I got it! I got it! I got it! - don't got it!

Hi fellow sewists!  Recently, I purchased the McCall's 1948 sewing pattern from a person on eBay.  The pattern pieces were cut out, but they weren't all present.  The pattern is missing the belt pattern piece.  However, I was looking high and low for this pattern for a reasonable price and I used Buy it Now and got it at a reasonable price!  Yay!  I'm sure I would not find this pattern for a lower price anywhere. 

I modified my machine embroidery pattern to indicate steam rising from the cup of cocoa and also I placed the cup of cocoa by itself and the plate of doughnuts by themselves. 

As it turns out, the huge pocket for this apron measures 11 inches across at the center of the pocket.  What a huge pocket!  I usually make large embroidery designs so I'm hoping that my designs still fit.  I thought I might try neatening up the edges instead of putting on the bias binding by just turning them back and hemming using a rolled hem?  I wanted this pattern as I really need something better to answer the door in!  LOL!

What treasured patterns are you in search of?  How do you like my featured pattern on the top of the blog?  I changed it to Advance 4113.

Thank you for reading to the end!

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!

Trying to find a specific fabric...

Hi!  You know what it's like when you're trying to find a specific fabric.  There are a lot of choices out there, but how come I am having problems finding a simple cotton fabric with red cherries on a white background for a reasonable price?  Sure I could pay $8.00 or $9.00 per yard, but at my size I need a lot of yardage.  Sigh.

I am very interested in making this pattern:
Butterick 5882  

 

I oftentimes find that I like the pattern just as illustrated and I'm especially attracted to view A in this case which is a white background with red cherries on the fabric where the bust and strap are in a bright red fabric.  

Lutterloh: 

 

Lutterloh modern 53, 54, 55, 56

Basic long sleeved blouse, short sleeved blouse, vest and shorts

I have made the front part of the basic blouse, the back part of the basic blouse, a short sleeve which I'm not sure about since I made changes to the arm holes of the front and back piece and I still need to make the collar and maybe some cuffs.  It's coming along and I'm pretty sure the Lutterloh blouse front will fit.  I used my own measurements which are 128cm bust and 130cm hips. 

I think one of the best books I've read and keep re-reading is Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing.  For some reason my links to Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing on Amazon for this blog and widget are not working so I have to resort to a direct link that has nothing to do with me.  Sigh.  Thank you for reading 'til the end!

The Sewing Machine is Fixed and Now For Something Else...

Hi there!

The sewing machine needle punching holes in the bobbin case was a symptom of unseen problems!  The sewing machine is repaired now and it was kind of expensive.  I sewed with it the other day and it produces a nice stitch now and it is much quieter.  I haven't taken up the machine embroidery yet as they told me the needles I was using were not embroidery needles.  I was under the impression that they were embroidery needles, but it was a mislabeled eBay ad that has been my downfall this time.

Also I discovered some Sulky Sticky +.  Two packages of it in fact!  Yay!  Now I don't have to spray that awful smelling TESA (Temporary Spray Adhesive).  No more gummed up needles!  I am embroidering some very complicated designs on some aprons for my customer and since the fabric is a very heavy twill, it has proven in the past to be too difficult and thick for me to hoop so I have been using the Temporary Spray Adhesive.  It works well, but the cost is that in this cold weather we have to open the windows, turn on all the fans and air the house out!  The smell of the product is a horrible chemical smell!

My Doctor's appointment went well so I am on a good path there.

Today I visited Gertie's Blog for Better Sewing on Gertie's November 21, 2013 post or thereabouts and discovered this little gem of a book, which is also a novelty fabric, "Sewing is Easy by Sally Stitch."  How cool is that?  That book is offered on the website:  Center for Pattern Design.

The fabric is for sale from the Fabric Depo Store on Etsy :   Home Sewing is Easy...
It may also be available from other places.

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing!  I believe, and someone correct me if I am wrong, that Gretchen Hirsch is working on book #2. 

Recently, I have also been reading Modern Home Sewing by Drucella Lowrie and Sylvia Mager.

You can see this book here and also purchase it from this person.  It may be available in other places as well.

Modern Home Sewing Book 

This book is really great!  It shows many red and white color and black and white sketches for various vintage sewing techniques, ideas for embellishment, sewing for the home, sewing for children, sewing for women and girls and sewing for men and boys as well as a primer on the Necchi sewing machine - see below.  It's easy to read and really well thought out and researched.  My copy had one error-- an illustration was numbered incorrectly as fig. 41 when it should have been fig. 24 - the two illustrations were mismatched, but other than that I haven't found any glaring errors so far.  My copy of this book is in very bad condition with pages literally disintegrating, pages falling out of the binding and generally falling victim to acidosis as the paper they used in those days was not acid free as paper is made today.

Here's that Necchi BU Mira sewing machine spoken about in the book in an olive or sage green color.

Here is the search for the Necchi BU sewing machine on eBay if you would like to own this machine.  You may also find it available in other places.  I believe the other color for this machine would be a taupe or tan color.  This is NOT the Supernova machine -that's a different model.  The 1957 model is a later version of a different model as well.

I was unable to find the Sewing is Easy by Sally Stitch fabric; however, there are many great vintage and retro look fabrics available online and in other places.  Have a look on Google!  When I search on Google I find I get better results, sometimes, if I search by images rather than by the web.

Also Deepika Prakash has a wonderful book entitled:  1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts and tips from www.sewing.patternreview.com

You can purchase Deepika's book here: 


Until next time...

New ideas for patterns

Hi there dear readers!  I know it's been a long long long long long long time, as Sayuri said in the movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha", since I have written anything here. 

