This skirt must be shy because I had a heck of a time trying to photograph it!

I think it has to do with the color or perhaps the fabric (err, or both).  Overall I’m happy with the quality of the construction but the camera picked up wobbliness in the fabric that I cannot see with my own eyes.  Is my stitching too tight or is that just the way the camera captured the light reflecting on the fabric?  Eep, oh well.

I’ve made this skirt a couple of times before, you can see my first version here.  It’s a great vintage pattern, Simplicity 8418, c. 1969:

This pattern works really well in lightweight denim.  I made another denim skirt after the first one that is a bit longer and with rounded pockets (and navy sailor buttons) that I wear ALL the time.  I don’t have many work-appropriate skirts (2 to be exact) and thought I should make one myself as the ones I’ve been seeing in the stores lately are boring ol’ pencil skirts that are overpriced and do nothing for me anyway.  (I need the slight flare of the a-line skirt to give me shape.)  I wanted something bright and happy!

Like the others I’ve made from this pattern I omitted the waistband.  And in this version I took out some of the flare (just a little).  Also, I lined it as this fabric is a little sheer and perhaps the tiniest bit scratchy (since it’s wool).  The spring-summery colors inspired me to draft some tulip-like pockets:

This photo has been lightened so you can see the details better.

I actually have another skirt cut out, ha!  It’s Kelly green corduroy with baby blue and white gingham-lined pockets.  (Notice a theme here?)  Perhaps I’ll get to it this weekend.

Speaking of this weekend, all of L.A. (OK, the media that I know of) is talking about Carmageddon; this is where part of the 405 freeway is shutting down tonight through Monday.  Shut down a freeway in Los Angeles and it’s the end of the world.  Good thing I don’t drive much.  I’ll be sewing or drawing (and very likely, cleaning!) anyway.  Do you have any fun plans?

You may remember this dress from a post earlier last year.  I loved how it turned out but found it too skimpy for me to wear outside of the house.  Problem was, I didn’t have any more vintage hankies in the same colorway to add to it; I really think the key to this dress not looking too patchwork-y or hippie-ish is limiting the hankies to a common color palette and design theme (florals with a lot of white space).  When I finally found a few more hankies that fit the bill I removed the 3-hankie skirt.  I added a 4th hankie to make the skirt fuller then added a smaller tier of 3 hankies (which were cut down to 4″ tall) on top.  Now it’s much, much better in my opinion!  To complete the look I tied an olive green silk satin ribbon around my waist to give it shape; the un-belted view sort of has a ’20s vibe to it which is nice too.  (By the way, I’m wearing a vintage white slip underneath since it’s still quite sheer.)  I think this crocheted cardigan would look nice on top for when it gets a bit chilly in the evenings.

Happy Tuesday!  How was your weekend?  I spent the better part of mine sewing…I haven’t felt this productive sewing-wise in a long, long time.  I’m pleased as punch with my new summer clothes; for many years (and even now) I’ll sew something that I never end up wearing either because of fit, comfort or that my homemade creation really looks “home sewn”–and not in a good way.

Most of the blouses I have I think of as work clothes and I rarely wear them on other occasions besides going to the office.  So I thought it was high time I made some casual blouses that I could wear to work but would also want to throw one on with jeans or a skirt in lieu of a t-shirt.  I used voile for all three which is perfect for warm weather.

Two of the tops use the above pattern, McCall’s M5977.  I chose this pattern because it has no closure and I liked the ruffles around the neck (reminded me of 1920s and ’30s styles).  I made the first view minus the armhole ruffles (which I think look weird dropping down like that).

I made this one as fitted as I could and still get it over my head.  I reduced the ruffle by almost 40% and edged it with black to mimic the design in the fabric.

The other one I made has a slightly looser fit and fuller ruff.  I also added a ribbon belt and gather under the bust just a little to give it shape.  (Because of the eyelet border this blouse would be worn untucked unlike the one above).

The last top is from New Look pattern 6022:

I really liked the top part of the dress (particularly View B) and while I had my misgivings about the boxiness of it I went ahead and started to make it, thinking it would look better with some adjustments.  Nope.  Once I sewed up the side seams and tried it on it became clear this it was going to hang off of my like an insubstantial rectangle and even a belt around the waist wouldn’t be enough to make this wearable in public.

So I cut my losses and chopped off the bottom and kept going with the neckline and sleeves.  Thankfully I really love it as a blouse (and wore it yesterday!).

I may try to make this again as a dress but would combine the top with a different dres

Good afternoon, all!  I’ve been sewing up a storm.  My creative spark has returned, at least to help liven up my summer wardrobe.  Just when I think I’ve got the sewing bug out of my system, I’m onto another project.  Today I’m just going to share this latest one, a super easy wrap skirt, because it’s on theme for our 4th of July weekend that’s just around the corner.

The pattern I used is the Audrey Wrap Skirt by Fig Tree & Co.:

Like I said before, this was super easy to make.  But as always I made some modifications to suit me better.

Instead of commenting about how much I need a tan, and that I’m 2 minutes away from getting up from my chair to drive to the nearest Rite Aid to buy some self-tanner, let’s just get into the skirt details, OK?

