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

I received this in the mail today, S5449, a different version to the walkaway dress from the 1960's. I have read reviews of the B4790 that have mixed results, some love it, some have problems with fit and the bigger back skirt pulling and gaping with that skinny front skirt. Now I do not fit a pattern on me out of the envelope, so that worried me. And I have considered making it, alot. So when I saw this on etsy, I jumped at it. There is a larger or smaller version on ebay, too. This is kind of small for me, but I would rather size up a bit than down. This way the skirt should be around the right length. What I liked is both front and back skirts are the same width (approx.) so better coverage is possible and it looks like it could wrap to the front if you make it that way. Plus it uses ties to close the wrap. I am not fond of the button look on the walkaway for me. This is on the "things to do soon" list, so I will post about it soon, I hope.

After having Thanksgiving at my mom's and then going to Houston (4 hrs each way) in one day with 4 kids, I was beat. I spent the rest of the weekend catching up and still am catching up. Plus the AC/heat on my car went out, some blower motor part, so we took it to the shop today. I broke out the new Janome serger today, so cool. However, it took Mike & I an hour to thread it. Once we had it, it was so quick to assemble a pair of pajama pants for my oldest. I still need to learn settings to do the different functions. A great investment for $110.00 on ebay. I also have some packages coming from ebay, a bunch of vintage patterns, some fabric. Uh, enough said. But, they will be so cool to add to the collection of things I hope to make and love to admire. I am trying to only buy in my approximate size, usually a half-size, 37 or 39 bust. One is cool, a wrap sheath from the 60's where it had 3 armholes. I want it for a dressing wrap, so the kids stop seeing me half...

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.

I was having lunch and reading the new B/McC Sewing Today and the new Sew Stylish - whatever happened to the "Demise of the Dress"? That's about 1/2 to 3/4 of what is featured in new patterns. Still using empire waists (great for those with a tummy) with more details. More options instead of the "sacks"/tunics that look like a hefty bag. I love the Sew Stylish self-draft pattern for a simple knit dress, which appears it could be a hefty bag, but adds a tie around sash, cinching it in. I am looking to make that asap, but I am working on the S wrap top, which is humming along nicely. Black cotton knit is easy to work with and the directions are pretty easy, except for after sewing the shoulder seams, I am putting in the sleeves as flat construction. You can find this in one of last year's Threads by Marcy Tilton, I think. Shoulder seam, sleeves flat, then sides, because sewing in sleeves flat with sleeve towards feed dogs helps ease it in rather than g...

I guess I need to post this on my blog with the cute little button: The Pledge I,Myra, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed Myra. Let's see how well we do... Worked on a 2nd romper for the baby, was almost done with the snap tape (decided to try it the way the instructions asked for since I bought some Monday in Victoria) and ran out of thread in the bobbin and had no more white prewound. I would have wound some, but the baby was asleep next to me and would have woken up, so that was all for today. Tonight, after kid...

Received this one, beautiful, but a size 12 with B30? Who are these little people, anyways? I may make this work from another pattern the right size and morph the details. Red dress is still brewing on the dressform... Later that day... after going a little crazy with housework, kids, etc., I ignored everyone and put together the shorts for my daughter (camo butterfly), just lacking the elastic and hem. I need to change the threads to tan, which I used white inside and was too lazy to change then. Maybe tonight I can finish after our church festival meeting. Now time to feed kids, shower and get ready to go.

I recently posted some things on my ebay store, S 4260, in a size 18, bust 36, for the low starting bid of $.99 plus shipping and a few others, such as vintage boxer shorts pattern for men and hippie vests. I have had a good morning, but the mail made it better... A Burda back issue, which are so hard to find for a reasonable price, to try it out, a flirty-skirty apron pattern, 3 yds of fabric, a few housedress type patterns, a kids pattern, and the half-size version of the one I listed today. I fit better into half-sizes. I have a huge box full of vintage patterns to list on ebay, when I get time, so check out my store, add yourself to the email generated for new listings, and check them out. Some of them are very unique from the little resale shop here in town that is closing shop.