I almost forgot about this skirt pattern . . .

Here’s one of my favorite vintage (1970’s) Stretch & Sew patterns.  I won a lot of 50 on ebay last year and have picked up a few more since because I like them so much.   Stretch & Sew  patterns are multisize, never cut (they are printed on paper and meant to be traced like Kwik Sew patterns), and are usually very plentiful and inexpensive on ebay.  The patterns I have are all for knits and cover a wide range from lingerie to swimwear to women’s clothes of all kinds to unisex and mens’ clothes to children’s clothing.  Here are my versions of the long flared wrap skirt: first my “pucci” print skirt (rayon lycra knit)

then my skirt in basic black (also rayon lycra knit)

I’m sorry, the pictures are not the best –a dressform would help and I’m hoping I’ll be able to get one soon.

The only thing I don’t like about these skirts is that they have to be readjusted/retied  several times over the course of the day.  But I love the swing of the skirt and they are the only wrap skirts I own that I really don’t have to worry about how I sit so to maintain modesty (I sit on the ground a lot).  The pattern is from the late 70’s, but has a very 1950’s circle skirt feel to it–maybe that whole 1950’s retro thing that was going on at that time (think Grease).  Here is what the pattern looks like

As you can see, there are only two pattern pieces–the main skirt cut once on a fold and the waistband/tie.  I think I had to cut two and sew them together to get the length I needed.  My ties are long enough to wrap around my waist a couple times and then tie in a bow.   My fasturn was so handy for this project.  I actually added length to this skirt, even with my short legs.  If I hadn’t, the hemline would have ended at the dreaded widest part of my calves.  So I added a little more and the skirt now ends just below the muscular part of my calves; I believe this is called ballet length and it’s a great length for me.  My legs are short, particularly in the lower leg, and I find that this length makes them look a bit longer.   Rayon lycra was the perfect fabric choice for this skirt–so soft and drapey.  And the skirts are great with strappy sandals or my high heel chuck taylors that I bought (cough cough) years ago.   And I can envision wearing them with tall boots in the cooler months. 

 

It’s here!

Here is the final vintage pattern I won from ebay.  There’s no date, not even on the postmark on the original envelope, so I don’t know when it is dated from.  Maybe late 30’s/early 40’s.  The hat looks quite 1930’s.  Robin Hood with Errol Flynn came out in 1938 and perhaps it’s the influence for the hat style.

Maybe it’s because of my association of the pattern with Robin Hood, but I see the dress sewn up in forest green  . . . I’m stumped on what kind of fabric to use.  The pattern suggests using the reverse of the fabric for the gathered front pieces if using crepe backed satin but other than that no fabric is mentioned.  I suppose, anything with a similar weight and drape to crepe backed satin.   I do want the dress to be at least hand washable (if I actually make it, of course).  I was also thinking rayon velvet, machine washed to give it a vintage look, for the ungathered pieces and a lighter weight fabric (perhaps in a different shade of green) for the gathered front with velvet ribbon to match the velvet fabric . . .  I think I’d leave off the bows and perhaps use the elbow sleeves instead of the short sleeves.  I could also see this in a combination of wine and charcoal gray.  

I think my pattern choice for the contest will depend on which ones I find the right fabric for.  I’ll be visiting a really nice fabric store within the week  . . .  I wonder if they will have any rayon velvet this time of year? 

Vintage love

Here are some of the vintage patterns that I’ve recently bought from various ebay sellers in preparation for Patternreview.com’s vintage sewing contest.  Aren’t they beautiful?  Now I have to decide which ones to sew.

 I have one more on the way . . .

Welcome to the world of stitching, my son!

