The Sew Weekly

"That's A Lot of Brown" Combo

I made a dress this week, but the cold rainy weather had other plans for me. That's okay because I had a shirt and skirt combo that I hadn't worn to work yet. This outfit uses the same patterns from my American In Paris Combo -- the only difference being the skirt length and the collar type. I prefer the longer skirt but I only had enough brown linen for the shorter version. The Peter Pan collar is cute, but I messed it up a bit and each collar overlaps a bit more than it should when buttoned to the top. I tend not to button my shirts to the top anyway since I always feel too much like a vato (apologies to any vatos reading The Sew Weekly).

The Blouse
Fabric: Stretch cotton from Stone Mountain & Daughter. $7.45 for 1.5 yards
Pattern: Simplicity 1544 
Notions: Estate Sale buttons ~$.005
Year: c. 1945
Time to complete: 4 hours
First worn: February 2010
Wear again? Most definitely. 

Total Cost of Blouse: ~ $7.45

The Skirt
Fabric: Linen from East Bay Depot  ~ $2 for 2 yards
Pattern: Hollywood Pattern 685
Notions: Vintage Zipper
Year: c. 1946
Time to complete: About 3 hours
First worn: February 2010
Wear again? Most definitely.

Total Cost of Skirt: $2
Total Cost of Outfit: $9.45

For the facts breakdown above, I've omitted the cost of the patterns since they have already been counted for earlier outfits and, therefore, have paid for themselves.

 

As I was looking at the photos I took of me wearing this outfit, I couldn't help but feel amazed that a pattern that was created 65 years ago could be worn today without seeming so incredibly ancient and out of style. The forties are remarkable in their versatility! 

Now if only the skirt was a tad bit longer.

Seven Facts about Me

Alyssa at Vintage or Bust and Susannah over at Cargo Cult Craft Kreativ Blogger'd me, so here are seven facts about me that you might not know.

1. When I was a thirteen, I became obsessed with Gone With the Wind and collected all sorts of memorabilia related to the movie -- even the Franklin Mint plates. I actually still have all the stuff in our garage. A little over a year ago, I finally got to go all out in 1860s apparel at our local Dickens Faire. Although I didn't make the dress, I made my bonnet and Penelope's dress. The collar and sleeve cuffs were vintage, however. Thankfully one of my good friends dressed up and with me or I would have had to be a costume dork alone. My husband, alas, doesn't do the costume thing (Gatsby was an exception).
2. I was on the cover of Fortune magazine-- along with a few others (including my husband, Ben. He's on the bottom row). That's part of my other -- non-sewing -- life. 
3. I got a hood dryer for Christmas but just can't figure out how to make it work with my hair. I usually opt to wear foam curlers to bed overnight. If anyone has a tip on using a bonnet dryer, I'm all ears.
4. In addition to my sewing new year's resolution, I also resolved to exercise. So far, I've been true to that goal and go to spinning class about four times a week.
5. My big dream is to one day open a vintage boutique with the speciality being textiles, sewing notions, patterns and other sort of domestic items.
6. I'm a terrible slob and my sewing room is an absolute mess. Thankfully, it's our guest bedroom down in the basement level so my husband and daughter can avoid it. When it's clean, I love it. 
7. My husband and I once flew to New York City just to see Justin Timberlake play the Roseland ballroom.

And now I have to "award" seven other bloggers and pass the torch to write seven things about themselves on their blogs. It's a bit like chain-mail so if you don't I understand.

• Andi B. Goode
• Casey at Elegant Musings
• Krissy at Make Good(s)
• Veronica Darling
• Gatsby and Me
• Gertie at New Blog for Better Sewing
• Tilly at Tilly and the Buttons

This Weekend's Vintage Finds: 2/22/2010

This weekend's finds are more about civilized antiquing than wild rummaging. Which means, I paid more for less and didn't have the rush of adrenaline that comes with a super bargain haul. My husband and I were up in Healdsburg and Occidental for a weekend away from our toddler and, much to his chagrin, we hit a lot of antique stores. I had basically no luck in Healdsburg and only found fabric once we were one our way home and driving along the antique corridor in Sebastopol. That said, having a relaxing weekend is a pretty good thing.

Onto the finds:

  

  
 

From top left to bottom right: 

Red rayon(?) print -- I would date from the 40s or 50s. It wasn't until I cut this fabric last night for a dress that I realized that one half of the fabric seemed to have a printing error of some sort -- the white printing is much lighter. It was $5 for 2 1/4 yards.

Fruit basket print in cotton. Also from the 1940s, I believe. It's about 1 1/2 yards and I think would make an adorable bathing suit. Also $5.

Red, White & Blue plaid. I'm not sure if I actually will do anything with this but I thought it would be nice to have come Fourth of July. This was $7 for about 3 yards.

Floral feedsack. About 1 1/2 yards or whatever the feedsack dimension is. Probably will be used for an apron for my daughter or a shirt for me.

