70's, Vintage Sewing, and the Evening Tree Namesake

I haven't sewn since my last post almost 2 weeks ago.  Except to redo the neckline on this shirt:

The gathers around the neck are a little uneven, but this is a T-shirt, not designer.  Okay?!? Okay.

Joy asked me if this shirt was the signature evening tree shirt and it wasn't.  But this one is.  This is the shirt that got me sewing my own wardrobe.  It's not super amazing or anything, but it makes me indescribably happy.  And isn't that what sewing should be about?

It used to be a huge men's shirt from Michael's for 2.50 or something.  I cut out the crew neck and left the edges raw.  It's been a few years though, and the neck was so stretched out I never wore it.  Happily, my sewing skills are much better now and I edged the neckline with clear elastic (zig-zag stitch), folded it over and stitched twice, keeping the messy look.  (I also took in the sides and sleeves--the pink stitching on the sleeves is where the original shoulder seam was.)

Before bleach pens were marketed in the grocery store, I took Q-tips and dipped them in bleach to make this design.  Then I free-stitched pink and white over all the leaves and branches. I backed the design with a scrap of flannel so I wouldn't worry about the stretching.

I would tell you the real name of this shirt, but my darling husband has decided to use it for is new Genealogy Research company, and is taking the name from me.  Grrr.  But really, I'm happy for him:)
Thanks to Joy for reminding me of my favorite shirt ever.

And speaking of Joy, and her 70's infatuation, made me take out all my 70's patterns.

I get these at secondhand stores for 25-50 cents.

I'm missing a couple, but that is entirely possible considering I never clean out my fabric closet.  My favorite 2 are these:

Yes, that interesting seaming on 7802 includes a pocket.  How cool is that?!  And the one on the left I just realized is the same pattern as this fantastic maxi of Tanit-Isis'.  Very nice.

And, I found a vintage sewing book copyrighted 1943. (The blue book under the patterns above)

With chapters like "Becoming Necklines",

"Choosing the Right Clothes",

and subtitles "How to Get That Expensive Look",

let alone the chapters named "Points to Remember About Afternoon Dresses and Formals", this book is filled with vintage techniques not used commonly and no-nonsense advice about what to wear if one has a thick neck.

Needless to say, this book is charming and wonderful.

Other vintage news at my house includes this lovely shoebox full of ric-rac:

from my dear Grandma H.

So fun!  Except I'm not 100% sure what to do with it.  I love it.  I just don't know where to take that love.  I've tried incorporating it into projects; but I think now that I'll have to design a project specifically for this lovely notion.  Any ideas?

MMM and Vogue 8477

Occasionally I find a pattern I Love.  This is a Love pattern.  Vogue 8477.  And it's appropriate that I share with you because I wore all three shirts I have made from this pattern in the past week.

Day 14
 Oh wow, I just realized that I must have put this one together backwards.  It's okay, I made it years ago, I'm sure I can read pattern directions now:)

Day 17--St. Patrick's Day

Day 21

These are my favorite shirts to make because they whip together in about 2 hours.  I thicken the neck facing piece by about 1 1/2 inches just to make it more modest.  Also, even though it shows the band on the bottom of the envelope, it doesn't include it in the pattern.  I put it on Day 21 because I thought it tied the whole shirt together.  I cut them all out as size 12 so you can see the difference different fabric makes.

I've been slacking a little on Me Made March--not the wearing, but the photographing.  For whatever reason, I remember in the mornings when I get dressed, but can't the rest of the day:)

2 more MMM:

Maggy London B5559

Ellen Houlihan, purchased (maternity) shirt (I'm not
pregnant, I just love this shirt) and don't tell me I shouldn't,
because I do--plus there are details you can't see--stupid black.

Anyway, I am finding that I must make myself some pajamas.  Delicious, delightful ones like these:

anthropologie.com $48

Such perfect fabric!  If I want to find fabric like this I'll have to hunt online--any tips?

