Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Day After...
Of course, I decide to post the day after Christmas! I trust everyone had a lovely holiday weekend with friends, family, and enjoying the reminder and blessing of the Reason we celebrate Christmas.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A Bit of 50s Blue
Two sweet dresses from the 1950s. Somehow, I could not get a full shot of the white day dress to upload. This dress has two large front pocketts and is perfect for housecleaning or a trip to town, donning gloves and a hat. The blue dress is handmade, and beautiful. There is a one-of-a-kind bow belt!! The seamstress construction looks store-bought. I hope to one day become a good seamstress as these ladies from the past were. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
A Creation of the Hand
Every few years, I am always needing a new journal. I have had many family and friends give them to me as gifts over the years. But this year, I decided to make my own. I thought, "I have the creativity - I hope! - and all of the staples necessary... why not?"
Last night I spent a few minutes gathering the materials: fabric swatches, needle, thread, buttons, bobby pin, Red Cross pin, two vintage paper clips, glue gun, cardboard pieces, college-ruled notebook paper. The project took me a few minutes to organize.
Mind you, it's not professional by far and may fall apart in the near future, but, alas, here it is!
Last night I spent a few minutes gathering the materials: fabric swatches, needle, thread, buttons, bobby pin, Red Cross pin, two vintage paper clips, glue gun, cardboard pieces, college-ruled notebook paper. The project took me a few minutes to organize.
Mind you, it's not professional by far and may fall apart in the near future, but, alas, here it is!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Second Dress -- Sleeve Problems
Hm, well, the dress is almost done, much to my surprise. I think the longest time I've spent was hand-stitching the lace inserts. I took some photos today of the dress progress, but am not able to download them right away. You shall have them tomorrow.
But for now, I have a slight problem. My sleeves are not going in smoothly. There is a pucker on each side where the sleeve flows down the arm. (Instead of cap or 3/4 sleeves, I am doing just simple short sleeves. 3/4 is a little too long for the summertime weather where I will be traveling soon.)
Does anyone know how to ease the sleeves in such an intricate design as this pattern calls for? Please see the sleeve photo.
But for now, I have a slight problem. My sleeves are not going in smoothly. There is a pucker on each side where the sleeve flows down the arm. (Instead of cap or 3/4 sleeves, I am doing just simple short sleeves. 3/4 is a little too long for the summertime weather where I will be traveling soon.)
Does anyone know how to ease the sleeves in such an intricate design as this pattern calls for? Please see the sleeve photo.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Second Dress Project - Lace
I have been in the sewing mood since I made my first vintage dress a few weeks ago. Since, I have made three skirts, from a 1981 pattern, very simple and darling! Spring is soon coming, and I have been in the mood for dresses. My closet is dress-sparse, so I thought another dress on the hanger would suit just fine.
The dress I made for Casey's Swing Dress Sew along turned out so well, I thought I would make another dress. This one is from the mid-40s with almost the same styling, without the buttons. I made an unexpected trip to Joann's the other day, and found some very nice avocado swingy polyester blend fabric. Joann's was having a huge sale, and I bought all of the avocado green they had, and still have some left over to make a skirt if I want!
I am not sure how long it will take me with this dress, but I am estimating about two weeks. This lovely pattern calls for two lace inserts at the collar, and believe me, it was hard to find some lace that I liked, as most lace does not suit me. (I don't know what it is about flowers and lace. I suppose I am a simple maid. lol.) But the lace I did find in my stash is quite petite and very lovely. I estimate it is around the mid 40s-50s, but I could be wrong!
I will be posting work-in progress photos as I go along, so please keep checking back for the details!
The dress I made for Casey's Swing Dress Sew along turned out so well, I thought I would make another dress. This one is from the mid-40s with almost the same styling, without the buttons. I made an unexpected trip to Joann's the other day, and found some very nice avocado swingy polyester blend fabric. Joann's was having a huge sale, and I bought all of the avocado green they had, and still have some left over to make a skirt if I want!
