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

Still kickin!

Okay...it's been brought to my attention that I have not been "musing" as of late. :)
BUT I have been SEWING, which is what's most important afterall.

I'll take much better photos in the next few days....

This blouse needs big red buttons, the skirt needs hemming, and I have 2 more shirts to post as well....but I thought I would put *something* up.

The shirt is from a 1943 pattern,

and the skirt is from 1945...the same one I have been using off and on since day one of this blog. I made it in a lightweight denim this time. The shirt is a simple and soft cotton from Hancocks...

it has little cherries all over it.

I will probably shorten the sleeves a little in the next version I make. It has some nifty little details.....

I love the pockets.

Do you like the mess behind my dummy? I like to root around in my own creative filth.

Russ and I are going on holiday in 3 weeks, and I am making all the clothes I am bringing. I still need a couple more shirts, another dress and a pair of shorts and peddle-pushers, but I am confident I will be able to complete all of it if I work a couple hours every day.

Snap!

So i *finally* made this skirt yesterday.

With a happy lapped zipper.

In a fabric that i LoVe.

love love luff.

It was a fun challenge "matching" the paisleys....I knew they wouldn't be perfect, as the skirt is somewhat fitted at the top and has six gores. I decided to match them at the hipline and I am so very pleased, as all the swirls and curls took on an unintentional design of their own.

Flat felled seams, pinwale corduroy, 1940's pattern.

Time to make some shirts!

The future's so bright.....

Um, yeah. Won't be doing that again. :)

Shoulda known better than to plan a month's worth of sewing projects ahead of time. Especially around the holidays.

It's not in my nature to get the 'ole ducks in a row anyway......In fact, openly stating I'm going to work on specific projects likely increases my disinterest in them. :) Don't ask why. There are just so many wonderful dresses to make.....and so little time. And I like to change my mind. Alot.

I did complete two in four weeks....which is purty darned good. If I make two dresses every four weeks in 2009, that will be TWENTY FOUR new dresses for my wardrobe this year! And that's pretty rad! So let's look at it like that, shall we? :)

FIRSTLY.....

I was going to make the Claire McCardell dress for the holidays, but I just could not find the right fabric. I searched high and low. And until I find exactly what I am looking for, the pattern sits on the back burner. So instead, I opted for this:

It's Butterick 5243. I made it for my hubby's Xmas party. The day of. Because that is how I roll. Even though I had two weeks to do it, I felt it would be best to spastically throw it together in a few short and stressful hours (I was hemming the sleeves 15 minutes before we had to leave). By the time we got to the party, I was ready for that first glass of champagne, by golly.

I cut a size 16, which are my exact measurements, but the finished product was a good size or two too big. WAY too much ease. My fault for not investigating that first. All the gathers sucked, and the knit jersey I chose was a bit too heavy. I wore it anyway and felt a bit of a frump. Onto the second glass of champagne....

The next day, a good washing on the hottest cycle and a "denim" setting in the dryer did the trick. Now it fits like a dream. I will probably not make it again with the long sleeves....but a short-sleeved version in a lighter knit could be very cute next summer.....in a size 12.

This next one is made from a darling mail order pattern circa 1940. I would run upstairs to see what company produced it, but my legs still hurt from waiting tables on New Years, so I am gonna stay here snuggled up with my puppy dog under one of Momma's quilts.

I am in love with this dress. It's made from a Xmas novelty cotton from Joann Fabric (like 3 bucks a yard or something) but is still fairly soft with decent drape. I love the gold swirlies. And the heart-shaped buttons. The pattern called for ric-rac under the topstitching, but I thought the fabric ornate enough. Here is a picture of the original pattern:

I made a muslin first and the ONLY thing I did not finish was the very bottom of the sleeves....which turned out to be a bit snug. So it's not a dress to go dancing in. But it is fine for sitting still and looking pretty.

Next time I will fit the sleeves properly so I can shake my money maker.

Or heck,

I might just make another dress!

The Hostess with the Mostess

Dressember is almost upon us, and I felt it would be helpful if I started setting some goals for myself.....if I type it out, perhaps the likelihood of me following thru will increase. :)

The first item on my to-do list is a holiday dress for my husband's corporate holiday party, which falls on the 6th of December. I think I have settled on The Claire McCardell Dress. (It has recently been released in multi-size format on EvaDress, along with some other wonderful patterns)

The dress is simple, sophisticated and should not take long to make--which is key, since Momma is tired. I plan on using dark green jersey of some description, as I read it was McCardell's favorite fabric to work with. I am hoping since it has a bit of give, this dress will be *very* easy to alter and assemble. Check.

The second item is a hostess ensemble for Xmas dinner at our house. It will be a very small affair with only a handful of guests...and I am thinking a somewhat 70's theme is in order. You know, fondue, bowls of black olives, baked artichokes, spouse-swapping....no no no.

I was a little kid in the 70's, so this style holds a special place in my heart. I think the pattern itself is from 1969--but that's close enough. I was raised in Anchorage, AK where fashion was behind the times by a few years anyway. I fondly remember my mom and her friends in these butterfly collared shirts with wide-legged pants or skirts (usually in extreme plaids) and all the men wearing super wide ties (also plaid).

I particularly like this pattern too, because the blonde gal in the middle reminds me of my friend Elise...who would also happily don that outfit to be a hostess with the mostess.

The third endeavor will be a blouse I can wear with a pair of black trousers on New Years Eve. I will be working, so a wide range movement is required. I told my hubby I wanted this butterfly blouse pattern for Xmas and if I do get it (hint hint, Honey!) I will be able to whip it up just in time.

If, however, I do not receive said blouse pattern, I will make this dress:

And I might just make it anyway....it is too cute. And I think it would make the perfect "little black dress" or cocktail number for any occasion. Aside from housecleaning.

OK. So that's the plan, Stan.

And I am heading to Joann's to use my coupon on the McCardell fabric, if I can find something suitable.

P.S. In "Dressember" we're supposed to wear a dress every day of December...and supposedly skirts don't count. But as I wear jeans and workpants day in and day out, homemade skirts DO count in my book. :) Rules are made to be broken anyway.

What's Wrong With This Picture.....

I'll give you a closer look.....

Can you guess?

Let's just say, I learned about napped fabric.

And I honestly thought I was cutting out the corduroy correctly.

Remember that whole thing about not following directions?

I guess I have trouble following them even when I think I AM.

But that's okay.

There is no such thing as mistakes. We learn from every "so called" error.

And now I will remember always, when I cutting out corduroy, it is NOT okay to just fold the fabric in half widthwise and go for broke.

You must cut on the fold and flip one piece of the fabric around

so the nap matches on both pieces.

And it's all good.

Because I was flashy made sure the pockets were oppositely napped.

Now it is a bit more "homey" and casual instead of classy.

Which is also all good.

Because in the process,

I found my new favorite skirt pattern.

I am making one in every color, including denim.

This Simplicity 4850...I'll add it to the vintage pattern wiki later.

Reasons Why I Love the Northwest......

Oskar and I found this gigantic leaf on our autumn walkabout this morning.

An authentic seafood gumbo simmered on our stove yesterday.

The evening was cold and shivery.

And the hot soup warmed our bellies.

Brown rice and crusty french bread...YUM.

Follwed by spiced pumpkin cookies with brown butter icing.

Served with chamomile tea.

I love autumn.