Planning fo Winter = dresses and skirts.

This winter I'd like to make some nice/comfortable dresses that I can wear with some coloured stockings and some little fal o high-heeled boots.Id prefer 3/4 length sleeves but with a pretty neckline..

this is my butterick pattern 4029 from the 1960's.

I'm mainly going to use vintage knit fabris...because tweed is so exspensive and rare to come across.

I'd also like to make a ring scarf.
and I have a pattern for a cowl neck jumper that i'd like to adapt and make into a sweater dress...may be a mini.

winter comes around quickly here so i'll have to get cracking.

the vogue pattern is questionale...it's ugly and kind of odd...but i hope I can just make the jumper underneath the dress thing...and obviously not pull the neck over my head.


Allison

Vintage Winter Fabric!!

yay some new(old) winter fabric to make a dress from! worn with a chunky knitted scarf and my deep red 60's boots(my all-time favourite pair) this is going to be a warm winter and I have all summer to sew a dress out of it.

good stuff!

My new Toy

So, My boyfriend and I were walking along and it was Grand Final night...the night of idiots. ...and then we found this scooter disgarded in a carpark bank of grass..the inner tubes were out of the tires and the tires were off the rims and the inner tube at the front had been chewed up and destroyed...so basically they just chucked cause it wasn't going...so we took it and now we have an awesome 60's or 80's mash up push scooter to restore and look after....but yeah I hate grand final night but finding this beauty did make up for nearly have a glass smashed on me.

I'm thinking insanely bright paint... new tires...I really like it.


anyone know anything about this fella?

Allison

That's it. I'm making a mini.

I'm going to try adapt a pattern and make a mini skirt...20" skirt on me is short-short..but I'll see how I go.

i don't want to make it too short though cause' lately there's so many modern minis in ready-to-wear that just are no good for someone who is 5"8 I put one on walk out side and it's pretty obscene feeling, let alone if I want to wear some heels...they are made for shorter girls so I have to buy longer skirts.

grrr...it's like trying to find jeans to fit...impossible...or pyjamas! all my pyjamas are about half way up my calf muscle..yeah pretty daggy in other words.

sorry I've been slack about posting about my T-shirt.
whoa...I had a moment when I saw these photos my mum took...gross out...I need to start taking care of my body...it's getting totally flabby. and my hair needs dyeing. ew.

ahwell I used style pattern 1190 and I made the uglier version :-P and I made it out of a vintage knit fabric with a novelty print..I then read the pattern back and apparently it didn't even need to be a stretch fabric!! but wouldn't it look hideous and boxy in a cotton??

anyway this project cost me $1.50 for the fabric and probably $1.00 in bias binding.

voila!

p.s I would post all my thrift finds but it's embarassing as I buy so much...like today I bought three patterns a metal A4 document tray a burl of varnished timber and floral reversible bag yesterday and a check table cloth for mum and more fabrics..

erggh.

hehe atleast it's cheap I figure and generally useful...sort of.

this is a belt I got for 20cents. i treated the leather with clear varnish and waterproofer as it was extremely faded.

I like this handmade stuff you know!

re-purposed 1950's handbag

I bought this bag at the South Hobart Tip shop...I bought it specifically to salvage the beads from it...the bag already had a large hole in it and was stained inside etc.

so it took me a little while but I removed all the beads...including the seed beads on the handle...then i washed the beads in a jar with warm soapy water and then let them sit in some white vinegar for a little while.


stay tuned for these beads to be turned into something new!!!

Vintage Scrap Pin Cushion

This is the maxi pin cushion I made using scraps that I bought as part of a huge bag of scraps from the 1960's and 1970's.

The bottom is a knit fabric and Iused a blanket stitch on the bottom. there is felt and stuffing in the pin cushions and it makes me happy to look at it.

no pattern used.

first patchwork!

Earthly Pin Cushion Fabrics

Sewing a Pin Cushion

thrifted Vintage fabrics from a massive stash of 60's/70's fabrics.

My first seamstress class was great...such a lovely time! I learnt to professionally hem pants. my teacher told me that sewing is a wonderful job and the quietness of it is really wonderful. I noticed the lovely window patchwork pincushions in faded floral cotton...i want a pincushion to suit my tastes.

wheeee....gosh i love fabrics.

Sewing with a Seamstress

I'm so excited! I went to see a seamstress a few weeks ago to ask if she'd teach me to sew clothing...she has not only said yes bbut she is going to teach me right from the start....alll about pattern making sewing....everything you need to k now to be a seamstress...I'm so excited to be able to learn new skills!!!

I start in a few weeks.


wheee!!

I'm so glad some people are nice enough to be teachers to stupid people like me who can't actually do anything properly!

yyay.

Allison

Gingham Thrift Reconstruction

I've had this blouse for ages...it was a thrift shop find and the embroidery and button holes at the back are all extremely neat and handmade.

Before: short butterfly sleeves made out of white mesh.

After: gingham bias-tape armholes.



