Projects: Vintage patterns

I spent that last two weekends preparing some patterns for sewing. I like to lay out a bunch of projects and cut the fabric, then I'm all set for a few months. I have 6 items ready to sew, and they will take some time to work through. A skirt is easy to do in a weekend, but some jackets and dresses I have planned will take a bit longer. What I'm most excited about in looking at this collection of planned projects is the good use I'm getting out of my growing vintage pattern collection. And I'm still really just scratching the surface.
All these are 1944 to 1969. AMAZING!!!!!
I can't wait to make them and show them to you all. be ready to get inspired, friends!

Have a great weekend-- Happy Crafting!!!
xoxoxo

Late 1960's Blouse

I liked the look so much of this pattern, but in the end... meh. The shirt is OK. It's not great. For one, the fabric is too soft, and the fit is too baggy. It's a bit sad when you make something and you just don't LOVE it. You made it and so you feel you have to wear it, but... some garments just don't come out great. Not everything works out in the end. Don't believe all those Hollywood endings! The look is supposed to be kinda Mary-Tyler-Moore, but it's more... David-Byrne-big-suit???

I do like this cowl-neck collar though.

Retro Re-do

Oh So Cute vintage dress, why do you have to be so small in the waist?  Never fear, my sewing machine is near! Don't rule out amazing vintage finds that may be too small at first glance.  Alter it!

For this lovely orange dress, I cut a few inches off the hem, separated the bodice and skirt at the waist, removed the skirt gathering to give me the extra inches I needed (4!!!), used the hem scraps to make some "panels" to fit in the side of the bodice, then sewed the top & bottom back together.

A fun project and a new challenge. You don't know what is possible until you try.

Curtain Skirt

  I had this left-over fabric from some Ikea textiles I bought for curtains several years ago. I just love the colors and print so I had to make something with the remnant. I whipped up a dress, but I had made the yoke too small and the body of the dress had no drape since the fabric is so thick so I ditched that. And then I attempted this skirt.
  I made it without a pattern and made a few errors. But these were excellent learning errors, like putting in darts in the rear before attaching the waistband, and how best to shape the waistband before cutting it, and cutting it on the bias. Excellent exercise for sharpening those sewing skills.
  I am very pleased with the end result. Cute skirt. Eye-catching and bright, like me!  One-of-a-kind! :)

Vintage Modern Shirt with Jeans

My gal-pals ask me, "Do you ever wear jeans?"  The answer: Not much. Maybe once a week (on the weekends) or even every other week. I really like dresses and skirts and have only 1 pair of jeans that fit (and one really old, big pair for yard work.) These Express jeans are dark wash, very comfortable, and flattering. This blouse is very modern and sharp with crisp stripes, a small white collar and french cuffs.

But I needed to make it more "fun" so I appliqued a hand-cut, black-felt treble clef to the front shoulder. Makes me think of The Andrews Sisters (who I LOVE) every time I wear it.

Blouse, thrifted.

Paired here with dark red REMIX wedges. Hair tied up in a messy bun.

Modeling in my kitchen at 7am with a skunk puppet.

Print shift: Made by Me

A simple, stretch-knit, pullover shift. Fun to make and fun to wear!
I fell in love with this fabric as soon as I saw it and immediately envisioned the dress I would make. I had this pattern at home in my "craigslist score," and whipped this dress out over a few hours this past weekend.

It had no shape, and I need a nipped in waist or I feel like a walking potato sack, so I added this wide woven belt.

I love this outfit.

Classic look: Made by Me Skirt

A "classic" look. My favorite! Fitted skirt, fitted collar shirt, simple cardigan, and a big beaded necklace. A timeless look. I will be wearing this kind of outfit till I'm 90. And hopefully I'll still be stylish!

Handmade and designed by me: elastic waist skirt, with front pockets. White blouse from H&M, Guess cardigan, necklace thrifted.

I wore this skirt today and someone in my office said, "You really like polka dots, huh?"
I said, "Yes, I do." As you can see from the outfits posted on this blog, I really DO like polka dots. And I haven't even posted half the "dots" in my closet. More to come!

Bike seat cover

I've had a few people ask me about this seat cover recently. Here's how to do it:

It gave my very old seat a few more years of life. Happy sewing!

Hot Pink Halter

It has been years since I wore a halter top, but since I made this one myself...I just had to wear it.
Sewing rocks. Hardcore.

Suit jacket and wide-leg black pants (Express); purple suede wedges (Kenneth Cole for Macy's).

Notes on this bike: This is my free bike I found in the trash. I keep it at work for zipping around as needed - it gets used daily. For a junk bike, it is so great. The wheels roll... one brake works- that's ok, right? The pedals/cranks squeak so loud you can hear me coming a block away. Yeah. I know I'm cool.

More skirts

I finished a few more skirts and am now moving on to a hot pink Japanese cherry blossom brocade fabric halter top. Thanks to Deanna for being such a great inspiration (and loaning me this pattern). Happy sewing!

Free patterns

Score. Craigslist just keeps on giving. I got these 2 boxes of free patterns from a woman in Culver City who is moving away and was gonna throw them out. Rescued! All the major brands are here: McCalls, Butterick, Vogue, Simplicity...

There is some ugly 70's and 80's stuff, but also some fantastic 70's and 80's stuff. I am set for a while I think. Happy sewing!!

April the Bear

So this is April, my childhood teddy bear. This dusty, smooshed bear has been in the closet for decades and is finally gonna get a new life. She is getting a stuffing transplant.

(Pre-transplant)

(Her 1970's stuffing had turned to foam dust, broken plastic lining and tiny bits of styrofoam. Toxic? Maybe.)

Over the weekend, doctors opened her up and cleaned out her old, corroded, decomposed guts. She was then re-stuffed and gently stitched back together with loving care. It was a hairy night of surgery, but she is now resting comfortably and out of critical condition.

(An empty shell, post-washing machine)

A survivor! Wow. What an inspirational story. Put your hands together for April the Bear!!!!!!!

Sewing Projects

New skirts! I spend the past week making a few of these for my Etsy shop. I have a few more cut but not sewn together yet. It's been fun to make a small run of unique and cute little skirts. I hope they will land in good homes. And I got to use up some of my back-stock of fabrics. Now I have a good excuse to by some new yardage!

My hand-made button bracelet.