I worked on this dress all day yesterday, as I had originally planned to wear it to my husband’s birthday party on Saturday. I started cutting it out at 11am and by 5pm, got this far and tried it on. My initial impression, it does nothing for me. It looks better on my mannequin than it does on me, but it still doesn’t look great. I don’t think ( Read more... )

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last post. I've just been too busy to do any personal sewing.
( vintage sewing goodness )

This UFO (unfinished object) has been sitting in the UFO pile since last winter. I didn't really like the fit, but wasn't willing to toss it. I discovered it last week while going through the pile. With fresh eyes, all it really needed was to be taken in a touch. It's a lovely thick, warm flannel version of Simplicity 1577. I lengthened the ( Read more... )

I finished my right armlet! I still need to weave in all the ends and add buttons up the side seam. This was my first time using intarsia and double pointed needles. The intarsia wasn't hard but the needles suck. The only problem with this is that because I'm so short, it comes up to my armpit.


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I had always avoided the slim skirted look of the 50's, thinking I couldn't pull it off. However, looking at pictures of a full skirted dress and a slim skirted outfit together, the slim skirt is clearly more flattering. I think my next project will be a slim skirted dress.


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I’ve made this before, in lightweight summer fabrics. This is one of my favorite patterns! After having several bombs in a row, I thought it would be best to use a tried and true pattern. The fabric is a cotton lycra blend that has been in my stash for several years. Yay for stash busting! I have enough leftover to make a self belt, which I ( Read more... )

Well, mostly complete. I’ve decided that my crinoline hits me at an unflattering length, so I’m making a new one. I don’t want to hem the dress until I have the crinoline done. While I was working on this, I wasnt sure I was happy with it. I think winter sewing just isn’t as fun as bright, crisp cottons in lovely prints. However, this one ( Read more... )

I have a grand plan to organize my sewing. My pattern collection was one of the problems. They were spilling out of their original boxes and I had no idea what I had. I finally picked up some nice pattern boxes and have been working to organize them. Part of that process has been to photograph them so that I can see them at a glance and know ( Read more... )

I get a call from sister, saying she wants to talk about Thanksgiving. I've been sick as a dog all week, so I didn't remember talking with her. She sent me an email a couple days later saying that since we had traveled the last few years, it's only fair that they travel to us. Yippie ( Read more... )

My first version of McCalls 9158 was the navy with white polka dots, http://newvintage.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/mccalls-9158-complete/. This time, I’m making the 3/4 length sleeve in a wool blend that has been sitting in my fabric stash for at least 6 ( Read more... )