Prairie Linen

Skirts are a staple in my closet. I have a maxi dress in my closet, and then a "going away" dress that I'm saving for when I'll be able to wear it. :) The rest are skirts. Well, and of course, shirts/blouses, and sweaters. When one wears skirts 99.99% of the time, it is easy to get into a rut of wearing the same skirt, or style of skirt.

When I saw my friend's "Emily Rose" skirt, I simply fell in love with the tiered style. Instead of the usual abundance of gathers, this was without and still retained graceful and winsome appearance of a tiered skirt. My friend was gracious to lend me information as to how she made it off of a friends skirt.

Just a few days later, a friend from church handed me a bag with a skirt parallel to the one I was wanting to recreate. This was the original source of these duplicates. I happily took measurements off of the original, grabbed my sister who modeled the skirt for me (I'm not quite down to her size, but I'm trying!) and was more excited about wearing my heels for the photo shoot than anything else. ;)

Just yesterday I was able to obtain fabric and sewed like a crazy lady to finish it. It went together so nicely, and must say that I am very happy with the way it turned out. My only reason for not keeping it myself would be that I think I'd like a brown like the original rather than a blue - I already own four denim skirts!

Take a look at it, and perhaps you'd like it for yourself?

New Beginnings

Well, I can't contain my enterprise anymore.

After I wrote this post earlier this month, and wondering if I should give up sewing entirely for a season, some kind readers left comments on my blog in response. Despairingly, I came up with an excuse for every one...

Making custom-made clothing was, is, and forever will be out of the question. My sister and I did that for over 5 years and it was such a headache for us. I tip my hat off to people who are more talented than we are in this department.

Creating swimsuits just doesn't seem wise when there are so many modest-apparel companies out there who offer them, as well as patterns for them. If you're creative and don't mind looking around hard enough, you can find modest swimsuits that are store bought.

Sorry dear friend but making maternity clothing, let alone selling them is definitely not on my list of things to sew! Maybe someday I'll have the privilege of being able to make and wear such apparel myself, but until then, I'll leave that department to those experienced! :)

Modest and feminine apparel in general is so readily available now days either through home business that have their own online companies or mail order catalogs, young women from homeschool groups can be found sewing for other families, and if you like thrift store shopping as much as I do, you probably find alot of nice feminine apparel that way.

But..... my creative and visionary juices started flowing with rapid speed. It dawned on me that when beginning a sewing project, I usually have to have some kind of inspiration to begin with. A painting, a photograph, a movie, a specific reason (Chhheeerrrriiiiii, I need a nightgown! Can you make me one?) or seeing a friend's skirt in person, and I think, "Ooo! I like that!" Sometimes it takes just a glance or two to where I could re create it. Sometimes it's the historical film that is paused for 10 minutes for me to figure out just how that front piece is shaped. Other times I write to friends and beg them for their skirt measurements to make one for myself. ;)

Yes, I'll confess that I can be a very good copy catter. Perhaps it's a second-born thing, but then maybe it's just a human tendency... Either way, the visionary in my thoughts and ideas were forming into... TA DA!.... making things off of other things; store-bought skirts mostly since they are easy to make and not always easy to find. I got really excited the more I thought about it.

Considering the cost of materials, notions, and my time, I want to be fair in price and so if there is ever something that you think is not fair, please, please, PLEASE don't hesitate to write to me. It's be awhile since I've made anything for the public other than aprons, totes, and a few peasant shirts!

So with great trepidation yet excitement, this evening I'm pleased to announce the humble beginnings of a little online shop.


Tally, according the Thesaurus, is defined as : [to] be similar or consistent. Synonyms: accord, answer, attune, be in harmony, blend, click, cohere, coincide, concert, concord, concur, conform, consort, correspond, equal, fall in with, fit, get along with, go hand in hand, go together, go well with, harmonize, jibe, match, parallel, square, suit, synchronize, tally

Ethel

I stole away the afternoon in my sewing room trying to get "Ethel" done. Many thanks to those who gave name suggestions! The name "Ethel" is a lovely one, and I do believe it suits her well.

Honestly though, I had no idea that bounding an entire apron in rick rack would mean large quantities of it! I mean l.o.t.s. of it!!! Because rick rack is more expensive than bias tape, I probably won't be making this style all of the time.

But oh yes, the end result is so worth it. Check "Ethel" out for yourself!

