Here are three of my latest vintage pattern finds. The dress to the left is copywriter 1964. It looks very "Petula Clark" (for those of you who are boomer age). "I know a place" where this could quite nicely fit in.

The coat pattern below is probably from a few years earlier. I snagged it because I'd tried on a pink velveteen coat at an antique mall earlier this year that is almost exactly the same style as the coat on the right, but didn't get it. And have been regretting it.

Finally, the summer top must be from the early 50's, but I'm not certain. Don't know why I got it - just appealed for some reasons.

I have a stack of vintage patterns and magazines that I've purchased in the past few months that I will scan and post from time to time this month. I hope you enjoy it.

Vintage Pattern Snags=Part Four

OK here is something kicky from 1968! A set of girls hats. I love the flower hat in the upper right corner. And the others are great too.

I'm waiting to hear if grandchild #5 will be a girl. First sonagram seemed to indicate so. Next one won't be for another three weeks. Please, a girl! So in preparation, and to send out good vibes, I picked up this hat pattern. Can't you see a little 18 month old or even four year old in that little yellow flower hat with a little sundress to match? Such are the dreams of grandma's who have too many little boys around, even though they love them dearly.

Vintage Pattern I'd Kill For

I had this pattern while in high school (circa 1969). I made a great dress in lavendar dotted swiss, and the duster coat in a darker purple. The sleeves are great - slimmer at the shoulder, then from a seam about midway between shoulder and elbow, a two piece sleeve that ballons to a tight cuff with three buttons.

I have been looking for it for quite a while. About four months ago I determined to sign up for a search on ebay, as well as check vintage sites frequently. I could not remember who the pattern maker was - I was thinking Butterick, nto McCalls, but I also remembered the yellow block on the left.

Well it finally came up in a lot of 20 patterns that is for sale right now. I almost had a heart attack when I saw it. I hope I can win it, I'll keep you posted.

Vintage Patterns

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to pick up a few vintage patterns at a local antique mall. Two are sized 46 or 48, so they will fit with minimal adjustments. The coat pattern is smaller, but I love it, so am willing to fiddle with the sizing (and now I have my lovely dress form to help me!). And at $1 each, the price was more than right!
Finally, I found these two booklets from Singer - How to Make Dresses is dated 1927 and Children's Clothes is dated 1928. These will be fun to refer too and play with.

So no lack of patterns (I did not detail the new ones I purchased) and hopefully no lack of impetus to sew! Wish me luck.

What I did on my summer vacation!

SHOP - then SHOP some more. Now that things have settled down with Zman, and my subsequent cold, I may have time to show you what I found.

In my wanderings, I ran across a cache of larger size vintage patterns, photos above. They are all 44 to 46 bust size. I love them all, but think I might try the ADVANCE pattern first, (what do you think, mid-1950's??) maybe the Simplicity 7600 next - its dated 1968.

I also found the pattern for boys outfits - if you are my age or older, you may remember the young boys outfits where the pants buttoned onto the shirt. I saw a number of these vintage outfits in the antique shops, but was lucky enough to find this pattern in size 3. My guys may have a new outfit for Christmas!

Stay tuned, as I found a lot of other goodied - books, lace, buttons, fabric - all my favorite things.

VINTAGE 1950s Patterns - Rare for sale

I am selling four rare Vogue Special patterns - three suits and a dress - on ebay, starting today for 7 days. On ebay, I am sorryid. Please take a look and consider purchasing a pattern you like. I was not able to find other examples of any of these patterns on the internet, so I am going to call them RARE!

Fruitful Day of Sewing

Last week, we stayed home for Thanksgiving, with the idea that I would be able to sew all weekend and get some Christmas things done. This worked wonderfully for Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. For the first time in months, I finally had hours and hours to sew.

However, Thanksgiving morning, I woke feeling queasy. By 2:00 my temp was 101.2 and there was no way I was going anywhere but bed. Poor S had to get to the grocery just before it closed and got a rotisserie Turkey Breast. Well Fa La La La La. So much for the holiday and sewing.

But I want to share what I did get accomplished: two, yes two projects, involving three, yes THREE items. I have a third apron cut out, but not sewn as yet.

Items One and Two: Friend's Aprons (I made you as tall and skinny as I could!)

My friend J had S and I over for dinner a few weeks ago. She was poised at her sink with an old apron - boy you need a new one, I said. She said someone made it for her years ago and it is her favorite - despite the ripped sides, raggedy ties and un attached pockets. So when we left I scooped it up, and promised a new one.

Selecting the fabrics for someone else was incredibly difficult. The photos show the finished product, and a cameo of the other fabric. I selected a 1930's style daisy that looks nice and fresh, and a chicken pattern. Now in general I object to chickens on things - something about them I don't like. But this pattern appealed in some way.

J said for the purposes of the photo to share with you, the apron would look better on a hanger with the ties drawn to a petite 23 inch waist. Maybe so, maybe not. I insisted that she model the apron - and she insisted that I make has as tall and thin as possible!

I hope you liked these J. Tomorrow I will post directions for replicating the apron, and some sewing tips.

Project 2: Smaller Version of Large L2 Sewing Workshop Bag

I have some old bark cloth I bought a couple of years ago in/near Rowley, Massachusetts at a weekend Flea Market when I was visiting my friend H. I loved the old fabric - bright pink and green puff flowers on brown branches.

I've been wanting to make a purse with the fabric since I bought it. Well I took the L2 Bag pattern, reduced it by 60%, and made the bag. I like the way it looks, but that size decrease was too much. The smaller photo below shows the proportions to the original bag size. I might try again with a 40% reduction.

Here is something different I tried when making the handle. I used a plain fabric cut twice as wide as the webbing I covered. Fold and press so that the edges meet in the middle. Then I cut a piece of the main body fabric the same width as the webbing, then ironed a seam down both sides. This went in the middle of the strap and was sewn down. Then I took a piece of satin covered cording, set it along the side of the body fabric along the strap, and zig zagged with clear thread over the satin cording. This made a nice edging for the strap and the zig zag is a good pattern over it.