Kreativ Blogger award

Tina at glamspoon tagged me with this honor (you little minx), and while I shy away from these tags as a rule, I am going to suck it up and play along. It's just the pressure you understand. Generally the way they work is - you reveal things about yourself that you are assuming someone will find remotely interesting. Now, I actually enjoy reading these little tags, they are like tiny little glimpses of you. So here goes, be gentle.

Seven random things you may or may not want to know about me:

1. I love corny musicals. I know, I'm sorry, I didn't say this was going to be pretty. Grease 2 is still one of my secret all time favorite movies. If you haven't seen it I recommend donning a disguise and rushing right out to you local movie rental (preferably on a weekend when your family is not at home, or trust me you'll never hear the end of it) and picking this movie up. In my defense, in high school I was in Jazz Singers. I would liken this to glee. Although none of my classmates were near as funny. Good times. Good times.
2. Harold and the Purple Crayon was one of my favorite books as a child.
3. I make up (bad) rap songs and threaten to sing them in front of my children' s friends as a way to control their behavior. It works.
4. I drink waaay to much coffee.
5. I've been married more than once. gasp. Got it right this time.
6. I took tags off of brand name clothing when I was in high school, and added them to garments that I had created. I had a pair of knock off Levis that I copied (down to the pockets) and added a tag from a pair that didn't fit that I found at the thrift. Please don't tell.
7. I am currently into crochet that looks as if it came from my granny. Pillows, throws, the cute little banner thingys that I keep seeing everywhere.

The second part of this tag is to nominate seven blogs that I admire and challenge them to play along. As I am not sure who has done this one, and I can't narrow my favorites down to just seven, I'll respectfully pass on the second portion of the challenge. Do feel free to play along if you're inclined. There, I just tagged you.
I'm off to pick up my purple crayon, I never was very good at coloring within the lines.

Hello Ilene....

The answer of course - is so that I can wear my new crinoline under. What was the question? Oh; has it really been so long since my last post? Quick check, oops. If you had any thoughts about it at all, I'm sure you wondered if I've taken a hiatus.

I actually envisioned a photo shoot in the leaves, with the cottonwoods turning colors and radiant in the background. We had a snow storm and the leaves are brown and on the ground now.

I am a little uncertain about the neckline. The line drawing does not fully show the extent of the scoop on the bodice. Very scoopy. Seriously scoopy. Undergarments are going to be an issue here. The bodice is completely lined and I suppose you could just skip it (undergarments that is) if you were inclined. I am more inclined to manage with a supporting cast, if you get my drift. So.. not to sure what to do about that. No, I did not make a muslin first, you silly.

A little close-up of the fabric.

I ended up making my own crinoline. That however; is a whole other post.

disclaimer: I know that scoopy isn't a word it showed up on my spell check.
second disclaimer: I am a huge fan of making a muslin first, before you cut into your 1950's vintage fabric.

New Look 6910 / Simplicity 3592

What would happen if I combined the bodice of New Look 6910, view B with the skirt from vintage Simplicity 3592?

On closer inspection the skirts on both patterns are very similar. Why would she do that?
To be continued...

burda wof august edition

A fabulous slim cut dress, with a gathered neckline and short raglan sleeves.

I couldn't resist this issue when I saw these photos. Any anthro lovin' girl could have found herself in the same predicament.

Seriously, we have delicate chiffon meeting rustic tweed.

Another version of the pencil skirt, this time with a raised waist and tiny waist pleats. sigh...

A trench coat with a capelet and gentle hem flounce. According to the pattern book it lends this trench a feminine, fanciful flair. You had me at the flounce.
Oh burda, you so have my number.

happy feet

Last fall I learned to crochet. My first project was a granny square pillow. The original plan was to add crochet detail to the knitted projects I planned on completing. Now it is fall again, and I've yet to complete one knitted project.
I did discover that I really like to crochet.
I expressed at one point how it is just too bad I can't make shoes - as the shoes I covet are usually way out of my budget.
That's right, now I make shoes. I tried two different versions. The black version has hemp on the bottom and can be worn to the mailbox. The yellow pair has wool on the bottom and I consider it more of a slipper.
I know, hippie shoes.
I found this pattern on ravalry. It is for sale on etsy here. The pattern is well written and has lots of high quality pictures.

If only I could make them look like these.
These shoes are from anthropologie - this season

Bound Buttonholes

Armed with only my Singer Sewing book copyright 1949 and high hopes I re-visited bound buttonholes. I love this detail when I find it on vintage clothing. I've done this before a couple of times. It is not like riding a bicycle - you know, some things come back to you naturally. Some things you just forget.

this bound buttonhole is welt style

So if it's looking a little shabby it might have something to do with the three times I picked it out before I was happy (enough) with the results. Oh go ahead, I know you want to - click on it to enlarge so that you can see the needle marks that are still in there. ;)
I plan to enter this dress into the Mad Men challenge. Can you guess which character?

The huge pencil skirt pattern review

The first pencil skirt pattern I tried was the hot patterns version. Let me just say for the record I really, really, wanted this to be the one. Not only that I love the idea of supporting these indie pattern companies, but Trudy and Jeremy have really gone the distance to make their patterns user friendly. If you haven't found them on You Tube you are missing out on some pretty creative stuff. I have had good luck with the hot patterns I've used. This one not so much. The pattern has some really great details, I just couldn't get the fit right. I found the shape very bulbous at the hip line. Then when I adjusted for that, I could never get the front darts quite right. I liked the curved waistband, the hem (deep bias cut facing) and the back kick pleat.

Skirt number two: New Look pattern 6758
I cut this out in my usual size. It's big. Never assume. You know the saying. So I have to re-size after it's almost done. Is this really going to happen? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Funny, after I made this, and while I was looking up the info, I found this post. My sentiments exactly.
note to self: check pattern review site first!!

So finally, in this case the third time being the charm, I've got it. This skirt is from a burda pattern. I first saw it made up here. I will make a this one again. I am going to borrow the elements I liked from the hot patterns skirt and make a few changes. The back slit is just the seam finished, and I don't think it will hold up well and I don't like the look. I'll add the vent. I'm also going to add the bias fabric hem.
So... as promised there you have it, maybe this will help someone looking for a go to pencil skirt pattern.

leave me a comment if you've made any of these patterns, I would like to hear about your experience