Lookie what I got!

I won a contest - a free vintage pattern - from Barbara from Sewing on the Edge . Isn't it pretty? I love the dress and it's even in my size. I'm guessing early 60's? Maybe late 50's? It cost $0.60 originally.Let's take a look at the awesome directions. This is the page where they get you started. Couple of things of interest. You are directed to NOT trim the border from the pattern, to lay the rough cut piece on the fabric - note that you may have to overlap these edges - and then cut the pattern and fabric together. This is the way my mother taught me to do it and the way I've always done it. And still do. They also tell you to run a basting thread down the center of each piece and not remove it until the garment is complete. That was a new one for me. I also noticed that the instructions were much more detailed, none of the modern "next, sew it together" stuff. But at the same time printed smaller and on fewer sheets. For the dress and coat it's only 2 sheets, front and back.
I will likely trace this off to use, rather than cutting it (while leaving the edges intact and cutting off with the fabric). It will be interesting to see what alterations I will need. According to the measurements, it should be about good. I'll have to get back to you on that.

New Sleepwear

I finished my increasingly less ugly sleepwear last weekend. Now Victoria Secret has nothing to worry about, but it is a vast improvement over this (as much as I love them). The fabric is a REALLY slippery, heavyweight poly from Hancocks. I originally purchased for a blouse, but it is a much better fit as a chemise. And it would have been a real bear to make lots of seams and pleats and such out of. It likes to unravel by the chunk and it's slipperier than OJ Simpson. I used the same Kwik-Sew Lin gerie pattern as the white gown, lengthened just a bit more. It is also cut on the bias and very comfortable. To work around the hideous raveling and refusal to press issues I edged in black lace (bought while shopping with Denise and Betsy) on the bottom hem and in the front. I used tear away stabilizer on the hem and a great deal of washaway stabilizer on the top. Arms and back are overcast and folded once and hemmed. I did get some of the notorious bias stretching and ended up taking in the sides under the arms about 2.5" total. The straps, though were a breeze to make, the stuff was so slippery that turning the tubes was effortless. I like the look (much better on than in the floor) of the straps attached to the lace. It finished the edges nicely. I still owe a pair of undies of the same stuff, I have plenty of fabric left. Even bias-cut this doesn't take a lot of yardage.

And while I showed you the full set of fabric postcards, I don't think I posted the set of the ones I made (ok, I forgot I took the picture, whatever). As you can see I used my deco stitches and no two are alike. The large leaves are appliqued on using some fusible interfacing and a satin stitch. They're showing rather pinkish on my screen - they aren't, green is the real dominant color and the carpet background is white.

Commerical Pattern Archive or a stroll down memory lane.

The University of Rhode Island is offering 1 week free trials into their collection of Vintage patterns. You should take a look, after all, you may find such gems as this: A favorite and much used TNT from my highschool days. It's was Simplicity 5154 from 1972, but I used it well into the mid 70's. Small town, we weren't aways the most current. I used a lot of Simplicity back then.

Or this little number Also Simplicity, #9288 from 1971. I made view 2, complete with puffy arms and legs (as I recall, the elastic in the legs was always tight.) the mini length skirt in a brighter yellow with small flowers. And yes, I wore this public. To school, even. Ah, the 7o's. And I did, indeed, have pigtails. I was way cool (did we say that then? Or was I groovy?)

There are patterns dating from the 1860's (I looked, but didn't see Scarlett's pattern for the fab dress made from "Miss Ellen's Portieres" - what a shame) when most patterns were pieces of garments, to current fashions.

I'm a huge fan of the 40's and 50's dress clothing, when women's suits were beautifully fitted and tastefully embellished garments: (yes, they look fab and they KNOW it. Ready to conquer the world. Where would Hillary be now if she wore this instead of those god-awful pant suits?)

And dresses were pretty: (can't explain the hat, though). Isn't the front awesome? And the bias back skirt? And gloves are just sanitary.

