TGIPR.

(Thank God it's Project Runway)

They're back! In NYC! And Nina & Michael are there! That LA season must have just been a bad dream.

I actually loved the winner for a change. (Emilio)


This was Lu's favorite (Seth Aaron):


And I loved this one too. (Pamela) Obviously her sketch didn't end up even remotely resembling her final garment! Makes me wonder why a bathing suit was the garment she would choose to represent her as a designer??


and this was very Art Deco cool too: (Jonathan)


PR! Its been a long time. I've missed you! (Even though you were technically on just a few weeks ago but so lame we will Never. Speak. Of. LA. Season. Again.)

popular.

One of my most favorite things about my vintage pattern stash is the little notes jotted here and there by some long ago seamstress on the cover or on the instruction sheets. This pattern, in particular, is one of my most prized. It's Simplicity 3536:


Ok first of all, can little bibbed jumpers PLEASE come back in style so I can make View 1??? Please? And second of all...vintage pattern shoe illustrations fascinate me. These people know their shoes. Yummy loafers on the left. And View 3 knee socks? Adorable. Too young for me, alas, but adorable!

Things I love about the pattern itself: Gathered shoulders on the blouse, peter pan collar!, swishy skirt with CUTE pockets!

I bumped the contrast on that image before uploading it because I want you to click on the full size so you can see all the names jotted onto the pattern cover. I'll wait til you come back.

All back? Ok. Isn't that the most awesomest record of how popular a pattern was ever?? There are even notes INSIDE the pattern envelope on the instruction sheets, AND notes jotted on the tissue too. Little reminders to cut 1/2" bigger for Gladys Allen, or shorten the skirt for Mrs. Laux.

Speaking of Gladys & Mrs. Laux, here are the names of the ladies on the cover:
Mrs. Gladys Allen, Mrs. Arlene Laux, G. Horton, Mrs. Mary Simms, and Mrs. Bonnie ?? (can't make out the last name). And here's the back. I always want to know what the back of vintage patterns look like online, and very few people show us!


I'm the lucky owner (from a local flea market stall, now long gone) of several of this particular seamstress' patterns. She was busy! She sewed clothes for alot of women in her neighborhood, probably for pin money. I love knowing that this pattern, so dear to me for so many adorable reasons, was also very dear to them. I wish I had photos of the garments made from it!

I guess I'll just have to make my own. ;) Which... I'm almost ready to do. I've got the pattern traced & the skirt is adjusted to fit me, but I need to grade up the blouse a little. All of that will have to wait until I finish my houndstooth dress though. Not a ton of progress this weekend, even though its really simple to put together, because...I was lazy.

But it's Monday, so here's to a better week than last!

icy.

Baby, its cold outside. I'm off today (sort of unexpectedly) so I have Free. Time. Woot!

I'll be working on this:


That's the new one I just picked up (also unexpectedly) over the weekend. I think I'm going with the houndstooth.


The muslin was fast and easy, so I hope to have a photo to share shortly.

And currently I'm watching this, which is pretty appropriate actually:


I love this whole outfit, but if I could knit, my next project would be this hooded sweater!


I adore Sandra Dee. Gidget was my favorite movie when I was 13. Maybe i'll watch it again today!


THEN...because I always envision much longer days than currently exist in my universe, I'm going to muslin this:


Ooh, I'm excited. It's so retro and vintage-y and perfect!! I have at least 3 pieces of fabric I'd like to see made up as this dress!

Speaking of Colette patterns, I've had a Beignet skirt in progress for more than a week out of a long-stashed brown velveteen. (Yummo.) But its giving me fits at the hemming stage (mostly because of my fabric choice for lining) and I'm setting it aside for a better day.

Or at least a day with a little more patience and a little less "Woot I'm off sort of unexpectedly so lets SEW!"

vintage pattern love!

As promised, my recent flea market haul! **this is an image-heavy post, but such yummy images!**

These four were from the first flea market I hit:





I am loving the romper. I know I'm 3 decades past rompers, minimum, but I'm thinking there may be life in those shorts at least. They're so dang cute!

Then at the next flea market I found so many I actually had to pick & choose which to buy. I chose mostly top patterns, because I hardly ever find those. Some of the envelopes are in really bad shape, but the patterns seem complete.


And I cannot resist cute vintage pj's. Plus, the pants are FABULOUS. I am muslining these asap. (and again, I can always use cute short patterns!)


And here's my last top pattern I got, or thought I was getting. I was the most excited about this one because it is already in MY SIZE! And...the envelope is like new. It's definitely 40s, the envelope even says "McCall" not "McCalls". And the blouse is just my style, different collars (including a mandarin and a little tie collar!! Be still my heart.) And gathered shoulders?? I couldn't wait to get home and trace this one off.


Then when I did get home and carefully open it, I found...NOT McCall 5885. Oh, the instruction sheet was in there, but the pattern wasn't. Drat it. That's the rub with flea markets!! What WAS in there was 3 more patterns...These in fact:


The last one is either Anne Adams or Marian Martin, mail order companies (I tried looking it up online but found conflicting info. I'm leaning towards Anne Adams. That's how AA numbered their patterns far as I can tell, even though the MM pattern is also very similar.)

I'm actually really in love with 4797, the roll collar dress. It is exactly in my size and I already made a muslin! The pattern itself was in factory folds, never been used and is like new. It also fits like a glove. I made a slight width adjustment to the back, lowered the darts a bit, and enlarged the sleeve 1/2". NO FBA!!! I guess I shoulda been born in the era of pointy bras and girdles. HA.

I can't wait to make it for real! It's perfect for a tweed I've been wondering what to do with. Or maybe that black & white houndstooth under my bed that's been calling my name.

Too bad I have to go back to work tomorrow... Sad. And I was on a roll.

junket.

Had a weekend of "junking", or perusing the local flea market stalls! I found some real gems. You know how it is, either feast or famine. Am I right?

Vintage feedsacks. Everywhere. Had to limit to these 3, in near perfect, yummy vintage condition.


Hats are my weakness. You know. Among other things.


It don't matter if it's black or white. (hee.)


Gorgeous baby slip.


Three rows of the tiniest tucks, 6 tucks each row.


Swiss beading, entredeaux and lace. Be still my heart.


Don't be surprised if you see this end up in a project. If you're a vintage clothes purist, look away when the time comes. (**Note: There's a hole in the bodice. I'm not that cruel.)


(Which you totally can't see in the shot above, but its such a pretty picture and showcases my darling pink vintage baby hanger. )


Some really, truly fabulous vintage patterns also made their way home with me. I'll save those for another post after I've scanned them. Sadly, I'm still obsessing about the ones I left behind...I'm sick I tell you.

Another obsession I care nothing about curing...

A Song for You
Michael Buble
link via youtube

O.M.G. Sing it, baby.