Ive just got to finish the ends of the bias tape tonight.

colour and style analysis

Cool Summer colours.—Allison

How to Shop for Your Summer Colors
Choose soft dusty tones. Think in terms of cool or blue-based, muted or cloudy colors. Solids, soft watercolor prints, busty or complex prints are beautiful in Summer colors. Soft textures best enhance these colors in everything from soft wood crepes to cotton knits.

Avoid: Black, stark white, orange and all yellow-based colors.

Summer Accessories Suggestions
Start with the basics to coordinate with your basic wardrobe selections: navy, blue-grays, off white, rose beige, rose taupe, soft rose brown, and burgundy or plum. Pumps or sling backs belong with suits or business looks and strappy shoes or sandals with dresses and some casual looks. Shoes should be the same color value as hemline or darker for dressup.

Basic Summer Hosiery Colors
Taupe, gray tones, rose beige or navy. Hosiery color should blend shoe with hemline.

Summer Jewelry
Metals: Pewter, white gold or rose gold.
Stones: Pearls, garnets, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, cool jade, pale amethyst, lapis, sapphires.

Glass Frames for Summer
Metal: Pewter, silver
Plastics: Taupe, rose, blue-gray or clear. Choose the color that best blends with the hair and skin tones if a classic look is desired.

Furs for Summer
Pink champagne mink, pale silver fox, beaver, raccoon, muskrat, off-white mink, wolf; your hair shade or lighter.

Summer Hair Color
Your natural hair color is often best. However, many times the summer ash tone or mousy hair color is greatly enhanced by frosting, highlighting or weaving with cool-ash tone blonde shades.
Long Legs, Short Torso
If your legs are longer than your upper body you have a long legged vertical body type…
• Your hipline height is higher than half your full height
• You should also have a high waist – your waist will be higher than your bent elbow
• You will have a proportionally short torso
• Your bottom will typically be round and high
• You tend to put on weight around your waist, above your waist or on the back of your hips
• You may also be tall – although short people can also be long legged
Your main style aims are to create visual balance by creating the illusion of a longer mid-torso and shorter legs.
Do wear...
• Design details that draw the eye down, such as border prints on skirts and pants (unless you are short)

• Medium-long to long accessories (unless you are short)

• Skirts and pants in the lighter colors than tops

• Medium-long to long tops (if you are short, no longer than knuckle length)

• Un-tucked tops

• Tops and dresses that flow through the waist

• Skirts and pants with narrow waistbands or no waistband

• Straight and flared skirts

• Low-rise or hipster pants

• Straight and flared pants

Don't wear...
• Focal points that draw the eye upwards

• Pin stripes

• Short tops

• Empire line tops and dresses

• Wide belts

• Pants or skirts with a high waistband

• Tapered pants and skirts


I'm peared shaped though...so If my legs are long and I am pear shaped then info contradicts...they say I should draw attention to my top half for pear shaped and to the bottom to minimise a short torso.

hmm.

I guess the short torso isn't as bad as my obvious pear shape...so i'll go with details on top.

New projects on the go!

The bottom of the barrel clearance neon bright orange glass beads

The pattern!

The mega huge rick rack in two tones!

!
The colour inspiration and sketchy plan!

The Work-In-Progress cropped jacket ex-curtain.
(as if you couldnt tell)

sneek peak.

Spring/Summer has to be on the way soon!!!

Potter's fabrics...for smart grown ups....and charming children, too.

Part 1 of Allisons' Bright, Cheerful and Cheap Summer Wardrobe

I made this skirt out of some nubby orange fabric I found at a second-hand shop for $3.00 the total cost was $4.00.

I really like the pattern and it fits really well. I think my figure better suits the pencil skirt rather than the A-line but I wanted to make sure this pattern fit me at the waist before I made alternate styles.

Nice Finds for the day.

60's T-shirt (work in progress)

this is the pattern--Simplicity 7547 that is from the 1960's

this is from a fabric that was shamed into a bag of bulk buy vintage fabircs. it feels very light and quite nice...it even has a little permenant crinkle through it.


it is VERY bright...this is a big leap for me because in the past I've been too scared to wear print or colour but now i'm obsessed with both so I have planned so many colourful pieces of clothing for Spring/Summer .

I'm actually enjoying the organsiation of planning a new wardrobe

I was down to the most dissmal pieces of clothing a few months ago..it was all brown clothing that had seen it's day a long time ago.


anyway love it or loathe it
here it is without sleeves or side seams...

Danish Modern table for $ 2 !!!!!!

I love thrifting...and renovating and restoring!

this is an amazing find in my opinion!! I'm going to restore it in August when my parents are away overseas. It's teak I think and is so beautifully heavy and well made.

I was so excited when I saw it I had to really try and keep my cool when i asked how much it was! she said öh yeah I just want to get rid of it!"

I knew right away what it was....those handles....those tapered legs....that yummy colour..

$ 2 !!

YAY.

and i got some more retro fabric...I feel another collecting streak coming through.


