My projects have kind of dwindled into a standstill but I did pick up these 3 uber floral and pink sheet sets from Goodwill for $9. Combined with some lace these are going to make the greatest shabby chic play fort for Lorna for Xmas.

What do YOU do when the plaid won't match no matter what you do? start from the CF and work out?

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My sewing rut killer, Advance 8574!

The rut of all ruts.

I am in a sewing rut. I haven't had time really to sew anything and when I do get time I just sit down in the basement watching cartoon thinking of what I what to sew. I just finished my dining room valances using 1940s reproduction fabric. They look cute and I used a French pleat of sorts to jazz them up. I'm still working on the Advance 5410, and it's just okay. The fit is nice and it was easy to put together. Maybe I'm just slow-poking b/c I know I won't be able to wear it for 6-7 months.

Maybe I could start my Christmas dress or the teacher presents for Stevie's teacher.... *sigh*.... how do ya'll get out of a sewing rut?

I finally made valances for the dining room. Its only taken 4 years....

Keep me busy project - Advance 5410 view 2

Sneak Peak - Barn Sale finds

Here are a couple pics of the 1930s dresses I got at my favorite Barn Sale spot. After much hemming and hawing I figured out that these are nursing dresses. I have never seen these before nor have I ever seen patterns for nursing dresses before. These 4 dresses were made by Lane Bryant under the Lanbry label after 1935 but by the style of them they can't have been made much after 1940. I'll do a full post most likely tomorrow with lots more pic b/c seriously, these dresses are cool. The last pink one and the maroon floral one need a little work, that jabot and lace is killing me. I took a lace collar (all yellowed and aged) off the maroon polka dot one and it made it awesome and more wearable. A little makeup and my hair-did would look much better too. But alas I'm sick again and didn't care.

I'm still here....

...just moping. My sewing room/old nursery went back to being a little girls bedroom. Sigh.... so I'm back into the basement. This means I'm still sorting out my crap (a lot of crap!) from big plastic bins. I had to move my fabric stash into an old dresser, bins, and a buffet that I have to share with kid blocks and my hubby's art supplies. While not the best place ever to sew in our play room, (I have to clean up everything and not leave anything out b/c the kids will get into the pins etc), my table is under a nice window. I'm trying to get back into the groove but to be honest I'm pretty much scared of the basement. I do most of my sewing at night when everything is quiet but I won't go down there at night. Stupid scary movies and my overactive imagination. 

Du Barry in the works. The shirt is coming along wonderfully! Everything is finished with a French seam too. And look at the stripes, everything lines up!!

Ugh, winter!

Well, my kids are sick so consequently I am sick. No sewing unfortunately. I am going to try to get more done today since I need my sewing fix but I'm just so exhausted form taking care of my poor sick babies. The weather is getting colder every day and I need to get hopping or I"ll be stuck wearing too many RTW clothes this year!

I fixed it! of course the stripes are like 1/8 inch off but honestly I will be the only person to notice. It's a very fluid fabric and when worn no one will see it.

No, you are not seeing double. I DID IT AGAIN! I did it *bleeping* again! I am going to try to save this one.

The Shredded Shirt and Other Fun

Du Barry 5172 is still in the works. The shirt is a mess; literally. I made a slight boo boo of sewing the yoke on backwards (duh! I should not be sewing while sleep deprived). I tried to very gently rip the seam (each stitch no less!!) and it shredded like taco lettuce. So big surprise here, I have to re-cut the yoke and one side front bodice.I also have to do very super tiny French seams on everything or else the shirt will be totally unwearable and certainly not washable. Then while working on my wool vest I found that the head hole is too small. Will wonders never cease! I had to rip out the facing on that one too. So I was half way done and now am I not.

I know not everyone lives up in the Great White North. I wanted to add more vintage inspired clothes to my winter wardrobe but, seriously, women in the 1940s-50s couldn't not have worn dresses all year. I mean, when it's -2 outside without windchill, wearing a dress is insanity. What the heck did women wear? Or maybe they didn't leave the house? Either way, I'll probably supplement bottoms with jeans like usual. I did wear a pair of black long leggings with my Swirl dress on what was most likely the last warmish day of the year. It was 55 degrees but I suffered in the name of Swirl.

I have already ripped out the facing once. the head hole is impossible small. I don't have a big head either, idk what the problem is. I think I am just stalling.

Working on Du Barry 5172. One of these things does not look like the other, one of these things isn't the same.... I have to fix the right piece, it is on backwards! And this material shreds if I even look at it funny!

I was missing a small strip of fabric along the SA so I finally got to try out a joining stitch. It worked beautifully.

I am using this for the shirt in the short sleeve version. This may have been a curtain in a past life but it doesn't feel like a curtain and has both bound edges so mayhaps it's shirting. I think it is has a bit of a Victorian vibe but it'll do.

Aaahhh the cutting room floor. I'm about to start Du Barry 5172 with a light weight wool chooped up chunk of thrifted awesomeness. If I cut verrrrrrry carefully I won't have to seam the back.

Simplicity 4044 - Rehash

I'm upset. Even though I used a strong interfacing on the waistband and double stitched it in, the waistband stretched out like 2 inches. Now I have to un-attach the facing, somehow make a few tucks and use twill tape to keep it from happening again. Ugh, it was very disappointing. I scored some weird stiff and very thin facing at that estate sale. I'm not sure what it is but it seems like it would be something used in collars or belts to keep them ultra stiff. Maybe I'll use that.

On a happy note I got several compliments on the pants at work tonight. I paired it with a cream silk cardigan with embroidered and beaded flowers and a bright pink tank underneath. Very retro glam.