Many of these are available to purchase (no free downloads on the trial - eye candy only). If you're even a little interested, don't miss this. If only to remind yourself of what YOU used to sew.

New Friends and new stuff

I took off for a couple of hours today (um, or so) and met Denise and Betsy at G Street in Rockville. Their new store just around the corner from the old location. We did a little shopping or a lot of shopping, perhaps, and had our photo made in front of my favorite place in the store. Then we all had lunch in the old G Street shopping center. They'd been to Mekong River first and then were headed to A Fabric Place (aka Michael's). I had to go back to work.

Denise found this beautiful wool, fit for Caesar perhaps? For her BWOF coat. She's going to line it with a deep corral silk. Betsy draped it over her and I took the picture so she could see how it looked on her. Good, I think. Very good.

Betsy shopped mostly for "staples" (wallet a little light after Mekong River? I took a gander at that haul, really beautiful pieces). She did get some buttons for a jacket she has planned. Wish I had a photo of both the Mekong hauls and the buttons. But I did get a picture of our feet There's a tiny piece of Denise's fabric in one corner, we'll pretend that's what I was photographing, ok?

I bought some lin gerie lace to try some undies and to finish my chemise. It's photographed on some interfacing (wouldn't want you to miss that) and some turquoise silk - 2 yards, so you can see the white lace. It's all stretch lace except the black scalloped. It's going to edge the chemise.

In fact, I got one edge sewn this evening before stopping to blog and eat dinner and veg out. I'm putting some stabilizer on the edge, then zig-zagging the lace on. A little tedious, but it seems to be working out well.

In addition to the silk I picked up a couple of pieces off the $2.97 wall of goodness. It was neat and tidy (see the photo above) but not very packed. I still found these: The stripe is a wool (probably blend) and the darker brown is a knit with a nice texture. Click to see it better.

And to top the day, this was waiting for me in my mail box from Wendy. Thanks, Wendy. I'm really liking the Yoked top on the far right. And the dress with the belt on the left looks promising for fall (with slightly less poofy sleeves, I think). The Bolero? We'll see.

It was a fun sewing day and don't forget to watch Project Runway on Lifetime tonight.

Interesting People

Last night, after doing some high end shopping at Target we had dinner at a local fine dining establishment, okay, Applebee's. As we were eating they seated a couple of women on the other side of the planter from us. I wouldn't have noticed them - middle aged, frumpy dressed, pudgy - but the older woman had a rather loud voice that carried. So I heard her order the Mongo Pina Colada, Caesar Salad and 2 steaks medium well. And water - no ice - to take her pill. Then waiter brought the wrong drink and no water. Then a CHICKEN Caesar salad. Hmmm. Anyway, all of this started us talking, "Yes, I heard you order to Mongo size".... Point to this long diatribe - the 2 women were mother and daughter. From Regina, SK, Canada. Remember we're in D.C. They travel the U.S. every summer for about a month. They drive (well, apparently the daughter does). They've been to every state except the New England ones they're covering on this trip. They make sure they go to the capital of each state, which they know better than I do. Take the back roads - avoiding the interstates - to see the country and get the feel for the area. They'd spent yesterday in the District on The Mall. They were going to go by JFK stadium for a photo shot and ball cap (for a nephew, I believe - they were a little frumpy but not that bad). Then up through Baltimore, Pennsylvania, NY, Vermont, NH and Maine. Probably hit a few more of the small states up there that they know are there, along with their capitals, flowers, birds and trees, that I've missed. They've seen more of my country than I have. I was quite impressed, if you can't tell. They were really fun to talk to, quite adventurous. I hope they have fun on the rest of their trip. But they're almost done with the good old U.S. of A. They don't know where to go next year. Europe?

In sewing news, I got my nice gift from Julia. When we played a game. It was a handy purse organizer that I can definitely use. Maybe find my keys in the morning? It could happen. THANKS, JULIA! I emailed you.

