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

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we have the baby's jumper done, still working on the 7 year old's jumper. This is the baby's, based on the NL pattern used for the bandanna jumper, enlarged to a medium and graded to a large on the side bodice seams, made from cotton baby cord from Hancock's with simple poly/cotton broadcloth lining, substituted hand snaps in the back, closed the skirt seam in the back and added a braid and velvet ribbon trim by hand. In fact, I do alot by hand for better control now. It's not perfect, being I procrastinated and had to rush, but it's ok. Now for the oldest's jumper, using OOP B6286, same fabric, lining and trim. As discussed before, I had to "back into" a lining, for lack of a better word, since the bias facings did not work. I machine inserted the lining at the neck, pressed, clipped, then clipped, turned and pressed the armhole facings and still am slipstitching them closed. I do not topstitching as I think...

Cake was well received by everyone, which I am happy about. I had never seen, tasted or heard of this cake. So for it to go well, a huge success. Pants were fine for the party as it was at a local rustic eatery. I worked at it and lost enough quick weight to fit into them fine and hemmed them yesterday. I was planning on sewing today on the girls' things but have 2 sick with colds and was so tired and sore, I took a nap instead. Maybe this evening...

Gosh, the clothes are awful... and more awful... Some of the items at Bealls were even frumpier, if that is possible, or just too revealing. Some of them just made me look heavier than I really am, esp. those of a matte jersey type with the long full skirts. I felt like I had a weight on me. I did get a nice short tunic top that the yoke was an enhanced lace and slacks, which I am not sure about since they feel a little tight in the waist and need hemming, even though they are petites. I also got several clearance tops. The baby had enough of shopping and let everyone in the store know about her displeasure. I know that's why we sew (or try to), but I just don't have the time to complete something. I am working on cakes now. The plan is a half sheet cake made of 4 9x13 cakes, 2 on bottom, 2 on top. This is the recipe in case anyone is interested in trying it: Mexican Wedding Cake (Watch your Weight cake) 2 c sugar 2 eggs 1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple 2 c flour 2 t...

I got frustrated yesterday, screwed up the hem on vintage S1541, got worried for time, cut out and sewed together S2929 (new pattern). FRUMP GIRL dress on me. Could have been the fabric, sleeves were too long for me, I don't know. That is the one time my husband has said get that thing off asap and we are going shopping for Saturday. Kinda of bummed me out yesterday evening, so much I did not even crochet or anything. So let's see what Bealls has in stock today for going out clothes. I do not want to go to Victoria. PS: No Photos of this one, none whatsoever, it was too bad on me. I did post a review on PR, using the cover of the pattern for a photo, it is the view on the right model, or the lower illustration in yellow.

Made fondant roses and flowers for the cake for the anniversary party this weekend. I am not good at the icing roses, so I usually sculpt them from fondant. These are tinted rose and yellow and coated with pearl dust in pink and gold. I have full roses, rosebuds and cut-out daisy-like flowers. I also have green leaves. When I ice and decorate, these will be placed on top with icing vines and additional leaves. I will post a photo of the completed cake on Saturday. No sewing today, maybe tonight after kids are all bathed and in bed. Gotta finish the dress...

I worked on hand sewing on the brown/tan 40's dress, I need it for this weekend! Slipstitching facings, hand-inserting a zipper. I am afraid to machine-sew a zipper, why I don't know. I am awaiting my new shoes to go with the dress from Mod Cloth.com. Ballerina flats in distressed brown with zipper findings for bows. Should be funky enough to have a more modern look. Or I may use my new heels. I wanted to make a wrap, but found out my suede jacket fits me now, so that will have to work. It is brown, so color matches. Got the retro butterick today in the mail. I am chomping to start it but must keep focused... Pictures of the brown dress, at least on a hanger or dress form tomorrow.

Had to take the oldest to the doctor today, which ended up being strep throat. We made it to Hancocks for a piece of black velveteen so mom can lengthen a jumper for her from last winter, just an extra church dress. Real cute from Bealls, with scotty dogs on red and black. We also bought royal blue crepe and lining for the butterick featured above. I may use this for Christmas, the cap sleeve version, rather than the Advance I had bought, for time sake. I have a couple of ideas to dress up the midriff. Maybe... Also found more baby cord on clearance, dotted swiss in blue and white and several usable remnants for tops. Plus Maxi-lock serger thread! So plan on finishing Thanksgiving dresses tomorrow or Wednesday. Also have a cake to make/decorate for hire for a 50th anniversary. Will be an interesting week!

All that got done was some laundry, mending on kids clothes & errands. It got cold and we realized Philly only had 1-2 pairs of long warm pants, so off to Target we went. Got one pair for $1.74 on clearance, another on clearance and 3 pairs of sweat pants for preschool, playing in. Andrew has plenty being he gets new and hand-me-downs from Philly. I also am finishing shortening the hems on a pair of jeans for CeeCee. She is so rough I only get clearance or resale shop ones. I also got at Target 3 tops for me on clearance. One is tight-cut but in a larger size, so sleeves may be shortened. The other two are shorter sleeved, elbow area. May need some embellishment. I may go through my maternity ones to see what can be altered for me now that I am losing some of the weight. I mostly wear them around here, anyways. I have lost about 2 inches at the waist and 2 in the rib cage area, hips maybe 1 inch, mostly using slimfast and cutting out a lot of high fructose corn syrup wh...

