Latest Sewing Projects

Well, we woke up to 2 inches of snow on the ground this morning, and it's still snowing hard. Not the insanely heavy snow fall that was originally predicted, but then again, the day isn't over yet either.

Snow days are the best days for staying inside in front of the fire and either reading or working on sewing projects. I am choosing to do the latter today! Here are my two latest sewing projects:

I am making another dress using the same pattern that I created the cool black & white checkerboard dress with! This time, I scored some gorgeous watercolor print fabric and black piping for around the collar and sleeves. It's going to be a very lovely dress when I'm finished...

Next, after MUCH searching, I found the pattern to make a nearly identical dress to the one FabGabs is currently selling (which is GORGEOUS but so unbelievably out of my price range!). Since I could not afford to buy her beautiful dress, I decided I could make my own. You can view the FabGabs dress here, and compare it with my pattern below! The most difficult part of the entire project has been finding a reasonably-priced gold fabric that I actually like. I'm still searching...Option B is to make it out of an emerald green taffeta with a gold lining for the overskirt - what do you think?

Rain Day Creativity

Rainy Day Creativity at its finest!

Here is what cabin fever, a couple of rainy days spent indoors, leftover freezer paper from turkey slaughter day, vintage lace & metal zippers, and 3 yards of spare fabric will get you! Using one of my favorite vintage dresses (gift from the lovely Jeanna) as a guide, I traced the dress parts using the freezer paper (and of course measuring for seam allowances), and sewed myself a replica of the dress in this fantastically wild checker pattern. I inserted an authentic metal side zipper (using a spare zipper from the huge bag I snatched at a yard sale for $2 a couple of years ago), and decorated the bodice with vintage lace (also scored at a yard sale for pennies). I am wearing my thrift store $2 vintage crinoline underneath that I converted into my size (it was originally a large size with snap side closure) by rolling the waist band and inserting an elastic band.

Not too shabby, eh? :)

Another Project (Oh No! - Oh YES!)

Well, I have decided that it's high time for another vintage sewing project! Yes, I'm rather crazy, since I have decided to do this in the height of summer tourist season, when time and craft space are pretty much non-existent...but when have I EVER been rational when it comes to vintage?! But let me back up and give you my reasoning...

As you've probably already gathered, I have become fascinated recently with the history of the 1920s and 1930s. I have been collecting magazines, articles of clothing, etc., and trying to read up and learn as much as I can! The past few weeks I have been focusing a bit more on the mid-to-late 1920s era.

About a year or so ago, I went to one of my first estate sales and purchased, for the painfully low price of $10, a beautiful and authentic 1920s "flapper era" coat.

I love it!

The problem is that I have no authentic 1920s dress to wear with it!

Sad Day.

Unfortunately, I do not have the budget to afford an authentic 1920s dress, and I have been unable to find any at the local yard and estate sales. I couldn't even afford to buy any 1920s patterns either, since those normally sell for between $35 and $85 each!...

...Well, until today that is!

Today, I stumbled across an INTACT and UNUSED 1920s "flapper" pattern for the beautifully low price of $7.50+$2.25 shipping! Ummmmm...YES! I snatched that up in a heart beat! It is a lovely dress style, and I am so SO excited to try my hand at making it!

You can view the wonderful Etsy shop I purchased it from here:
Rosenu2

Because it IS the height of tourist season, I am actually going to be enlisting my grandmother's help, both in space to work and sewing expertise. While she can't sew herself like she used to, she is still a knowledgeable seamstress from her years working in a dress factory as well as working with other talented members of our sewing-inclined family. So I think between the two of us, we'll be able to knock this pattern out rather well! And as for buttons? Well, good news: I have a tin box of antique buttons collected by both my grandmother and great-grandmother, so I think I can find some authentic buttons for the dress in there!

Now, what fabric to use...?