The Sew Weekly

Candlestick Pincushion

As part of 30 Days of Pincushions, Laurie has generously provided this pincushion for one Sew Weekly reader to win! Instructions on how to win it can be found at the bottom of this post.

Name: Laurie
Shop name: Willow Creek Sparrow
Location: Dallas, Texas
How long on Etsy: Since April 2009

How did you start making them? Selling on etsy?
The what would be vintage material, I always imagine what it could become. All my friends either quilt or sew and I made pincushions for them. They said "you need to start selling these."

Your own favorite etsy purchase ever:
An old photograph of six teenagers from the 1920 sitting in a HUGE tree all decked out in their Sunday best. 

Why do you craft?
I have always felt the need to create something, either from used items or trying my hand at a new craft project.

Thanks, Laurie! Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and check out her other pincushions for sale!

Want to win this pincushion? You just have to answer the following question:

Today's the last day of 30 Days of Pincushions! Which was your absolute favorite pincushion?

Each giveaway is open for twenty-four hours from the time of posting. Please only post one comment in each thread. Winners will be announced each Monday in April. Winners can only win once but are encouraged to answer all the questions! 

Standard Pinnie Pincushion

As part of 30 Days of Pincushions, Desiree has generously provided this pincushion for one Sew Weekly reader to win! Additionally, she's providing Sew Weekly readers with a 15% discount off anything at her shop. Instructions on the discount and how to win this pincushion can be found at the bottom of this post.

Name: Desiree aka Des
Shop name: Details by Des
Location: Seattle, WA   
How long on Etsy: About 3 years

Who (or what) is an inspiration for your pincushions?
I started making pin cushions when I wanted to come up with a creative and fun heartfelt Christmas gift for my mother, a very avid quilter. I happened to have some Aunt Gracie fabric that I knew she loved and then went on to make my very first "Pinnie". It turned out so cute, I was hooked on making more!

Who (or what) is an inspiration for your pincushions?
My inspiration for my creations is the fabric itself. I am addicted to designer prints. I get a little star struck when I am fortunate enough to see a fabric designer in person. I love making these "Pinnies" as I call them because it gives me a chance to use so many amazing fabrics. It's so fun to be able to add a bit of color and style to someone's sewing studio with these prints. 

Do you sew for yourself?
I sew for myself, mainly decor, purses and such. I absolute love how satisfying it is to see a yard of fabric and turn it in to a creation that only exists because I created it. I also see many ruffles in my future, I'm getting a bit obsessed with them. I am currently working on expanding my products and hope to be listing some fun new items and patterns very soon! 

Thanks, Desiree! Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and check out her other pincushions for sale! Sew Weekly readers will receive 15% off their orders by using the discount code: PINNIE15 at checkout.

Want to win this pincushion? You just have to answer the following question:

Do you have any go-to "under a yard" patterns that you particularly like to make?

Each giveaway is open for twenty-four hours from the time of posting. Please only post one comment in each thread. Winners will be announced each Monday in April. Winners can only win once but are encouraged to answer all the questions! 

Fascinator Pattern Giveaway Winners

Now, wasn't that a pleasant wedding? I loved her gown, though I would have been a bit more partial to a straighter silhouette. I thought her veil and hair was perfect, however. Wonderful job Sarah Burton!  I loved reading through all of your answers to yesterday's post! A lot of similar ideas, but I think these comments came closest:

Erin says: "I'm with the Mermaids. And long lace sleeves. I'm sure it will be more beautiful than any of us can imagine..."

Charlotte Tilley says: "I'm hoping for something like Princess Margaret's fifties dress, that would be lovely, a classy look x"

Paula says: "Considering Kate's style I think its going to be something simple but elegant. Maybe an A-line gown with lace and beading. It might also be a mermaid style. And 2/3 sleeves as it is a royal wedding, probably out of lace."

And I'd like to think I wasn't too far off with my guess.

And now for the seven  random winners of the fascinator tutorials from WendyBirde. 

• Stacie Thinks
• Paula
• Sescun
• Kat
• Rachel
• My
• Caroline

If you're name is up here, please contact me and send me your email address. Tell me your three top choices for fascinators and I'll try to accommodate everyone! Thanks again to Lisette and her shop, WendyBirde for sponsoring this giveaway! 

Friday Fabric Finds: April 29

Welcome to this week's Friday Fabric Finds. The theme is "surprise!" since two of my fabric pieces proved to be far more interesting once I brought them home to wash. Without further ado, let's see what I got:

It wasn't until I unrolled this fabric to wash, that I realized it was a bright rainbow terry cloth! It had been rolled up inside-out so it was much duller and more of a knit. I love terry cloth and can imagine this as an awesome romper.

Another piece that surprised me at time of wash. I had only previously seen the little horseshoe like designs. When I unrolled it, I realized it was a border print! I'm sending a Western/Cowboy challenge in our future.

I'm not crazy about white fabrics but I thought the flowers on this piece were pretty enough. I actually have some fabric paint used for silk and want to try coloring some of the flowers in. It's too much like a coloring book to leave black & white.

