Happy belated birthday to me! My birthday was actually last Wednesday, but my site had gremlins that had to get fixed, and then I was busy preparing for a trip (more on that below), and so you're only getting the post I planned for my birthday now. Better late than never. :) As I've done every year for several years, I sewed myself a birthday dress! It's a tradition I've enjoyed keeping up (last year's was ... Read more »
vintage sewing
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 »
Going strapless
I have long coveted true vintage 1950s strapless sun tops. Bustier tops, bra tops, the whole shebang. While I don't really have many reasons to wear them, I always think they seem like the perfect thing to really jazz up a skirt in the summer, or spring and fall with a bolero on top, or wear for a nicer evening outfit. Original ones are rare to find and typically very pricey, which explains why I own exactly zero. So I ... Read more »
Sewing a holy grail pattern
I found one of my holy grail sewing patterns this year! You'd think a "holy grail" pattern had to be some fancy couture or Polynesian number that sells for over $100 and is super rare at that, but nope. It's a simple sundress pattern, from 1945, Simplicity 2465. Some years back I saw the pattern without the numbers on it in some random image online somewhere, and was never able to put a pattern number to the ... Read more »
Red and cream gingham sundress
I've been really busy this spring and early summer, and blogging just hasn't been on the forefront of my mind lately. I go through periods when I just find the entire process of taking and collating photos complete and utter drudgery. Sure, taking half a dozen photos doesn't seem that annoying, but it usually takes 50 or more to even find just a few I'm happy enough with to post. Thankfully for you, I finally got ... Read more »
A birthday dress with a back story
Another birthday, another birthday dress! I'm off on vacation so you get a scheduled post, but it's my birthday today! Hip hip! As I've done every year for 6 years now, I made myself a dress for my birthday. It's possible I'm not actually wearing this dress right now since I'm likely in the mountains hunting down a waterfall as you read this. But this year's birthday dress is one I really love and I'll be wearing it ... Read more »