Secret Sewing Society

Solanah and I braved the fabric store last night with two small children in tow, all to gather supplies for our best sewing project yet. I wont go into details yet, but the Palmer Wirf's Antique Exposition is in 2 weeks and we have some interesting outfit plans.


I can say it involves the 1940s, some white buttons, and a whole lot of red floral fabric. I can't wait to share the final project. I stayed up late last night cutting pattern pieces out, in hopes that this weekend we can get to sewing. I might share some progress pictures, but for the whole shebang, you too will have to wait for Expo!

Its a Sew Date

After a long delay in matching schedules, it finally worked out that I could visit my friend Gretchen and attempt to sew up a 1957 summer top. The only hitch? All 3 of our kids would be there too. It actually worked out well as Gretchen has a huge sewing room and playrooms for the children!
I was super excited to find this pattern because I have a tiny scrap of this amazing teal fabric with coral flowers on it I have been dying to use. Perfect amount to make one V-neck bra top!
In reality, in 4 hours, we each only got half of our tops done. Oh well... it would seem everything moves in slow motion when kids are involved. After a while of sewing and snack time, we took the kids out to play in the over-cast weather. It was a lovely little afternoon, and I think we are set for another sew date next week.

A Very Beige Sundress

Yesterday I began sewing up a cute little sundress, which you may remember from this post. The pattern came cut on vintage fabric with all the original notions! Now, because of this I didn't get to choose the fabric, so its a very light beige, but quite cute, and has dark brown bias for the trim.
The darts in this dress are amazing, and the back of the skirt has a lovely little fish-tail godet. This pattern is a relatively quick sew, and easy to follow, I recommend it if you are a new sewer looking for a cute sundress! My daughter woke up during the sewing, so you can see her snuggling in the background in the above shot.
The dress is actually a bit further along than these pictures, but after a bobbin mishap yesterday I decided I needed a time-out from it. I am going to try and wrap up sewing it today or tomorrow, so I can move on to making it in a more flattering fabric. I picked red dot fabric and trim last night, and can't wait to make this dress again.
On that note, when trying this dress on, it became very clear that beige is not my color. It works against my skin tone completely. So if you are a 26" waist and interested in a McCall's 4001 sundress, I am probably going to throw it up here for sale!

Junking.

Last night husband surprised me with an impromptu date night! And bless his soul, he offered to take me to the antique mall for our date. How sweet right?
When we met, our favorite past time was "junking" or hunting old junk at thrift stores and antique malls. Clearly, we were meant for each other, as we can spend hours wandering thrifts and vintage shops.
Last night I squealed with joy when one of my favorite booths had these lovely patterns
Each pattern is pinned on to vintage fabric, and has all the original notions that were to go with the making of the piece. metal zippers, matching thread, even bias tape! How neat.. all the hard work has been cut out for me, pun intended. To top it off, they are my size... how could I resist?
The pic above, definitely needs to be clicked for the bigger version to see the glasses and detail on the second pattern... SO CUTE. The Skirt is from 1955, and the Dress is 1957. I am going to try and make them both up this week, if the dress is awesome, its gonna be my new summer staple.

I have caught the sewing bug for sure, I made a dress the other night (pictures and post to come) and since then, I just want sew up everything in my pile. And of course, add more projects to said pile.

Happy Tuesday all!

These Purls Are Free

I really enjoy getting things, and not having to pay for them. Who doesn't right? Well, its no different with knitting patterns. With my lack of knitting skill (read awful) I do not want to invest money in patterns that I will likely never get around to casting-on.
I am quite pleased to share that their are gracious and kind people out there who scan knitting patterns and don't charge for them! This is fantastic, especially if you are only hoping to try your hand at knitting a sweater (or scarf.)
I am loving this pattern I found over at Faded Splendor. I mean, take note of that amazing hair inspiration, and knitted finery! Delightful.

Faded splendor is not the only place to track these down either, here is a minimal list of a few favorites...

1. The 3 Hour Sweater which you may remember I was working on last December.. still working on it. HA!
2. Historic Knitting Patterns also has a medium selection for all members of your family.
3. Vintage Purls has patterns for women, men and kidlets.


