Last night I stumbled across a great vintage sewing resource completely by accident! I was searching for suggestions on how to tack the center back pleat of the lining on my Sew for Victory jacket. I just wanted to do something slightly more decorative than simply sewing it a couple of inches at the top, middle and bottom like I've seen several resources suggest. My pattern tells you to use a bar tack, but I thought ... Read more »
40s jacket progress: supplies and such
Today is the next installment in my jacket progress for Sew for Victory! First, thank you all SO much for your comments and congratulations on my interview in Knit Now magazine. I'm still kind of reeling from that. :) But back to my project. I'm getting ready to start on my actual jacket which is exciting! Now as you know, my pattern isn't a fully tailored jacket. It has lots of casual elements like sleeve ... Read more »
I’m featured in Knit Now magazine!
Don't you love the feeling when you can finally share something you've been keeping under your hat for a good long while?? I was interviewed for Knit Now magazine, a British knitting magazine, and the issue went on sale today! I'm their featured blogger in this issue! A full page spread and everything, would you look at that! It's issue 19, and I'm on page 62 (the page opposite is an article on British yarns). I ... Read more »
40s jacket progress: the muslin
Well everyone, I am now fully ensconced in my Sew for Victory jacket project! For my project posts going forward, I'll add a little sidebar that links back to every post I tag with "sew for victory". I hope it may help someone in the future watching me take on the challenge of outerwear for the first time. Plus, I know at least two of you have this same pattern but haven't sewn it yet either! ;) I'm going to try and ... Read more »
My Sew for Victory project: first steps
I know I don't frequently talk a whole lot of shop during the construction of the garments I sew or knit, but I was thinking of doing it a bit with my Sew for Victory project. It's the biggest project I've ever undertaken, and I know a lot of you seemed excited by the idea of this project, so I thought I'd do more than simply show how it turns out in the end. And if you're new to sewing coats or jackets too, maybe you can ... Read more »
1942 inspiration: Finnish fashion & knitting drawings
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for all the comments on my Curlicute cardigan! ♥ That pattern was from 1940, which I'm going to use as a nice segue into today's post. Earlier this month I shared with you some scans from a small collection of vintage Finnish knitting booklets that a Finnish reader was gracious enough to send me. That post was from 1952, and this one is from 1942. I know I said I'd scan 1951 but the results ... Read more »
My Curlicute cardigan (and free vintage pattern)
My latest knit is a cardigan from a 1940 pattern and I'm kind of in love with it! The pattern name is Curlicute. Which is adorable, but also a play on words for the original yarn the pattern recommended, Bucilla Curlicue, a mohair and wool blend. Obviously I changed it to long sleeves, because a short-sleeved worsted weight cardigan just makes no sense where I live. I changed the shape of the front of the ... Read more »
I’ll be Sewing for Victory, will you?
If you haven't heard yet, Rochelle over at Lucy Lucille is hosting a fantastic sew-along, Sew for Victory! It's a 1940s themed sew-along, so of course I'm in! As you know I already do a fair amount of 1940s sewing, so I wanted to use this sew-along to really challenge myself in some way. I've thought a lot about it and have come to a decision that I hopefully won't be regretting down the road... ha! I'll be sewing ... Read more »
Finished: Sew Grateful Week 1941 trousers
Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my pinafore skirt! I actually can't quite believe I'm here 3 days later to post another finished sewing project. But friends, I did it. I finished a project for Debi's Sew Grateful week! Keep reading and you'll find out why these are for Sew Grateful, as there's a whole slew of reasons and people to thank! Now, I managed to space out that Sew Grateful week was coming up ... Read more »
Finished: Hollywood Patterns tweed pinafore skirt
My most recent sewing project that I'm sharing today actually preempts the previous project I finished just before this one. You see, I planned to take photos of both the same day, except there was 2 inches of snow on the ground and I could only stand being outside without a coat for so long. So you'll have to wait on the other one. dog butt in the background Look what I did for the love of this blog, my friends! I ... Read more »
1952 inspiration: Finnish knitting patterns
I'm excited to share something I've been meaning to for oh, months now! I've been extra busy at work in the last week so I'm frightfully behind in all online realms, but I'm pleased that's finally letting up and I can share this with you tonight. I've been extremely fortunate that a few blog readers have kindly shared vintage knitting patterns with me. Many months ago I was contacted by one such reader in Helsinki, ... Read more »
Finished: inspired by Debi 1942 McCall blouse
I really owe Debi from My happy sewing place a big thank you for the inspiration for this blouse! If you follow Debi's blog you'll already know she's embarked on a huge long-term project called the 1940 McCall project where she intends to make all the McCall patterns from 1940. What an exciting commitment! I've been very inspired by her posts about the early stages of the project so far and it led led me to think about ... Read more »
My guest post on Lucky Lucille (with those pockets!)
Hi everyone! I'm happy so many of you enjoyed my latest sewing projects. And as I promised, I have a little something special up my sleeves for you. Well, in my pockets, I guess! If you'd like to learn more about how I did the pockets on my vintage skirt, then pop on over to Lucky Lucille for my guest post today. I adore Rochelle and was thrilled to contribute to her fabulous blog while she's doing a WWII reenactment. ... Read more »
Finished: 1940s Simplicity diamonds skirt & Alma blouse
Last week I completed my first outfit of 2013! And yes, I planned and sewed an outfit! Let's talk about the blouse first. I used the Sewaholic Alma pattern and sewed the size down from my full bust size with only slight changes: I make the neckline a little higher, graded the hips down (since I don't have a pear shape like Tasia's line is designed for), and cut 1.75" off the length. The blouse went together like a ... Read more »
Window treatment follow-up: I found pinch pleat panels!
Lots of you chimed in with some good suggestions on my mid-century window treatment dilemma post. Thank you! By the weekend, we had pretty much decided on stationary pinch pleat panels off to the sides of the windows, with 2" blinds set into each window. (A big thanks to Ginny and Barbara for their comments about the weight implications of one big long set of blinds, which isn't something I would have considered.) Then ... Read more »
Help picking mid-century living room window treatments
Oh dear, can I tell you what visions have been floating around in my head lately as I try and drift off to sleep? Window treatments. I hope you have a cup of tea as this is a long one. If you care not about mid-century window treatments then I won't be offended in the slightest if you click away now. Get out while you still can. I realized recently with a nudge from Pam at Retro Renovation that I never followed up on ... Read more »