This skirt pattern needs to be traced which my lazy self usually does not like to do but since modifications were imminent it worked out for the best.

Fabric: The main fabric is a lightweight dark denim that I used, inside out.  I think the wrong side has a nice, summery linen-like look to it.  The homemade bias tape is red, white and blue feedsack-inspired fabric from DS Quilts (available at Joann’s) that I got on sale.  This skirt is intended to be reversible but since I was using denim, albeit a thin one, I didn’t want the skirt to be too heavy or stick out too much.  (This is where the idea of using bias tape on the edges came in.)

Size: the pattern is one size fits all, sizes 8-14.  As a petite person I knew this didn’t apply to me even though I usually wear an 8 (or maybe even a 6) in modern patterns.  With mods of course.  I had to take out a few inches in order for me to wrap this skirt around my waist without too much overlap (a wrap skirt that is too big would not allow me to wrap the waist snugly enough).  In addition to that, I decreased the flare of the skirt panels (quite a bit actually) so that the finished piece would be in proportion to my petite frame. (Since petite-ifying patterns is not just about making them smaller!)

Length: The knee-length version was way long, more like mid-calf on me.  And according to this calculator (via Extra Petite), the ideal skirt length for me is 2″ above the knee.  So there you go.

Bias tape: I trimmed the 1/2″  seam allowances I added from the waist, 2 outer skirt edges and the hem.  I also rounded the edges of the lower corners to avoid mitering the bias tape (which so happens to look cute as well).  I didn’t calculate how much bias tape I needed even though this calculator is very handy…so I have a bunch leftover!  The tape starts off 2″ wide and is dou

I hope your weekend is going well so far! It’s been quiet on the blogfront which I, in an odd way, find a little thrilling because it must mean people are busy with summer plans.  I just wanted to pop in and say hello and share some flowers that are around our little house.  Nothing fancy but that’s how I like my bouquets for the most part.

I actually have a couple of sewing projects to show you (finally!) and corresponding modifications to go over.   But I’ve had a sudden and rather unwelcome recurrence of tendonitis in my left elbow which means I really should remove my person from the computer RIGHT NOW.   So I’m off to do some more sewing–at least I can do that!

Bought peonies for the first time yesterday.  Aren’t they incredible?  They are the most beautiful things in the house right now.  I can’t stop smelling them and I even brought them into the bedroom last night so they’d be near me.  If friendly aliens from outer space came down to visit us, we should welcome them with peonies.

I’m not the only one enchanted by these flowers:

Here is Spoo Kee just before I shooed him away.  He likes to sink his kitty teeth into plants, the more fragrant the better.  The other day I found the most pitifully chewed up tea rose (from the garden) lying down on the mantle, OUTSIDE of its vase, due to this mischievous feline with an affinity for rosids.

Oh, before I forget to tell you, I’ve updated the vintage shop:

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Sleepy Hollow quilt template came today!  After searching high and low and I found these templates on Createforless.com.  Actually I’m just going to use the 45 degree triangle on the right for the quilt.   It’s the perfect isosceles triangle for the Sleepy Hollow pattern.  (The much more spindly-looking 30 degree template on the left is being saved for another project.)

And I’ll probably use this tutorial to cut out my triangles:

I got the idea to use this method from someone else on the web who is making a Sleepy Hollow quilt. (I know, can you believe that?)  I think we should all make one!  Just saying.

Happy Friday!

While trying to tidy up my fabric stash–something that, oddly, seems to make more of a mess!–I began setting aside fabric for my Sleepy Hollow quilt, something I quite gushed over last fall.   If this stack of fabric was all the fabric I owned, I’d say “Wow, I have a lot of fabric.”  I laugh and laugh!  I would be almost embarrassed to show you how much I actually have.  (I say “almost” because you all are probably the only ones who wouldn’t think I was nuts.)

Most of the top pieces have been collected over the years and/or are left over from past projects.  (Brownie points for anyone who can spy fabric in this pile that I’ve used for a dress or two!)  The 4th from the top is a pretty blue print that Nancy used in her oh so lovely Stacking the Odds quilt.  (Which Fabricworm speedily sent to my doorstep.)   Much of the lower part of the stack (see all the browns and blues?) came from Reproduction Fabrics (thanks again, Lisa, for the link!).

Here is a close-up of the stack:

And here are some favorites (pinks):

(blues; I do like all these stars as they seem very colonial to me)

(browns)

It’s entirely possibly some pieces won’t end up being used in the quilt, I’m still undecided.   I also feel like I need another stripe-y print or a check and I don’t seem to have much green, gray or lavender in here at all.  Like in the movie quilt I plan to use plain off-white muslin for the alternate triangles.  For the back?  I don’t know yet either.  If I can’t settle on anything I really like, I might just use plain muslin for the too.

Oh, and I found a free pattern I can use as a guide: Studio Perfect Triangle Quilt pattern!  It took me a while to figure out that this pattern is for their die cut products (because there wasn’t any template or triangle size in the pattern) but since I’m not in the market to buy such a fancy and ingenious device I’ll have to cut the triangles out the old-fashioned way.  (Cut triangles are 5″W x 6″H for this pattern, I’m not sure if I’ll go that big or smaller like in the inspiration quilt.)

