Browsing Tag

Vintage Patterns

Nightie…

Uncategorized October 13, 2010

I’ve been sick all weekend (Thanksgiving weekend!). I made this nightie a few days ago and I sure was happy to snuggle up in it, and a blanket yesterday after wedding dress shopping. I felt like I had been run over by several, large trucks.

I feel mostly better, but am still dealing with sniffles and hot and cold flashes…

I bought the fabric that I used for this nightie ridiculously cheap, in the clearance section of the local fabric store. I think it was $3 or $4 a meter. I bought a ton and have cut out a bunch of bralettes and panties out of it, to be trimmed with yellow lace (please excuse the pile of shoes in this picture!).

Anyway, instead of trimming this nightie with lace like suggested, I just used a band of self fabric to finish the edge. It is SO comfortable, the fabric is so soft, kind of heavy and drapey (really nice jersey). I want to wear nothing but this… and wedding dresses.

Tomorrow is back to work, sadly… though I must admit I’m looking forward to getting back to my knitting – I should be able to finish my last sock by the end of the day! I never heard back from the flower shop so a-job-hunting I will go again. I am still thinking about just applying to school and worrying about how to pay for it later…

But for now, I do have goodies to post on Etsy as soon as I get some “in action” photos. I just don’t know quite how to do it. I was browsing some other sellers photos of panties and the like… and I was a little disappointed with the amount of scary thin, too young, too La Senza a lot of it was. So I will need to think about this some more.. But, for now I have these:

Uncategorized October 11, 2010


I’ve had this pattern in my stash for ages… It was handed down to me, along with half a dozen 1950’s knitting patterns, by my aunt. The knitting patterns are lost in a box somewhere (I hate moving!), but I dug out this pattern and altered it into a blouse.

I cut the pattern out of black chiffon and black lace. I’ve never sewn with a pattern this old before… I was pretty impressed with how complicated the pattern was. Lost of fun corners and curves, it was nice to sew something that was kind of challenging!

I’m not sure that this is something I’ll eve really wear… though I do think I might wear it out sometime with a pencil skirt or something, tucked in. I find I never dress up anymore.

While I was at my parents for Thanksgiving yesterday I found an old costume I had made for a display at a store I
worked at in College. I was actually pretty impressed with myself (and more impressed that wit
h a little sucking in, I could still fit into it!). So, I have solved the dilemma of “what to wear for Halloween” though Dan is still without a costume.

We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving with my parents this year… lots of good food, and we all ate too much, especially Dan, which always impresses my dad. I think he’s just a little jealous he can’t eat like that anymore!

Today we are finishing off our long weekend just kicking around the house, walking the dog, enjoying our nice warm apartment. Tomorrow, I am going browsing for wedding dresses. I am scared and excited and prepared for an exhausting day!

This is what Sundays are made for…

Uncategorized August 5, 2010


On Sunday I decided I would sew a 19th century style bonnet. Here is my first progress picture – I have completed the shell, wired and all! I’ve always wanted a nice bonnet… perhaps I’ll bring back the Amish look?

I particularly enjoy the ruffles.

Two Nights, Two Dresses, One Bra.

Uncategorized March 17, 2010

I received my vintage 1970’s lingerie pattern in the mail finally last Friday. Last night I got a chance to test out the pattern, and make a few tweeks. It’s a little pointy, but that’s how it’s supposed to be, and I kind of like it like that.

I now have a complete three piece set – the panties, camisole, and bra. I find this one, which has no stretch to it, a little tight on me. I’m going to make one in a jersey tonight, if I have time.

I did this as a bit of a test, so I used old bra fastenings and straps that I cut off an old bra (I have a lot of old bra’s just laying around). I kind of like the idea of recycling old hardware.


This week is going painfully slow. I’m getting more and more anxious to get up and go. The more I think about it, the more I realize I’m not getting any further ahead in my life by staying here. While I’m afraid of being out of work and struggling or being a burden on Dan or my family, I feel like it I’d basically be in the same position as I am now; I rely on them for quite a bit because my expenses in the city are so high. So… In order to make myself feel better, I’m going to play a game: “See how little you can spend!”

