Fifties Re-visited a Modern Interpretation

I don't even have words to express how much I like this.

found fashiongonerogue

images from Vogue China March 2012

Perfecting the Pencil

 I've made a few pencil skirts. It's due to that ongoing thought process that won't let you stop until you get it just right. Please tell me that I'm not the only seamstress that does this. Is it a bit compulsive? I'm sure. But I can finally say, I'm happy, I'm moving on, I'm over it...

 The final pencil skirt is my favorite. I found the lining fabric at the thrift-store. It's silk and it is amazing.

The belt is a re-cycled neck tie.

sweater, jcrew, thrifted

tee, screen print, my friend

skirt, self-made, vintage wool

belt, up-cycled, vintage

McCall 6256

 McCall 6256

 I made this 1940 pattern using 1950 vintage fabric.  I found the fabric at a thrift store.  It was a small piece but by careful layout during cutting, I managed to barely squeeze it out of the the 35" width.

 The top has self-covered buttons down the back.

I love the fabric, and while it is a little more pastel than color that I am generally drawn to, I think it will be fun for Spring.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

...or my new favorite thing to do, covering unsuspecting little lampshades in vintage fabric.

E-Z Self-Fabric Buttons

 In progress: McCall 6256

The kit for the self-fabric buttons is so cute. On the front it makes the claim - make them round or flat. When you turn the card over to get the instructions the flat version is made by smashing them flat. copyright 1957 by E-Z Buckle, Inc. 

Finished: Covered lampshade with granny chic crochet edging.

the instructions for crochet edgings can be found here

the covered lampshade tutorial I used  

More Linda Permann

I am making trim from the Crochet Adorned book. The is about the fifth or sixth time I've used instruction from this book. If you don't own it already -  I recommend it highly. This trim is going on the bottom of a lampshade that I covered using instruction found on pinterest.

Simplicity 5877

 Shirtwaist dress with notched collar, set-in sleeves, bodice front button closing and side zipper.

Fabric used: Vintage cotton found at a yard sale

I would grade this as an intermediate  pattern. There is a fiddly step with the side zipper set into the pleats, and on the other side it has a side seam pocket. Mostly straightforward and the only change I made was to shorten the sleeve length. The fit was great on the first try, I will make this one again.

photo taken in just a sweater at the end of January

it's insanely warm for this time of year in Colorado

and no snow??

 

Working on...

a banner made of vintage fabric

Speakers, Sofa Cushions, and Emily Chalmers

 It's been awhile, so I will try as best I can to remember the speaker conversation. Pretty sure it went something like this.

"Honey, do you remember me talking about how since high school I've wanted to own a quality set of speakers? You know the kind I mean - blow the roof off your house speakers." Then he is getting a call and has to get off the phone.

Then I get the second phone call. "Johnny was at a yard sale when he saw these speakers. He actually drove off and left them there. I told him to go back as fast as he could and get them." 

I remember having a fairly lengthy convo about said speakers, but I'm thinking you get the picture.

It's to hard to type inflection so you'll have to trust me when I tell you I recognized right away that I was being entreated. I do remember the punchline he said, "Did I mention that they are kind of big?"

Now I've widened my shot to include the speakers. Not only are they kinda big, they are kinda black, and sitting in the living room, that prior to their arrival didn't have a speck of black in the decor, at least not on purpose. So now I have a serious problem. These speakers are a force to be reckoned with. My first thought was making a big slip cover to camouflage them. Then I remembered the photos of the Emily Chalmers loft and her use of black as an anchor, or point of interest, in an otherwise white space. Viola. Decoration born of desperation my friends.

Oh by the way, he redeemed himself when he came home after the living room re-do and said, 

"I like it, it's very Anthropologie."

Curtain Skirts Re-visited

skirts made with vintage drapery fabric

Fine Design

 Some time ago I saved this photo to my desktop. I could not believe there was actually a kindred spirit out there, one who like me, had such obvious love of skirts made of curtains. In fact, I made a very similar skirt to the one on top. I've actually made quite a few skirts from vintage drapery fabric.  Time went by and I couldn't remember the source of the original image.