I'm staying true to my Stash Bustin' promise. I've made a shirt with some stashed fabric and I made a dress with the red fabric above. Having given away another piece or two to my friend, I'm maintaining a fabric equilibrium.

Cardigan Hacks

Over at Ruffles and Stuff, Disney posted a tutorial on how to create a "Not Your Grandmother's Cardigan." I used an old black cardigan, a $1 handkerchief and some vintage buttons I picked up in Alameda. I'm not a sweater person, but I have to say it's a nice little trick to upcycle that sweater you'll never wear otherwise.

I could imagine that, instead of using vintage handkerchiefs, you could also simply sew a collar and front facing using a shirt or dress pattern that's already in your collection. It would be a good way to make use of that scrap fabric that accumulates in your fabric collection.

 

An Education Inspiration

The other day I watched An Education for the first time and, like others, was totally inspired by the early 1960s fashions. Since I already have a few patterns and fabrics that would work together in creating something in the similar style of Jenny's Paris dress, I'm sharing these finds with you!

 

• a. Sunflower Sunrise Lilacs Purple from fabric.com ($4.98/yd)
• b. Watercolor print at Etsy ($23 for 4 1/2 yards)
• c. Blue and Pink Floral print at Etsy ($27 for 2 1/2 yards)
• d. Pink and Purple Floral print at Etsy ($15 for 3 yards)
• e. Bloomcraft Big Bold Floral print at Etsy ($26 for 3 1/2 yards)
• 1. Simplicity 5020, Size 14 B34 at Etsy ($9)
• 2. Simplicity 5658, Size 14 B34 at Etsy ($13.95)
• 3. Simplicity 2488, Size 18 B38 at Etsy ($12.50)
• 4. Simplicity 4188, Size 11 B31 1/2 at Etsy ($24)

The "I Made Pants!" Pants & Skirt

On my about page I make this statement about The Sew Weekly Project: "There are a few exceptions to my everything-in-my-closet rule. I'm not going to make undergarments or jeans." Well, since I made a pair of pants that happen to be made out of denim, I believe I made some jeans. If I was to describe my nightmare jeans scenario, they would be high-waisted and pleated. And to top things off I'd tuck my shirt in. My stubby little torso would want to beat anyone up who tried to get it into that combo. Enter the 1940s when this look actually produces cute results.

The Pants
Fabric: Denim from Fabric Outlet  ~ $10 for 2 1/2 yards
Pattern: McCall 4803 ~ $.50 from Alameda Antique Faire
Notions: Vintage buttons from estate sale ~$.05
Year: c. 1945
Time to complete: About 10 hours
First worn: February 2010
Wear again? Most definitely. I'll probably live in these until I make another pair.

Total Cost: $10.55

The Blouse
Fabric: Vintage cotton from an Etsy lot  ~ $1.50 for 1 3/4 yards
Pattern: Simplicity 1554 ~ $8.50 from eBay
Notions: Vintage buttons from estate sale ~$.005
Year: c. 1945
Time to complete: About 3 hours
First worn: February 2010
Wear again? Most definitely.

Total Cost: $10

This is the second pair of pants that I made from this pattern -- the first being pretty much unwearable. The first pair make me resemble Sinbad (both the sailor and the comedian). My issues with my lower half of my body made me make a very tiny seam allowance because I figured "there's no way I can make pants to fit my thighs." After working on the first pair of pants and continually taking them in during the process, I looked at the pattern to see what size I was using. It turned out the pants were a size 36 waist. I think I confused my bust with my waist or something. Yeah, something. So for the second attempt I used the same pattern but realized that I needed to take it in drastically. That's why these pants took 10 hours to make. If the size was actually closer to my size, it would have been fairly simple to complete.

The little buttons at the front are my homage to sailor pants. I didn't want actual sailor pants but I also wanted to add a little flair to the stomach area. Have the seam going right down the middle sort of screamed "look at my baby-bearing belly!" I also attached pants cuffs because they seemed too short without them. Overall, I'm really happy with how they turned out. Sure, the front bunches up a bit but I think that's more a result of my body rather than the construction.

The blouse is my third version of Simplicity 1554 -- the American in Paris combo being the first and another blouse that I haven't posted about being the second. I started the blouse last night after Lost and rushed through it since I was tired. The collar would have looked better if I tacked the facing down by hand. Instead I rushed through it with my machine. It's easily fixable when I have more time. The original version of the shirt called for lace edging but I decided to skip that step -- next time I'll add it. If you're looking for a 40s blouse pattern, I highly recommend Simplicity 1544!

A Few Other Purchases

Wouldn't you know that mere seconds after pushing "publish" on this post about vintage finds and destashing, I would hear the sound of mail coming through our mail slot (bought, of course, before making the pledge). If I'm going to be on a purchasing hiatus of some sort, these are three things that help me pause on a high note. 

I bought these buckles from Black Sheep Yarns at Etsy. I haven't opened the package yet because I don't want to ruin the wonderful wrapping job she did. This package is why shopping from independent vendors is so worthwhile. It's the closest thing to being able to go back in time (or to Japan) and shop.

