See & Sew 5160 - a Vintage Camisole

One vintagey summer camisole, finished.

While collecting images for my camisole folder,  I fell in love with several I saw on Etsy.  A 1970s Laura Ashley cami in a faded rose print became the inspiration for this one.  I even had the perfect shabby rose print, a lightweight cotton from Fabric.com.

This is the pattern I used, a See & Sew from the 80s:

There is an interfaced band across the top, and it's slightly shaped to fit at the armholes.  The cami body has a bit of gathering at the top of the bustline (I could use a bit more, sort of a cheater FBA on the next one.  This one fits the tiniest bit tighter than I like).

I was lucky enough to happen across a basket full of vintage laces at an antique store last summer, and I pulled from that stash for 3 strips to use down the front of the camisole.  The wide strip in the center is flanked by a 3/8" tuck on either side, and then a strip of 1" edging was placed on the sides of the tucks.

The back of the camisole has a small casing with elastic.

 

At the hems, I added small vents, since I probably could have used about 2 more inches in width. Not the optimal solution, but it will make this one a little more easy to wear.

I'm pretty enamored with this pattern.  The fit across the chest and back is perfect!  I'd like to have a tunic-length one, with a ruffle, and maybe some Cluny lace.  And a white one with tatting and entredeaux, and...well, you get the picture.

Summer's comin!

Once Upon a Pie...

You already know of my intense love of all things Pushing Daisies.  After all, I did an entire series of collages based on Chuck's wardrobe!

Then my blogger friend Barbara, of Moxie Tonic, decided she wanted to create a Pushing Daisies wardrobe/fashion blog.  When she asked for input, I jumped at the chance to help!  More Pushing Daisies?  Yes, please!

 

Together we have been (sometimes feverishly) putting together a wonderful new blog featuring all of our favorite people, places, and things about Pushing Daisies.  Finally, I feel like our baby is well enough on it's way to share with you! 

May I present....Once Upon a Pie! 

While our main goal is to ultimately document every single fabulous outfit that the ladies wore on the show, we also have plans to include a Stitching Daisies section, for all of those "inspired by..." creations, a vintage pie recipe section, Emerson's knitting patterns, and tons more Pushing Daisies inspiration.  

I hope you'll come see what we've been up to, and follow along!  Pushing Daisies, the television show, may be a thing of the past, but it lives on in our hearts.  

Grab a button if you'd like to share one on your blog! Just copy the linky text below and paste into a new "add html" gadget (if you're using blogger).

<a border="0" href="http://jiminykrispies.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g38/jemimabean/pdblogbuttonsm.jpg" /></a>

McCalls 6997 - Summer Seersucker Dress

The Summer Seersucker Dress is finished!

 Here's my summer seersucker inspiration, if you missed it.  This dress was featured on the Satorialist.  (Note the very "retro" 1994 pattern I found for my dress!)

I think I came pretty close, especially considering I'm not a thin Italian street fashionista.  I LOVE my finished dress too!  I wore it yesterday and got loads of compliments (which sorta surprised me, since it's such a non-structured dress).

Let's start at the top!  The bodice has non-functioning buttons (the pattern calls for buttonholes, but the neckline is plenty wide enough to slip over my head, so I skipped them).

I used 4 mis-matched vintage pearl buttons of nearly the same size.

I topstitched the neckline and cap sleeve edge, to hold the facing into place (and just because I thought it needed the finishing touch).

If I have any beef at all, it's that the sleeve facings are really wide.  See them peeking out above?  They don't do that when you wear it, but I suppose they *could* if you weren't careful.  I might trim these back quite a bit.  Next time I'll probably just use a bias binding for neck and sleeve edge.

I also skipped interfacing.  For such a breezy dress, it seemed unnecessary.  The hem is turned up about 2.5".  I think it could use another inch or so, but that's OK.

 

In from of my "lucky bamboo", which reminds me of something.  As I was finishing it up and then trying it on I realized why I loved the style so much.  It's very "Japanese pattern book" in it's simplicity.

 

Yesterday, I wore it with my navy Keds, which got a little messy while I was taking pictures in the early morning dew.

You'd have thought I was wearing a super-expensive pair of shoes from the way the kids acted at school yesterday.  They LOVED the Keds.  Ha.  Go figure.  Everything 80's really IS in style right now.  I must have had a dozen pair of Keds as a kid.

All in all, a successful dress project.  I'll be reusing this pattern again!

Heartbreaker Fashion

I stumbled upon a wonderful website this week: Heartbreaker Fashion.  This brand is new to me, and they have the cutest vintage-inspired dresses!  It was hard to choose, but I bring you a few of my favorites:

Just in case you were feeling some intense love for certain quilting cotton, but afraid it would be considered "inappropriate usage", take heart.  I actually recognize quite a few of the cotton prints they've used all over the website.  The aqua rose print in the last dress photo is called "Betty Dear" and is by Robert Kaufman.  Likewise, the dandelion and cherry prints are from popular lines, (I just don't have any on hand to tell you the exact name!)

So use those cotton prints!  And head over to Heartbreaker Fashion to see more pretty dresses.  They have the cutest stuff!  I love Modcloth, you know I do, but some of their merchandise is too "young".

Plus, Heartbreaker has the cutest darn logo!

summer seersucker

I love seersucker, but in the grown up world, how often do you get the chance to use it for yourself? This week I saw an adorable photo on Pinterest, that I immediately repinned (via the Satorialist).  The dress itself is quite simple but so easy, so lovely, I decided it most definitely needed a place in the sewing queue.

Just the barest hint of a cut-on cap sleeve, not-too-full gathered skirt, breezy seersucker.  I even love the wrinkles!

You can see my plan above (click for large view), including my very retro (but not quite vintage) c. 1994 pattern.  I've cut out view B bodice in a narrow turquoise stripe seersucker, with the gathered skirt.

This is such an easy pattern, a pull over your head and go kind of dress.  Hmmm...I might need two or three!