And this super comfortable shirt to go with?

anthropologie.com $138

But not this...

anthropologie $68

It's charming and vintage and sweet with cute details.  But I couldn't wear it.  Besides, every time I look at it all I think about is getting married in June (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)  And how they could dance in those corsets is so beyond me--I mean, I wore an adjustable tie skirt to Thanksgiving.  But really, best musical ever, and I'm off to sew little boy boxer briefs, because we can't find dinosaur ones at the store.  (Oh brother, because that leads to aliens and star wars and bicycles and bad guys and good guys fighting and I just know you can put everything on them, Mom) Wish me luck!

Me-Made-March catch up

I had 2 days of very bad photography/lighting and couldn't bear to put them up by themselves.  

Day 10:  Me made necklace, shirt, old OOP Simplicity pattern--before keeping track of what I made.  Franzi vest--which I hate and will never ever make again.  I only ever wear it with this shirt--I don't really know how else to wear it.

Day 9:  V1224--Tracy Reese Collection--blogged here.

Day 7:  Thanksgiving skirt--used this pattern and made into a skirt.

Day 6:  V8157-Best pants ever (wrinkled at bottom because I'm barefoot and hemmed for shoes)

             Scrunchy Spring Scarf-tutorial here-I love this scarf.  It's made from some old fabric my Grandma gifted to me and then dyed pink(a smidge darker in real life).  The threads making up the pattern are cotton on one side, polyester on the other so there is the red/white difference.

About halfway through the picture on the left you can see some bright red caused by shredding of the fabric.  I did not do this while stirring my fabric with a stick I found during the dyeing process.  Definitely not.

In other news, I bribed an old friend to come over to my house to write a tutorial for my shades to grey skirt.  And we're almost done!  

Sewing for real life and other trials

I can sew whatever I want.  (True)

I should sew whatever I want.  (False, I mean True, I mean--wait--is this a trick question?)

My sewing life goes like this:

I am going to sew this:

V1152

V1043

and several other vintage pieces.  Plus some gorgeous Tracy Reese dresses.  And in silk.  And lace--yes I definitely need a lace dress.

I should totally do this.  It's completely great--I'll wear these dresses ALL the time.  (Denial)

Fine, I'll just make stuff I wear.  T-shirts and Jeans.  Great.  Thanks.  It doesn't matter what people think when they see me.  Yep, I just wear T-shirts and Jeans (I actually do)  Fine.  I'll never have nice stuff.  But who needs it?  (Anger)

 But I'm sure that I should have some nice things.  I mean, I want to be a nice thing wearer, shouldn't I have nice things?  Of course I should.  In fact, I should probably give up having T-shirts entirely, then there won't be a problem at all.  I could do that.  Yes, I shall. (Bargaining)  

Because I could totally scrub out the tub and vacuum behind carseats in this:

modcloth.com

Sadly, I have realized this doesn't work.  What with the small still wet portion of ketchup (nasty!) and the flashing of the neighborhood, I have stopped.   

Right.  So I can't.  So I'll never have nice stuff.  Woe is me.  (Depression)   

So I need to find a happy medium (Resignation).  We all do.  Where is yours?  Do you actually wear what you sew?  Most days?

Yes, these are the stages of grief.  And yes, it's totally what my sewing life is like.  But we all have to face reality some time.

Here's mine.

I don't know about you, but I love to sew fun things.  Like dresses that are fancy, and skirts that are mostly impractical (Hello Marie), things with silk, and lace.   My life is not dresses, except for Sunday and other occasions.  I don't have a job to look professional for.  As a matter of fact being the stay at home mom of 3 rowdy boys 5 and under, the job mostly calls for non-professional attire.  Workout clothes to keep the postpartum depression at bay, T-shirts that are good for cleaning, making bread, working in the garden, and washing the car, jeans that are substantial enough not to get holes after a couple weeks of picking up my kids, looking for stuff under the car and couch, and chasing them around the house.   Let alone the fact that things tend to spill around me (ahem, children) so I can't be really upset when something is stained by grape juice or motor oil or whatever.

modcloth.com

 And don't get me started on the shoes I can't wear because they make me topple over when I pick up my baby--or when I have to run into the parking lot to catch a too-excited-for-his-own-good-and-his-mother's-sanity child.

irregularchoice.com

irregularchoice.com

I'm not saying that I can't have nice things, I'm just saying that right now, in my life, nice things are hard to justify--knowing that regardless of the quality of the clothes that I wear everyday--they probably won't be around in a couple years.  But, this part of my life will change and one day I can wear whatever I want whenever I want.  And I love my family, of course I wouldn't change it.

