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

I have finished little girl's dress, except for a sash, which I need to go in Friday to town for groceries and will get more purple broadcloth at Hancocks. It was a mail order vintage pattern, big pinafore style ruffles set into princess seams. Princess seams for a little princess. I will photograph all later. On to the older girl's dress, which is still in partial pieces - bodice is about done, skirt not yet. She will also need more of the purple for her sash. Bias binding ate up most of what I had bought. Remember the aqua floral I posted earlier. That's the main fabric. As far as mine, no further progress and I was contemplating another that was in progress out of a dusty darker blue linen blend. It's a mix of my Christmas bodice (vintage) and a flared knee length skirt from another vintage pattern. We will see...

More pictures in the listing for these beauties - see link in right sidebar to the etsy listing. No real sewing, I had a cake to make for the local nursing home's February birthdays and worked contract today.

This pattern is up for sale - Bust 36, late 30's, at a good price in my etsy shop, LadybugDuds. I desperately need to destash what I will not sew, everything priced reasonably to sell. Get it while it's hot! Perfect for those sewing challenges of "through the decades".

First a custom made crochet hook organizer ordered at a craft show For the baby's jumper - navy blue baby cord with a lining and trim from cotton, Dena Designs, bought at the LQS, Seams Like Home. I also have covered buttons from a vintage kit and vintage lace on the hem.

Nothing new, life has been in the way of sewing much, the quilt is being pieced in sections. I have Vogue 8511 in mind for an upcoming benefit we are planning on attending in purple ponte de roma knit. I really like that pattern and I couldn't find a bad review of it, the pieces for the princess bodice virtually match the Simplicity 2473 I made two versions of last year, so I think it will work fine for me. Being ponte, I will still use a zipper, but the hems can be machine made and seam finishes simple, speeding up the construction. I also have a vintage jumper for little girl on the ironing board already cut out, waiting on me and some time. Please let me get some soon :)

Photos of my almost complete Christmas dress from S3237 from 1950, can be seen in the Vintage Pattern wikipedia http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Simplicity_3237 since my copy's envelope is in awful shape. It's modeled after the blue one, but I chose a drapey woven, bought a few years ago, it may be rayon blend, has slight stretch, with superimposed "flocked" abstract flowers. You can see where I chose to embellish the central bodice with gunmetal shade bugle and seed beads, following the flower lines. I bought a stretch elastic belt in black, the only one I could find, so hopefully it works. I have some high pumps with a mary jane strap, so hopefully it will all work. I lined the bodice with the anti-cling poly stuff from Hancocks, handsewing the two together at the waist seam. I had to take a stab at easing it in at the gathers since I opted not to do running stitches on it, thought it might be too thin to do it. All I lack is the zipper and hem.

Costume #1 finished from vintage Simplicity 7162, modified to wear to school. I made the top from the pattern, stopping at the waist. I then made her TNT pants, adding about 2" on each side seam and elasticating the ankle for ruffles. I couldn't see her going to the bathroom in a one piece. I substituted those cute flower buttons for the pompons. Hayley's is up next.

I pulled out vintage 1970's S6685 for the little girl and some vintage seersicker/plisse my mom had given me this weekend. I had just enough for the pajamas. It went together in a couple of hours, with handsewing the binding and making it from some cotton. I even bound the hem of the pants and opted for no wrist elastic. I cut out red gingham to work on a 2nd pair tonight. Somehow, I have 3 copies of this pattern, all size 1. I am keeping one, giving one to a sewing friend who has a little girl a year younger than mine and doing a giveaway for the 3rd. Post for a chance and become a follower on the sidebar while you are at it for a 2nd chance. We are not sophisticated over here, so if you are entering a 2nd time for becoming a follower, please tell me in the comments. I will draw Sunday evening and post on Monday, Oct 11.

Won the 30's Butterick (happy dance!) at price higher than I really wanted to go for my budget, but it is close to my size and perfect since it is fairly plain and adaptable for today, lost the 40's Advance for the 2nd time, a one piece pattern to be made from tubular jersey knit. If anyone has it and wants to sell it, please let me know. It's one of those gotta have and I have only seen it twice.

is set #2 for sale, also 34 bust sized http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200481641492&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200481307706&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT is the link All are Bust 34, 1940's fashions, good condition. I hope you hurry on over and bid if they work for you! UPDATE - SOLD TODAY :)

Don't you just love this one? The purple one is what I envision, maybe in purple or maybe in a coral linen. I received it today in the mail off ebay. At a 38B, seems to be ok on top, just need to add on the sides, CF and reduce darts to enlarge the waist. I bought 5 yds of lightweight preshrunk muslin today, I am muslining it as soon as I get a chance, use it for the lining if I use linen. I will underline it rather than face it. It is really a cute one. I also have some 1940 ones on their way. I have been pattern surfing for bargains. I will be inspired soon, no A/C in the house is a killer in Texas when you are used to it. It is on target to be fixed tomorrow. No A/C since Saturday evening :( The natives are restless... :0

none, except for cutting out a jumper for the oldest and a dress for the baby. The jumper is a vintage size 8, she is really a 10 now. I took a 10 bodice and transferred the details to the 8 jumper bodice, made the skirt two pieces instead of 6 gore since I am using a red and black check, to cut down on seam matching. I also cut out the broadcloth lining. I added 2.5" to the skirt length to be sure I cut enough. The old jumper, out of denim is in last fall's posts, and barely fits her, cannot zip it up, so hopefully going to the size 10 should be enough. I can also use less SA and lessen the darts. The baby's is an OOP McCalls in the check also with black collar, two pleats in the front and back and ends about midway with bows on the front where the pleats end. I picked this one based on a Patrones dress from an issue I got from Paco (thanks!). The pattern is about identical, so hopefully it works for her. I am venturing into toddler sizes now for her. A new exp...

I am trying to steal a minute here and there to finish some outfits for the baby before she starts preschool. One dress/panty set is from a 1960-ish Butterick. I decided to finish the armholes with bias strips. I am convinced to always make kids clothes flat. It was hell to sew in those strips on the machine. And that was the attaching seam. I plan on folding under and finishing by hand, but on a little size, no way I am doing that again. A lesson learned... I also have more of the tie shoulder dresses to finish, one in pink camo and one in pink swirl. Plus some items for school for the oldest and oldest boy...

I have a few patterns listed for sale on etsy, one I wanted to spotlight, the McCall Western Shirt and bra. I think this is cool since there are A-B-C cup sizes in the 32 bra pattern. The shirt has variations, but I like the Western Shirt version. At $3.99, it is a good price being complete, folded, etc. and the envelope is in fair condition. My shipping is reasonable at under $2.00 for US shipping. International, we can research for the best price. I have four patterns at my shop, myrayeretsky, on etsy at this link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23781936 Check them out, I want to close this store out and put everything on one, LadybugDuds.