 Last week when we were all homebound because little brother had a high fever, I taught my 8 year old a little hand sewing.  He drew a picture of a Visorak, which is a Bionicle creature,  then we made a pattern from his picture and cut it out from felt.  I showed him a couple basic stitches and set him loose!  The stitches aren’t perfect, but I think he did a great job for a first project.  And he really enjoyed it.  He even told me, “when I start sewing, I’ll need some left-handed sewing scissors.”  He will; he is the only lefty in the family and even the so-called two-handed scissors don’t work well for him.   Here’s another shot:

Our felt sewing frenzy started last week with this kitty I made for my daughter from a picture she drew

And then little brother, with a fever of 103.8, asked me to make him a purple elephant.  Tired as I was, how could I refuse a sick baby?   So I made him an elephant, now called Peppi

  Peppi goes to bed with my little guy everyday.  Once my oldest saw what I made his siblings, he wanted something made from felt too.  So I suggested that he make it himself.  Such an easy project:  we used wool felt, embroidery floss, hand quilting thread, and wool stuffing.  I sometimes make dolls, so I had the wool felt and stuffing on hand, but acrylic felt and poly stuffing would work nicely too and be more economical.  Kids love things made from their own design too. 

Tiers, not tears . . .

No tears here, just tiers of ruffles on my kitten’s dress.  Just as I predicted, she wore it right away.  The photo shows how the dress stands out away from her– a good thing as the dress has a lot of fabric in it (it’s rather heavy) but since it’s very loose there’s good air circulation for these hot summer days.  

 My youngest is showing some interest in toilet training . . . I think I’ll be sewing some boys’ underwear in the near future.   

Have I told you just how much I love . . . my serger?

Well, I do!  It took me years and years to get up the nerve to buy one.  I was so intimidated–all those spools, loopers, multiple needles, a knife . . .  This summer I finally bought one.  It’s the Babylock Evolve which has coverstitch as well.  I love it.  The jet-air threading is fool-proof and it’s actually fun to change it around to do different functions.  I’ve done the coverstitch, the chainstitch, the 3 thread overlock, the 4 thread overlock, and the rolled hem so far.  The rolled hem is so much fun–and such a time saver!  Bring on the ruffles!  I will have to try it out on chiffon so that maybe I can sew up the 4 lengths of silk chiffon I have.  Although, I don’t exactly have a silk chiffon lifestyle.  I just finished an Ottobre Design ruffled dress for my little girl–three tiers of ruffles and they were so fast to hem with the serger’s rolled hem.  I haven’t shown her the dress yet–she’s sleeping.  I like to put her new dresses on a hanger and hang them from her doorknob so she sees them when she wakes up.  She usually will show up downstairs wearing it.  I don’t have a photo of my version, but here’s Ottobre’s version

August Burda WOF preview

 

click here for the trousers link

Simply delicious! 

Sorry, Mr. Gunn . . . I tried, but I just can’t wear ballet flats

I recently read Tim Gunn’s book, A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style and it’s a really fun read.  There’s lots of practical advice for those of us looking for help bringing –well—quality, taste, and style to our wardrobes.  But, I have to disagree with Mr. Gunn in one regard:  he states that the ballet flat is an essential shoe for all women.  I just can’t wear them!  I was looking for sandals at Filene’s Basement today and saw the cutest black and white polka dot ballet flats–tried them on, looked in the handy little mirror–nope, nope, nope.  It was not a good look for me at all–I need a raised heel of some kind–even if it’s only 3/4 of an inch!  I think it’s because my legs are short below the knee–I need the lengthening of a higher heel (although I really can’t wear anything over 1 1/2 inches or so without foot pain)  I could possibly wear ballet flats with a pair of pants, but I have enough pants shoes and I mainly wear skirts in warm weather anyway.   But I did get two pair of black sandals–one Liz Claiborne, and one pair of these adorable Born sandals with ankle straps.  Which I know one should avoid if one has short little legs, but I promise I will only wear them with long skirts and wide legged, flowing pants. 

Man, I sometimes wish I had the figure of Audrey Hepburn–now she could wear ballet flats beautifully.  sigh