Well recently I have been trying to get the health care straightened out.  Also I have been working on machine embroidery designs. 

I have not had anything for sale on eBay or Etsy in some time since these problems started.  I hope to remedy that situation after the next Doctor's appointment if I am able to.

You should see this blog:  Va Voom Vintage.  Here Brittany has a good explanation of why you may want to try bullet bras and about doing a sew-a-long for a vintage look bullet bra using her FREE pattern!

Stay tuned for more in the upcoming weeks or in the New Year!

It arrived! It arrived! You need to get this book!

Hi there!  Yesterday, 12/26/12, my brand new Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing arrived!  Yay!  I'm so happy!  This truly is one of the best and most informative books on sewing I've read in many many years!  So dear readers I urge you, buy Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing!  Not only are Gretchen's patterns really fabulous, but the instructions she gives you on how to complete each look and each pattern are very well written, clear and to the point!  She shows you how to do so many different sewing skills that have either fallen by the wayside or else the skills are just not being taught any more and they should be!

Get this book:  Click on the box below where you see "Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing".  You'll be glad you did!  Thank you.

Patterns from the Past and Gertie's New Book

Hi there!  Today I'd like to talk about a great site, Patterns from the Past:  Click here  I was reminded of this website by Mrs. Depew's blog:  Click here.  What's great about Patterns from the Past is that Michelle is having a big sale and also a $50 giveaway!  Why don't you pop on over to Patterns from the Past and pick out your favorite pattern and post it on Mrs. Depew's blog?  You might win! 

Next I want to talk about Gertie's New Book for Sewing by Gretchen Hirsch.  Just click on the amazon button - please! 

I have a fair number of sewing books scattered around the house from various, different authors, but no book has excited me more in recent times than this one!  I have ordered it and I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

Although Gertie's main focus is on patterns and sewing methods used in the 1950's, it is a great reference for those interested in sewing better, couture sewing, or making fabulous clothing from the past!  You won't be sorry with this book!  It is hard, spiral-bound so you can open it up near your sewing machine or sewing area and follow along.  She references the techniques she is using to create specific, (absolutely gorgeous), fashions by page number so say if you wanted to create a bound button hole, she would tell you to go to the page where this technique is explained.  Her explanations are terrific and fully illustrated!  Even a beginner like me is left anxious to try them!  She also includes a number of patterns right in the book in the folder so you can pull out the specific pattern you want to make, place it on your table, trace it and voila - a custom made pattern just for you!  She shows how to alter patterns to fit and so many other skills and techniques too numerous to mention here.  If you have no other sewing book, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you get, "Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing."  Click on the amazon button above please.  Also have a look at Gretchen's blog here.

Be sure and leave me your comments, questions, suggestions or anything you like!  Also please follow me as I will endeavor to post more!

07/25/12 Bullet Bra progress - Pattern Pieces Markup

Hi there!  Today I have finally cleared off the dining room table and completed marking the pattern pieces for the bullet bra!  Yay!  I have used Muslin that I got on sale or at a good bargain from http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/.  Today I didn't notice any Muslin at all, yet this is where I bought it from.  You're sure to find another fabric you can use, as I did, for your mockups - just keep looking.  :) 

I used an ordinary pencil with an attached eraser as one of my markup tools.  I've found that a pencil works well for this as if you make a mistake you can easily, literally, erase it!  To draft my patterns I use the Lutterloh plastic tools and also the Bruce Oleyar tools or curves.  These rulers work well.  I got the Bruce Oleyar tools on sale from a person on eBay.  The pattern drafting board is made of cardboard and, luckily for me, my husband worked to reinforce the board on the back with Elmer's glue boards made of Styrofoam.  These you can buy at Walmart along with the pattern drafting board.  The pattern drafting board was about $5.00 or so.  Also I used an ordinary wooden ruler, but you can use the fancy Bruce Oleyar curves and/or the Lutterloh curves or any cheap, plastic, see through ruler - even rulers for quilting if you have those available.  I had a tape measure handy to measure my completed patterns on another project.  I used ordinary, store brand tape to tape some of my pattern pieces together for another project.  I used a medium sharpie to draw or draft the pattern pieces.

Here are the pictures:

Here you can view the sharpie, the pencil, a pen, ordinary scissors, ordinary scotch tape, tape measure and a wrist pin cushion.

                                          

Bruce Oleyar curve on the left side and the Lutterloh curve on the right side.

                                         

Furthest away from the viewer are the Lutterloh hip curve and the Bruce Oleyar two piece hip curves.  On the left is the back side band, in the center is the left side of the underbust band along with the four part bust piece - (just the left bust).

 

The left bust area and the Lutterloh curve.

I drew in all the seam allowances as well as the other markings, due to the fact that I am not yet very skilled at cutting out the fabric with the 28 mm Olfar Rotary Cutter and Seam Allowance Guide.                                        

The actual lower band.  This piece will have a center piece of 2" of 1" wide elastic.                             

I hope to do more later.  If you need larger pictures email me.  Please stay tuned and follow me!  Thank you!

Mrs. Depew

Hi!  I just have to post a mention in my blog about Anna Depew's blog and her items for sale on Mrs. Depew Etsy.com.  She is a very knowledgeable woman who specializes in recreating vintage patterns.  Her own items for sale on Etsy.com come with clear instructions and her photos and explanations, especially on her sew a long's are really helpful.  The lingerie is really beautiful.  If nothing else her website on Etsy.com is worth a look for anyone interested in vintage lingerie, sewing patterns, knitting patterns and similar things.  She answers any questions you may have and is always happy to help.  Right now she is having another giveaway of her patterns!  What could be better than that?  You really should follow her blog, "A Few Threads Loose".  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my bullet bra updates!