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

I did not realize the last post was my 200th post! Wow! I am working on dress samples, the non-wrap version of 3945 and a baby gift, a Texas A&M baby dress. I have also completed two versions of a 1980's Butterick cap sleeved (sleeveless) top. I did one in lawn and one in knit crepe. I like the knit version better. I don't do well in wovens sometimes, too stiff. The lawn is pretty and I may try another top with the leftovers, I have a yard or so left. I will probably recycle the wadder, into something for the oldest, well, it's not really a wadder, I just wasn't totally convinced. The knit one is fine and finished. I will try to photograph it later. I have some ideas for girls dresses and baby things, working on some now. I have a few ladies in town interested in purchasing for their daughters, too. This may work. More later...

New to be added to one of the shops, child size 3-4 apron/smock. It is made of beautiful butterfly print on a black background and has yellow bias trim, blue rick rack on the pocket divisions, it is divided into 3 sections. The back will close with snaps. Great for a birthday present for a little girl. On my dresses, I have an idea, to use S3945 wrap dress, eliminate the extensions/wrap, and make it into a basic TNT dress. It fits my bill, cap sleeved, cotton-friendly, already know it fits closely, easy to make, but I do not need a bunch of wraps, so why not eliminate the wrap and make it a traditional dress. After reading Summerset's post about converting zipper closures from button plackets and back, I think with a V neck, a side zip, this could work. After all the different vintage patterns I have cut out and pulled out, what I wanted was right in front of me the whole time!. I have a turquoise rayon poly woven from Walmart I will use to muslin it. I think there is enoug...

Working on a wrap dress using S5460 (pictured in earlier post) blended with my favorite S wrap used before (I don't look good in sleeveless) using a red vintage bandanna/floral cotton. Working around the kiddos, DH, and baby taking a nap in our bedroom, where the sewing machine is. Wonder how much will get done???

Posting my black cherry dress "on" after Church today and my daughter's new green dress, from vintage S4969, sleeveless dress view, which I made slightly large so she can hopefully wear it through our long Texas summer and maybe next spring, out of Tutti Frutti plisse (I love sewing that stuff, it doesn't ravel easily, easy to wash & wear). The girls pattern was great, except I did not line it; I used purchased bias tape (wish I had used my own made tape). I need to move the ties down to the waistline as they are about 1/2" too high and ride up in the back. My photos were horrible using a timer for the first time and a 3 yr old trying to get into the action. The glare was bad, too, so many had to be discarded.

School being out for 2 kids and one still in private preschool and baby at home, what crazy days. On top of that, my 4 yr old (the disabled one) had strep this week with fever to 104 deg. Yuk! All while my husband's employer was in town for a few days. As you can imagine, I have not sewn much at all. I pinned a skirt to a bodice and gathered the threads up while we were up late one night talking, but that is as far as I got. I did mean to place photos of black cherries dress and here it is finished: I did not take one with me in it as I am not dressed this early, but wanted to post a photo. I also have a shot of the bodice of the Texas bluebonnet bodice, using the same pattern, which is a great vintage pattern to use, super easy even for me. All the dress is assembled, waiting for the skirt and bodice to be attached and finished up. I also have a plisse dress for my 6 year old (that's what I worked on last night) from a vintage pattern, more later.

Now that life is returning to normal (what's that?) I have been working on daughter's red dress, which I substituted the bias facing for bias binding made from one of the prints. I always put this on by hand, so it takes awhile. I got some compliments on the black cherry dress at the funeral, so I have made some fabric stash orders (oops!) and bought Moda's bluebonnets on yellow (hey, it's Texas' state flower) and plan to do another of that pattern with a royal blue collar and sash. I also have some Aunt Grace large scale grandmothers flower garden "cheater" cloth, I may do a 40's dress in that. I bought some DuBarry's on Ebay and have a McCall as well, so whichever I can fit on the yardage as it is only 2 yards and planned on doing the bodice yokes, ties, etc in a contrast solid (red or bright blue) to have enough and facings out of the Aunt Grace pieced if needed. I need to iron the cherry dress; once I do, I will take a photo. I also need ...

Stash shopping and cherries print dress today: Went to Hobby Lobby to get more Simplicity on the .99 sale, ended up with 4044 for short sleeve blouse and maybe pants), 3918, 4176, 4487, since view C looks like Mccall 5664. Also had mom buy 3759, 4138, 3673 (retro jumper), 4047 (for wraptie blouse), and some for my 6 yr old. Also ended up buying remnants of boucle (orig would have been $31.00 for $3.00), poly satin in sapphire blue, navy gingham and yardage in pink/brown animal print knit, brown poly satin, brown and black broadcloth. I would love to make 4044 blouse in the sapphire with red piping. I know I am not participating in swap, but want to apply the concept to my future sewing of sticking to colorways, so my main 2 will be 1. browns with pinks and lavendars and 2. black/white/red and other coordinating combo (such as the sapphire and red blouse). First, I have to finish the cherries dress as I may need it in the upcoming week. I decided not to do arm facings, but cut wide bias...

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.