I'm working on BWOF 08-2009-113 It's a cute style, but a lot of futzing around the top. Once I get the neckline top stitched down, it will go fast, I think. I should finish tomorrow. My fabric is a very light crinkly almost gauze from Hancocks. So light the zipper seams heavy in it.

And I want to make some nicer sleep wear. Liana really made me think about my FRUMPY night wear. Yes, the grape PJ bottoms are awesome. But perhaps it's time to kick it up a notch? I'm going to crack open my Kwik-Sew Lingerie book There's a chemise pattern I'm planning on using. Now while Liana has nothing to worry about, I'm hoping I will get off the What Not to Wear to Bed list. Did you know that JoAnn's has almost no black lace? Brown? yes. Black, not so much.

I'll try to get some picks for my peeps tomorrow. Hubby's visiting his mom, so I have the weekend to sew.

Update for mid-week.

For those of you who just can't get enough of me... (that'd me my dog, really, that's about it) I got my BWOF pants cut out last night. I did, of course, skip the welt pockets (I'm still so ashamed) so these will go together pretty quickly. I will have finish all the seams, though, as this stuff ravels like the dickens. Just comes off in shreds. Oh, and I am COMPLETELY! out of interfacing. Not sure how that happened, but there it is. So I'll have to make a run to Hancock's before I can finish them. How annoying is that? Note to self: check to make sure I have a zipper for these BEFORE going shopping. [insert rolly eye icon]. I cut them out during a raging thunderstorm while the lights flickered and the far left lane of Highway 1 flooded and dinner baked uninterupted in my gas oven.

I washed up the brown linen and swirly fabric, also. The swirly will become a blouse that I have the pattern traced for. I want capri's out of the brown linen and don't know what pattern to use for them. Does this count as adding to stash if I use it this season?

And I replaced my sloppy sewing of the shorts carriers with a bar tack. Despite needing some practice with that stitch (it isn't self setting or automatic on THIS machine) it's a better look. I probably won't mess with any more of them. Just put them on and wear them.

If our weather ever warms back up. It's only about 65 today. JUNE in Washington DC. Where's all that global warming I keep hearing about? Must all be over a glacier somewhere, sure isn't over me. Let's see, what winter will this be? We've had Dogwood and Blackberry, so is this Magnolia Winter? Eh? Or Fireworks Winter (that may only occur in Michigan, not sure).

Now a little work for all you, my loyal followers. LOL. I will be spending about 3 weeks in Detroit this summer and will take my sewing machine with me (driving). What essentials would you also take to sew? There's a JoAnn's nearby, and I'll have my Envoy so space isn't an issue, but don't want to be ridiculous on taking stuff. Lists???

FINISHED!!

Yeah, that's right. I FINISHED the Marlene pants. And wore them to dinner last night. Here, take a peek: from the front they look good. From the back they look good: But there's something seriously going on with them from the side. Yes, I know I should hit the gym once in a while, but I don't think that totally explains this: I really like these so I hope I can work this out so I can make them again.

My newest project, overlooking the impending wadder of a tee shirt, is Burda 103 from the October 08 issue. I'm pretty sure I'm going to use the Vogue fabric. The pattern works well: few seams - both front and back are cut on the fold - so I can match the pattern easily, straight side seams - so I can match the pattern easily. Simple lines to accentuate the fabric design, but not just dumb-simple and straight. I really didn't want it to look home-ecy. I'd searched my pattern stash and the books for a while. I saw this one, yesterday, when I bought the last October BWOF at GStreet. I traced and cut out the pattern this evening. I'll cut the fabric tomorrow. It's only 4 pieces, one zipper. Both front and back have pleats that you sew down in front.

Boo!

