Read the directions?

I never really do. I don't know why. Sometimes I am certain that I *have* only to find, usually to my great dismay, that I skipped an important step---without even realizing it.

In 6th grade, the last day before Christmas break, the teacher handed out a test and announced, "Now everyone, be sure to read all the directions before you begin....."

As I was madly filling in the answers, kids started handing in their papers almost as quickly as they had received them....and it was not until I heard someone whisper, "Amy....read the directions!" that I realized at the very top it stated "Write your name at the top of this page, and the test is complete! Merry Christmas!!"

Oh, Kenna Sue Carter, you were a sly little devil!

And I am a nincompoop. Who never reads the directions......or thinks she does. My reading comprehension has never been very good. I scored pretty low on the Iowa tests.

So after adding three inches to the waistband and gores of this skirt (which worked, God be praised) I thought I would be flashy and try my had at a lapped zipper. And after painstakingly installing said zipper, I discovered it totally threw off the waistband/drape/ease/everything on the skirt.

Such Sadness.

Then I realized the pattern calls for snap closures. There is even an illustration. The pattern is from 1944.....perhaps they were rationing "slide fasteners" at this time? I suppose they would have been. And I am willing to bet that using snaps will make the side seam a lot smoother than it is, as I can futz more easily with the ease and such---a zipper anchors it all in.

The skirt should hang more like the image right above....and the instructions are there too.

See the pretty picture? Snaps.

I am turning over a new leaf.

UPDATE 9/13: It has *nothing* to do with the snaps vs. zipper. It has to do with the fact that I stink at installing zippers. C'est La Vie

Building my 40's wardrobe.....

Okay.....so I got these little ditties off ebay last month:

And I was so darned excited to find them in my size, you know?

No need to grade the patterns or make adjustments, etc. etc?

AHahahhahahhaAHHAHA!!!

Oh, that is just rich.

I pinned the pattern pieces to Rosalind this afternoon, and low and behold, the waistband was THREE inches too small. (?)

Wuh WUH?

I am actually working on this as I speak (or type) but I needed a breakie poo and some chips and cheese sauce to soothe my math frazzled brain.

I have never graded a pattern before, and it made my head hurt.

The first time always hurts the most.

I know the more I do it, the easier it will be, and I will know what adjustments to make without even thinking about it......

But that will take a bit of hair pulling and cheese sauce consumption first.

(That's the Tostitos Con Queso, btw. So bad and I just don't care....If I already have to increase the waistband by three inches anyway.....)

Anywhooo.

Thank god for The Vogue Sewing Book of Fitting and Adjustments--all the info i needed was in those precious pages.

I am hoping to finish my muslin mock-up of the skirt tonight, and then do a run-thru of the blouse tomorrow. Now, the blouse *says* it is my bust size with 2 extra inches in the waist, but I am not holding my breath.

Although that might help with the fit.

(As a side note, the photo of the blouse pattern is a size 12, bust 32....but the one i have is in a much larger size)

Anthropologie

Longing. That is how I feel when I peruse Anthropologie. I love the clothes so much, I hurt. And the *pricing* of those clothes is *just* as painful.

It's an appreciation of the design, the fabrics, the artistry......so flattering to the female form.

I am in *luff* with The Hullabaloo Sweater Dress.

Look at the embroidery edge-stitching on the shoulders!!

Comfort Time!

It's been raining for 2 or 3 days now, the temperatures have dropped, the leaves are beginning to turn (what??) and it was time for some comfort. Comfort FOOD that is.......when it is misty and raining and there is a chill in the air......

Life is hard. And food tastes good. Especially the ooey gooey dripping-with-love-goodness that is Mom's Mac and Cheese. (Displayed here with the loverly quilted oven mitts she made me...with chicken fabric.)

And as long as the whole pan is not consumed in one sitting by just one or two people, there is no real harm done. There is too much love in this savory pudding to bring anything but joy.

The photo was taken with my camera phone, so it does not reveal the magic within the pie. But it was there. Still is. We only ate half.

As a side note...I purchased two more late 60's patterns off ebay (which puts me at my limit for the week, I believe...if there is such a thing) and neither of them are on the pattern wiki! How exciting. I will post pickies when I receive them, as the ebay photos are not very clear.

Enjoy the rainy day!

(In need of a mac and cheese recipe? Any 50's cookbook will set you up nicely)

Vogue Couturier 2820

JUST got this little number off ebay (from the UK, no less. Go Brits!) , and I am so durned excited I can hardly stand it!!

Look at the collar and those little pleats!!

I am already envisioning a thick dark green fabric of some description....the perfect dress for fall....with some tights and clogs!

Oh..Sometimes I look at vintage clothes and my heart aches from the beauty.

Sigh.

Singes du bonheur!

Oh wonderful day!
Yesterday I attended a "Sock Monkey Camp" hosted by local artist

Michelle Binkowski.
6 of us spent almost 5 hours telling stories, talking about our dogs and creating little sock creatures at a huge table strewn with embroidery thread, polyester fiberfill, buttons, bling and of course, socks.

I have decided from now on, anytime I am sad and lonely, feeling frustrated, or just plain bored......it is time to make a monkey. It gets the creative juices flowing. And the simple joy of giggling to yourself as your creature takes shape is very gratifying indeed.

Too much of a good thing......

Man oh mighty---after sewing for about 7 hours straight yesterday, I was curled up into a ball on the sofa with a tension headache the size of Toledo. My eyes and forehead were burning with creative fire.
My mom is an avid quilter (when I say "avid" what I really mean is that fabric takes up most of the living space in her house) so I phoned home for a dose of sympathy---which I got. And then I took a scorching hot bath in the dark and ate cookies.

This little number was the source of my occular turmoil. It is my first attempt at an actual vintage pattern....and plaid. I found the construction itself to be easier, with more thorough instruction than modern patterns.
The plaid on the other hand was the bane of my existence--and after what I thought was careful planning, the little squares did *not* in fact line up---at least not perfectly. But close enough.


There is an old eastern saying that warns not to strain painfully toward perfection lest we fracture our soul and infuse it into our material workings. ("Material" being the key word here).


So when some detail-oriented creep muses about my uneven plaid, I can smile wistfully to myself and know my soul is intact.


It still needs finishing touches that I will apply this weekend. Sadly, Rosalind (my dummy) is of firmer build than I, so I will also need to wear a foundation garment if I plan on cinching that belt tight. Most of the patterns from the 50's were designed for girdle-wearing fem-bots.....at least that is what I am going to tell myself, as anything under a 27 inch waist seems rather....well, unnatural.


Last week I worked on Butterick 4985:

Which was easie-peasie. Even the sleevies. It took me over a week to put the buttons on. Sigh.

There is another eastern saying that states we will not ascend to heaven until all of the unfinished earthly projects we leave behind at our death are completed in purgatory. Zowie!
Sounds more like hell.