A Vintage Sew-a-Long

I found a perfect de-stash project!!!  It combines 2 of my favorite things--cotton fabric and vintage patterns. 

I've been following Lucille's blog for a couple months now.  She makes & wears vintage style clothes.  I didn't realize how many people loved vintage patterns until I accidentally ran across them on etsy 2 years ago.  It's so nice to know that there are others floating around out there with the same interests.  I adore dresses & skirts from the mid-1930s thru the mid-1950s.

Ok, so anyhow, today Lucille announced a sew-a-long using only cotton fabrics and picking an era from 1920s-1970s.  It's a fun challenge, but one I'm excited about.  I can use up a few yards of cotton fabric and I have a dozen or so vintage patterns I could use. 

It didn't take me long to figure out what pattern to use for this challenge.  I've had it for a few months, but haven't sewn it yet.  It's from Decades of Style on etsy.

I know I've bought at least 2 pieces of fabric to make this dress, so I'll probably just sew 2 dresses when I do it.  

I'm off to the Columbia on Saturday for the Quilting & Knitting Expo.  I haven't touched yarn (in a store) in almost a year.  I need to get my fix!  I also need to drop my quilting machine off to have it repaired (the timing is out).

Summer Sewing

I confess, I did buy new fabric for the shorts. I usually stick to dresses and tops for the girls, but this summer finding shorts of an appropriate length sent me scrambling to JoAnn's for bottom-weight fabric. I bought 4 yards of darling twills, and 1 yard of a baby corduroy.  The shorts featured are from Burda #9481, view C. These feature cargo pockets on the sides for all their summer treasures. 

I also attempted some cutesy embroidery on the back yolk, but the pattern I chose needed a double needle (added to supply list). Hopefully it just looks like funky top stitching. 

Getting Miss T.E. to hold still long enough to snap the picture was only resolved when I agreed she could wear them today!

I'm heading back to the cutting table to make more shorts!

Woeful Neglect

I had grandiose plans for this blog. I have several drafts still to publish, but have fallen off the wagon. This is my attempt to plow through some projects. 

We moved to South Carolina in the fall, and I've been confronted with the crazy amount of fabric I had stashed.  I've pulled out books & patterns, sorted fabrics & made a project list. I've limited myself to only buying the notions needed to finish said projects. 

So, a quick sneak peak at what I'm working on this Memorial Day. 

Shorts for my daughters. These are from a Burda pattern. Both girls are wearing the same size right now, making sewing fairly easy. 

Heading back to the machine, but will follow up in a few days with the wardrobe of shorts!

Lindsey Dress

Several months ago one of my favorite pattern designers on etsy put out a call for pattern testers. What's a pattern tester, you ask?  The designer sends you a copy of the pattern for you to sew & give feedback. The perk--you get a free pattern, the downside--if you're not quick on replying you miss out.  You also have to work quickly, turn-around is usually 2-4 days after receiving a pattern.

I said yes this time because I knew I had time & materials on hand. I planned to work on it Friday, but ended up sleeping all day because of an all-night birth.  I should remember that everytime I say yes, I end up at a birth!

Anyhow, this adorable little number is heading off to my darling niece in a few days.

Want to know where you can get this (and several other sweet patterns)?  Head over to Brynnberlee Designs!

Fabric stash used:  1.5 yards & 2 buttons.