Happy Halloweinie! I really do like this "holiday" because its just fun. We're not supposed to really be contemplating a deeper meaning, thanking greater beings for our good fortune or our forefathers for making us free. We're just having fun. I ran a couple of errands earlier and got to shop with Superman, Jasmine and a vampire. That's just not something you get to do everyday. At least not in Washington, D.C. (We have other scary creatures that don't need costumes). We can skip dinner and pig out on Kit-Kat's, and that's acceptable. We can even jump out from around corners and scare the crap out of little kids and get away with it. But only for one day. We can pretend to be someone/thing else and just have fun. For instance, a Doberman can be a fairy princess (she ate her wand, it figures). Oh, and I can drink my wine in my plastic skull goblet - red wine of course. So HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

On the sewing front, my velvet tee is likely a real wadder. First seam went all to hell. And you just can't pick out zig-zag stitches from stretch velvet. It just doesn't happen. I may re cut those 2 pieces. It so happens that the newest Threads (came yesterday, I love when that happens) has an article on sewing velvet. Now they talked about silk velvet, crushed velvet, and burnout velvet. No where did they mention cheap stretch velvet from Hancock's (guess they don't get out much, what can I say?), but some of the comments will be of help. So it's in the pending wadder stage.

I drove out to GStreet this morning and found a couple yards off the @2.98 table. Okay, 6 yards, but I don't count your yardage, so you can just let this go, too. This one is a black cotton with just a little stretch. It isn't as shiny as it appears, but I liked how the flash picked up the pattern of the weave. And the other piece I got is destined for some smoking' hot lining someday. It's a very smooth satin, probably poly - I need to test it - of some nice weight. A bit of heft to it, but not too much. I bought all they had of it, a little shy of 3 yards.

Also picked up some fabric glue for a possible rescue of the velvet tee - one of Thread's suggestions. And the October Burda. November may be out there somewhere, but not in Falls Church, Virginia. There are a number of items I'll looking at in this issue. Couple of skirts: 103, 107 and 126. I love jacket 116. And Top 119. I think I'll start with the top 119 with my NYC Spandex House. Jacket 131 is really nice, but pretty hard for my skill level. So is 105. I sat at Baja Fresh and dribbled salsa on it while I ate my lunch.

My Burda pants are done! I'm going to hem them in a minute and wear them to dinner tonight. Maybe even get a picture or two on our way. So, for Halloween, I guess I'm going as a seamstress?? LOL.

Back to sewing....

My wine arrived today via UPS from our San Francisco trip, so this closes the chapter, I suppose. Most of these bottles need to be layed down for a few years (yeah, right, that's just going to happen. But I can pretend), so they'll go on the wine rack for a while. HAHAHAHA! Well, at least until the weekend.

I STILL haven't finished my Burda pants. They have become the bain (bane?) of my very existence. Haunting me, taunting me from my sewing room. You can hear them if you listen closely: "You can't finish me, you can't finish me" I'm out of thread. No brown anywhere but a little on a bobbin. My machine decided to turn these into a hot home-sewn mess. The bar tacks at the pockets won't sew, just won't move back & forth right. I tried one of the 6 SIX 6 freakin' times. That was right before I threw the empty thread spool across the room - not a very long throw actually, but still satisfying in its way. The waist band isn't lining but when I put it together. So there is sits. A big, fat, ugly, smelly, stupid, beautifully fitting UFO.

Sew, in order to regain my sewing mojo and not just abandon a hobby I like, I cut out this: The view in the upper right, but I drafted long sleeves (first time I've done this, cross your fingers it comes together) because I really want this for this fall/winter. I bought this brown stretch velvet last winter at Hancock's to make a top and just didn't get it done. I wanted a crossover top, until I realized that everyone I found self lined the front & that was just too much fabric and would stretch the front. Then it was early spring and brown velvet just lost its appeal. Well, it's back and now it's cut. I really didn't pay that much for this, but I do like it and really want this top. So it's sitting on top of the Burda pants in my sewing room, also waiting for brown thread. Yes, there is a theme here.

