Sew in Love....

All righty then! I have been a sewing machine (ba-dum, kssh!) the last couple of weeks. I wanted to get plenty of things made for my upcoming trip and so far everything appears to be going according to plan.

This little number is Butterick 7862 and it sews up like a dream.

I wanna make lots and lots of them in time for summer, but one more in mauvey floral goodness just in time for Florida. I need to add about an inch to the trunk next time, but this one is fine just fine for now...no FBA or anything. It is very comfortable to wear and somewhat boyish, which I like. This was my first honest and thorough attempt at set-in sleeves---I'd never done them with perfectly flat seams before...always poofy, so it was a challenge. In fact, when I put the sleeve on "my way" and the top was poofy and gathered I thought, "WHAT?" and after referring to my trusty copy of the 1970's Vogue Sewing Book, I saw what I had been doing wrong all these years. It took the length of two Duran Duran albums to attach the sleeves properly, but in the end, as the Chaffeur reached it's climax, I conquered.

I am in love with the flattering Decades of Style Butterfly Blouse:

I'll be using this pattern again and again...Wouldn't one in multiple fabrics, like a Duro Olowu, be scrummy? (thank you dressaday) Like something you'd find at the Dragonfly in Boise (I hope that place still exists--pretty hippie clothing and incense....yum yum).

It went together really quickly...I dilly-dallied, so it took me a couple of afternoons but I could have easily assembled it in one. I gladly took Sincerely Yours, Kate's advice and glued (then sewed) thin bias trim along the edges instead of french binding to save time and give it more definition. I like it for this version, but I'm eager to find another gauzey fabric and roll all the hems....it will take longer, but give it a different and softer feel. Lots of options with this bad boy...I highly recommend it.

This little ditty is from a 1940's mail order pattern:

I really like the topstitched yoke and flutter sleeves. I messed up on the yoke and folded over/top-stitched more than the seam allowance, so there is a funky drape to the very back of the sleeves where the yoke connects to the bodice. I was not feeling perfectionistic at the moment, so I let it go. Next time I will be more careful and see what's what, but for now, who cares? I'm going to Florida.

It still needs hemming and buttons (they are pinned on in these pics) but I was excited and wanted to share now, darnit.

Next on the agenda is a pair or two of shorts and pedal-pushers from New York 100,

circa mid 1940's. CUTE. I purchased the pattern from The Vintage Fashion Library. There is a bit of confusion over what size the pattern is exactly, so I am doing a muslin first. I have been pretty good about doing muslins every time before diving in, but I cut right into the fashion fabric for the butterfly blouse and the Butterick....the Butterick was a risk, but it worked out okay. The same cannot be said for a pair of pants...way too risky. I might just say "Bollocks to it." and buy some capris and shorts online.

Lastly, I would also like to make the middle dress from McCall's 4028 in a blue batik:

Well.....it's either that or this:

That is the fabric next to the pattern there.

Comfort will be an issue on this trip, and I don't want to squish myself into a girdle every time we go out, so I am leaning toward the former as the ties are adjustable and there are no zippers and closures to faff with.

Okay...that decided it.

But the 50's pattern sure is purdy, isn't it?

It says "Magic to Make."

Dreamy!

Hmmm....maybe I haven't decided.

EDIT: I am sooooo bummed. I ironed the blue fabric, and started setting out the pattern pieces for the flutter sleeve dress and guess what?? NO FLUTTER SLEEVE PIECE! It is missing. :(

I was so excited about this dress after seeing a few finished blouses from the pattern on Sew Retro and around the web. And I wanted to dive right in, so I decided not to draft a sleeve just yet. Instead I am using the blue fabric to make the dress below, as "Magic to Make" needs to be graded and I am impatient! :) :

Butterick 7373