5 posts tagged “vintage”

Figured I would post these as well.  I wasn't terribly happy with the way they turned out.  I finished them quite a while ago but never posted them.  Couldn't hurt.

Maybe I never posted because the pictures turned out so horrible?  Even though I wasn't happy with how it turned out, the dress doesn't look this bad in person.  The fabric was a nightmare to work with, but the side that I used as a DULL satin, not as shiny as the pictures make it out.  The only shiny thing were the dots.  Since it isn't as shiny in person, it doesn't look quite a messy.
Still, I used this pattern and I blame most of my problems on the pattern.  After the first bit, I noticed my fabric stretched A LOT, so I stay stitched the edges, so it wasn't that.  The pattern pieces were just so awkwardly shaped and sized that NOTHING fit (notice the elastic in the back?  My addition)  Just....nothing fit were it was supposed to, the neck was about 5 inches too long, the back gaped, but if you tried to bring it in it stretched everything across the bust really awkwardly.  It as just a disaster.  I didn't give up on it though.  Until the hem.  I finished the dress and after I spent AGES putting up the hem, I realised what a disaster the hem was.  It was all puckered and bubbly.  It needs some hem tape very badly but I'm not really willing at the moment to work on it.  Maybe when I need something to do during a movie.  Anyway, This is my disaster of a Monroe dress.

Here is another one that didn't turn out so hot, another repro vintage pattern from butterick.  I'm almost unwilling to try the other ones that I have.  Anyway.  This is after I took it in about two inches on both sides around the waist.  The stupid thing fit like a mumu. And while I know wiggle dresses may sort of look like shift dresses, they aren't supposed to FIT like them!   The fit ended up being a little better, but it is still a little awkward and doesn't really fall like it is supposed to.  I tried taking it apart and ruching it on the side, but that didn't work either, though it would if I made my own pattern for it.  This one has the possibility of being wearable, but I'm not sure.  Eh.  Oh well, they don't all turn out.

I'm fairly certain those are all the disasters I have for now.  I'm working on a shirt that may end up in that category too...


~Nikki

I'm not clever with names :P  It's one of those Butterick repro patterns.  I made it out of a teal linen, fantastic fabric to work with.  Wearing it with a belt it absolutely necessary (I may make one from the pattern instead of the store bought one) as well as a petticoat.  Excuse the petticoat poking out in the pictures, it was made for a longer dress and I haven't taken it up enough yet.  I will though, before I wear it out :P

Anyway, not much to say on this one, fairly quick construction, only hiccup was that I ran out of fabric and had to run around trying to find the same one at all the Joann's stores in the area.  It all turned out in the end though!

Alive?  Why yes, I am still around.  I've been so busy I haven't spent much time on the computer other than writing up court briefs and the like.  I'll try not to disappear for so long.
I finished up a project though.  A little house-dress from a 60's pattern

I'm not hugely proud of it, it just isn't terribly flattering in my opinion (but then again, most 60's patterns aren't), but I never really intended for it to be worn out, I intended it as a house dress.  And hey, we can't just post pictures of what we are hugely proud of, got to get the whole spectrum
.

After I had cut out most of the pieces I realised that the front bodice pattern was missing (Note to self: Always check pieces of vintage patterns BEFORE cutting), so I had to make one up myself.  Not bad for a first shot at drafting pieces of my own pattern.  I wanted the neckline a bit lower than the original pattern anyway.  Even made my own facings and everything :)
Really easy to make, went pretty fast.  Working with fabric that is wrinkly and plaid is sort of a pain, especially when you can't iron it (I wanted it to stay wrinkled -- I had to use a mini iron just for the seams).  But actually, when I think about it, it worked out because you could focus on lining up the plaid lines to make it even...

So, just a cute little vintage back-wrap dress in happy summer fabric :)  I needed to make something summery.  And the dress is growing on me the more I look at it too.


Well, there we go, first finished project in a while!  I have bought TONS of fabric lately.  No time to make patterns, but I have ideas of what I want to use the fabric for, so when I have time, I'll be able to get started.  Many more vintage dresses on the way!  Maybe I'll have time during Spring Break :)

I consider this sort of my hobby journal, books, movies, buddhism (more than a hobby to me, but still), etc, so I'm adding my new hobby....Sewing.  Mainly clothes, but other things also. 
This here is my first sewing project (with the exception of the boxer shorts I made for PJs, but those hardly count), which was probably dumb seeing as how I'm pretty much teaching myself.  When I started the dress I hadn't even entirely learned how to use my machine.  I've used sewing machines before, but this one was my grandma's and it is ancient, so quite a bit different.  I'm a fan of it now though, my little antique machine that swivels into the table :)  With all metal parts that don't break, lol.

Anyway, here are some pictures of it in progress.  I made a practice bodice to make sure I got the pattern and everything right, I didn't use it as the lining though, I just threw it away, lol

I ended up using a brown satin for the lining of the bodice.  Another dumb move on my part as I haven't sewn much (though it isn't very hard) and satin is THE DEVIL to sew with.  But, here is the finished product, I loved how it turned out.  I had to do a lot of tailoring one the whole thing was together and I found it didn't quite fit right, so I hope it isn't noticeable.  My sister said it looked like it could have been bought out of a store.  And don't get me started on installing the zipper.  I nearly had a mental breakdown because of it.  My fl over at LJ know all about that.  Disaster doesn't quite cover it.

So, that was quite a project.  Got a lot of movies watched.  A lot of movies.  It felt like it took me ages and I was constantly running into problems, but, live and learn.  And, hell, it isn't like I'm having a shortage on extra time.

And here is my next project.  A grocery bag.  I used a bag that I had gotten on Earth Day as a 'template'.  I have vowed not to accumulate any more plastic bags, so I figured I needed to make some new bags to take to the store with me.  I picked up the fabric (a durable feeling canvas) at Wal-mart, one of those cheap, pre-cut, mess up fabric things.  And for lining, I thought that I would be environmentally friendly and use those hundreds of plastic bags that are stuffed under my sink.  SO, I made a lining out of them :)  Last night I stuck in some Stargate Atlantis and followed this tutorial on how to make sewable fabric from plastic bags.  Made the bag today in just a few hours.  Now that I know what I'm doing though, I could definitely make another one much faster.  Found some things I did wrong/more difficultly than necessary, so, once again, a learning process.
And so, here we are.  First, some process shots...

And the finished product :)  If anyone wants me to make a more detailed tutorial or anything, let me know.  I can tell you when to not make the same mistakes I did, lol. 
I'm also considering adding some embellishments on to it.  Something cute, you know 'Club sandwiches, not seals' or 'please don't eat me' or little veggies dancing around, or maybe 'I'm not a plastic bag', those are a big hit at Whole Foods, I just saw an article about them.  Eh, well, we'll see, maybe, maybe not.  Maybe the next bag.