Sew Vintage

The vintage sewing pattern collection is growing. And the first little dress made has been well-worn and well-loved. Here is number two - Style pattern 3821, size 2, copyright 1972. Otherwise known as a little red dress, as requested by my littlest girl.

The instructions were a little light on detail, but that's OK - I find it easier to wing it with these older patterns. Something about something written recently makes me stand up and follow orders. But 1972, with all its talk of basting and seam binding and double-fold trims. Meh! Just sew already.

I love the shirred cuffs and gathered skirt, and though the buttonholes and collar were a bit of a fumble, I quite like those too. And it has to be said, my very special new machine has made the inside of the dress so professional and tidy, not to mention how easy it makes turning and sewing the hems.

I'm joining in with Creative Spaces for the first time in a long time.

Paper Dolls

Playing with paper dolls today. I'm thinking puffy little ladies in vintage florals, holding hands all in a row. And wondering if I can resurrect the beige disappointment by mixing it up with some fair isle. Much work still to do.

More creative spaces here.

Happy Haul

A quick dash into my favourite oppy this morning resulted in this happy little haul of vintage patterns - all in size 1 or 2, and only one with missing pieces, which are conveniently for the boy's pyjamas, so that's not going to be a problem in this girl-heavy house.

I'm always amused by how much I think I might achieve when I get an hour or two with  my sewing machine. Thursday afternoons are often a good bet - Lola is at preschool, the little pair are asleep. Today I was envisioning two new pairs of pants for overdue presents, and a much-anticipated nightie in (bloody) Disney princess fabric for the young miss - a firm lesson in not taking said young miss to Spotlight.

Anyway, with two precious hours on my hands, a stack of new-old patterns for inspiration, some lovely new fabrics that arrived in the mail a few weeks ago and a pile of planned projects to choose from, I was obviously going to be very productive...

Yes, three buttonholes and three buttons. Sum total. Two hours. (All that lovely tidy yellow binding was completed weeks ago so I can't count that...)

At least this little top has been taken off the "almost finished but not quite" pile now.

Joining in with Our Creative Spaces again this week.