Friday, March 28, 2014

Advance 7751 -- Friday Flashback

Let's go back to October 2008. I had only just learned to sew in September and I had made a suspender dress with the girl who taught me. She sent me on my way with a 1950s apron pattern, Advance 7751 (ca. 1956), and I was on my own! I remember buying my choice fabric at Wal-Mart and I eagerly brought it home to make my first creation!

Now, it looks pretty simple and I could probably make this without the aid of instructions. But in 2008, I was confused about everything! Lol. I remember staring at the instructions and reading them over and over. I would compare the drawings to the fabric pieces I had in my hand. How did all this fit together? I knew some basic stuff and built off of that. The result:

Freaky, no left arm tattoos!

Well, my first mistake was not cutting on the fold! Something as basic (now) as that was lost on me in 2008. I didn't realize it until I went to sew it together. The fabric was laid out flat and I cut two apron pieces both facing the same way. I actually cut one of everything out, haha. I had no flipping clue what FACING was in 2008. Way beyond my skill level.

Instead of facing, I hemmed the entire thing! Even that scalloped edge! I don't even think I used pins to secure it. I don't think I had any at that point.

The entire waistband I just kind of made up as I went along. It is passable on the outside -- a confusing mess on the inside!

The only thing I did really well was the pocket. I folded over the entire raw edge and sewed it on with topstitching, pretty close to the edge. The shape isn't bad, either, for a beginner.

I practiced and practiced on this pattern! My very next creation in the same month (October 2008) came out like this:

I learned facing! Yeay!

11-2008, I made this for my MIL:

Look at how much better I got in just 3 aprons! I still have the first apron and use it. It's hanging in my kitchen. I also like it because it's a reminder of how much better I've become. The pink one has been thrown away. MIL has hers and refuses to use it. Has anyone else kept their very first creation? What was it like?

Friday, March 21, 2014

Ugly Patterns!

I've always LOVED "ugly" stuff. Like, hideous, awful, terrible stuff. I think it's better to be this than just mediocre. So I've taken it upon myself to collect some UGLY sewing patterns. I have rule when getting these fugly beauties added to my collection: I will not spend more than $2.00 for an ugly pattern. Yea, I like 'em ugly, but I'm not crazy! So far, I got these:

1969

The actual outfit is alright, just that graphic print!

Next two are from 1978

I seriously never knew I needed adult Annie patterns until I saw them. Annie was my absolute fave when I was a kid so OF COURSE I needed these!!! Can't lie, I love the bottom one and don't think it's ugly at all. I will make and wear that one! The top one, though, is just wrong.

1983

It's sack-like horrible-ness struck me down! I had to click ADD TO CART.

1987
I just LOVE that pink version! But I wouldn't have been caught dead in a dress like this in 1987. I was all long black skirts, turquoise Chuck's, and Smiths t-shirts.

1991

I did have an outfit similar to the grey on ein the foreground in 1990. Except it was pukey yellowy green. I remember wearing it to our family vacation to Boston that year so I'm sure my dad has a bunch of pics....

And that is my small collection right now. I paid no more than two bucks for each of these, but I would love to add a horribly 1950s "Sack Dress" pattern to this collection. I know I won't find one of those for $2.00, lol.

Sack Dress

Here are some more ugly patterns from the internet that I sadly do not own...

You have probably already deduced that I don't like dresses that cover the figure. Most of these patterns are shapeless sacks.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Dress #9 -- Gertie's Pencil Skirt

Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a sewing lull right now -- mostly because of time -- but I'm still squeezing stuff in. I completed Gertie's Pencil Skirt in a matter of hours. The pattern came inside her book Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing and it only took me a few minutes to trace the pieces. There are four pieces total. My husband picked out the material from my stash -- School Uniform Plaid. The material is 100% medium weight polyester to it is a bit stiff and course, there is no stretch to it, and it hangs perfectly straight. PERFECT for a pencil skirt!

Sewing the skirt up was super easy and only took me about 2 hours. The only mistake I made was tracing a size 12 pattern. IT WAS HUGE. I had to come down to an 8. If you have 31" waist, 41" hips, and like your pencil skirts on the tighter side, go for the 8!

You can't tell from this picture, but the skirt does taper down at the hem. There is a slit in the back, also. I was impressed by the drafting of the skirt -- aside from the excessive ease, the hips are perfectly curved, the hem is nicely tapered, and the waistband is awesomely thick (I like thick waistbands!) I'm going to make this skirt again in a trashy leopard print material.

Gertie modeling the pencil skirt from her book:

Wearing the skirt out in the wild!

Made a leopard version, too:

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Dress #8 -- Simplicity 1609 "Daphne"

Once again, I turned this....

Into this....

I call her "Daphne" ;) I also made a handband and went out and bought some pink tights!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Dress #7 -- Butterick 5930

It took me longer than usual to make this one.

A modern pattern I made in a rockabilly style. This pattern was a bit of work. It's apparently "Easy" according to the package, but I wouldn't give this to a beginner to try to figure out, lol. The bodice lining is what took me so long. The skirt is also HUGE -- as in, VERY FULL. Overall, the pattern went together well and the instructions were pretty easy, but it was just a little time consuming if you have a full-time job, attend college, and aren't a super-sewer!

Making 2020 Interesting

I know this used to be a sewing blog, but I have only sewn two thing in two years. I plan to start doing in again in the upcoming months as...