Charlotte

Let me introduce to you yet another apron! =) I picked up "Charlotte" last summer at an antique store and right away snatched it as my own. Not only was it full of charm, but as a musician, I l.o.v.e.d. the musical notes on it. The largest notehead being a pocket. Now you understand why I had to have it! ::nodds::

Over the course of two weeks, I was able to make a pattern off of it, and go through my stash of fabrics to see what would suit this pattern, and what notions would fit a normal pocket. Not everyone is a musician, you know.
I just finished the very first this afternoon, and it is up in the SHOP for your viewing!

Christmas Greetings!

Earlier this week I "traversed afar" and am home for a few days to visit over Christmas. God was so gracious to give me safe travels, and I made it into the driveway before our snowstorm hit.

Not long after I came home, the sewing room came to life once again as I stormed my fabric bins, patterns, and notions. My sewing machine has been been humming softly as aprons are being produced to fill up the shop.

But meet the newest 1950's inspired design: Margaret. Using three apron styles that I like, I decided to combine them together, and must say am happy with the result. Hopefully you'll enjoy her, as much as I do!

More pictures are up right over here!

I trust all of my sewing friends are doing well, and will have a joyous and very merry Christmas! With that, I'm off to don one of my own aprons and start working on that cookie dough...

Shannon's Scalloped Apron

It is often quoted that,

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

When I saw this fabric a week or so ago at my local thrift store, I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it: one of Shannon's Scalloped Aprons that I have admired for quite awhile. I obviously didn't have the pattern for it, as it is a design of her's. So with some ugly gray polyester fabric that I got for free (don't ask, it's a l.o.n.g story...) I started drawing and cutting. Being fairly pleased with how it looked like, I cut into my fashion fabric.

Even down the bias shoulder straps and ties, scalloped hem (which didn't turn out as "scoopy" as I had wished) and pockets...

I really am a terrible copy-cat-er. I get ideas from movies, or pictures; I get ideas from my online sewing friends; and then attempt to make them. Mind you, they don't always turn out, but every now and then, I'm up to the challenge.

And to make sure that your mind is put at ease, Shannon, I won't be selling this apron (or any others like it!) as I know it is your original design. =) And to my blog readers, if you like this design so much, I suggest you either buy an apron from Shannon's lovely etsy shop, or come up with one yourself. =)

Toodles!

A new look for the blog

I've been playing around with settings and photoshop today. I'm not sure if I like it yet or if I'll change it to something different. For now it will have to do. =)

Much to much...

I've been sort of redecorating the sewing room by finally putting my oak quilt hanger up (was given to me for free many years ago!), a quilt that someone was going to throw out, my antique books to decorate the top, and a few shop items to decorate the door.

Okay, forget that last post, if you saw it, of my saying that I was taking a break. I need to, I don't have tons of time for blogging right now, but I do have to many sewing projects going on right now and inspirations from vintage/real clothing that I'll just have to continue my sewing blog. =) No promises as to how many posts per week however!

In other news, I finally have made some white peasant shirts after many requests for them. I found some stashed white fabric that I forgot I had (!) and it dawned on me this morning, "Hey! I could use this for peasant shirts!" Right now there are only 2 in the shop, but I probably have enough fabric to make 3 more if people really like them.

My "Anne" Skirt

Only one picture to share with you that my younger sister quickly took before heading to church yesterday morning.
As I mentioned in this post, I have long wanted to make a skirt like Anne's, and I think I got as close as I could with what I had. Yes, the 1909 “Beatrix” Skirt Pattern could have been used, but for practicality reasons and wanting to not sport a look of 100 years ago, I decided to use my basic a-line skirt pattern by lengthening it, making the hem fuller, adding a bias flounce, and 3 teensy-tiny pin tucks.

So paired with a top that was given to me, my vintage-looking heels, and a blue sweater in case the weather turned chilly (in which it did!), I had a fabulous day yesterday wearing both modern and old-fashioned.

A Funky Striped Tote

I'm having way to much fun with this pattern I made up. I like it even better with some new alterations to the design.

Like it too?

Linen in Ruffles

Several years ago I purchased a couple yards of some beautiful slate blue linen to make up into an ankle length skirt with a bias ruffle. Unfortunately, I only had enough to cut out one of two of the skirt pieces and the bias flounce. Going back to JoAnn's to pick up some more, I was in utter dismay to find that ours, all surrounding fabric stores, and ones well over an hour away no longer carried this shade of blue. Stashing it away until the spring in hopes to get more when linen was "in season", I was only disappointed again and again as I kept it in a box for a couple years.

