Sew for victory! 1940s sewalong and I am in!!!

Rochelle from Lucky Lucille has called the united vintage sewing world to do their bit for the sewing community and their wardrobe and take part in this awesome sewing challenge.

http://luckylucille.com/2013/02/sew-for-victory-a-40s-sewalong/

 

As a dutiful sewing blogger, I decided to take part. Especially after browsing around for inspiration. I love the 1940s fashions. Most dresses have wonderful pleating details, interesting dart shaping and small but effective embellishments that make the pieces pop and best of all they require very little fabric. As much as I like the big full dresses and skirts of the 1950s as well as the lush evening wear of that time, the 1940s really are my favourite era.

I haven't set my mind yet on what I am going to make exactly but it'll probably be a dress of some sort and I will have to draft the pattern myself. I hope it all goes to plan.

I will leave you with some inspiration. I cant wait to see everyone's prioject(s)

 

 

 

 

 

All images taken from the 1943 Bella Hess catalogue (Thanks Rochelle for the link!!!)

What I've been up to lately...

It's time for a little catch up of what I have been doing since my last post. I have not been hiding. Just busy with a  variety of things.

I have been working on a bunch of special customer orders including a satin and lace halter dress to be worn to a wedding this month. I hope my customer Amy is going to have a great day twirling around in this little number (and hopefully she will let me have a picture)

I also enjoyed working on another wedding guest outfit in beautiful taupe silk dupion. 

The wedding this dress is going to be worn at is also this month. I am again hoping for an action shot very soon. There is nothing better than seeing dresses on the person they are meant for.

I also volunteered to try out Suzy's first sewing pattern, which I looooooooooooooove and really enjoyed sewing. Suzy, the feedback will be coming your way soon. Since this is Suzy's pattern and dress to reveal, I will only post a little sneak preview of the dress in progress. 

I had help from my kitty assistant seamstress friend as usual when sewing for myself. I really value her opinion, you know? ;-D

I am hooked on using lace again. Just love, love love lace. If you see my pinterest, you might think I am a little obsessed with it.

I have also been training a lot lately, preparing to run a half marathon in April and hopefully a full marathon later this year (my husband and I are currently on the waiting list on place 14 and 15 so hopefully by October we will be able to still get a place....can't believe how quickly those races fill up)

I have seen I am in good company in Bloggerland with Fleur training hard for the London marathon and Meg running an epic half marathon in cute fancy dress.

My husband Dave and I ran a 10k race just over a week ago. I ran a new personal best of 54:20 on a very hilly course. 

Any other running and sewing bloggers out there?

Ruffles everywhere for Valentines day... a little tutorial, design fail and spare hearts

I have been busy with my Lena Hoschek inspired Valentines Day outfit, as far as personal sewing goes, and finished the blouse today. I had the skirt done several days ago and now I can't wait to wear it. I won't be posting any pictures until Valentines day. We have finally booked a table at a local restaurant.

Since I haven't blogged about any sewing details other than finished items some work-in-progress-pictures are in order. I have never done a tutorial before so I hope I am making sense. If not, I am happy to answer any further questions.

The Lena Hoschek blouse has lots of lovely ruffle detail around the collar, button front and the hear shaped front pockets. This is how I tried to copy it.

My initial idea was lace around the pockets and other bits.

I cut 2 hearts out of the blouse fabric. I wanted to turn them inside out later to avoid any raw edges.

Then I used one of the two layers right side up and pinned the lace ruffles facing inwards around the heart.

stitch everything down within your seam allowance(stay close to the edge)

then pin the other heart shape on top right sides facing (the lace is now sandwiched in between the two hearts) Don't stitch all the way around!!!! Leave about 2" on one of the straight sides of the heart unstitched so you can turn the heart inside out later.

You end up with a little poofy heart. Turn it inside out.

Press it and topstitch around the heart close to the lace edge.

I ended up not liking the lace version. It looked too much like a toilet seat cover ;-) in my choice of fabric. Then I decided to make the ruffles in self fabric as they are in the original design.

I did prefer this look but attached to the blouse I just didn't look right. Now I am going without the hearts completely.

I did however keep the ruffles around the collar and button hole panel.

I made them exactly like the hearts, pleated the ruffles between both collar pieces, before sewing them together and between the front panel (button hole side only) and the facing.

Any ideas, what to do with my two ruffly hearts? I suppose I could stitch them on a card for V-day and match my card? Then we don't really do cards and all that. Just food, just another excuse for eating out, you see. And for making outfits of course.

 Any other ideas?

What I am working on

My friend and former colleague René is getting married next weekend and Dave and I are flying over to Germany to celebrate with him and his beautiful fiance Sandra. I decided this is a great excuse for me to make myself a new party dress.

I am making a petrol blue satin halter dress with a full circle skirt and maybe a bolero to match if there is enough time for that. For the bodice I am using New looks 6773 view C and the circle skirt is self drafted.

The detail on the bodice and the bolero if I am getting around to making one will be silver, the petticoat too. I even found some shoes on ebay to go with it. Hopefully they match. I know being very matchy matchy might not be the best look to go for but I think it's very vintage. Oh, this reminds me...I haven't got a matchy matchy hand bag!!!!!!!!! Panic, where will I put my hanky in in case I cry.........which I know I will. I cry at weddings. I looooooooove weddings and I am sure this will be an awesome one.