I was going to cut a couple of other items but, I didn't have enough fabric for the dress I wanted. I'm going to use the fabric from Spandex House & I have exactly 2 yards. The pattern I started with needed 2 1/2. I ordered a couple new patterns from McCall's today while they were on sale, and I think one of those will work better, so I'll just have to hold out. (I even got one for free! yea, me!)

Next, I was going to use this: from Vogue fabrics, but I really just don't know what to do with it. I LOVE it, it's soft and crisp at the same time. A little crinkly and I love the colors. I just stumped for a pattern. I went thru my stash about 10 times pulling out skirts and shoving them back in. There are 3 repeats of the border on the fabric and it's a wide enough repeat to easily make a skirt. But what pattern!?!?!?!? I'm SOOO open to suggestions. Please help! I want this for fall. The colors are pretty true: olives and wines.

Well that's all the sewing and whining, um wining for now. Let me know if you have recommendations for the Vogue. I'm going to hit Hancock's for brown thread and can easily pick up a pattern.

Me and Burda, we're not done

Not by a long shot. I actually cut then next pair yesterday. What a difference wider fabric makes in this layout: There was plenty to lay it out side-by-side. This is fabric I got on our GREAT ADVENTURE to New York. This was from Metro Fabrics, (Thanks, Kashi!). Karen got the same piece in brown and also in green (I think??? maybe grey????) . I washed and dried it and it didn't really change hands much. It's pretty stiff, and stayed that way. Takes a crease nicely, though, and doesn't ravel. I hope it isn't too stiff in the final piece.

Anyway... on to what I've learned in time to fix it on this one.

Um there's a dart AND a pleat on the front. Hmmm. I made it into one larger pleat last time and this explains why I had some fitting problems. Both on me and with the waistband/top. Hmmm. Live and learn, eh? So I can do this right.

I cut my waistband going wrong on the grain. It should be perpendicular to the grain of the slacks. Hmmmm. I guess wrong may not be the right word, but I may recut. I have enough fabric.

There are marks on the sides for the pockets. I just missed some markings in all the busyness of the Burda layout. At least I cut all the same size! Now how could I have missed a couple of little tick marks on all this? Just careless, I suppose.

I've been back to Ebay. And my 14 back issues of Threads showed up today. YooHoo! Only one's a repeat of what I have. And these are older, good issues. Lots of good reading ahead!

So, what do y'all think about this jacket? Love it? Hate it? Want to knock it off or rub it out? I bought and returned it this weekend. Tell me whether you like or not, then I'll tell you where it came from (and went back to)

Carolyn: thanks for you comments on my sewing room. I love it. It's small, but works and is ALL MINE! And yes, I have a lot of lights: I'm old and can't see and there is no overhead lighting, so I had to add it all. Someday, I want to make a wall hanging for it, but for now, the walls are plain.

My dog helped me cut out on Sunday. Primarily by laying in the same spot long enough for her sun to move.

Burda II

I have no photos to post, but I'm going to update my Burda progress on what I'm calling my Hanna pants, as I sewed while Hanna rained. I cut out "the real thing", really more of a muslin II, as I left out all the pockets. And the more I work with my fabric, the less I like it. I think it's a wool/poly blend. It came from the $2.97/yard rack at GStreet. It's black with grey and white stripes. Not ugly, but I don't really like the way it feels. And they're LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG! I didn't even add the extra pattern piece to the bottom and they're still about 8" too long. That's one healthy hem! Did I mention they were really long? And they seem bigger than my muslin was. **sigh** Today was a long day and I'm too tired to mess with them. Maybe tomorrow.
On a better note, I got my shipment from Fabric Mart. Some really pretty "silks". They're listed as silk charmeuse, but I'm uncertain. They don't smell like silk. I need to do a burn test, I suppose. And take some pics to post. They're pretty. I like pretty. I also bought 4 lambskin oval patches, LOL. For $1/pair. NO idea what to do with those things, but it will come to me someday. Maybe piece them together for a purse or belt. They're dark brown suede. Fun, anyway. And if worried about what I'm going to with everything I bought, my shelves would be dead empty. And that just isn't the case. Not at all.
Also, not photo'd is my finished M5523, view B. Made from a "skirt length" navy pinstripe from GStreet. Wool/Lycra blend. Turned out very nice, though a tad big. I'll add a belt and see.

