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

I am talking about the Kreative Blogger award and others. I am NOT trying to sound sour, and I am NOT sour, because there are others that are better bloggers and sewers/crafters than me. I am pleased to see some like Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic basically shared it with her following and readers. But I did not post it, as I would rather wait until my blogging is deserving, but I am not demeaning anyone who does, at all, because I think we are all creative bloggers and deserving it for our unique and various talents. This comes under ramblings that have no purpose, I think. Sorry, this is something I had to get off my chest, thinking about it as I come across it. I hope no one gets offended about it, if so, sorry...

Not really, just my oldest is sick & skipping school. A tummy ache/bug has been going around at school and I guess she got it, but no fever, no throwing up, just achy. Could be those 3 eggs last night she had for breakfast??? They had pancakes, eggs and fruit, since they rarely have much breakfast in the mornings here. They eat at school and a light one here, so they love pancakes for dinner with some fruit and farm eggs. We limit it to 1x per week because of the eggs. So today will tell, if it's just egg overdose or a bug. Her pants may be too short, she has grown alot, so they may be saved for capris in a month or two. Otherwise, they are done. The oldest son's are done & he is wearing them today. I used a basic Simplicity pant/top pattern from #4336 in a size 3 with a 4 length for legs. He is 5 years old and skinny b/c of CP. I did something different, using a wide bias strip from quilting cotton to make the casing at the waist with 1" elastic. Made ...

I hadn't been doing much as I caught a winter cold/brochitis, and have been laying low for a few days. I can't keep focused when I am coughing and sneezing alot. I have been taking a lot of naps, too. I have worked on the oldest's pants some, but really haven't done much of anything other than laundry, basics at home. I did read some of the other blogs. Carolyn's post about TNT's was great. She is a great example of developing TNT's that work for you and using them as a jumping-off point to keep in fashion. If you think about it, most patterns are a basic shape for a top, skirt, etc. and then add details, length, width, etc. If you already have that basic shape down, you can change it as your needs dictate. Something to explore this year as a goal. Well, that's it for now, I need to get back to the dishes.

Today Baby H turns 1! It was a freezing cold night last year when I went to the hospital at 3am after breaking my water. The deck was icing from the drizzle. On the 45 minute drive through the country, we saw every deer in the county by the sides of the road. Now my baby turns a year old. And we are not pregnant, which was bittersweet as we were kinda gearing ourselves up for another, but really do have a full house with 4 and one with CP. But we would have managed and been fine. But it was not meant to be, which is also ok. Today was spent cleaning carpets and sewing a pair of pajama pants recycled from receiving blankets for the baby. I used B4433, which may be OOP. I was lucky enough to have 2 matching blankets as one would not have been enough. These have been around since the oldest child and were still in great shape, just washed soft. I finished them rather quickly despite many interruptions from the kids. I had to challenge myself for what should have been 1-2-3 and...

I have been sewing some, not for me, though. I am still working on (at the same time), the baby gifts (the package keeps growing), the Urban Indigo charms quilt blocks, a wall hanging for Valentines day and pants for the oldest. I am using a poly/cotton twill from Fabric.com. It seems like it will be wrinkle-free or almost. It has been easy to sew, too. I am using bias tape to finish the pocket seam allowance to learn a new finishing skill and to weight the pockets down a bit. I am using the basic Butterick pattern I always use for her. She always needs new pants for school and she is really rough on the clothes. She is down to two pairs of jeans and her fleece ones are getting too short. She plays with the boys like a boy and always looks kind of dusty when she gets home. I never know how she will look when she gets off the bus. The wallhanging is cool, from "Bits and Pieces", a quilting book about mini-quilts, emphasizing hand piecing and hand quilting. I will ...

I have been reading others histories and decided to join in. I gave a version on Pins and Needles, but not here. My mother sewed for me, my grandmother sewed alot in her day, usually making her own pattern from RTW in downtown Houston shop windows, making notes and a sketch. I resisted learning how to machine sew, absolutely would not do it. I hand-sewed doll things about 8, learned to crochet and embroider from my grandmother. I fell in love with cross-stitch in my teens and did that for years, now my eyes are too strained to do much with it. I cross-stitched through two pregnancies on bed rest. Fast forward to 2007. I was pregnant again after a recent miscarriage (I have had 3 lost, we have 4 living children, oldest is adopted). At the end of the first trimester in Jan 07, I had an ultrasound, no heartbeat. I was devastated again. I needed something to concentrate on, so I decided to learn patchwork, log cabin blocks, and got a 2nd hand machine from one of the church ladies...

I looked up the new ones from an email I received. There are some nice ones, but I am struck by how vintage-y some were (which is good). 1930's - #8556 with a long dress, slinky-like 1940's - 1086 with the cap sleeves, 8553 & 8554 all three with swingy skirts and 8557 has a silhouette like an old Butterick I have (short-sleeved) 1950's - 1084 & 1094 1960-70's mod - 1090, 1091 and 8552 shift reminds me of the old shifts/housedresses (look at the pose), not that is a bad thing, I think our world is too casual at times and women dressed more than we do for homemaking, because it is a job, a profession, albeit it at times tedious and boring. 1980's - 8563 and 8564 definitely remind me of Dynasty ad Knot's Landing dresses, sans peplums. Feminine Power Suits. Now these notes were made this morning and I may have shuffled them a bit, so forgive me if my numbers and impressions are a bit off. A gripe: Renewal notices for magazines I no longer want. They st...

Adventures in Sewing - and life...: Just another black jacket You have to check out her jacket, the trim is great!

