This weekend, I worked on two sewing projects. The first involved a new-to-me dress pattern, and in the muslin stage I already knew it was going to need some serious work on the bodice (I did a successful full bust adjustment only to discover the rest of the bodice was going to be way too small). I didn't have it in me at that point, so I decided to shelve it until a later date. The second was a plain 6-gored skirt ... Read more »
Adjust the Bust class and Craftsy giveaway
In my latest post with Craftsy, it's all about the bust! The class Adjust the Bust with Kathleen Cheetham is literally an entire class focusing on making bust alterations when sewing. And at the end of this post, you can enter to win a copy of the class! Source: Adjust the Bust, copyright © Craftsy Full bust and small bust adjustments (FBAs and SBAs respectively) are keywords you see all over the sewing blogosphere. ... Read more »
Fenella yarn and a fair isle cowl
It's hot and humid out, and I have a brand new fair isle cowl to show you. Just what you would expect in June, right? What can I say, I knit for the wooly months all year around! If you're a knitter, you may have heard that vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford has recently released a new yarn! It's called Fenella, and it's a 2-ply yarn that Susan designed to fill in a gap for vintage knitters. There are many ... Read more »
Uncommonly good anniversary mugs
Today is our third wedding anniversary! And with lucky timing, it actually ties in directly to a review I have to share, that I planned especially for today. Awhile back, I had the pleasure of being contacted by Uncommon Goods. Uncommon Goods is a socially-responsible and environmentally-conscious company featuring handcrafted and unique gift items, most of which are made in the US, and many of which are handmade. They ... Read more »
Eat Your Veggies dress
Anyone hungry for some vegetables? I am! This is another Emery by Christine Haynes, the bodice of which as you know has basically become my bodice block! This one has my usual modification of cut-on sleeves, paired with a square neckline. I love square necklines and for this version I went a bit deeper than I have in the past. I've had this nagging feeling all along that the Emery bodice was a bit short on me. I know ... Read more »
An outfit post that mostly was not
Last week we went out to dinner with our friend Jen, who was in town before heading back to Wales. (Emma had gone back a few days earlier.... you may recall me mentioning Jen and Emma both meeting us in Dublin.) I asked if Mel would take some outfit photos for me, however it was just the absolute wrong time of day and everywhere we went around the yard, the lighting just would not cooperate. After briefly looking at ... Read more »
A wood watch and a lighthouse
Awhile back, I had the pleasure of being contacted by JORD watches to see if I'd like to review one of their watches. Wood watches, as a matter of fact. Pretty unique, right? I was definitely intrigued. Honestly though, my first thought was that I'd politely decline, as I had recently bought myself an everyday watch. But then I realized I knew a special someone who would be able to give me an honest opinion and whose ... Read more »
Seahorses wrap dress
This is my Seahorses dress. Otherwise known as the Watch Me Chase Decent Lighting Around My Yard dress. Or maybe it's the Dress That Doesn't Want to Be Photographed. It's also the Dress That Nearly Did Me In. It's a dress. It was a bitch to sew. The end. Okay okay, not really the end, obviously. You've actually seen me sew this pattern before, it's Simplicity 1523 from 1945. I used the bodice and front skirt piece to ... Read more »
40 sewing techniques class and Craftsy giveaway!
For my latest collaboration post with Craftsy, I took the class 40 Techniques Every Sewer Should Know with Gail Yellen. This is really an in-depth class, chock full of little details! Both from the main topics she covers, and as she chats while going through the class. Which is something I secretly (okay, not so secretly) like–gleaning extra little tips in the in-between moments. The class covers pressing, ... Read more »
Tropical Breeze dress
For my first sewing project once home from Ireland, I was in the mood to do a dress with a slightly different bodice. Something kind of easy breezy, loose-fitting for summer. So I whipped this up, and named it the Tropical Breeze dress. And I think it fits the bill! The construction of this dress is basically a dirndl skirt and an inset waistband (like my Cliffs of Insanity dress), with a loose-fitting bodice that was ... Read more »
Dublin holiday: what I wore and bought
I know some of you love architecture and scenery and gorgeous places, which I shared in my last Dublin post. Whereas some of you love outfit photos and a little bit of shopping. So this post is for you. ;) Our friends Jen and Emma who came over from Wales for the first few days aren't really big fans of having their photos taken, so I won't embarrass them with posting anything incriminating. So instead, here's a ... Read more »
Dublin holiday: places and spaces
My friends, I'm back from Dublin's Fair City! It was a wonderful vacation. Really and truly. Not a relaxing on the beach or hiking in the mountains holiday. But one where we planted ourselves in the same city the whole time (which we often haven't done and thus would find ourselves dead tired by the end), did as much as we could without feeling rushed, took a couple of day trips, got to see old friends, and generally ... Read more »
Frances and her novelty keys dress
Hello everyone! Today's guest post is brought to you by the gorgeous Frances, who blogs at Polka Polish. I love her vintage style, and am absolutely tickled that not only did she agree to do a guest post for me, she sewed a dress just for it. WOW. Read on below to see it, it's fantastic! I was incredibly flattered when Tasha asked me to do a guest post for her, and after a few moments of celebration I made a ... Read more »
A day at the Hill of Tara and Newgrange
Hello from Dublin! We've been here just under a week and are having a lovely time! For the first few days we got to frolic with our friends Jen and Emma who we visited in Wales last year (they relocated there from Chicago a couple of years ago). It was so wonderful that they were able to meet us here. There's something so fun and magical about four people meeting up in Dublin, two of whom live in Wales, one of whom grew ... Read more »
F***ed and fabulous: Sara’s take on vintage underdogs
Hello! Today's guest post comes while we're off gallivanting around Newgrange today. Awhile back, I saw a comment on another blog (I believe it was Janey's) from the ever-stylish Sara of Lilies & Remains. She used a term to refer to the dark horses in the vintage clothing world: they were fucked and fabulous. (Actually she was polite enough not to drop the f-bomb.) I though this was a fantastic turn of phrase, and ... Read more »
Marie dishes about the Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge
While I'm in Ireland, I'm very excited to have a few guest posts to share with you this week! Today's post is from the lovely sewing blogger Marie of A Stitching Odyssey. I adore Marie. She has such a charming and fun style, I always love seeing what she's sewn up next! This year, she launched a fabulous project called the Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge, and I was lucky enough that she was happy to share more about it ... Read more »