Is anyone

Oh no, wait a second…I DO need 4 slightly used spools of almost identical shades of mint green thread.  Silly me!

It’s Memorial Day here in the U.S.  I’m humbled by all of the men and women who dedicate their lives to military service, and are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of our country.  If there are any servicemen or women reading this, thank you!

(Photo: Library of Congress)

I’m looking at my to-do pile/rack of sewing projects, my art supplies and other crafty things and I’m feeling rather…MEH about it all right now.   The desire is there but not the will to do any of it.  Eep!  Usually this feeling doesn’t hit me until mid to late summer.  I like to call this feeling “Befuddled Burnout.”  When there’s just so much on your plate and you canNOT even begin to pick at your mashed potatoes.  My husband reminds me that I don’t have to be Superwoman but it’s so hard to not feel like I must, you know?

On the bright side, I’m been working out almost every day (mostly yoga), finally getting enough sleep, and have read through book 6 of the Enola Holmes series.  (So, SO good!)  And just because I haven’t had the inclination to do much besides the aforementioned activities in addition to work, that doesn’t mean I don’t continue to find (and look for) inspiration in other people’s work.

So instead of forcing myself to do some of the things I think I “need” to do (like constructing a certain ’60s dress that has been driving me a bit crazy) I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the break!

My parents came down to SoCal this week to visit Disneyland!  It has literally been 25 years since they went and I believe they had a jolly good time.  Husband and I spent a day at the park with them and had dinner at the Blue Bayou, an establishment serving the best food there.  (The food is actually good, not just amusement-park-good.)  One of the best things about this place, besides the food, is that it’s located INSIDE the Pirates of the Caribbean ride where it’s perpetually night time.  I snapped this photo of the Chinese lanterns on my phone.  (And we got a table right next to the water–lucky ducks!)  My parents’ visit down south also included some yummy old style Korean BBQ and blue velvet cake (with blueberries, my favorite); all in all a pretty nice trip.

So while I’ve been talking about my latest sewing project on my Facebook page this week (and getting great feedback–thank you!), I haven’t had time to finish it.  But I hope to do that this weekend along with some re-organizing of my closet, watching more B movies from the ’50s/’60s (to continue my marathon from last weekend–no one ever told me “Die, Monster, Die!” was SO entertaining), packaging up paper goods and teaching a little sewing class for friends (which will, naturally, include cupcakes).

I hope you all have a nice little break planned!

I’m not the perfume-wearing type (not that that’s a bad type, I just never seem to find anything I like!) but I love a good scent, especially in a bar of soap.  I discovered Mistral’s Wild Blackberry soap late last summer and it’s by far the best smelling soap I’ve ever used.  It smells so good in fact I keep my stash in my workshop.  The scent of tart, juicy berries mixed with, what seems to me, powdery-musky violets make me think of lazy afternoons sitting in the sun.

I hope all the mamas had nice Mother’s Day with their families!  I’m popping in to let you all know that I’ve re-opened my vintage shop.  Everything is priced for gals on a budget and each item is just really pretty.

Stop by and have a look if you get the chance!

Happy Monday.

Tropical prints: the perfect subject for the hot weather we’ve been having down here in L.A.  (I’m drinking iced decaf Kona coffee too–how appropriate!)  Another reason for this post: a couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon this delightful article about tropical prints on BurdaStyle and since then I’ve wanted to share some of my Hawaii-inspired dresses with you.

People seem to either love or hate these “kitschy” and bold floral designs.  You can already guess how I feel about them–I love ‘em!  Always have, actually.  Perhaps because they remind me of my Grandma or the ’40s.  Or old men in Hawaiian shirts (so cute!).

The above dress is made from this vintage pattern, Advance #9054:

Fitting this dress…ack.  The Princess seams are flattering but, if you’re not perfectly proportioned according to the pattern, trying to get the fit right in a pain in the bum.  (At least it was for me; this dress took far longer than I would have thought due to sizing and other issues!)  Overall though I’m happy with the resulting frock (me in Maui):

I found the cotton fabric at a store on a previous trip to Oahu.  I love the violet and turquoise color combination and the huge tropical flowers.

Somehow, I misunderstood the pattern and the tabs ended up on the wrong side of the bodice…since I didn’t have enough fabric to cut a new front piece I had to cut and move the tabs over to the other side–d’oh!

Oh well.  I like the buttons anyhow (vintage bakelite with mother of pearl).

I’ve also collected a few Hawaiian dresses over the years, inexpensive smocked tubes you can find at any ABC Store (love) or The International Market Place.

Oh look, my studio is a complete disaster!  I feel like such a bad housewife sometimes.  Anyway, the dress is cute and super comfy.  And I just adore the minty green so much.  This is a typical look for me during SoCal springs and summers complete with slip on open-toed shoes and vintage bag.

Here are some swatches of the other dresses I have, in the same style:

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