Simplicity 1093-in progress

Dude. I'm sewing.

Remember my Simplicity 1093 from yesterday (I'll repost the pattern cover here):


I'm starting with a really small person's pattern, a 31" bust. I had to do some grading, which took the better part of an hour. Or two. (I watched this while I graded. I love me some Don Draper.)


Gratuitous Don shot:


And Joan is likewise a curvy girl after my own heart. I want her entire series wardrobe. Like, now.


What was I talking about?

Oh yea. Grading. I graded up 4 sizes, using the method found here (mine was less ruler-based and more eyeball-based. This is a rather simple pattern). Then I did a pivot/slide a'la Nancy Zieman to add more width at the bust/waist/hip. (about 1.5"?) I also deepened the armhole (and lowered the neckline) by adding 3/4" at the shoulder seam.

I should have taken a picture at that point, huh? Next time, I promise I'll document the grading process because it would be SO helpful to see that! Sorry.

I used this creamy white 100% linen (it's a light to medium weight, so possibly a bit heavy for this top. I used it once before for this skirt. Scroll down to the linen sailor skirt.) And because I LOVE the rickrack trim & bow on the pattern cover, I dug around in my box of goodies until I found enough baby rickrack to copy it. I'm using green. It's magically delicious.


Further proof I sewed...Here's a peek of a wrinkly half-finished top on my dressform Edith.


I love love love the release tucks and the way the top "blouses" out at the back! It's supposed to do that in front too, but it's not as obvious. I guess because I have boobage taking up some of the slack in front? I'm also smaller than my dressform. (It's a duct-tape double and I did it last summer.) I'm smaller now, so the top is not as tight around my midsection as it appears in the photo, nor does it pull to the front at the sideseams as in the picture above.

But the release tucks in back...Cute, right?

This shot was taken after alot of altering!! I had to remove ALL of the pivot/slide addition (all 1.5") and I also had to remove the 3/4" I added at the shoulder seam. The top was allover too big. That's interesting to me, because I have been making about a 38 or 40 (if I can find it) with few alterations straight out of the envelope for vintage patterns. I usually do have to add a bit at the waist/tummy area, because I don't wear a girdle too. (Shocking, I know.)

**Note...just to answer the comments about shoulder pads. Good question! But nope, there are no shoulder pads in this pattern. I think I just overestimated how big I am. HA!

I guess I must have graded to approximately a 38 with my eyeballing?? Or this style is just more forgiving in the shoulder/bust area. In any case, it is interesting because that opens up a lot more of my vintage stash of patterns for experimentation. Some of them I've avoided trying because they're so small.

I've already adjusted this pattern so that I have a working pattern for next time! For this top I just need to add the neck binding, hem, and do sleeve hems (the sleeves are faced). Oh, and the beyond cute rickrack trim! Hopefully I can work on it a little bit here and there this week after school. Hey, if it warms up, maybe I'll get to wear it too!

muslins.

Well, it's as good a day as any to muslin garments, especially since I'm off of school for a snow day one more day! The rest of this week will be nutty so today is probably it for me & sewing.

I've cut out Ceylon by Colette patterns in a navy & white cotton print.


I didn't realize I FORGOT TO CUT OUT THE SLEEVES (doh) until I was ready to sit at the machine last weekend. Consequently I lost all mojo and fretted about it for a few days. Now I've decided, I'm not totally in love with the fabric, and it will be fine as a muslin. If it fits beautifully, then maybe I'll bind the armholes and have a sleeveless dress?

I also have this cut out, the cap sleeve with red rickrack view. My first vintage project to post at We Sew Vintage!


That is, assuming I can get it to fit. My pattern is a bust 31", and I usually start with a vintage pattern bust 38" or even 40". We'll see how my grading works. I'm using 100% linen in white. I'm probably going to add some cute vintage-y trim too, because I love that rickrack bow.

But if I don't get off the nets I'll never get started, so here's wishing a Happy Monday to you all!

we sew vintage.

I'm taking on a new endeavor and I'm hoping many of you will join me! As you know, I've been trying to sew more of my vintage pattern stash, because I think its sad to leave them all sitting in a box in the back of my closet.

To inspire me, I search for sites or blogs that feature projects made from vintage patterns. There are a lot of bloggers out there who sew vintage! That's awesome! It got me thinking...how cool would it be to have a single blog or site that ONLY featured vintage sewing projects from a variety of contributors?

There is a similarly themed blog out there, Sew Retro. Lots of good things there and its worth a visit! But they feature all sorts of topics, not just in-progress or finished projects. I decided to narrow the focus a bit, and...I created my own. Why not?!



Currently, the blog is located at Wordpress, because I really like their setup and the ability to create multiple pages. I think that (after the initial differences if you use blogger) its easier and quicker to post too! (But just in case Wordpress proves too difficult for people to adjust to, I've reserved the blogger address too.) You can visit We Sew Vintage by clicking here.

If you'd like to join the blog, it's open to everyone who loves to sew vintage! You'll have to sign up with Wordpress first, but it's free, simple and quick.

I wanted to invite all my blogreaders first! I know there are many of you who make gorgeous vintage things and post them on your own blogs for our enjoyment. I'll still be doing that here too, I won't be leaving this blog or posting less. I just wanted to create a place where everyone can go and enjoy vintage garment inspiration, and to share with like-minded people.

I hope you'll join me!

snowbirds.

We survived the ice & snow and still have power and water, which makes me very happy. We got over 1/4 inch of ice:


Before 6-8 inches of snow fell:


I've had an assortment of colorful birds enhabiting the back porch since the white stuff came down. Here are just a few!





I sent the snow & ice on over for ya'll in the southeast to enjoy.

You're welcome.

winterized.

See this?


Well, I'm right in the path of the white stuff (that 6-12 inches band is me). I can handle snow, but unfortunately they're calling for up to 1" of ice accumulation first, which means I'll lose power.

Last time I lost power for an ice storm, it was out for 2 weeks. Yes, WEEKS.

But least I'll have time to trace some of the cute things in the new BWOF (or BS as Shannon has started calling it, haha) and Burda Plus mag, which has some cute things in it for spring/summer! I really like this knit top:And this pencil skirt is really sort of awesome. I probably need to muslin it asap.

And I'm a sucker for these flowy, butterfly sleeve thingies. LOVE this top.
This top has possibilities too. Hmmm.
If you don't hear from me for a few days...I'm hunkered down, keeping warm, and missing the internets!! But hopefully, we'll just see some nice, white fluffy stuff and I'll be cozy warm with the internet AND the tv to keep me company.