Hi there!  Are there any good sewing videos?  Recently I have been watching and re-watching The Great British Sewing Bee online.  Did the American Sewing Bee TV program ever get off the ground?  Someone tell me?  What inspires you to sew?

Three books, which I have probably mentioned ad nauseum, really inspire me.

1.  Modern Home Sewing:  Modern Home Sewing by Drucella Lowrie and Sylvia K. Mager is the back part of the book.  This book starts off with pictures of beautiful 1950's ladies and children dressed in personalized, embroidered clothing.  It gives you lots of ideas and inspiration!  If you DO happen to own the Necchi BU sewing machine, then it gives you helpful sewing tips about that machine as well.  Somehow whenever I pick up this book and start reading it I find myself smiling.  It's a down-to-earth, step-by-step instruction book for making clothing, home furnishings and etc.

You can find Modern Home Sewing for sale in these places:
Amazon: (Click on the picture),

    Etsy.com Here and Here

And on eBay Here and Here  Just to name a few!

2.  Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing:  Gertie's book shows you many techniques of sewing both by machine and by hand with a lot of step-by-step photographs.  It's really helpful!  The book also includes a wardrobe of Retro style clothing.  If you need more help just visit Gertie's Blog! 

Click on the pictures to buy these books.



Below you can Pre-Order Gertie's New Book:  Gertie Sews Vintage Casual Coming out Soon!


3.  Sewing for Plus Sizes by Barbara Deckert:  Barbara's book shows you all about how to fit and sew for the plus sized woman.  She has many illustrations and step-by-step instructions.  The photos show the types of clothing that can be made for the plus size model that do actually flatter the figure rather than one's wearing a tent from "Omar the Tent Maker".   She also explains how to add variety to the commercial patterns so they are made more flattering too.  A great book for any plus size sewer!

Click on the picture to buy this book.



Thank you for reading to the end!

Hello Readers,  Today I wanted to go over Gertie's Butterick Shelf Bust Dress Pattern, Butterick 5882.  I have purchased this pattern and it is on my to do list.  I was thinking about how it would look on a plus sized person and I believe that it would look better if the strap was below the bust rather than transecting the middle of the bust.  The pattern is made to be sewn with the strap cutting across mid bust.  To achieve the below shelf bust look, if you will, the scoop needs to be dropped down below the bust and the front bodice needs to be moved below the bust as shown in the photo of Elizabeth Taylor.  Simplicity 4704 is a similar pattern to Butterick 5882, but you can see that the band goes below the bust instead.

 

You'll notice that in Elizabeth Taylor's photo that the top pleated or ruched bust panels come down half way on her bust rather than starting at the top of her bust.  I think this is also a better look for a plus-sized figure because if the cups start at the top or higher on the bust nearer the neck, then the cups look sort of ungainly or like a person is trying to be super modest.

This is the fabric I plan on using for the modified Butterick 5882 pattern:
Click here if you would like to buy this fabric.  I bought it from FabricEmpire on Etsy.com.  It is 58 inches wide and is $3.99 per yard.  It is a crisp polycotton and launders well with no bleeding or shrinking that I could tell.  I'm going to use a solid red polycotton for the contrast - really similar to the model picture.  I really liked that look.  Also possible and also for sale by FabricEmpire is the same or similar fabric with a black background instead.  See it HERE.

  

I will need to do some work to modify the front bodice and the pleated bust panels.  I think the bust panels might fit me from a previous modification I did.  For help with this pattern the best source is the designer - Gertie!  See her blog tutorial for this dress HERE. Once on Gertie's blog you can search for more tutorials on this dress.

Do you think that this dress would look better on a plus-size figure with the band below the bust, more like Simplicity 4704?  Or do you think it would look better just the way it is?  Let me know!  I would like to hear from you and see what you think!  

Thank you for reading to the end!

Coffee Talk - Aprons

Hi there!  Well it's been a long time.  Recently, I have been looking at this pattern:  The McCall's #1948 Coffee and Doughnuts apron.

It has a circle skirt and is a wrap around type of dress apron.  I find it somewhat similar to the Butterick 4790.

Okay so I don't really like coffee.  What I've done on my own is I made some machine embroidery files for the apron.  One for the right pocket and one for the left pocket. 

I tried to capture the idea of a plate of doughnuts, the doughnuts include one glazed doughnut, one chocolate frosted doughnut, one chocolate frosted doughnut with sprinkles and one pink frosted doughnut with sprinkles, as well as one of those almost bowl-type, heavy, white coffee mugs full of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows, similar to what you might order in a 1950's era doughnut shop.  What do you think?

Recently, I have been making the Lutterloh patterns from different eras in order to make outfits of the 1950's to 1960's or so.  I feel they capture more of my retro style.  I am still inspired by Gertie, (Gretchen Hirsch), and I can't wait until her new second book becomes available for purchase:  Gertie Sews Vintage Casual.  It's so exciting!


      


When I get back to the bullet bra you'll know it here - eventually.

Let me hear from you and any comments or questions you might have!  Thank you for reading!