AND I have 2 sort of m,atching chairs that need covering that are in this style too!!

retro fabric + retro chairs = good looks!

New fabric, New retro sewing machines!, New pants

My boyfriend and I we're out walking around the city during an outing to see a gig and he spotted this sewing machine on the side of the road! It's a Singer 227p and i think it is 1950's-160's but it's a monster! i was terrified on it when io started sewing...this thing has so much power.....great for my next 1970's jeans I want to sew! Thanks for finding it lovely man!

this is some new muslin type fabric i bought at spotlight....it is lovely and sheer and I am loving this colour (i never touched anything pink up until a year ago) I am thinking of making a blouse out of it.

this is my little janopme lock 603 which I bought for $80.00...I possibly was ripped off at this price but i was just so excited when i found it at my local market.


p.s i then proceeded to try and fix it myself and now have to fork out $100.00 upwards to get it fixed....i'm such an idiot.

These are some new/vintage pants I made...they use style pattern 3857 from 1973 and I love this pattern...polyester suiting.

Butterick 2907 ------1950's

Butterick 2907--

good- collar. if it was sewn properly!
good- general comfort of the dress

bad- not much betail aside from collar.
bad- oversized fit.


I took 1" from side seams including arms.

I added 2 " to bottom by adding doubled panel of fabric.


would I make it again?-- yes, but only in double knit once again and making necessary adjustments.

general comment-

really warm dress for winter, not too retro looking. quite easy to make!

A few of my favourite things!

These are my dressmaking scissors. 11" long(28cm)


I found them in the Hobart Resource Center on Elizabeth Street.(This is a shop that sells things that people bring to the tip to be put into landfill but they rescue these items and sell them as a not for profit organization. good job.

I paid $6 for them (I knocked $2 off the price) they were rusted and seized shut...so I gave them a coat of anti rust and them repeated the process a couple of times.


I then sent them to be sharpened at The Knife shop (also in Elizabeth street in Hobart) and for the sum of $12 they were sharpened and put back together and wrapped in newspaper and brown paper with sissal string. The gentleman that sharpened them looked around from the back of the shop and told me "you'll be happy with how they sharpened up!"

at the time I was taken back by his confidence...but he did SUCH a good job with sharpening them and taking care to wrap them carefully up for me, that I will recommend him again and again.

so basically these scissors cost me $18 AUD. I'm stoked.

A great price for a quality pair of English--John OXLEY of Sheffield scissors.

Starting New Projects

Eye candy! 1925 jean patou Couture. Detail shots.


I'm so happy I found this. I LOVE beading. and the design is amazing. colours amazing. fabric choices ....are amazing.

My next 2 projects I am about to start are very different from each other.


Sewing project 1. The Glamorous House coat.
Material: Very Peach Satin

Pattern: Simplicity Pattern S19(House Coat)

Year: 1948

Alterations: I'm going to add a really tiny lingerie style black stretch ruffle in a georgette fabric that comes in a trim format. ...and perhaps 4 black satin covered buttons.

--photos soon--


Sewing Project 2. The Fun Shorts

Material: Extremely bright
Orange, Lime Green and White stripe cotton drill
Pattern: Butterick 5680(I'm making high waisted shorts.)
Year: 1960's-1970's
Alterations: I'll have to take it in at the waist almost 2 inches.

--photos soon---


p.s

sort of almost finished the red knit dress!!

I haven't posted about this outfit but it's a Butterick pattern from the late 1950's would be my guess??

Anti- Opportunistic Pattern Sellers.

I'm a little bit peeved. I am getting a bit tired of seeing vintage patterns on sale online for exhorbident amounts of money, considering most have come from "opportunity" shops with the hope of giving people the opportunity to own these things when they can't afford to buy store bought clothing. I think it is wrong, wrong, wrong.

I'm finding it so hard to find a pattern now a days because I KNOW that people are scouring the shops and selling them on-line afterwards.... I can't afford to buy clothing off the rack so I started making them... now it's hard to do that even!! because people are trying their luck at selling online and making huge profits. This is really starting to annoy me. I just hope the old ladies at my local market are nicer than those people selling patterns online for $15-$25 and upwards. pfft. You suck.

happy thrifty sewing.
Allison

Simplicity Jiffy Pattern - 4977

Year:1960's
Description: "simple to make"A-shaped dress has highscooped neckline. Big Pockets.

Comments: Took in at bottom edge a little to flared for me. Would really only recommend this pattern for very thick cotton broadcloth. But I really love how this came out and it's very much a put-on-and-go dress.

Fabric Cotton Broadcloth.

Style Pattern -3857

Year: 1973
Description: Misses and women's jacket, trousers and skirt.

comments: I made the trousers and the fit is so wonderful, they fit so much better then the pair I tried to make by adapting a couturier pattern to my measurements !

edit: once I put the zip in I realised I couldn't get away with altering and taking in the waist line. ergh.

I unstitched the facing and took it in an inch at the waist and I'll post photos soon!

Fabric: Beige polyester/blend suiting. (spotlight)