Are you tracing your sewing patterns when you sew? I have for years, and it's one of the keys to my sewing progress (and prowess)! If you search my blog for the words trace or tracing, dozens and dozens of results come up. I trace sewing patterns all the time! Both vintage and modern. But why should you be doing it? As I'm kicking things into gear on YouTube (I've been having way more fun than I expected!), I ... Read more »
Search Results for: trace
Plaid flannel dress
Last month, I sewed a plaid dress. Not just any plaid dress, but a plaid flannel dress. It's cute, warm, and comfy. What could be more delightful for fall and early winter? This dress is from McCall's 8989, a pattern from the 1950s. The wing collar is annoying to construct... the type where you sew to the seam line on both sides of a seam, and invariably I leave a huge hole or puckers and have to re-do at least ... Read more »
Summer sewing wild cards and a list (mostly) wrapped up
Since we're having an unusual very hot heat wave in September and I'm cranky about the fact that the weather feels like the hottest part of summer when I'm ready for it to cool off a bit, and I admit I'm really sick of looking at my hot-weather clothing and my sandals and want to move into dresses with cardigans and cigarette pants and cute flats and light wool (light! not rushing winter!), I might as well blog about a ... Read more »
Retro bra making is my new favorite thing
Hi, my friends! I haven't blogged in nearly two months and it's almost entirely due to current world events that have been all too stupefying and depressing. I just haven't wanted to sit around taking oodles of photos and having mundane chatter about this and that I've just made. It doesn't mean I haven't been sewing or knitting because I have! They help keep me sane. In fact I've finished up some projects I'm really ... Read more »
Review: Pins for pinups DIY retro brooches ebook (and my Headless Horseman version!)
Awhile back—okay, awhiiiiillllllle back—the lovely Brittany from Va-Voom Vintage kindly sent me a copy of her DIY ebook, Pins for Pin-Ups: DIY Brooches for Retro Girls. I'm a retro girl, I love brooches, I love DIY projects, what's not to love about it?! I knew the ebook would be great, because last winter I'd purchased Brittany's Christmas project ebook, Kitschmas Crafting with Va-Voom Vintage, and I had a ton of fun ... Read more »
Creating my dream cutting table for sewing
Hello! I'm back from a relaxing vacation in the Southwest, where it was so relaxing, in fact, that we spent more time enjoying ourselves than bothering to take photos! But I may be able to cobble together a post from phone photos, so possibly stay tuned for that in the future. Now I'm continuing my basement makeover posts! When last I left things, you got to see the planning and build-out phases. And today *drumroll ... Read more »
Bring on spring dress
Want a bright and floral dress that screams "Bring on spring!" at the top of its lungs? Well I've got one for you! I'm back with way more about the dress I sewed from Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book. (And psst, two days left for the giveaway.) As I explained in my review, the bodice of this dress is from the book. It's been so much fun reading everyone's excitement in the entry comments, and suffice it to say the majority ... Read more »
Review + giveaway: Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book (and a peek at the dress I made from the book)
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Gertie's Ultimate Dress Book to review on my blog, along with a giveaway at the end of this post! This is Gretchen Hirsch's third book, which was just released last week. You may also be familiar with the "Gertie" name from her blog, her line of patterns with Butterick, or fabric with JoAnn Fabric (man, sooo many cute prints in her spring line). Anyway, ... Read more »
Pattern hack: turn Butterick B6285 wrap top into a tuck-in surplice top
As I mentioned in my wrap/surplice top series introduction, I have two pattern hacks I've worked up for Gertie's Butterick B6285 pattern. Yesterday I showed you how to lengthen the wrap top bodice. But today's modification is my favorite: how I turned this wrap top pattern into a surplice top. Basically, it looks the same, there's just no wrap ties, and it's long enough to tuck it in! I adore the general fit and shape ... Read more »
Pattern hack: Lengthen the Butterick B6285 wrap top bodice
We've hit mid-week in my wrap/surplice top miniseries! Aaaand I'm supposed to sew up another surplice top for Friday but it hasn't happened yet, so we'll see about that. ;) But today's post is the first of two pattern modifications that I've worked out for the Butterick B6285 wrap top pattern. Pretty much everyone I've chatted with on Instagram or in comments on my blog who has also sewn up this top has had the same ... Read more »
Victory Gardening birthday dress
Hello hello, my friends! Lots of things to say today! And it's my birthdayyyy! I don't usually go three weeks between posts, but I've been extraordinarily busy lately. We were already having a very full early spring and then about the same time as our friends who moved to Wales have been in and out visiting for the last couple of weeks, I've also been unusually swamped at work, which has meant I've had very little time ... Read more »
My tweed Cascade duffle coat
Wee heeeee, my Cascade duffle coat is complete! And this is a big post, because hello, I sewed a coat and it took me from January to March, so there's a lot to share! Right off the bat let me apologize these aren't the greatest photos... it was as bright as could be the day we went up to northern Illinois to walk around and take pictures, and honestly it was such a beautiful day (omg spring came for the ... Read more »