A nice rayon print that should make a great 1940s dress. Not vintage, but certainly has a vintage feel to it.

This dotted swiss is pale yellow, not cream. Like gingham, you never can have enough dotted swiss.

This print is a bit more drab than my usual taste dictates. Maybe I'll keep it, maybe I won't.

This is an interesting crepe/gauze fabric that might make an interesting patio dress.

I really like this print. It's just quilting cotton but with wash, it softened to a nice medium-weight cotton. I can see this being a great dress -- especially one using a Colette Pattern.

More gingham. This became a bit too wrinkled because I washed it and I guess it was the sort of rayon that shouldn't be washed in water. Even so, I like how it looks crinkled.

This is part of a piece of fabric with panels. Not sure what I'll make with it, but it was too interesting to pass up.

 

Vintage Hankie Inspired Pincushion

As part of 30 Days of Pincushions, Cathy has generously provided this pincushion for one Sew Weekly reader to win! Instructions on how to win it can be found at the bottom of this post.

Name: Cathy Ziegele
Shop name: The Daily Pincushion
Location: Florida
How long on Etsy: Started in March 2008

Who (or what) is an inspiration for your pincushions? For my first pincushion it was a cupcake! 

How did you start making them? Selling on etsy? I was a buyer on etsy and wanted to make cupcakes to sell. I saw some amazing work with felt and changed course and opened The Daily Pincushion. 

Do you sew for yourself? I don’t make clothes anymore. I was a professional chef for 30 years, so sewing was a hobby I really enjoyed. I have embroidered denim jackets in the 70’s, made quilts in the 80s… I loved to make outfits for my stuffed bears. I recently sold a collection of bear outfits on my etsy site. I still make the occasional felt outfit for whoever needs an update.

Thanks, Cathy! Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and check out her other pincushions for sale!

Want to win this pincushion? You just have to answer the following question:

Once upon a time hankies were a part of the wardrobe. Do you think you could ever get used to carrying one around? Do you already? 

Each giveaway is open for twenty-four hours from the time of posting. Please only post one comment in each thread. Winners will be announced each Monday in April. Winners can only win once but are encouraged to answer all the questions! 

Win A Fascinator Pattern from WendyBirde!

As a tie-in to hat week here at The Sew Weekly, Lisette has generously offered seven of her 1960s reproduction fascinator  patterns for a giveaway! They're PDFs so if you win, you'll be making up these playful little caps in no time. Thanks so much, Lisette!

How to win? In the spirit of The Royal Wedding, I want to know:

What will be the silhouette of Kate Middleton's wedding gown?

You have until the wedding dress makes the appearance to guess. Winners will be selected randomly (in other words, you don't have to be right!)

10 Free Hat Tutorials & Patterns

In case you still don't have your hat for this week's challenge, here are ten vintage and vintage-inspired free hat tutorials that are available online. Personally, I'm dying to try #9, the Cutout Beret  from SewStylish. If you make any of these, be sure to leave a link in the comments!

1. How to Make a 1940s Pillbox  Tilt Hat from Charlotte, a friend of The Sew Weekly and A Common Thread participant,
2. Vintage Bowler Hat from Bramcost Publications via Meg
3. Cloche Hat Tutorial from Weekend Designer
4. Wide-Brimmed Summer Hat from Weekend Designer
5. Feathered Fascinator Headpiece from Simplicity
6. Vintage Pony Tail Hat Pattern from Bramcost Publications
7. How to Make Hats, a book from 1952 available online
8. How to Make a Pillbox Hat from Thread Banger
9. Hot to Sew a Cutout Beret from SewStylish
10. Woolen Beret from Martha Stewart

 

Little Turtle Pincushion

As part of 30 Days of Pincushions, Vanessa has generously provided this pincushion for one Sew Weekly reader to win! Instructions on how to win it can be found at the bottom of this post.

Name: Vanessa Chan
Shop name: The Pudgy Rabbit
Location: New York
How long on Etsy: About 6 months

Describe your aesthetic in three words: Clean, simple, fun

Any new projects you want to tackle? I would like to start crocheting clothes. I have a baby niece and I want make little cardigans and dresses for her! I'm a little nervous though because I mostly crochet animals. My one non-animal project was a blanket that turned out completely lopsided, but I'm up for a challenge!

Why do you craft? I craft because I've always enjoyed making things with my hands and it's a nice break from my day job. I graduated almost a year ago with a degree in animation and it has been tough trying to get in the field, but keeping busy with new crochet projects and working on my own stop motion animation keeps me sane and going creatively. I think it's really important to stay productive because even the smallest steps can lead to bigger and better ideas.

Thanks, Vanessa! Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and check out her other pincushions for sale!

Want to win this pincushion? You just have to answer the following question:

Do you crochet? Do you want to learn? For folks who know how to, any tips for beginners?

Each giveaway is open for twenty-four hours from the time of posting. Please only post one comment in each thread. Winners will be announced each Monday in April. Winners can only win once but are encouraged to answer all the questions! 