This spring however I decided it was high time to do something with it. So, I cut the front skirt in two, only to make a very short skirt. To remedy this situation, I simply added a longer white flounce underneath the blue one, to add some wanted length. Ta da!

A bit of crocheted lace encircles the top of it too, adding a special touch of feminine elegance.

Overall, I am very pleased with how it turned out, although I'm not sure if I will keep it or sell it. It certainly makes one feel like twirling in it!

Meet Ginnie!

I have finally decided upon a name for my 1930's Depression Era apron. Listing it as a "depression apron" on etsy was, well, to depressing for me and as Sarah Whitting in "Sarah, Plain & Tall" thought that lambs needed naming, I think aprons should have names for a bit of distinguishment!

"Ginnie" , pronounced with a J sound and not a G, seems to perfectly suit this sweet and simple style:

From fun pockets with rick-rack and vintage buttons...

to other bits of trim and lace...

...I believe it just might be my all-time favorite apron!

To celebrate this fun occasion, I have marked all of my "Ginnie" aprons down to $15 for the weekend. That is a $3 to $5 savings, depending on the fabric that was used!

Vintage Inspiration

Grandma and I went antique shopping yesterday afternoon, and I could help but share a picture of my finds that I paid only a total of a couple dollars for.

The one is a girls sailor dress pattern (from the 40's I think), the other is a rather immodest 70's halter-style dress but I was thinking it might be fun to try to redesign it into a 70's inspired apron. Oh, and when I came across a box FULL of vintage red and green buttons for only 15 cents a piece, I had to buy a few.

Looking forward to taking these home with me in a few days and see what I can do with them. There is nothing like getting a little boost of vintage inspiration! Stay tuned. =)

1940's Apron name Finals

Thanks to a blog reader for reminding me about my apron-naming-project! So many wonderful names were submitted that it has been impossible for me to randomly choose one!

So we'll have one more poll. I have chosen three of my favorites, and so leave a comment with your #1 choice out of the three, and which ever name has the most votes will be the one used for selling the aprons and hopefully patterns too!

So what will the name for this design be?

Lillian?

Eleanor?

or Grace?

Only the person(s) who submitted the chosen name in this first post, will receive a free pattern if and when then are made.

Name this apron!

Okay! I am tired of calling my aprons by their era. I think they need names for either my etsy listings or if I decided to produce patterns of them. We'll be having "a naming contest" for each of my aprons that I sell, and your more than welcome to recruit your blogging friends to help me out with this!

Three things to keep in mind:

1. This is a 1940's era apron (more pictures here and here) and so it should have a popular 40s era name

EDITED to add: It is also nearly indentical to a vintage 30's apron pattern, so popular 30's names are welcome too!

2. Leave your name idea in a comment and comment as much as you want with ideas

3. If the name that you picked is randomly chosen, you will receive a free pattern of the apron you named! (ie, if they end up getting produced!)

The very first reproduced one is here

The Musican Tote Bag - Revisited

Does anyone remember my first attempt at making this "Musician Tote Bag" this past spring? I really liked it except for two things: the really long shoulder strap and the ribbon loop closure that seemed a little ... wacky, maybe?

For a long time now, I have admired this messenger bag pattern, but have never been quite willing to spend $12 for a pattern that I could design myself. So with that thought, I started thinking more, and cutting into fabric,

and wala!!

The inside is just one big pocket to hold many books, with room for lots more!

The front pockets hold my metronome, music flashcards, and other things perfectly!

I love the easy front closure of just wrapping a ribbon around a button. I also LOVE the Heather Bailey fabrics combined with a brown twill. Mmm, just perfectly suited for each other!

Oh yes, and the shoulder strap is a perfect length. I have a feeling that this thing is going to go with me everywhere from now on! =)

To name or not to name an apron?

Or another title: Putting the Cart before the Horse

You all were so amazing with your helpful suggestions and comments in the last post that I had to ask one more question (totally unrelated, and hmm...maybe it's a couple questions):

Should I name the apron that I'm designing?

If not, should I label it something simple such as what it was designed after? (ie. the era from which it was inspired from, Bib or Half apron etc...)

If so, should I call it Plain Jane or Rosa Jane?

I can't decide, and while the design is fairly simple, it will have some special touches that give it a charming look. Right now I'm finished with the drafting stages and I want to make my muslin tomorrow. I'm itching to tell you all more about it, or at least give you a simple drawing of it to get your opinon, =) but I think I'll wait to see if my trial run will even turn out or not.