I know it sounds pretty boring… and down right awful, but if I’m going to be out of work, I want to have a bit of a nest egg set aside. So, on the menu for the next few weeks is dollar store pasta, microwave cake, and canned fruit. Mmm mmm… Let’s see how I do!

So, I’ve cut my cable, cut my going out expenses, stopped buying lunch, am going to sew my spring and summer wardrobe out of clearance only fabric (!), and will dollar store grocery shop. I feel like I’m back in college. But… my frugality will be worth it (I hope).

Soft Bra for a Busty Girl

Uncategorized February 26, 2010

I spent the night sewing last night, and was able to try out that pattern I drafted earlier this week. I admit, it’s a little tight through the bottom, but that’s why we make prototypes!

The soft bralette is an adaptation of a vintage camisole pattern. I’ve always wanted one of those soft, delicate bras that tiny-chested girls get to wear. So, I’ve made this one with lots of elastic, thicker straps, and more room in the cup. It’s actually pretty comfy.

My sewing machine’s zig-zag stitch is acting up again… Sigh…

Today is Friday, the night before my last weekend with Dan. It’s a snowstorm outside, as you can see out the window in this picture, there is nothing but white. Somehow it feels fitting of my mood.

I was up most of the night last night worrying about money. I wish I had more time to sew some more and get some of these things up on Etsy… I wish the process was faster.

When I did manage to get some sleep last night I dreamed that my fish grew legs, and were crawling out of the tank, then attacking my dog. It was awful, and I felt a certain amount of unnecessary disdain towards my fish this morning. I have a hard time separating my dreams from reality sometimes.

Oliver is extra whiny this morning. I wish I could stay home with him today. I’m half considering calling in a snow day.

That probably wouldn’t go over so well.

Retro Lingerie…

Uncategorized February 15, 2010

This project seemed to be doomed from the start…

About a year ago I found this vintage lingerie pattern. I opened it up today, thinking it would be an easy sew, however the pieces were all cut up and missing. I basically had to wing the lower half, but it worked out really well.

Anyway, I managed to re-draft the lower half as well as the lace inserts. I realized while doing it, I had completely forgotten how to draft a crotch seam. It worked out pretty well in the end, a little snug, but I think I can adjust the snaps…


The second and most major mishap occurred while I was pressing the back seam; My iron decided to spit rusty water all over the back. Luckily, little vinegar and water got it out eventually, and the whole thing turned out pretty darn cute.

Sometimes it seems like things are just destined to not work out… but you plough through it, and somehow, in the end, you wind up with a really cute vintage bodysuit.

I’m excited to wear this to bed tonight! I put it on this afternoon and felt like some kind of retro starlette. I’m excited about sleeping, not so excited about getting up and going to work tomorrow. Not so excited that I only have two more weeks with Dan here, before he has to go back to work. I really want to move, but getting all of the pieces in place seems to be more difficult than I had hoped. I miss home, my little sunshine city.

Valentines Day

Uncategorized February 14, 2010

I finally got around to doing the finishing touches on my dress, after spending the morning doing some desperately needed organizing and cleaning!

Yesterday, we went to Ikea to pick out furniture for our imaginary future home. We tested sofas, tried out faucets, picked rugs we liked… I ended up leaving with a bunch of boxes to re-organize my fabric stash. It’s now all neatly stacked in my “sewing” corner, which doubles as my dining room.

This dress is made from a Butterick pattern, but somewhere along the line, I lost the facing pieces and had to re-draft them. I don’t know quite what I was thinking, but the facing in the underarm is only about three quarters of an inch long. Oopsie…

I like all the fiddly parts of sewing. I like sewing button holes by hand, binding seams, hand-sewing hems. I like a piece to look like I made it, with time and patience. I have been debating whether or not to pick up a serger… but I’ve decided that I like it when you flip a garment inside out and see a really nicely bound seam (please ignore my wobbly binding).