 Then in December I happened to be visiting the decor8 blog and the images of a stylist named Emily Chalmers almost took my breath away. You know the feeling you get when you see a space and declare, "I could seriously live in that space." Everything about it... just lovely. So I got curious about you Emily Chalmers. I googled you. I tried to find every image that was out there. So there it is. The image I found so long ago and loved is your closet, in an open loft, in London. I love your loft.

Then I discovered not only are you a stylist, you are an author, and shop owner - with adorable personal style to boot. 

So yep... I ordered your books, not all of them, there's a lot.  

these photos belong to Hilary Walker 

Simplicity 2591

View B Simplicity 2591

I've included the line drawing so that the side panel with side pocket application is visible. That sounds so professional (got it off the pattern back). I'm referring to the curved piece that hooks the front onto the back. The busy print on this fabric doesn't show off this design detail. If I make this one again I will make it in a solid, or at least a less busy print. I enjoyed making this and the unusual construction kept me entertained until the very end. I did not make this dress this fall (although it only recently has seen closet rotation). I have been lately referring to this dress as the suitcase dress.

I must be in a Fall frame of mind - I brought home a vintage dress in these same colors. Not on purpose. In fact did not even realize it until Jenny pointed it out. In fact she said, "Don't you already have a dress just like that?" To which I say, "Nope, this one has sleeves, and rhinestones."

Just for fun I found cute versions of this dress here, here, and here.

don't give up on me I'm still working on the pocket pdf.

 

Tulip pocket wrap-dress

 Working out the construction bugs. Another Swirl knock-off.

 Little different pocket detail.

In action. Modeled by my sister-in-law Jenny. 

I've already started another. :)

Vintage Suitcases

D: "You have twenty-seven suitcases, I counted."

Me: "They aren't just suitcases,(duh) they're vintage suitcases."(the duh is silent)

D:" It's not a problem, I'm just sayin' that's a lot of suitcases."

Me:" I need that many in case I ever leave you, I need something to pack my stuff in."

D: "You can only take whatever fits in your suitcases."

Me: ..........

I'm mentally counting suitcases (including the ones I'm pretty sure he didn't count).

Must. get. more. suitcases. ;)

all in good fun. this photo makes it look like I'm outta here (I'm so not). I actually found this from last fall. I never blogged this dress. It's a simplicity pattern that I'll post in the next couple days.

Swirl Girl

 copy of a trademark swirl tag- original here

 In the forties the Neat 'N Tidy pinafore apron made by L. Nachman & Son Company became the "Ty-Wrap By Swirl" dress we know as Swirl. Most of the info I could find was in this article.

In all my thrifting/estate sale adventures I've yet to find an authentic Swirl dress. (sigh) 

I have followed and even occasionally bid on an ebay auction. These dresses are collectible. The ending price always reflected this fact.

Swirl dresses are wrap-around dresses that tie and fasten with a button. The sleeves and bodice are most often in one piece (unusual to see set in sleeves).

The more I thought about these dresses the more I wanted one. So... 

This is what I came up with. The fabric is a thrifted sheet, I didn't want to cut into my vintage fabric on the first one in case it was a bust.

Pretty happy with this one, although I am going to change a couple of things before I make another.

Pattern: Self-drafted

Fabric: Thrifted sheet $2.00

Trim: Salvaged from a vintage dress in poor condition

Buttons: Mother-of-pearl from a tin I won at auction 

vintage sheet apron

 vintage sheet + embroidered tablecloth + section of crochet trim from a curtain + stripey blue bias tape

and...three vintage mismatched buttons

pattern: self-drafted

Simplicity 2586

 Pattern: Simplicity 2586 c.1958

Fabric: vintage gingham from the stash

I was a bit lazy and changed the skirt,  I didn't want to match plaid on each of the six gores.

 

 Pattern description of the sleeves; short kimono sleeves cut in one with yoke. The pattern went together very smoothly. Don't you just love vintage patterns? Almost every time they work up with no issues.

The triangular opening at the neck edge with cutie fabric bow.

Grandma's Flower Garden

Lately I 'm all about skirts that look like aprons;

Grandma's flower garden blocks, and...

playing with iPhone apps. I've found the ones I like just via recommendations.

Do you have a favorite?

In Progress

At least there is some progress. ;)

Mini-Me Apron

Mommy apron - Mary Jane Farms pattern

Mini Me apron - Self drafted

Pockets -  Salvaged from vintage linens

Pie -  In the oven