Royal Wedding Dresses

If you're in my social circle, it's not cool to care about the upcoming Royal Wedding. For every mention of what Kate Middleton is going to wear, one of my friends has to bemoan the oppressive state of the British monarchy throughout history. Well, I'm not collecting the tea towels, but I'm certainly interested in Friday's pageantry. And, of course, with what all those very privileged folks will be wearing. Here's a look at some famous royal pairings along with some pattern pairings.

1930s: Wallis Simpson & Edward VIII

   

Say what you will about Wallis Simpson (and there certainly is a lot of stuff to say), that gal knew how to dress. We're talking about the woman who had the Schiaparelli lobster dress in her wedding trousseau (third one's a charm). Her late 1930s and early 1940s suits are most marvelous -- usually accented with a gorgeously whimsical brooch. 

 

1940s: Princess Elizabeth & Philip Mountbatten

      

In Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O' Hara marries her first husband, Charles Hamilton, in such a rush that there isn't any time to make alterations on her mother's own wedding gown. 1940s wedding gowns always remind me of Scarlett's dress. A lot of fabric, big sleeves and not neccessarily the most form-flattering. I'm sure the then Princess Elizabeth's dress was gorgeous in person -- the photos of its details certainly confirm this. But it's not like QE II couldn't rock the bare arms. Her coronation gown from 1953 was far more modern and, I daresay, flattering.

1950s: Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier

     
I'm a huge Judy Garland fan so I always view Grace Kelly as the woman who robbed Garland of her "A Star is Born" Oscar. Even with that strike against her, there's probably no lovelier princess that Princess Grace. Her wedding dress is perfect and probably the only royal wedding dress designed by MGM. Honorable mention goes to Princess Margaret for her equally timeless dress from 1960.

1960s-1970s: Princess Anne & Mark Phillips

        Princess Anne in 1973. Those sleeves! That neckline! I'm so not a fan of bell or trumpet sleeves but she did manage to work this dress. And considering how many patterns in the 1960s and 1970s had bell sleeves, she certainly wasn't alone in like that fashion trend. To each his own.

1980s: Diana Spencer & Prince Charles

       

I can't say I'm a fan of this dress. I was three and a half  years-old when this wedding took place and I can distinctly remember news coverage. Even then, I thought the dress was over-the-top. Seriously, what three year-old would think any dress was too much? My favorite Princess Diana period was pre-wedding, when she could get away with looking like a long-lost member of the Bay City Rollers. While her later outfits were a bit too 1980s, the earlier years produced a natural look that is worth replicating.

The "Homage to Elizabeth" Slip

This week, we end the A Common Thread series with a bang (And a girl with bangs! Sorry, I couldn't resist). If you sew and you're online, you already know Gertie and her New Blog for Better Sewing. In between having a day job, writing her book and filming an appearance on It's Sew Easy! on PBS, Gertie still makes the time to sew and blog. She's been a total inspiration for me and I'm honored to have her wrap up A Common Thread with her homage to Elizabeth Taylor. Thanks Gertie for playing along!

 
The Facts

Fabric:  Amazing 4-ply silk from Paron's, originally bought to make an evening dress (long story)
Patterns: Draped it myself, inspired by Advance 2902
Year: 1960 (Butterfield 8), 1962 (Advance pattern)
Notions: Mena's lace, plus some other wide lace for the hem from Mood
Time to complete: Two evenings to drape and test, one weekend plus one more evening to sew
First worn: Traipsing around my apartment.
Wear again? Yes! 

Total Cost: $70: About $60 for the silk, $10 for the extra lace

The slip that Elizabeth Taylor wears in Butterfield 8 has long been on my "to-sew list." Has anyone ever done more for a garment than Liz did for the humble slip? Since her passing last month, the slip has been more on my mind than ever. In a mad moment of looking for inspiration for the Common Thread project, I came across this white 4-ply silk in my stash and discovered that the answer was right in front of me: It was time to make Liz's slip.

I have a couple vintage slip patterns, but neither of them were quite right. So I spent an evening draping this design on my dress form, constantly referencing the film still above, as well as the Advance pattern. The next evening was spent perfecting the fit in muslin form, and then it was time to sew. The sewing process was fraught with mishaps. One night my red tailor's ham got wet and bled onto the slip. (Shouldn't those be, you know, colorfast or something?!) I had to replace a bodice piece and move on. Then there was the zipper. All the vintage slip patterns I've seen have zippers, so I thought I should use one to get that extra form-fitting look. But I had to insert and reinsert the darn thing several times (it buckled on the bias seam every time) until I decided I could probably just get the thing over my head if I removed the stay tape from the seams. Sewing: it's always a learning process, isn't it?

The slip is completely cut on the bias, which makes it super slinky. All the lace was applied by hand.

Once the slip was complete, there was the next challenge: photographing it. I'm not sure why, the entire time I was making the slip, it never occurred to me that I would be doing, essentially, a lingerie shoot of myself.  I tried to mimic Liz's expression in the film photograph, but it all came out rather, um, boudoir-ish. I don't think Ms. Taylor herself would have taken issue with that, though. So I will try to channel her moxie and put these photos out bravely for the world to see.

Thanks for the inspiration, Liz. You'll be missed.