I have mentioned I had not been feeling great lately, so not much sewing. I did get motivated to make a baby present for an old friend's daughter in Houston, two appliqued onesies, diaper cover and a couple of other items. Now, I have made this diaper cover before at Christmas, so cocky me thought, I don't need the instructions. Damned if I didn't sew the crotch up at the wrong time. And can't find a seam ripper to save my life! Where have they all gone? The black hole that is my sewing space ate them all up. Or my kids did... Well, no one is complaining of stomach pains, so I guess it's not one of them! So I have to use a straight pin to rip those straight stitches out. The seam finish is not perfect, either, but I am not planning on ripping those out. I want to finish them tonight so I can mail it asap. I read Carolyn's post about stash, I am sure many of you did. I have a stash, quite abundant for someone only sewing 2 years. I am trying to use s...

Well, after being out so much all weekend, have a list of things to do. I need to do laundry, clean the den, make beds, clean the kitchen/breakfast room, take care of itty bitty baby (our pet name for her) go to the grocery and bank and sew. Sewing probably won't happen until after lunch. I have a few things to accomplish and don't feel too great. I had nausea and headaches alot this weekend, actually since Wednesday. For sewing, I want to adjust the BWOF muslin and work on the quilt-piecing. I have gotten pretty far on the quilt, finish the strips into the 9 patches and the 4 appliqued stars for the corners, then sew all together. I tried to work on it but the headaches were too much. I slept 10 hours last night and have sorta fasted so I feel somewhat better. BTW, little girl started really crawling this weekend (belly off the ground) so it's now watch out and katy bar the door time, because she is moving! She kinda creeps and crawls around, getting into alot, s...

Well, the hunting trip was great. We had some fun with friends and met some new people, they guys enjoyed their time out. I came back to the house yesterday for a bit to relieve the babysitter, but otherwise, enjoyed hanging out. There was exotic game, deer, elk, llamas, doves (which it is dove season) and other creatures. The deer came up to the house pretty much all of the time and closer when deer corn was thrown. Today, I picked up my kids and took them out to see the animals. They had so much fun. They shot 2 doves, and shot clay pigeons. I love the view from there, you could see our town in the distance. Tomorrow will be catch-up on laundry and housework, maybe I can work on my BWOF muslin. Now it's bath time for the kids and bedtime.

I haven't done much, I was feeling a little off yesterday after going up to the church to fix flowers now that Christmas comes down this weekend. The storage room was so dusty (a very old church) and my allergies were awful all afternoon and evening. I will work on the BWOF muslin today for a bit to see what works from the suggestions I have received. I am also working on a lap quilt started Tuesday when I was stalling with the shirt, the quilt for my mom, I think, as she has some medical issues going on right now and is a little down. I will probably take it to a lady outside town that long-arm quilts from her home. I do not want to take the time to hand-quilt it and machine quilting on my machine never seems to come out right. Whatever gets done today is it for the week as we will out a lot this weekend. Mike and the baby's godfather won at the church auction last fall a hunting trip at a local ranch, so we will be going back & forth to the ranch. I should be nice...

I tried it on again, seriously this time, and it only gaps about 2-3" in front at the hem. I still would like an extra inch or two for ease, so the question still remains, just not as desperate an adjustment. I also was able to compensate for swayback in the back. Overall the 44 fits fairly well, better than Big 4. The shoulder slope & upper back is better, I have a flatter broader shoulder (always have). The darts had better placement for my size. Would slashing the muslin from the hem to waist and adding a small amount in a few locations evenly spaced be a good option?

I have cut out this shirt and muslined it without sleeves. Now the 44 seems to fit in the bodice well enough, I can adjust it slightly if needed. The bodice from the waist to the hips needs work. At the hem it needs about 5-6 inches for comfortable coverage and the smallest gap starts about the waist, so we are looking at a pie-shaped gap. With the assymetrical opening and needing more than a grading to the largest size, 46, what would be the best way to alter this muslin? I need your help, please!!! Here is the link to the pattern, I cannot get a picture to post: http://www.burdafashion.com/en/Magazines/Archives/115_Dress_technical_drawing/1270777-1463237-1503695-1503698-1503803-1503805.html

Well, today I took the youngest son to preschool, the oldest two did not have school until tomorrow so they went to Papa & Mimi's since the baby had to go to the doctor. She has RSV, bronchiolitis, but should improve with the nebulizer, etc. We had to go to Walmart, where I found a few pieces, one poly charmeuse that is crinkle in a random fashion in plum and a rayon/poly blend linen-like fabric in turquoise. I also bought some broadcloth to line a lavender dress for spring. Matching threads, too. The only sewing I did today was to mend the bottom sheet to the youngest son's bed. This weekend he took a PIECE OF GLASS taken out of a picture frame to it. The joys of children... Luckily he sliced it cleanly on the bias so I was able to hand mend it together then zigzag over it with the machine. Maybe tonight I will make a muslin of a BWOF assymetrical top from 6/2007 #112 I think. I am jumping into the BWOF to see how I fit into them. I have a few back issues and con...

Two to give away, two drawings: 1st up: McCall 5742, the Christmas dress for the oldest. I have no intention of making this one again. The dress is cut to the largest size, but I did cut off the skirts, the extensions are present. Would need to be taped. It is a great party dress for sizes 6-7-8. Could also be made in baby cord, broadcloth, velveteen, linen blends. Would also make a great Easter dress. 2nd up: Simplicity 2929, I did not like this style for me. It was not good on me, I guess I am too short and roundish, so I looked like a puff! But someone else may have better luck! Now I cut out View B, the black polka dot on the model, in an 18. It is suitable for silkies, Challis, Brepe Back Satin, Jacquards, Silk-Rayons, Gauze, Double Georgette, Jerseys, lightweight linen blends. One or two bodice piece(s) is(are) slightly mangled from the baby reaching out and grabbing it. I managed to work with it. The skirt is fine, I think. Of course, since I did not use the sleev...