New Butterick Pattern

I picked this up yesterday while I was out and about. It's starting to creep up to the top section of my to-do list; I'm liking it more and more.

Simplicity 2681: Vintage Nightgown

This nightgown has been planned for many months, but just recently became a reality. I really needed to get back into sewing after my first trip, so I thought this would be a good one to begin with. Time-consuming tracing of the vintage pattern kicked it off!

Vintage Advance 2249 - Forties Afternoon Dress

I have completely fallen in love with this dress. It's so elegant!

There was no instructions with the unprinted pattern, but it wasn't too difficult to figure it out. I used a sweet pink floral cotton print that I found on clearance at Joanns and lined it with muslin. There is a left side zipper opening that has an invisible zipper and the back ties define a shape so that it doesn't look like a twenties dress. Six pink buttons and pale pink rick rack finished the look.

First the bow, then the front collar and darts detail. Lastly, the back keyhole opening.

The bridesmaids purses and hats

These little purses afforded me much needed breaks from sewing the dresses and were quickly satisfying! :D I made up my own patterns for them, but exhaustion and running out of time worked havoc with the last one, so I looked to Craftster for it's replacement.

Please take a moment to let them introduce themselves.

"Hi! I'm the most tailored!"

"Hello! I'm chic with pleats and a little color!"

"ciao, sono una figura di divertimento" (In english, that's "Hello, I'm a fun shape!")

*giggle* "I'm the favorite!" *blush*

"I'm last. That's just life, I guess." (This is also the only one that wasn't completed. The embellishment was only pinned on during the whole thing!)

I used tulle, ribbon roses, satin bows and my imagination to embellish them. We finally put the last few stitches on the hats the morning of the wedding. It was so worth it!

Some had little pockets. Only one had a zipper closure.

Every girl had at least one jewelry pouch. I made these because there was one in each of the vintage purses that my grandmother lent us for parties. The snaps were a breeze once the hammer finally made it's way back to the house after some very efficient hands whisked it off! :)

The hats were TW's idea, but I created a pattern that would work and set Annie on making them.

They really added to the vintage look that the bride wanted!


Many, many thanks to my younger sister for so patiently helping me fashion the ribbon roses! Yep, all 38 of them; there was painstaking small stitches to wrap the ends up, too! Also thanks to Mother for finding us the instructions and the rest of my sisters for moral support and advice. We giggled a lot late one night working on them!

We did not carry our purses during the ceremony, but it was nice knowing that these cute little things were waiting with family for us and they looked very good with our bouquets on the bridal table!

Note: I do intend to eventually post pictures of the bridesmaids dresses, but I don't have the professional pictures yet and I want to wait for them! There are a few shots that I'm hoping the photographer caught!

Vintage Style Blouse

I altered this cute dress pattern to make a blouse. I'd already made a muslin for a now almost finished dress, so I knew it would fit (perfectly, too, in my opinion!). I couldn't pass up this perfectly darling fabric when I saw it. With only 1 1/4 yds, I knew I'd have to be careful with the pattern choice. This was the perfect one!


Results: The ghost of a vintage pattern updated for the empire waist fashions of today!

The right side of the fabric was too bright for me, so I have the wrong side out; it's so much more pretty that way! It's lined with white muslin, but is still lightweight and perfect for the unbearable heat I'm anticipating this summer.

The finished aprons

Designed by Yours Truly.

Project Salvage - A Retro Jumper!

This is word-for-word from the sewing forum I frequent - sorry if you came here looking for "something more"! ;)

My little sister made this skirt awhile ago, but it was too small so it was boxed away with the rest of her unfinished projects. Last week during a drastic purge, she let it go. Guess who took it?!

Originally I planned to turn it into a shorter summer skirt for myself, but a brainstorm took place and I went to work. Viola! In one afternoon, I had completed (all but the hem) this retro jumper for my twelve-year-old sister!

I didn't use any patterns (I only glanced at one - does that count?). I chopped 9” off the bottom to use for the waistband and bib. I used the pre-cut waistband for the straps and I had to add the bib so that they would be long enough. Leftover scraps from an apron for the lining and two buttons from my stash completed the project.

Enough talk – onto the pictures now!







It's projects like these that keep me sewing!

~Kyna