I am not sure how long it will take me with this dress, but I am estimating about two weeks. This lovely pattern calls for two lace inserts at the collar, and believe me, it was hard to find some lace that I liked, as most lace does not suit me. (I don't know what it is about flowers and lace. I suppose I am a simple maid. lol.) But the lace I did find in my stash is quite petite and very lovely. I estimate it is around the mid 40s-50s, but I could be wrong!
I will be posting work-in progress photos as I go along, so please keep checking back for the details!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Swing Dress Sew Along Part 8 - Setback
My dress is nearly complete - with the button holes left to make, and the buttons to be sewn on. After trying it on to see how all would fit, we discovered something: 1. there needed to be darts in the back bodice because it sat a little tight where it shouldn't; 2. after Mom pinned the darts into place, I could not get the dress off without removing four of the pins that were in place of buttons; 3. this was not a good turnout.
Oh please do not get me wrong! I adore this dress - it fits me very well, better than I could ever have imagined. But after making 19 attempts to fashion button holes on scrap fabric I nearly gave up out of frustration of having loppy button holes! We then decided to see how many button holes we actually could get away with not using. Then came the problems outlined above. :} 'Tis the problem many ladies have -- not enough waisties and too much hipsies. (I must owe that statement to Casey from Elegant Musings for her recent sdsa post she almost labeled "What's in its pocketses?")
Ah. So out of sheer "What are we going to do?", we put the dress away for tonight, and are prepared to tackle it again tomorrow. Next in hope of rescuing this dress so that we can put in a side zipper - yay! the 40s look totally! - instead of all those button holes. The pattern calls for a button under the arm pretty close to the armpit, which would make it uncomfortable for the arm resting against the side. Thus, buttons are out, at least for the side. We are still going to put buttons on the shoulders and mock buttons along the top side (waistband area) but trying to do a side zipper. This will require some reconstructing, and taking out almost an entire side seam!! Eh. Well, I'm familiar with that already. lol.
I have taken photos of what's happening so far. I like how the dress is turning out. I like the button idea, too, but for the side seam it's going to be difficult. I hope this sew along is extended another week and a half, because little blunders and troubles along the way sure slow progress. I am hoping, though, to have everything resolved by the weekend. It's still only the beginning of the week!
Enjoy the photos - and the dreary outdoors of February blues. :p
Oh please do not get me wrong! I adore this dress - it fits me very well, better than I could ever have imagined. But after making 19 attempts to fashion button holes on scrap fabric I nearly gave up out of frustration of having loppy button holes! We then decided to see how many button holes we actually could get away with not using. Then came the problems outlined above. :} 'Tis the problem many ladies have -- not enough waisties and too much hipsies. (I must owe that statement to Casey from Elegant Musings for her recent sdsa post she almost labeled "What's in its pocketses?")
Ah. So out of sheer "What are we going to do?", we put the dress away for tonight, and are prepared to tackle it again tomorrow. Next in hope of rescuing this dress so that we can put in a side zipper - yay! the 40s look totally! - instead of all those button holes. The pattern calls for a button under the arm pretty close to the armpit, which would make it uncomfortable for the arm resting against the side. Thus, buttons are out, at least for the side. We are still going to put buttons on the shoulders and mock buttons along the top side (waistband area) but trying to do a side zipper. This will require some reconstructing, and taking out almost an entire side seam!! Eh. Well, I'm familiar with that already. lol.
I have taken photos of what's happening so far. I like how the dress is turning out. I like the button idea, too, but for the side seam it's going to be difficult. I hope this sew along is extended another week and a half, because little blunders and troubles along the way sure slow progress. I am hoping, though, to have everything resolved by the weekend. It's still only the beginning of the week!
Enjoy the photos - and the dreary outdoors of February blues. :p
front of the dress
front bodice
front waistband
seam bias/binding - isn't it pretty? I'd never used bias before!
I have a whole box of vtg binding and not one piece was navy blue!!
back of dress
back bodice
back waistband
skirt - so lovely!
the intended buttons of choice
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