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...

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!