Another Vogue 1250

Need I say more?

Well, of course, I have to say more. How many times am I going to make this dress? I love it. It fits perfectly and it’s sexy as hell. I made a black version and I wear it all the time. I needed another solid color because I have made a couple crazy print versions and you can’t wear them over and over again like you can a solid.

How about that new wall color and base trim? We’ve been changing some things up at the mansion and it’s a good thing.

And here’s your random nice photo of the day.

Squeeeeeeee. I love being the “crafter” in the family!

I love, love, love when people give me things because “I’m crafty” or because “I sew.” I’ve acquired two machines this way and lots of fabric and trimmings. My Necchi is my go-to machine and the Pfaff is a close second. Well, imagine my excitement when I get a Facebook message from a friend’s mom (truthfully, she’s been a mom to me too) asking if I want a bunch of old patterns. Um, yea. Look what showed up on my door step last week. Three boxes of patterns and the best part is that they are my size! There are a ton of kid patterns too but the women’s patterns are a size 8 or 10 which is what I typically make in McKwikVogueRick.

 

I randomly pulled some out so you can see a few of them. They are all from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.

 

Most of them are Buttericks, Simplicity, McCalls, Vogues, etc but there are a few of these pre-KwikSew pattern. This one isn’t even opened.

 

Pretty!

 

 

Most of the patterns are size 8 or 10 but there are a few 12s sprinkled in there.

 

I like the warning on this one. Upper right: Coat cannot be worn over jacket. Oh, dammit! That was my plan!

 

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

 

I love this hairstyle from the 60s. I could never do this with my hair. It’s too fine and too wavy.

 

Two out of three boxes are little kid patterns. I’ll be putting these on Etsy probably. I have no use for them because they are too small and there are so many of them. It would be fun to have a wall of pattern covers though.

 

Okay, this might be my favorite one. I have to say I love the butterfly collar and the ascot. Hee Hee, I said ascot.

 

This one is really cute and I would make it for my kids if it was a larger size.

 

Ra ra! I didn’t look but I wonder if these are for knit fabrics. If not, they would be pretty restrictive. Well, for a cheerleader.

 

Aaaaaaauuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

I think it’s funny that the kid pants are so high up on their little torsos.

 

I’ll let you guys know if I post any of these to Etsy. I know there is a market for adult vintage patterns. Is there any market for kid vintage patterns?

Vogue 1285–Tracy Reese Dress

First, I apologize for the photos. I have got to get a new camera. These photos are doctored substantially. I used every setting on my camera and they were all so bad. I will try to get someone to take a couple pictures at work tomorrow with an iPhone. I will get some decent detail shots for you too. Yes, my iPhone will take better pictures than this. Je-sus.

I do really like the dress. It looks so much better in real life than it does here. I love the collar and lapels. I used, gasp, the Nike Dri-Fit fabric. I swear to you, people, my entire closet will be this fabric before winter is out. This dress is a faux-wrap with fun lapel details. You are supposed to use a zipper in the side seam but I left that off. I can squeeze it over my head. The only thing I changed was the darts. In the pattern, they have you put them on the RS, like a design detail. I decided to put them on the WS (the usual way). Oh, and I left out the slip that is used for a lining. I’m just wearing a cami under it. I love my leopard booties with the dress too. What say you people about booties with dresses? Yay or nay? I’m on the fence. Sometimes I think they look cute, like here. Other times, I’m just meh on them.

 

Oh, hello blue snow. I curse you Camera! I curse you!!!!

Like I said, hopefully better pics tomorrow, because sweet Jesus, these are not okay with me.

Vogue 1250–Another One!

This has just got to be the best fitting all-around dress. There are 93 reviews over at Patternreview.com and I’ve never seen a version on other people that wasn’t flattering. This is my third dress out of this pattern. This fabric is one I picked up in San Diego at the Swap Meet. It’s a silky polyester/spandex. I would wear this to work if I was way more covered up; like with a sweater or cardigan over it. I’m thinking it might be my Halloween party dress though.

 

What’s really weird about it is that it makes my right hip look funny. I’m pretty sure it’s just the way the pattern “points” to my hip though.

 

It was windy. I’m not intentionally being vampy. Or maybe I am. Bum ,bum, buuuum.

 

The back is my favorite part!

 

This fabric was a bitch to coverstitch until I tried using this water-soluble stabilizer with it. I put the stabilizer under the fabric and let the feed dogs pull the stabilizer along. That helped to pull the fabric along. Did I mention the fabric has some copper glitter in it?

 

Once I was done, I trimmed off the stabilizer, dipped it in hot water, and washed off all the gunk.

 

I was left with a perfect coverstitch on the other side!

 

Is this not cool fabric?? Oh, and yea, we have snow.

Vogue 8634 Cowl-neck Tunic

I was going to make that McCall’s dress but then I decided I needed a sweater more than another dress. It’s been chilly here. Like in the high 20’s and low 30’s. I used the same terry fabric as I did in this red dress. I didn’t have enough fabric to make long sleeves so I made longer “short” sleeves. I like the pattern although there is some pulling across the bust and the seam is a little high on the bust instead of under the bust like I think it’s supposed to be. This fabric isn’t really all that stretchy so maybe that’s part of the problem. I do need to lower the top section a bit. I think I’ll make it again in another sweater knit.