Well this small list should get you started. And maybe the generosity of others will have you inspired to share some of your vintage knitting/crochet patterns. I have a few crochet purse patterns I am in the process of turning into PDF files, so await their un-costly-ness. That's right, I am making up words tonight! Bed time.

Play Date

Monday I went on a sewing date with blogging buddy Solanah. We each worked on separate projects this time, but both were finished to (almost)completion, nary a tear!
Yes, this occasion was much more festive than last time and the disastrous debacle dress.
I worked on a dress from Solanah's 1930s DuBarry Pattern, and she made a lovely pleated 50s frock.
The only fabric I had laying around suitable for this project was some hideous rose print fabric from the 80s, gifted to me from my mother in law. So, while not being my favorite dress I have made, I feel confident in its creation.
Solanah on the other hand, had the most decadent pink kona cotton I have ever seen made into a dress. and the final product was wonderful.

(click to enlarge images)

I must say, I did make a few mistakes. I fail to pre-read pattern instructions, so I miss tiny things like "cut on a fold" HAH! So my neck hole ended up a bit to small, and its tight through the bodice. C'est La Vie I will cover my mistakes with a GIANT BOW!
Amazingly we were able to remedy this mishap, and move onto sleeves. Look at the cute detail on the sleeves. Adorable! Make sleeves? Yes We Can!
We will end with my dress near completion when I asked Solanah where the hem should be. This dress was outrageously long. Oh the 30s?!

A seam for stress

Today was to be another lovely sewing date with fellow blogger Solanah.
Alas, the horrid flu bug has hit my Monday babysitter, also known as mommy-in-law. Because of lack of baby sitter for my two tiny tots, I was unable to stitch up a dress today and even less able to take pictures of the adventure.

To make up for the lack of a garment making fiasco to talk about I decided to spotlight another blogger in the vintage world, who can sew stitches around me... Lauren of Wearing History.
I love to read her blog, and drool(literally my friends!) over pictures of her amazing skills of frock fabrication.
Do make a stop over at her blog, if you want to feel inspired to create.
She is also saving up money for a trip the Paris Flea Markets, and all envy aside, I hope she makes enough money to enjoy herself there. So I thought I would drop her internet shops for you all to peruse.
She usually sells 30s 40s and 50s patterns and they are all just lovely! So if you are thinking about sewing a vintage piece and don't have a pattern yet, check her goodies out:
on ETSY
on EBAY

Mis-Adventures in Garment Making

Monday morning I met up with my real life blogging friend Solanah to get some work done on a dress we decided to make together. It was the 1930s butterick pattern I posted a while back.
I must admit, I think this dress was doomed from the beginning, alas we set forth trying to decipher some of the most poorly written instructions I have ever seen.
We start out the morning looking quite cheery and excited, with a "we can do it" attitude!

After pondering the instructions for ages, we decide to throw caution to the wind and just start cutting. After a small issue with cutting out the sleeve piece wrong and driving all around town, we finally completed the cutting stage.

We then moved onto a deadlock for hours, with little to know progress outside of some darts. After a sewing machine broke, we pack it all up and head to Solanah's house to sew there instead.
While loading the car I was lucky enough to be stung on the foot by a wasp! Which delayed us another 20 minutes or so while we "googled" a treatment for Bee Stings.

Deadlock continues. Solanah and I stare aimlessly at the dress pinned up on the dressform.
It makes no sense, none of this pattern makes any sense. We try to re-pin and adjust. We try scraping it all and making it up. Nothing.
We close this saga with a dress hanging off the form, 7 hours later, with no end in sight.
We packed our fabric up, and stuck it in her basement, until a day when we felt we could try again. At this point I never want to see this dress again. Ever.

I am hoping next week when if we get together we can sew This 30s Dress, which Solanah has once completed and swears is nothing like the dreaded butterick disaster.

Quick Pattern Picture

This is a short post to show off my newest Pattern I acquired at the weird "tweaker vintage store" by my house.
I can't even put into words, the insanity it is to shop there, not to mention the fact that you leave store with something along the lines of a meth contact high. But you may just score a hidden gem like this 40s pattern for $2.00!

Click to enlarge

What do you think Solanah? Another Monday project? We can be come the weird matching dress posse.
At any rate, I am excited. I hope to get sewing on this someday soon.