Mail order #9234 - Marian Martin

I have been looking for a dress to use this fabric since I got it in my haul. Unfortunately it was cut and sewn together to make a tablecloth or something. Good news for me is that bc the print is so busy I don't anticipate the seam being visible. I think I will alter my layout a bit so that the back skirt will have the seam.

I am so excited about the pattern too. I love that it has a Swirl style back with a sweetheart neckline. I also had an idea to use buttons at the shoulder swoop and buttons up the back slant then sew the skirt as one piece.

Stay tuned!

Milwaukee Sentinel #9329

Yeah! That only took forever, all it needed was buttons. I used my 1948 Singer buttonholer (minty!) I got from a junk shop for $1. I didn't change anything to the pattern (except the hem) but if I make it again I would take a little bit out of the bodice, it feels a bit baggy under the pits. I love the pockets! All in all it's super de-super comfy.

I put the zipper in by hand bc I honestly think its faster and looks better than my zipper foot.

Working!

Milwaukee Sentinel #9329, hello lover! Fabric is from the Mary Sue Fabric haul. It's cotton however it's super soft drapey. I'm gonna do white vintage buttons too.

My 13 bags of fabric, and still washing

Here it is fellow fabric hoarders; 13 garbage bags of fabric I was given from my wonderful friend Mary Sue. This is accumulation from her (her kids are my age btw) and her mothers stash. I still have 1 full 17 gallon bin to wash too. The bottom weight fabrics are awesome, the teal and celery corduroy are amazing. Everything but one bin is yardage too. The one small bin with the many different prints is all 2 yards and less. Omg, I am in project planning overload. That one bin with the red sailboat fabric is all seersucker too. The majority of the fabric seems to be either quilting prints or men's shirting in various checks, stripes or plaids. I think I'll have to get serious about creating some menswear inspired separates and sewing for my husband. Maybe. I'm pretty selfish about my sewing.

And I'll leave it to Blogger to screw up the order of the pics. Thanks Blogger app.

McCalls #5803

Finally, a pic of the beast dress. The gussets are great, the dress is not so much. I don't like the colors or fabric I chose. I also didn't know until I cut the dress out that the back bodice was all one piece (duh, should have read the back instead of assuming). The fabric was only $2 a yard at Joann Fabrics so i guess i could call it a wearable muslin. Had I to do again I would have done the back in the periwinkle color. I still wear it but I never feel awesome in it. I like the tea length and I would make it again.

Did I post this?

I made this shirt from McCalls #7813 a while ago. The material is an old crib sheet from one of the kids. The buttons are vintage from my stash. I usually wear it tucked into a skirt or high waist shorts. The neck was super tight, I ended up moving the button. I think my neck is pretty small and this was like choking me.

LA Times Mail Order #2720

The print on this one was totally stepping out of my comfort zone. I felt a little bit like I was wearing a Christmas tablecloth from the 60s. This was also the first time the pattern was wrong. The pocket placement is marked for the front panel but the picture shows it sprawling the side seams. The neckline also extends past my front bra clasp. Yikes! So I added a button and just cinched the top together.

I haven't been able to bring myself to wear this out of the house yet but I do wear it at home all the time. It's the equivalent of a 50s caftan. The fabric was basically free (I got it from the Honeoye Falls estate sale not long ago. I got a huge bag for $10)

Laura Wheeler Designs Mail Order #321

This was very disappointing. I really thought this one was going to be my easy fitting house dress. It's not. The size is correct (32-27-35), I didn't alter it in any way, but it doesn't fit right. Im not exactly sure where it isn't fitting either. The hips are fine, but the tummy area is a bit tight I think. I don't have a tummy either, it's mostly flat. Then the butt crack button is gaping but when I pull up on the dress it fits better. Idk, I can't figure this one out. This pattern appears to be from the very early 40s so I was actually thinking it was going to end up being a bit big. Sigh....

On a side note, I chopped my hair off. I'm not exactly thrilled with it (turns out that it's quite bushy). But it will grow back. I'll just have to make a hat for winter.

Much ado about nothing

I have been so busy! Not busy in the photo department apparently. I finished a sleeveless camp style shirt from the 60s, a 1950s housedress, and bathroom curtains. I've cut out pajamas for my hubby, and a pair of pants for myself.

And great news, I have inherited 13 (yes thirteen!) garbage bags of fabric. It's all vintage too from a friend. It was hers and her mothers stash. I have been washing fabric for a week and still have two bags left. I think I am going to start a quilt this winter to stash bust the small pieces.

Pics to come I swear!