Adventures in Vintage Resales... fka adventures in baby-sewing

Some photos of the Simplicity wrap dress: #3945, large view, envelope was in tatters but pattern was complete and intact. Using Mary Englebriegt cherries with dots and black solid for waist, collar and bias binding on sleeves (do not want to do facings since I have to alter sleeve length as they are too long for cap sleeves). This is my first close to completed vintage (or otherwise) dress for me.

In progress: For the 6yr old: The red/white and pink plisse with S 1948, shorts from B 4176 and also in camo (no pic shown) For baby: green plisse from S 3508 layette, NL (not shown) in 4 versions. All but the pink plisse dress and camo shorts are assembled; these all need finishing-back plackets, hems, trims, etc.

Finally some pictures: Completed and already worn, for my 6 yr old, Butterick 4176, sz 8, out of tutti frutti plisse in two prints, bias binding made from the swirl print.

I have worked on 2 dresses for the oldest daughter, a vintage wrap dress for me and various other things around a 3 mo old baby (3 mos today!) and not gotten far. Using a 1947 Simplicity for my daughter and a 1952 Simplicity for me. Have to recut skirt for one of my daughter's as it was not cut straight and shows on the gingham. Let's hope Friday is the charm!

Blogthings - What Famous Pinup Are You?

Blogthings - What Famous Pinup Are You?

Fabric By The Yard

We had a busy week & weekend; taxes, preparing the house for a party after the baby's baptism on Sunday, a funeral to go to... I am ready to sew now. I had some vintage patterns come in, I am planning on cutting two out this week and working them up. Let's hope for the best.

Fabrics , Trims , Notions - Trim Fabric Online Store - Shop Now while supplies last!

Manhattan Fabrics

Just bought on line a uniquely you form after much searching and deliberation; I checked out the standards at Joann's after an all day trip to San Antonio and back, I did not like the construction as I would be pushing the small to the limit. Let's see how it does... Taxes are done and I finished shorts for my daughter, but am adding some trim by hand. I also cut out the butterfly camo skirt for me and her shorts. Now let me last through this weekend: the baby's baptism and a funeral on Monday. I also nabbed some charmeuse (polyester), 4.25 yds at $2.00 a yd to try a vintage dress with. I received most of the vintage patterns bought on ebay this week, so I should be able to find something to work with. Next week should be an all-sewing week during the day, so let's see how much we finish.

Sew Retro: April 2008

Vintage Advance dress pattern size 18 1/2 - eBay (item 130212241682 end time Apr-12-08 08:33:47 PDT) - Just won today, isn't it great?

Went to lunch with my husband, shopped at Walmart. Did NOT get fabric (a shocker), but got some beads and nylon thread to sew a bead edging to one of the skirts I have planned. Now it's time to get on with dinner, etc. Still sorting papers for taxes, so probably no sewing until next week, but I may get bored and sew a bit tomorrow.

I am bummed out as I need to work on our taxes and have loads of things to work on at the sewing machine. Right now, I am clearing my desk and sorting so I can expedite the tax ordeal. It is an ordeal, since my husband is self-employed, and I hate accounting (and have a degree in it). I need to finish the shorts for the 6 yr old that were from scraps from a skirt I made plus work on the camoflauge skirt/shorts for us, not to mention the huge pile of things cut out. Let's hope this goes quickly, by the 15th, at least and not have to extend.

I managed to get a baby dress sewn together and am hand finishing it. It is green seersucker plaid from a remnant with white bias tape and rick rack tucked under the tape on the neck and arms. I used Simplicity 3508, vintage layette. I cut it as a small, 6 mos, and it is huge, so it will be used later this summer. Mine is more like the yellow without the bows. I may make a bonnet trimmed similar to the dress, but may not have enough for panties, which is ok since she has white rhumba pants.

Had to take the baby to the doctor for her checkup, so we hit Hancock's and Super Walmart and boy did we find some neat stuff... At Hancock's an animal print, a paisley, a retro (60's) dot in a swirl pattern, plisse for kids, and some notions. At Walmart, a butterfly camoflauge and an Indian-made batik-like cotton. I am thinking of making the camo into a skirt with eyelet at the hem for the contrast and shorts for my 6 yr old to match; we can wear white shirts. The print is too large for the baby. I have patterns in mind for the paisley, animal print and retro dot. The plisse for gathered ruffle-tiered (twirly) skirts. The baby was asleep for most of it, so I could concentrate and picture what I would do with each one. A perfect time! Now I need to get to work, if she will only keep to her naps...

While I am at the computer I thought I would post a photo of a quilted wallhanging I did last year for a friend's confirmation gift; they are ranchers and ride horses, so I thought the young lady would enjoy it. I used Moda's buckarettes (?) and hand-appliqued them to muslin.

Tried to sew today while older kids are at school; baby was fussy. Will post photos later. I did finish my "muslin" on thrift store fabric of an 80's vintage cap sleeve blouse. The neck line is a little wide, but wearable with bra hiding devices sewn in. The blouse is a little boxy, so on my next one, I may curve it in a bit at the waist.

I am starting this to keep a record of the items I sew, for others to see. I am starting to work on vintage patterns for me and the kids. I have some modern patterns already cut out & in progress, but really like the lines of the vintage clothing. My kids actually fit better in clothes I make, especially pants and pajama pants for their various reasons. The baby will get some cutesy things as well. I also enjoy quilting, cross stitch and crochet. The title is based on my adventures in learning to sew with 4 kids.