 
 I won this gorgeous pattern for $5.51 on eBay! I believe it was so easily won because it was listed as a 1950s dress and probably wasn't showing up in searches of those looking for 30s dresses. This pattern is in such wonderful shape -- I haven't checked the individual pieces yet, but the envelope has hardly any signs of wear.

I paid more than I usually would for this fabric ($15 for 3 yards), but I just couldn't resist the pretty purples.

 

This Weekend's Vintage Finds & Stash Bustin'

This week's vintage finds post is two part -- the first part being my finds and the second being my commitment to join the Stash Bustin' Challenge (via Colette Pattern's Stash Bustin' Post). These two parts are, sadly, very much related.

But first, the fun stuff.

On Thursday morning, I headed about an hour north for an estate sale I found on Craigslist. The thing about estate sales is that, when you drive farther than 30 minutes, they will either be really good or really bad. There is no in between. I usually brace myself for the really bad.

When I got there (it was held in some sort of storage unit/garage like thing), I quickly found the sewing portion of the sale. I grabbed some bias tape packages and was looking around, slightly disappointed, when one of the sellers said "are you looking for fabric?" I said yes and he took me to the upstairs part of the sale which -- I kid you not -- was a room filled with boxes and boxes of fabric. He then gave me a large shopping bag and said "Fill it up for $5. Fill up two bags and I'll give you the third bag for free." That's when I knew I was at a really really really good sale.

Here are some of my favorite fabric finds:
   

     
I also found a large box of vintage patterns -- 40s, 50s and 60s -- upstairs. I asked "how much?" and was told $5 again.

   

Now let me just interrupt this story and say that, pathetically, I have had dreams exactly like this scene that was unfolding. I'd go to an estate sale, find some secret area and be told that all these wonderful things were some ridiculous price. And, I'd have to stuff them in a bag or something. It's quite tragic.
  

I asked the nice man (who I joked probably wasn't even the seller and was some crazy man just setting me up for disappointment) if there were any zippers or buttons. He came back with a plastic bag filled with vintage (mostly 1950s) zippers and then told me to check "that trunk over there." It was, indeed, filled with unopened zipper packages. I ended up filling an entire bag with about 100 zippers. The price? $5.

 
And then, the buttons! Oh, the buttons. He showed me three boxes of buttons still on the cards. Once again he gave me an old Montgomery Ward plastic bag and told me to fill it up and I could have them all for $2! 

So in all, this was my haul:

• About 35 pieces of fabric -- average about 2 yards each (some much more)
• About 110 unopened vintage zippers
• About 400 button cards
• About 80 vintage patterns

When it came time to buy it all, they said -- brace yourself -- I could buy all this stuff for $20. 

Seriously. 

Needless to say, I was ecstatic. 

And now the second part of this post.

After bringing all this stuff home, I've realized that I don't have any more storage space in my sewing room. I try to keep everything orderly and visible so I'm not going to go the hoarder's route and keep things in boxes. Three days later and I'm still trying to clean my room and find places for everything! Coincidentally, this morning, I read this post at Colette Pattern's about destashing. It references a bigger challenge  -- the Stash Bustin' challenge.

I'm going to commit to this challenge despite the fact that I love the hunt so much more than the actual kill. My own rule is this:

My stash bustin' goal is a one for one exchange. I can only buy one piece of fabric once I've used or sold or given away one of my pieces from the stash. I can only buy a pattern once I've used or sold or given away a pattern from the stash. 

* I was fairly calm about leaving without being thorough because the man told me that they had tons more of fabric in storage and that they'd be holding more sales then next couple weekend. Unfortunately, when I emailed them later to confirm the next sale, they told me that someone had come and bought all the fabric they had and was picking it up in a U-Haul. Oh well.

Button Bonanza

Over at my Etsy shop, I've listed a bunch of vintage buttons for sale from a recent button haul I made at an estate sale and the Alemany Flea Market. Here are three of my favorite lots:

 
 

My Daughter, Mary Poppins

While this dress may not be part of my wardrobe, it was home sewn with love nonetheless. My daughter is very aware of my sewing. In fact, whenever I get the mail she asks if I got a pattern (that's probably a bit concerning). And since Penelope knows I make my own dresses, she has no problem giving me orders for her own wardrobe. 

The request in question was a "Mary Poppins dress." THE WHITE ONE. Penelope was very clear about that. I didn't have an exact pattern to go by so I just used the pioneer version from Simplicity 3725. I bought this pattern in size 3/4/5/6 when my daughter was still an infant and assumed it would be forever before she be wearing something created from it. Time certainly flies. 

I adapted the pattern by shortening the hem, layering lace and muslin and adding the ruffled bodice. And, of course, the red bows. The hat was made from an old straw hat I had laying around the house and leftover fabric from the dress.

As Penelope says, this dress is "supafra-uh-docious!"