ETA: One thing I forgot to mention yesterday is that I took it in about two inches around the waist and then left the hip area alone. Otherwise, it was very loose.

 

I like the length with this pair of jeans and my boots. I really like the drapey neckline.

 

Wow, I look really washed out in these photos. I swear to you that I’m not sick or ill. It much just me the early morning light and the flash.

6282 v. 1250

So, I’ve made the famous Vogue 1250 draped front dress. In fact, I made it twice (take one, take two). I love it. It’s great and sexy and comfortable and has a wonderful drape. I love it in every way. But do you guys ever get the itch to try another pattern that’s just like one that you already have?? I picked up M6282 the other day with my Vogue dress in mind. I love the Vogue dress but I want to try the McCalls one now. There are some obvious similarities between the two like the draped front and the cap sleeves. There are also some subtle differences like the 6282 has a little ruching at the waist, 6282 has the option for a higher neckline, 1250 has that interesting back seaming detail while 6282 has typical side seams. I’m curious to see how they are different on the body.

Has anyone else been tempted to try both of these? I’m hoping to crack this out this weekend.

I blame you, Ladies. Vogue 1250

I saw so many pretty and sexy versions of this dress over at PatternReview.com that I had to make my own. Wow. It’s a great dress. Comfortable, quick to sew, sexy, and classy. How could it get any better? I made my version out of ITY from Fabric.com. It’s the partner fabric to this swimsuit cover up I made a few months ago. Same pattern; different colorway. What can I say about this dress that hasn’t already been said? It’s fantastic. The only modifications I made were to take it in about an inch on both sides from the arm to the hips and to make the hem about 4 inches shorter than it was. I’ve got a little pooling above my butt, but I think that is easily adjusted next time by taking a slightly larger SA for that back seam that attaches the bodice back to the CB of the dress. And yes, I said “next time.” I plan to make this in solid black too. It’s the perfect pattern for the little black dress.

 

Is this not the best ITY ever?

 

What more can I say?

Year in Review Part 1

So, how did you guys do for 2009? I sewed 95 garments in all this year. It sounds pretty impressive but you have to remember that about 11 of those items were underwear. I'm always impressed when I do these graphs at the end of the year. It always seems like I don't sew for my kids but I really do. I'm not such a bad mother after all. Well, at least they have underwear. I'm surprised there are not more skirts on the graph. I feel like I do a ton of skirts and not many tops but that is clearly not the case.

This should come as no surprise to those of you who read my blog. I love BWOF (or whatever the hell they are calling themselves now) and Jalie patterns. The lone Burda is an envelope pattern.

How did you guys fare for the year sewing wise?

Did I need these?

My local fabric boutique is having a big sale. They are getting rid of all their Vogue patterns and are selling them off at a whopping $1 a piece. I couldn't resist these fantastic vintage ones. Did I need them? No, probably not. Do I love them? Yes.

This might be my halloween costume for next year.

I probably would never make this. My chest is not my best feature.

This coat I love, love, love.

This is cute.

This would be a cute dress but can a flat-chested girl pull it off? Maybe, but maybe not.

I love this jacket.

I love the diamond details.

I love this whole set. Love the dress. Love the coat. Love the wrap blouse.

I really love this dress. I'm confused though. The back says to use jersey, linen, or crepe. I can easily see this in a knit but they recommend a knit and a woven?

This is very cute. I can see this at knee length.

Vogue 8481 - Couture Shaeffer Jacket

The last time we talked about this jacket, I was done with it. I was frustrated with the slow progress, I was pissed off at the arms, I was angry that there was some weird back fitting issue. In a nutshell, I was not happy. I wasn't about to chuck it but I was about to leave it unfinished and let it die a slow painful death. A few days ago I realized that I was being impatient and stupid. Yesterday, I strapped on my girl pants, ripped off the right arm, tore out the back and did it right. Today, I finished the rest of it. So, without further adieu, here it is.

I like the look of it when it's unbuttoned. I love this light blue shirt; it's from Old Navy. It's one of the few blouses that fit me well. The color really matches my eyes and makes them glow. I think it looks great with this jacket.

It also looks nice buttoned.

I LOVE the lining. It's a fabric my husband brought back from Houston. I'm about to crack up because my neighbors (not the crazy ones) just walked out on their deck. They are eyeballing me and then they ask if I wanted a martini. We often drink martinis in lawn chairs in the cul-de-sac with their other neighbor. They are used to my flasher ways.

I fixed the back problem by letting out about an 1" down most of the length. You can see there is a tiny wrinkle in the right armhole but it's soooo much better than it was before. I took the bottom of the sleeve off, cutting into the jacket, and removing a bit of the jacket to make the sleeve fit.I ended up adding both a sleeve head and a thin shoulder pad. It's not perfect but it's really close and it's so much better than what it was going to look like.

The cuffs have a fake sleeve vent.

I had to take a picture of the handsewing stitches because I am so proud of them. Don't they look nice from the right side? I probably won't (no freaking way) handsew in another lining but I'm glad I did it with one jacket. It does give you unparalleled control but man is it challenging. This is the area where the back lining meets the front facing and lining.

Handsewing (attaching lining to facing) from the inside.

Same area from the outside.

There was one thing I could not figure out. I read the directions again and again and again for this section. There is a raw edge on the sleeve vent. It's on the inside so it's not a big deal but I'm sure it's not right.

Whew. I'm done. Woot!