Extra Bonus

I was starting a new project (a skirt) and while unfolding the pieces I found the big front and back pieces for these pants stuffed in the envelope for the skirt.

Extra bonus pattern for a waist 26. Too bad the pants are a little too old lady for my taste.

Advance 8171

I googled this pattern online, but nothing else came up. I guess it hasn't made its way to the internet yet. From what I read here, it probably is from the late 50's. It's Advance American Designer by Mr. John Couturier Boutique (lol) 8171. I made view 2 (center) because I did not like the matronly fan in the back.

The fabric is a black synthetic silk shantung look. I bought it at JoAnn's quite a while ago. I meant to use it for a one sleeve dress that I wanted to copy out of Vogue. Fortunately, I am over that idea, and decided to use the fabric for this.

1. I haven't used an Advance pattern for a while, so I had forgotten how brief the instructions are. I think I ended up reading them several times. They were confusingly short.

2. While I made a 12 (32-25-34), I fit the whole thing on my dummy. This worked perfectly for the last dress, which I only tried on when it was done and it fit perfectly. This was not true this time. I did not anticipate that the back cutouts went so low, so when you put it on, it's impossible to wear even a strapless bra. From the ribs down, it fit like a sausage casing and then at the top it gaped like four inches.

3. If you are petite, I would shorten the bodice somewhere, although there are no lines on the pattern for that.

4. In the end, I took in the bust about 2 inches on each side under the pleats, and folded down the neckline another inch or two and tacked it down. The bodice fits weirdly and looks awkward. Note the lack of close-ups.

While somewhat matronly, it's not a terrible dress. I guess it could be for a party- a cocktail party. The waist is really tight, so I would have to drink liquor and not eat- there's no give!

Simplicity 3914 - Black and White Day Dress

Due to the fake-hurricane Ida, I got a three day weekend- a hurrication (hurricane + vacation, everyone uses it, I can't claim I made it up). I already had gone to Jo-Anns the weekend before, so I was ready to sew.

This is the fabric, a black cotton with wavy lines of tiny circles in white. I thought it would be perfect for the pattern, which is for a striped dress with stripes in 2 directions.

The pattern is Simplicity 3914, for a cute dress with short sleeves and a full skirt. The pattern is undated, but it looks very 50s- early 60s to me. The girls on the front have pig noses and are pretty scary. If you love the pattern and are insane, you can buy it here for $55. Yikes. I made an 11, which is for a 31'' bust. I was afraid it would be too tight, but it has a nice ease. It's perfect for a work dress. The pattern calls for 4 3/4 yards, but I bought 4 and it was fine. Luckily.

Sewing up the pattern was fast and easy. I am proud that I set the sleeves in perfectly, since that is the second time i have ever done set-in sleeves.

My only caution: I thought the darts looked overly long, and I was right. I had to pick them out and shorten them. It created a 80s Madonna cone-boob look, which was very ugly. So if you make it, shorten the darts.

I wish it had pockets, but since it is a three piece dirndl skirt, I don't know how that would work. Oh, also I made the sash from view 1 and 3. It looks nice.

(The dog trying to ruin my picture)

All in all, a cute dress! Plus, I probably made the whole thing in 3-5 hours, including cutting. it was really easy. And that includes an hour sewing the hem by hand inf ront of the tv.

The Social Studies Dress- Butterick 8128

This is my most recent vintage sewing project- I probably started it a month ago. (I took this out of my drafts folder dated 7/29, so i started it beginning of july). I finished almost all of it, then went to Oregon, then came home and began the apartment search, found an apartment, moved, started my first year teaching, and 10 weeks into the school year finally have a chance to start sewing again. WOW!

I made view A, with the 3/4 sleeves and the scarf neck. B shows the back, which looks very similar. The pattern is undated, but I think it's late 40s or early 50s. The wikia estimates 54-56.