Yes, today I wore flip flops, jeans, and this shirt and the salesman at the door asked if my mom or dad was home. I said no and slammed the door. Hard.  (Anger)  These things are obviously not related.  (Denial)  Yes, the stages of sewing grief are continual at my house:)

So, the long overdue point of this post is that I need clothes that are functional and beautiful and nice.  Or if not, beautiful, easy to wear, and looking more put together than before.  That was actually the point of this shirt gone awry.  It has baby batwing arms (pretty sure this is not a real sewing term--and for good reason).  It has a cowl-ish neck and Cynthia Rowley woven trim sewn down the front.  This trim looks more psychedelic every time I look at it.  Yikes!

How do you balance what you want to sew with sewing for your life?

Oh, and I don't have those patterns in my stash.  And they haven't been cut out.  And I don't have yards of lace.  Or silk.  (cough, cough)  

Me-Made-March 2011

So, I've done this unofficially before, but not been held accountable, nor do I have any records.  In accordance with my New Years Resolutions, this is unacceptable.  So, here goes nothing--

I, Amber, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-March '11. I endeavour to wear
at least one self made item each day for the duration of March 2011'

Yes, I'm starting out small and taking into  account that I have very few pants, but I'm really excited.  All the information is here, at So, Zo.

I'm off to take stock and plan my next few projects which includes this dress:

V1224, Tracy Reese Collection

in a black, green, and tan print.

Exactly what I want...

Do you know what I want?  No?  I should tell you.  I saw these in a magazine and I have to have them.  But, not exactly (of course, not exactly...sigh).  I'm thinking a two-toned option.

They are found here (J Brand Houlihan Cargo Skinny Pants).  With a $231 price tag.  Not my kind of price tag.

So off to my pattern stash...which yields wide leg pants, vintage pants which zip in the back (yuck), and stretch flare pants.  Not going to happen.

So, I perused the Big 4 pattern options.  Not much there either.  So, off to Burdastyle where I was thrilled to find the Ellen.   And for FREE!




 Given, it is not exactly what I want (of course), but I am going to ruthlessly alter the pattern until it turns into something like the above.  (Not unlike what I did for the Fluttering Pencil Skirt)  While I didn't take notes,  etc. for the skirt, I will for these pants.  That is what a blog is for, no?

So, look forward to posts about that--I'm off to work!

Lurking, and New Year Resolutions

I started sewing about 5 years ago.  Well, I started hoarding fabric then and sewing occasionally.  In the past 2 years I have become a lurker.  That's right.  Someone who enjoys clicking around sewing blogs, watching others progress, loving the results and inspiration, but never leaving comments.  Never telling talented seamstresses how amazing they are and what I've learned from their work.  No more.  New Years Resolution number one:  Be friendly to the sewing community.  It's about time:)  Anyway enough with the stalker-ish lurking talk and on to exciting plans for 2011.

• The jacket in the previous post that HAD to be documented
• a pajama set for me
• Grey business pants 
• A lovely warm winter coat
• More hoodies for the children
• Fluttering Anthro skirt knockoff (pictured above)--and drafted by ME!
• A pair of jeans
• a boyfriend jacket
• Take part in Self Stitched September
• A bag/purse.  One I really like.  One customized and awesome.

So far so good, I think.  And I'll be documenting a bunch of clothes I have already made in the last couple years.  My wardrobe is about 60% home-made.  I'm excited.  Hope this goes well:)