Last week at the Goodwill I found a couple of pretty linen shirts, and thought maybe I could cut them up to make little girl dresses. This is my first effort, and I’m so happy with it (and the process), that I am thinking of adding another line to my donated fashions. First there was…
Here are two more versions of the 1970s Simplicity pattern (#8429). This dress is easy to put together, but I always obsess over the details — like deciding where to place the pattern pieces on the fabric to make the coloring (tie dye dress) or the design (elephant dress) just the way I want it. …
Sewing these dresses using vintage patterns is not only fun — it can also be a challenge. A few of the patterns I’ve purchased no longer had their instructions, but even when they did, the instructions are quite different from modern versions. I always end up making changes to the garment (usually to create a…
Here are more of these cute coloring book illustrations, including Japan and China for Lenny and Cynthia. Other countries I have uploaded can be found in the “Children’s Books” category on the sidebar. Click any image for slideshow.
Progress is slow on the Seven Sisters quilt, but I am trying not to get distracted, and hope to finish this top before moving on to another project. My routine is to reserve handwork for the evenings, while projects that require machine sewing (and other strange projects that require being upstairs), are worked on during…
Animal Friends Picture Book Merrill Publishing Co., 1939
Here are more transfers from vintage Workbasket magazines. Click to enlarge. Earlier posts with vintage Christmas transfers are located here, here, here, here and here.
Here are some smallish transfers from vintage Workbasket magazines. I thought about waiting to post these until after Thanksgiving, but I wanted to allow enough time for stitching. There are quite a few more that I will clean up and post over the next week or so. Click to enlarge.
Tomorrow we are celebrating Emily’s 28th birthday, and I always like to make her a surprise gift. A couple of months ago when I was showing her my newest vintage patterns, she pulled out this child size 4 pajama pattern from the 1960s, and jokingly asked if I could make them in her size. I…
My copy of this victory apron is slightly different from the pattern. The original version had side seams, and mine is a one-piece circle; my pockets are larger, because I like to be able to actually put stuff in them and the pockets on the original apron seemed smallish; and finally my waistband is not…
Here is the next group of countries requested by readers. Click any image for slideshow.
First I wanted to show you these little soldiers which were recently sold by Monki Vintage on Etsy. They are made out of 6″ dowels, and my first reaction when I saw them was how cute they were, followed immediately by “I could make those.” Thanks everyone for participating in the giveaway, and now for…
This is my most recent vintage coloring book, purchased on Etsy. Several of the country names have changed since 1954, and Alaska and Hawaii would not be states until 1959, so they still had “other land” status. The activities of the children seem a little quaint, even for the 1950s, but the illustrations are so…
Now that our presidential election is finally over, I want to celebrate by having an apron giveaway. Of course, I realize the victory referred to in this pattern has nothing to do with presidential elections, but I don’t care — they’re patriotic and so cute. Although I don’t own this pattern, I’m thinking I can…