Be sure to scroll to the very end of this post for a giveaway!
This tutorial has been rolling around in my sketchbooks and imagination for oh, a good year! I finally spent some time this past Sunday working it out and documenting my steps to share with you. Now that the weather is turning cold, it’s the perfect time to pull out some fun (faux) fur accessories to add a bit of pizazz to your cardigans and dress necklines. This is a super easy accessory to make and only requires hand sewing skills! I think these would also make amazing gifts–and their easy to customize with different closures and fur types!
I think the gals over at Colette Patterns and I must be communicating telepathically on a subconscious level about our inspirations lately, because they just posted a fantastic tutorial on how to make a detachable collar for a winter coat. So if a basic jewel-neckline collar isn’t quite your thing, be sure to check that out! (And yes, I realize that it can be a bit silly having mine come on the scene right after, but hopefully you’ll find one or the other–or both–useful!)
Supplies:
- 1/2 yard faux fur
- sew-in interfacing (I used hair canvas, but any heavy weight sew in should work)
- 1/2″ wide cotton twill tape or rayon hem tape; approximately 1 yard
- 1/2 yard lining fabric
- hook and eye (or other method of closure; see end of tutorial for details)
- pattern/tracing paper
- pencil, pen, paper scissors
- thread to match fur
- needles, pins, fabric shears,
Begin by printing off the collar pattern here. (The pattern is similar to how BurdaStyle packages their patterns for home printing. Please see this tutorial if you need help printing and assembling.) I have drafted several sizes for a basic Peter Pan and pointed collar styles for a jewel neck. Cut out the size you wish to make (closest to your garment neckline or neck measure). To make the collar pattern longer, slash at intervals and spread to the correct length. Retrace pattern. To shorten, simply fold at intervals along length to the correct measurement.
Lay the pattern on the fur, fur side down. Make sure you have the nap of the fur going in the direction you want it to lay (usually down, towards the outer edge of the collar). Pin in place and cut. If you are using a longer hair fur, be sure to carefully cut around taking shallow snips of the backing only, so as not to damage the length of the fur around the outer edges.
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November 17, 2010 ·
192 lovely thoughts
posted in tutorials
· tags: 1950s, faux fur, giveaway, sewing, tutorial
I was lamenting to a fellow sewing buddy the other day about the pathetic lack of appealing (garment weight) plaids at the fabric shops around town, and these are just making me even more sorry that I can’t seem to find a good plaid to make a winter dress with! Not that I have gobs of sewing time right now, but a girl can daydream. (Why is it every time you don’t have time for something, that’s all you can think about?! Sheesh. Talk about adding insult to injury. haha!) I’m loving these “school appropriate” looks from 1947; there is something so trim and practical about them. But they’re not boring. And all the little hats the models are sporting! Did you spot the little slouchy crocheted hat the girl in image three is wearing?
Time to pull out my beret and little wrist gloves!
Who says that women didn’t dress comfortably back then? This dress is made from wool jersey, which is a pretty comfortable fabric!
I love the pockets (the second is sporting “peg pockets”!) and sleeve styles on both these dresses.
More plaid pretties; I like the bias piecing on the bodice of the first dress.
I like the idea of the solid–but coordinating–top with the plaid detailing to echo the skirt.
Now I’m itching to pull out the plaid skirt my mom sent me over the summer, shorten the hem, and wear it! Not that wearing a heavy wool skirt is practical right now… Oh well. In three months when we’ve had a cold snap, I’ll be longing for warm weather again. I’m just jealous of all you who are having a proper fall. lol. I hope you enjoyed these!
Oh, and a quick note: tomorrow’s post may be a tiny bit later than usual going live–I’m trying to put the finishing touches on a new tutorial! So be sure to check back tomorrow afternoon!
November 16, 2010 ·
18 lovely thoughts
posted in vintage inspiration
· tags: 1940s, vintage inspiration
- blouse: made by me
- skirt: made by me
- handbag: vintage, thrifted
- shoes: ASOS
- sweetheart pin: vintage, from Sailor Husband
I have been slacking off on the outfit posts of late, haven’t I? Not for lack of exciting outfits, I assure you–its mostly due to the lack of available daylight once I hit late afternoon/early evening! I somehow get busy doing things and forget to get some snapshots of my look before the sun is setting. But I did manage to get these last week! The weather has become cantankerous again; a couple weeks ago it was all fall-ish and I was wearing cardigans. Now it’s warm again and I can go around in sleeveless tops during the day with no problem! So I’m trying to come up with new outfits or mixing up my spring and summer clothes even more, rather than falling into the trap of wearing the same outfits again and again because I’m bored.
I think my favorite part of this outfit is the adorable, vintage Navy sweetheart pin. I have quite a little collection of US Navy sweetheart jewelry going (well, not that big–3 pieces currently), and this one is my favorite! Sailor Husband bought it for me a couple months ago, and I’ve been wearing it almost constantly. The little anchor on the end is just too cute. Fittingly, I wore this outfit on Veteran’s Day, so the pin was appropriate!
Hope you’re having a lovely day!
November 15, 2010 ·
39 lovely thoughts
posted in outfits + wardrobe
· tags: outfits
click on the image above to visit the sources for these lovely images!
Hello, friends! How is your weekend going thus far? We’ve had a pleasant mix of work (me plugging away at the slipcover for our gigantic sofa; sailor husband doing homework!) and fun times (a bbq at one of our friend’s homes Saturday!). But today I’m planning on taking a break. Sundays are officially going to be designated my “break day”–no work allowed and minimal internet. Although, I may or may not admit to the fact that documenting step-by-step instructions for a new tutorial is on my list of goals for today… Speaking of posts, thank you all so, so much for your sweet comments on my Friday post! I loved reading all the comments and ideas–you are so creative and imaginative!
In other exciting new, Denise, the lovely lady behind the Blue Gardenia blog, recently interviewed me about my sewing space. If you’ve wanted to see what my entire “sewing nook” looks like, be sure to go take a peek at the interview here!
- I love how Tasia broke down adding a waist stay to a dress into easy steps.
- My mom emailed me with a link to this mason jar soap dispenser–I think I may have a new project on the horizon!
- Andi recently shared some lovely scans from a 40s knitting booklet.
- I am seriously thinking I need to make a whole forest of these delightful cotton ball trees!
- Jen shared a brilliant tutorial on how to turn millinery flowers into a sweet sweater guard.
Have a lovely rest-of-the-weekend!
November 14, 2010 ·
11 lovely thoughts
posted in links
· tags: weekly inspiration
