Better late then never....right?

While I knew it would be hard to have blog while juggling a somewhat unpredictable freelance career I didn't imagine it would be this hard. I must say a have such a new found respect and admiration for the bloggers I follow and really appreciate how much time and effort it must take to blog regularly. I wondered for a while if I should continue to try a blog and then figured I'm not hurting anyone with my sporadic six months apart blog post (well at least I hope not!) So I will continue to try and see where it leads as it has honestly improved my personal sewing.

For my first Vintage Pattern Pledge of 2015, I was inspired a few weeks back by Emileigh from Flashback Summer Make do and Mend Project. I think most people who wear vintage have an item or two or more that they can't seem to let go of even when its no longer wearable. 

1940s Dressing Gown. This would have originally been floor length
but at some point in its life  it was chopped off just above the knee. 

I bought this 40s dressing gown from a garage sale at my work Rose Chong Costumes years ago for I think $5. It was already a bit of a mess when I got it with small scatters of holes all over the bodice, fabric deteriorating under the arms, a short uneven hem and broken buttons but I absolutely loved the print and wore it as a summer dress for years. After a while though I would have to repair it after every wear, mainly under the arms and side of the bodice as that's wear the fabric was the most damaged and slowly I just stopped wearing it. I never got rid of it though, even took it with me during two house moves. 

McCall blouse pattern 6717 using 1940s Dressing Gown 

With so much damage in the bodice I decided to use the fabric of the skirt, which was the strongest and make a blouse. I picked this 1940s McCall 6717 pattern from my stash as the illustration looks like print of the robe. Which could only mean it was meant to be, that sewing up this blouse would be a breeze and my waist will also look that tiny...

I started by unpicking the whole gown to see how much fabric I had to play with. I also used a piece to test hand washing as being crepe I was worried it may shrink after being washed. To my surprise it didn't change in sizes at all, also the was no fading on any of the pieces which is pretty amazing for fabric over 60 years old!

Pre- measuring the fabric before washing

Drying the fabric in a towel- there was no shrinking or fading!

As the blouse has buttons down the back I cut the back pieces from the front of the skirt which also had button holes, eliminating the need to make button holes for the blouse.....

Front blouse pattern cut from the back of the skirt

As you can see I was just able to squeeze the front piece out of what was left of the the skirt. Leaving the just enough for neck and arm facings and the shoulder pads which I'm not a hundred percent on yet, we shall see in the next post :) 

2014 Round Up and 2015 Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge

This year I will again be joining Marie from A Stitching Odyssey in her 2015 Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge. 

 During 2015, I  Pledge to sew five of my vintage/vintage repro patterns, including at least one from the Lutterloh system and the Australian home journal dress making magazine.

Last year I used four patterns from my collection, which I will share again here as it also serves as a 2014 round up post. I feel a bit silly having a round up post with only four outfits, especially amongst other sewing blogs with sewn items in the double digits! However since in 2013 the amount of items I sewed for myself was a whopping zero, I'm pretty pleased with my self :) I'm also really happy, that three of the outfits where part of Sew Alongs.

Lucky Lucille Sew for Victory 2014

Sew Retro Rose Swirl Sew Along

Tiny Angry Crafter Vintage Pajama Party Sew Along

The fourth, was the most special thing I sewed last year. 

My brides maid dress for my friends wedding.

Above collages put together by Rebecca Hayes.

Last year I also finished my cardigan I started on a road trip across the States.

Lastly in 2014, on Boxing Day started my first Knit Along. The Selfish Sweater KAL  held by the talented Andi, from Untangling Knots. The deadline is February so there is still time to join too.

The beginning of my Chuck sweater by Andi Satterlund

Its also been good to make a dent, albeit a small dent in my fabric stash. I really want to spend this year working through what I have and stop buying new/more fabric and patterns.  So here's to more sewing and stash busting in 2015!

The Vintage Pajama Sew Along!

Merry Christmas!

 I thought this would be an appropriate time to post about my pajamas I made for Carla's Vintage Pajama party Sew Along as it will be what I'll wear all day Christmas Day. My family celebrate on Christmas Eve so Christmas Day has been reserved for lazing in pjs, eating leftovers and watching old movies.

When Carla announced her sew along, I knew instantly what fabric I wanted to use. I had bought this rose print fabric from Flashback Fabric few years ago, with the intention of making it into Pj's. Using a Butterick 6995 pattern from my stash I hoped to have enough fabric for a top and pants.

I tend to buy fabric first, then decide what pattern to use. Usually this tends to work out fine as I also tend to over buy fabric yardage. In this case though it was a vintage remnant piece, so I had just enough to make a short robe.

Fabric and pattern

I had thought it would be nice to make some pants to go with the robe but found it really difficult to find a colour I liked. None of the greens where the same shade and I didn't like the idea of making unforgiving slinky cream pants. In the end I found some cheap burgundy fabric that went with a pair of velvet slippers I had. The pants became quite expensive as I ended up lining them in silk cotton, as I thought the polyester blend would be to annoying to wear. I'm glad I did though as they are really comfy now.

To tie in the pants, slippers and robe I use red pipping on the robe and cuff of pants. Then with the extra pants fabric I made a turban using a pattern from  I Make It You Make It.

The turban pattern was meant for knit fabric so I cut the burgundy fabric on the bias, and it seemed to work fine.

Detail of pipping. I notice I seem to have a problem with pocket placement,
like my swirl dress I have sewn the bottom pocket to high  :(

All photos of me taken by Rebecca Hayes, which meant I had to take them in our studio.
Making it my inaugural wear your pyjamas to work day ;)

Not really sure what I am doing here...I think I was trying to strike a graceful pose
 but it looks like I'm checking my invisible watch ;P
Anyway its the best photo showing the colour of the pants.

 Back view.

Having a quick snooze........ 

Project Notes

Pattern: Butterick 6995

Fabric: Robe- from stash/ Pants- $20 from Jimmy Buttons/ 

Pants lining $50 from Clegs

Habby/ Trims: Pipping $5

Pattern Alterations: Shortened the robe and changed the collar to a shawl collar.

Total Cost: $75