Sewing Catch Up

Here are a few projects I completed but never posted on.

For the babe:
Simplicity 6473 in 1966

Simplicity 6473 in 2011

She has another jumper coming in grey and pink plaid.

Next up, Simplicity 6583 (pants) in 1974

Simplicity 6583 in 2011

I lined these in white cotton flannel for warmth. Lucky kid.

And a few items for moi:
Lisette for Simplicity # 2246 Traveler shirt dress. This is a rare modern pattern for me.

Image courtesy of Pattern Review

I used a similar fabric. Sorry about the kitchen shots- I never got around to an outside photo of this one.

I like this pattern, and the fit is mostly good, but it is bizarrely small in the shoulders/armscyes, and I am disproportionately small through the upper chest, so it is weirdly drafted.

Moving on, I made a knit dress in early January.

Copyright 1980, it is only just as vintage as I am. 

It also has a blouse option, and I think I will sew it. Simplicity 9521 is a nice, versatile, simple pattern. 

Butterick 6517 is not so nice.

I have made it twice, and I won't wear either version. The second time I tweaked the fit with my bodice sloper and sewed it in a drapier faille, and it was still bad. I think the sizing is way off, and that tab is a major p.i.t.a. and just wants to be puckery.

I made a Meringue by Colette Patterns along with the Sew Colette group, and it came out okay, though I don't love it. I feel matronly saying so, but I almost think a scalloped mini is a little too young for me. And I needed to grade down a few sizes at the hips- it bells. 

Just before this skirt, I sewed a 60s shift dress from Simplicity 5960. 

I actually really like this dress, but I think I will like it best in summer with a pair of sandals and no hose or slip. I made cording and hand stitched it at the neckline, I piped both pockets, and I stitched the bias at the hem. Fun, fun!

I am in the process of finishing this leopard print dress that I fitted with my bodice sloper (which was awesome and easy!), and I like the fit on top a lot. The pattern is Simplicity 4491, and the fit is a lot better than the first time I made it.

It is day dressy- it fits my shape but without being so snug that I will get uncomfortable wearing it. 

I also started four pairs of skivvies and made a couple pairs of slippers. Sheesh. I have been a busy bee. 

Now that I am all up to date on what I've been sewing, I've got a few pics of the spiffy new-to-me machine I've been sewing on.

 I bought it a couple of weeks ago, and although it needed a little tuning up when I received it, it now sews a perfect stitch. It was advertised as having been serviced and being in perfect working order, and at a good price. I snapped it up, and when I pulled it out of it's purty case and started poking around, I found this.

The thread was all tangled up around the bobbin case. I emailed the seller, who is very sweet, and she immediately refunded me the cost of a having it serviced. I am so glad she was so easy to do business with. The machine got a thorough servicing, a new motor pulley, and a clean up/tune up on the motor. I DID THAT MYSELF! Well, my husband helped some (he made me say that). It was a bit sluggish before, but now she really hums along, and I see what all of the fuss is about. This thing sews a lovely, perfectly balanced stitch. The tension isn't fussy, and the small size somehow improves the ergonomics for me- I have had less sewing fatigue and shoulder soreness. Plus, this machine is just beautiful!

Sadly, my trusty Kenmore is now playing a sort of second fiddle. I am keeping it, as it is a reliable and versatile machine. I still need a zig-zag, man (that's for my husband). But, I didn't want to just shove it up on the shelf and make it all jealous of the new beauty in the house. So, I spruced up the hard case.

I spray painted it and modge podged pattern pieces and pattern cover art (copies- I love you, Vintage Pattern Wiki) over the paint. Now the Kenmore has some style too, and it is pretty to look at up on my shelf. I am also now infatuated with modge podge, and have plans to brush that goop over anything I can get my hands on....look out baby, you are next!

Now to bed. I am sooooooooooo tired. Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day! Wherever you are, I hope you feel loved! 

I Won the Blue Gardenia Giveaway! And Denise was Right- I am so Excited!

Denise over at The Blue Gardenia Blog and The Blue Gardenia Shop hosted a wonderful giveaway for a Parfait from Colette patterns, as well as some lovely leopard print fabric, nail polish, and a Reader's Digest Sewing Guide, and I won the fab loot!

Thanks a million to Denise as well as the ladies at Colette Patterns for spreading the sewing love around.

Also, anyone who has not yet or has not recently checked out Denise's blog and the patterns at The Blue Gardenia needs to go have a look-see. Denise stocks some exquisite, rare, and lovely vintage pattern eye candy as well as fab vintage costume jewelry. Her patterns are all checked and counted, so you don't run the risk of being disappointed by a missing piece, and she provides free shipping in the U.S.

Isn't this lovely? See what I mean?

The Colette peeps have recently released their new line of lovely patterns for fall, and have a fun blog as well with sewing tips, methods, and inspiration. I've had my eye on Clover trousers for fall.

So, thanks again!

I am very ready to get back to sewing now that I am home from my little sister's wedding in Maine. I made dresses for the baby and I, and I will post pics and such as soon as possible. Until then....

Dream Dress- Anniversary Edition

As alluded to in my previous post, I have already completed a project in my new sewing studio. My husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last week, and I just whipped this little number up (I've always wanted to be able to say that!) to wear out on our first child free over-night out in two and a half years (thanks Ga Ga!).

 It is a great fit and the fabric is really cool. I used two identical 40s (?) feed sacks I purchased at an antique mall in Maryland when I visited my mom back in March.

Cutting into 70 year old fabric is a little nerve-wracking

 My original plan was to take Gertie's Bombshell Class on Craftsy and use that pattern. Well, I loved the class, and although I employed several of the methods Gertie instructs on in the construction of this dress, mine was not made as carefully as hers. In fact, it was made in a couple of hours spread over the three days before my anniversary. That's the "whipped it up" part. Also, I didn't use that Burda bombshell pattern. I am very small up top, and I just didn't like the way it looked on me. So, I used the top from Simplicity 4070.

Ignore the horrific bubble dress.
I am learning to look past the awful samples depicted on some pattern fronts. 

I moved the seams so they would be over my bust, as they were spaced too far out at the sides. I also shortened the bodice by one inch for my short waist, and "sweethearted" it a little more, as it seemed not so heart-y. To this bodice, I added the skirt from Simplicity 4491, which I know fits me well and is a style I like from having made it in my Daffodil Dress and in a leopard print as well.  

Of course, I double checked to make sure the bodice's princess seams would match the skirt darts and tucks, and then I shortened it a lot. A real lot.

Getting old, but not willing to hang it up yet!

I also put spiral steel boning in the bodice, moved the zipper to the side seam, lined the bodice, underlined the entire dress, included a waist stay, and sewed the zipper and hem by hand. Of the waist stay and boning, I must say I don't think I would have been comfortable in this dress without them. As Gertie says in the class, they are like scaffolding- that dress stayed just where it was supposed to, and I am one of those gals who always thought I didn't meet the requirements for holding up a strapless dress, if-ya-know-what-I-mean.

I loved wearing it, and I felt like a million bucks. The hub loved it too, and we both loved the gazillion pounds of sushi we consumed at our special dinner. And lemme tell ya, that waist stay does start to feel a little tight after a gazillion pounds of sushi and a bucket of hot sake. I can actually sum up the feeling with another photo......

In other related news, I received my copy of Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing in the mail yesterday. I am still reading through, but I think it is going to be a great resource for in depth techniques that my other sewing texts do not cover well. There are some really cute patterns to check out too. I'll give a full run down on the book once I have finished looking it over.

'Til next time...