My first attempt at giving this 1970's bear pattern a modern twist. The face turned out too dark, so I will need to make another run to the quilting store for a lighter wool felt. I put a few poly pellets in the bottom of the legs to give him some weight. Next time, I will embroider something on the pocket - maybe an initial?
Today I bought a half yard of this cotton voile fabric and turned it into a simple scarf for my daughter, Natalie. I gave it a narrow hem on the sides and left the selvage ends alone. A 3x3 scarf: cost - $3, time - 3 minutes!
This outfit is a combination of Simplicity pattern 2484 for the jumper and a vintage pattern for the blouse. I didn't alter the patterns except for adding trim on the pockets (matches the sleeves). This outfit combination happened because of some fabric I had on hand - the blouse fabric I had bought to make potholders and the corduroy jumper fabric I had bought to make a romper for my grandson. The zipper was in my notions box, so all I'll need to purchase are the white back buttons. A better use of it all in the end...
A retro dress that still
does need to be hemmed. I tried using my narrow hem foot, but it didn't
like the curved circle skirt. Foo! So I'll run a gathering stitch all
the way around, slightly gather the bottom, and then press up the hem.
The pattern calls for a 2" hem, but I think that little girls wore
their dresses much shorter in the 50's. So I'll use a 5/8th's inch hem
instead.
I've
never used a pattern that called for elastic sewn into the seam
allowance (formed from joining the bodice and skirt). Smart!
The "belt" is just some inexpensive 100% polyester tubing. I burned
the edges to keep it from fraying and will probably satin stitch the
edges for good measure.
The pattern condition is none too pretty, but all the pieces are there. I rarely come across an old pattern that is unused. The women in the 50's and 60's didn't buy a pattern and stick it into a drawer. Too wasteful! But I find that many of the patterns from the 70's and later are unused. Says something about a change in our culture....
See & Sew B4701 $2.99 There was just enough of this fabric left on a bolt to make a toddler dress, so I snatched it up right then and there! The pattern calls for a lined bodice, but I also lined the skirt. Because the fabric is embroidered, the unfinished look on the reverse side needed to be hidden. Plus it makes the dress more swishy! I used my narrow hem foot (I wouldn't attempt a narrow hem without one!) to hem the bottom. Without any extra weight on the bottom of the dress with a wider hem, it stayed flowy.
My husband did me the favor of keeping all of the children out of my bedroom so that I could sew uninterrupted. Happy, happy Mother's Day! I had the dot blouse already made up, and sewed the coordinating jumper using supplies I had on hand. The pattern also has a kerchief. Now how cute would that be?!
New Look 6578
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A quick dress to make! This pattern has no gathers and no button holes or zipper. The only hassle was cutting the contrast bias tape....but it really wasn't that big of a deal compared to the alternative: edge finished facings, interfacing, trimming and clipping seams. I did boo-boo by not being careful with the large patterned fabric and had two large flowers end up next to each other. But that was an easy fix. Hello pocket! Discontinued McCalls pattern(8191) purchased on etsy.com
The only boy item I've made recently that didn't find it's way into Evan's wardrobe! My daughter, Natalie, claimed this for her future firstborn son while I was knitting it to simply try out the pattern. I used Sublime's machine washable silk and bamboo DK yarn (although I'd hand wash any hand knit item)! A basic earflap hat pattern is free at Hey Julie or Ravelry.
I loved making a blessing outfit for my grandson, Evan! Sadly the pin tucks I made on the bodice are covered completely by the mock vest front. The little elephant in the train car applique was purchased from Uniport Industries. Because I still have not mastered photographing white fabrics, I back lit this outfit to avoid the inevitable pinkish color that crops up. Could it be I have problems because I am only using my phone camera for all my photography?!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Don't be fooled by the innocent look of this little white dress! I had purchased the embroidered fabric about four months ago; but because I had only bought a yard (pricey), I didn't have enough to make the sleeves. I ended up using a dot fabric I had in my fabric cupboard and feel it did not do the embroidered fabric justice. But the main problem wasn't the fabric debacle. It was the pattern. So fussy and unprofessionally constructed! I ended up ripping out, redoing, lining, and binding. I will keep the pattern for the cute little capri pants but will throw away the pieces for the dress. Sorry pretty embroidery fabric. I hope the gold trim I put at the bottom convinces you that you're worth so much more than your crazy construction and dot sleeves!
Finally the gray jumper and blouse are to my satisfaction (they've morphed a couple of times!). The jumper is lined with a cotton stripe in the bodice and a pale gray silky fabric in the skirt. I know the gray for the jumper seems a little blah, but I wanted the top stitching to make a statement. Because the jumper seemed a little too full for a six month old baby, I added ties to the back so the dress can be pulled in some. The blouse fabric is a 30's or 40's reprint fabric (maybe flour sack inspired?). The combination of gray and floral was inspired by some Japanese clothing books that I had browsed at Mitsuwa. Someday, I hope to acquire a couple of them for my very own!
A darling poncho pattern named Sophie by Vickie Howell for Caron yarn. I instead used a skein of a Lion Brand yarn I had purchased called Tweed Stripes and knit the pattern in the larger size (24 mo). Now to find a coordinating fabric and sew a little dress....
I had seen some adorable little balls made from quilting fabrics and decided to try a larger version. What an easy project! Inside I placed a large jingle bell which has a wonderful mellow ring, and at the ends are sewn felt buttons to hide the messy seam ends. I used the free pattern for small balls at Grand Revival and simply enlarged it. The fabrics on the first ball are canvas (Japanese fabric), satin, and flannel. The second ball is made from cotton chenille. Each has a fun texture that baby would love!
I seem to always inspire a snowfall when I visit Denver. And my most recent trip was no exception! Little Evan didn't have a hat, so I quickly knit this up one evening (fortunately I had brought some yarn and needles with me). It's knit with worsted weight wool on size 9 needles. I think Evan is trying to say, "Thanks, Grams!"
This outfit is a combination of Simplicity pattern 2484 for the jumper and a vintage pattern for the blouse. I didn't alter the patterns except for adding trim on the pockets (matches the sleeves). This outfit combination happened because of some fabric I had on hand - the blouse fabric I had bought to make potholders and the corduroy jumper fabric I had bought to make a romper for my grandson. The zipper was in my notions box, so all I'll need to purchase are the white back buttons. A better use of it all in the end...
My husband did me the favor of keeping all of the children out of my bedroom so that I could sew uninterrupted. Happy, happy Mother's Day! I had the dot blouse already made up, and sewed the coordinating jumper using supplies I had on hand. The pattern also has a kerchief. Now how cute would that be?!
A quick dress to make! This pattern has no gathers and no button holes or zipper. The only hassle was cutting the contrast bias tape....but it really wasn't that big of a deal compared to the alternative: edge finished facings, interfacing, trimming and clipping seams. I did boo-boo by not being careful with the large patterned fabric and had two large flowers end up next to each other. But that was an easy fix. Hello pocket! 
Don't be fooled by the innocent look of this little white dress! I had purchased the embroidered fabric about four months ago; but because I had only bought a yard (pricey), I didn't have enough to make the sleeves. I ended up using a dot fabric I had in my fabric cupboard and feel it did not do the embroidered fabric justice.