And my iron bit it over the weekend. The "push to steam" button doesn't. Nothing. No resistance, no steam. And the dial won't turn. It turns "off" easily, but "on" is very hard. It makes my fingers sore. SOO, I'm now the owner of a Rowenta Focus. I really love it EXCEPT the auto shut off. Hate that. But they all do that now. Again, **sigh**

We made it thru Hanna. I was underwhelmed, LOL. LOT'S of rain. Old Town got about 6", mostly between around 9am to noon. Not a lot of wind, some. And a little flooding on King Street, but it didn't look like it got even to the first stores. They were ready - sandbagged. And the wooden indian in front of the Cigar store was wearing it's life vest. Wish I'd taken my camera.
If the Burda's turn out, more pants will be on deck. If not, likely back to the pencil skirt. BOR-ING! And not really where I want to go.
And since I have no sewing photo's, I'll just leave you with this neat picture. I don't remember where it came from, but I didn't take it. Sorry to whomever I got it from, and thank you! If it's you, let me know.

Stuff

I made a quick muslin from the Burda WOF Aug 105. Here's my tracing. I outlined the size I wanted in black Sharpy and then traced onto exam paper, a gift from Lunesta via BFF. It seems like a lot of work to get these even read to cut. I'll let you know if it's worth it. I really DO want to learn to make (fit, really, the sewing is the same) slacks. I'm going to actually make these, probably next weekend, when my husband's out of town and I'm rained in with Hanna. Based on fit, I really like them, but will probably cut them one size smaller. The legs are pretty wide and I had lots of room in the hips. These are the "famous" Marlene pants that are being "sewn along" on SG. They will also be my first Burda. After determining that I must have a German-shaped butt. I certainly don't have a Vogue shaped one. Bleck!

Next up is my wall of sewing. This is an Ikea shelf that fills the wall almost perfectly. Kind of a "where's waldo" feel to this. But I'll point out a few of my favorite things. My vase full of Marti Gras beads. Not so sewing, but I like these. They make me happy. I think it's the colors. Whatever. Third row down and far right are 2 icky green sewing baskets, a la 1970. One is mine and has mostly old thread and odd fiber art (ok, puffy paint) stuff. The other was Mom's and has a quilt (I use the term very lightly) I've been making for 40 years. Aunt Mae started it with me. Ah well.... Patterns are in the 2 brown baskets upper left corner & right below. Trims are in the blue shoe box and my Pacific Trims trims in the little bag to the right. You can see the Burda muslin hiding behind the box. The 2 banker's boxes contain the "what was I thinking" stash and the "it's too small to sew and too big to toss" stash. If you want some odd stuff (and I mean odd!) or small stuff, let me know. It's yours. Sewing books are above the green sewing boxes and there's a furniture refinishing project hidden behind there. Bottom center is a GStreet mind warp. The green is SOOO soft and I have so much of it and have no idea what the heck to do with it. Seriously. It's baby weight knit. Pretty, but not me. You can see other stash here and there. Mardel: if you're looking you can see my FabricMart haul. On the top half you'll find Threads and other mags in their bins and some leftover sofa cushion guts. Bought and realized we just throw them in the floor, so why bother? Couple of UFO's/wadders in the USPS box above my Ebay find. And my tunes in the upper right. No explanation is available for the mess on the edge of the ironing board. That's just an embarassment. Can you find my dad? He's hiding in there somewhere! Today would have been his birthday. Happy Birthday, daddy!