Saw this on Linda's blog and decided to try: Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz... You Are a Bette! You are a Bette -- "I must be strong" Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective. How to Get Along with Me * Stand up for yourself... and me. * Be confident, strong, and direct. * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust. * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side. * Give me space to be alone. * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me. * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack. * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am. What I Like About Being a Bette * being independent and self-reliant * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on * being courageous, straightforward, and hon...

With this pattern and the mod-ish flower power baby cord from Hancocks, plus some trim that is braid and green velvet ribbon, I am working on the jumper. The pattern went together easily until I am working on the facings. It has you use SF bias tape and turn all under for a facing. This I have seen alot on vintage patterns, but on this neckline, it looks awful. Even with pressing, it resists and pulls, puckering the cord on the right side. I will now have to rip it out and either line or make regular-type facings. I may just line the bodice as that seems simpler, the facings may be off if I draft them myself. The lining will be broadcloth as I have no more fabric. The baby's jumper is already cut out using the previous NL pattern in a larger size. Hers, too, will have to have broadcloth to line the bodice. Also, since the stripe colors (and some of the stripes!) did not exactly match up, I am adding the braid to the waist seam area to fool the eye. This pattern was bad o...

Lisa's from the Hem Line arrived today, including a B36 of the Butterick that blogger "Sincerely, Kate" is working on (I couldn't pass it up, finding what you really want is so rare), the replacement of the shift, a girls size 8 jumper/pants/jacket/skirt combo and a girls size 10 summer wardrobe from the 60's of simple tops, shorts, a-line sleeveless shifts. Look for the jumper for my oldest daughter in a flower power corduroy soon. I bought that pattern because it is simple, streamlined and suited for corduroy. Standard A-line pattern connected at a high waist. That is tagged next after the 40's dress is completed. Ran out of thread, got more last night as well as other supplies (shoulder pads, etc.), no fabric (gasp), probably won't work on it until next week. Sewing with all kids around is impossible and frustrating. Quilt piecing is about the most I can do. Maybe hand hemming and finishing. Is it like that for everyone with small children? I ...

The Hem Line. Recently I had purchased S5960 in a medium from Lisa, but since it is a shift, I am afraid to adjust to fit me; I really wanted the large so the bust and hips would be right. I saw she had a large on her site yesterday, she is sending it to me. She also has a copy of S3945 http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-50s-Back-Wrap-Around-Dress-Pattern-S16-5-B35_W0QQitemZ310095385121QQihZ021QQcategoryZ4161QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262 This is a great vintage pattern for half sizes (kind of a petite) with a bust size of 35. I also ordered a couple more from her today. Lisa's blog also highlights what she is posting to ebay that week so you can order it asap. Check her out! On the S1541 homefront (remember the series about the 40's with that name?), I am down to facings being hand-secured, need the zipper and hem. I also need to think about a belt/sash to define the waist. Today I topstitched the waist and had to rip and redo some. We are getting a cool...

I managed to get the front seam seamed, the arm facings on and skirt to bodice. Still need to add bias tape to enclose the waist seam (I probably did this backwards and should have added this earlier!) I have the neck binding pinned on, but had to press it to stretch it on the neck curves, so I was letting it rest pinned in place. Once I do these, I can try it on comfortably and hem it. I have learned hand basting is very efficient over machine basting for removing stitches if necessary as well as I can control easing a little better. There is one area in the back where a bit pleated instead of easing, but when I topstich the binding into place, I am going to manipulate it a bit to ease it out.

A 1945 Simplicity dress, the brown dress on the right, #1541. The bodice and yoke was not easy, I had to hand baste the entire thing, it was kind of like set in seams with quilting the 8 pointed stars, but weirder. It does look cool, and neat inside, as I zigzagged the seams over the straight stitch, trimmed and pressed (my serger substitute). I cut this out weeks ago, but thought today was fitting since it is election day and a patriotic duty (if you recall, WWII ended in '45). A cute swing dress with a v neck... One of my favorite eras! The dress is made of "calcutta" cloth from Joann's and Hancocks; I had 2 yds of brown from the mini-wardrobe I never finished and some beige leftover from maternity pants I could never get to fit. I had barely enough dark brown to do this, this came from a Joann's in San Antonio that is now closed, but I was determined! I wanted to duplicate the cover dress in something easy-care but not use eyelet on the yoke as the model...

No sewing today, just some reorganizing in the breakfast room of what is on the cutting table, it was a mess... Tomorrow is voting day. I, for one, do not support Obama. This is my choice according to my beliefs, esp. concerning abortion and other life issues, but I do not address controversial issues often here because this is focused on sewing and other crafts, plus family happenings. I do respect other opinions, but do not believe this is what we as a country need. I will leave it at that. Next up is a Simplicity dress #2929, I think. I have a poly charmeuse ready for it. I also have another NL jumper for the baby cut out and have corduroy for my oldest to make another jumper, this time an 80's pattern that has a slightly dropped waist (remember those?) like basque style. I may amend that some, but it's a stash pattern and handy. These will be Thanksgiving dresses for us. After that will be Christmas dresses. The baby's will be the same NL with sleeves, the old...

Thanks for the PR comments to those that left one. Also, I make things for her a little looser in the waist as she dislikes tightness and with putting time into something and she will only use a dress for church, I want it to fit her into the spring.

Finished this last night for my daughter. She loved it and she usually does not wear dresses. Post will be short, my parents are on their way over. I also have a photo of a refashioning for Spidey costume, put together in a few minutes. Took a thrift store warmup set, used the pants to make a patch to cover the existing motif, added another thrift store pant that fit, cut a spidey applique and human spider applique from a baby jacket and sewed it on. One happy 4 year old!