The is my fabric, again, a quilter's cotton. From far away it looks beige and bland, but up close, you can see the tiny pattern of world maps. Since I teach Social Studies, I though "How appropriate!" Now however, I think it is way too beige-tastic. It's not like my skin isn't pasty beige as well. I look like a chameleon on a beige wall. Bleh. Look how cute the buttons are!

Now, I have decided I love the instructions on Butterick patterns. It has boxes, each with one step, like the back of the skirt. And a diagram, with arrows to give you the actual instructions. It was so clear and easy, wonderful!

I only screwed up one time on this one! I decided to top stich the neckline instead of doing the facing because I am lazy. Of course I was punished for my laziness. It looked ridiculous, and of course I had set it on a super tiny stich. I was very close to cutting the whole thing out, but I took it with me to Oregon and my mom picked out the stiches on the drive to the beach. Thanks!

My two changes:

1. If you look at the girl in green, the back bodice is darted but loose. I stiched down all of the darts, so they make a fan over my back. It looks cool, and has the bonus of snugging up the bodice for a better fit.

2. Drastic shortening of the skirt. I didn't shorten the front piece for some reason, and it went to my ankles!!! hahahha. I probably cut off 5-6 inches and made a 2 inch hem.

This is after parent-teacher conferences, standing by my cart ( I move from room to room each period)

Overall, I like it a lot. It has pockets, nice details, I did a good job sewing it, the side zipper is flat! In the end, I was even sold on the kimono sleeves. It got quite a few compliments for only having worn it one time.

The Chairs!!!

I picked these up at an estate sale last weekend. They are AMAZING! I love them.

They have claw feet, which is cool.

This is the orange one; the styles match, but they're different colors. I love the scalloped top.

This is the green one, which is my boyfriend's favorite.

Here's both of them together. One chair was relocated, and the old orange chair (the dog's chair) was sent to the curb. Now T-Rex is not allowed on the chairs, since he is a Destructor.

Probably the most money I ever paid for something at a garage sale, but I knew I would be sad if I missed that chance. And I tell myself, if i went and bought two crappy chairs at a furniture store, they still would have cost more than these... :)

The woman said they were her mother's, part of a Duncan Phyfe living room set she got before her daughter was born. So maybe 1950s? The daughter looked 50-ish. At some point her mom had them reupholstered, so they upholstery is pristine. I love the colors, even. In love...with chairs...

Thinking ahead to Halloween

Wow, I can't believe September is almost over! I promised myself I would finish the beige dress and refinish one of my many furniture projects this month. So, I guess I will be busy tomorrow, between grading papers and doing lesson plans. But it will be satisfying to finish some of these projects!

Now I need to start planning ahead to Halloween. The dog will wear his banana costume from last year- I just saw a cheap rip-off at target! Idea thieves! Lol.

I have this hat, which I bought at an estate sale. I know I will never wear it seriously, but it is beautiful. It's velvet, fits perfectly and the feathers are intact. It had the original tag when I bought it (for 6$!!!).

The color is off in the picture. It is an emerald green, and the feather are a rich brown.

Point being, I want my costume to be based on this hat. It makes me think 20s flapper, so I will probably head in that direction....

Any suggestions or patterns to recommend? I love comments!!! and right now I don't feel very inspired....

Mending and Organizing

Yay! I finally got my sewing stuff organized after moving!


My pile of unfinished projects is enormous, so today I only worked on quick fixes.



I thought this was cute- he snuggled his blanket into a big starburst.
This was just stitching the bodice back onto the skirt- it came undone at the drycleaners, since it is forever 21 "quality"

I faked a loop where the plastic broke off.

This dress is really cute- I bought it at an estate sale and its old cotton, so when i was wearing it i tore one of the straps in the back, so i fixed that, too.

I also busted off a button, so I sewed on a new one. Granted, it doesn't match, and neither does the thread, but it's DONE!


Yay! Once I reduce the pile a little, I can move on to new and exciting projects- like dresses and my cape!