie is from 1951. I had to add several inches to the length to make this dress a little more modern. Other than that, I made it straight off the pattern combining view 2 the top, view 3 the skirt. I wanted to include the flange on the skirt view 3. The fabric is 100% cotton. I found a vintage sheet that was still in the package. The buttons are covered in the same black and white gingham that I used as an accent fabric.

I love the vintage patterns. I hardly ever encounter an error in pattern fit.

When I pulled out the patterns I want to make for Madi this summer they total fifteen. We'll see if my ambition matches my execution.

Hanky Panky

I made a 1930ish dress out of two vintage hankies.

Making this dress was a happy little trip down memory lane as I learned to sew making barbie clothes. I always had to chop her hair off. This time the haircut was to show of her cloche hat. :) I used this barbie as a mold to suggest form. There is a product called Stiffy, and when it dries it hardens and holds whatever shape you've suggested. Barbie became Dust Bowl Barbie.



Sideshow/Blossomshop
Call for Artists:
Make some "Hanky Panky": fine art created on/ with/ about vintage handkerchiefs, aprons and/or other domestic textiles. We are looking for artists to broadly and boldly explore the ideas, functions, references and artfulness of materials and textiles such as handkerchiefs, aprons, vintage tablecloths, and other utilitarian domestic textiles. All fine art and craft media and mixed-media welcome to submit. Keep in mind that the work can be wearable, re-tasked, or utilitarian, as well as sculptural or hangable.....

And so we did...

On Saturday Rosie and I submitted our Hard Times piece. Rosie does graphic design/screen printing. All of the printed work is hers. Some of the pictures also incorporate vintage hanky images. You can view her design work http://www.gogoblossomshop.com/ here. The diorama is back lit and hard to see in the photo. After several false starts, we felt it all jelled. The show is at the Sideshow Emporium & Gallery and will run through July 24.