Note: I had a finished project to show off today, but the photos weren’t turning out right (my fault for waiting until the evening to take them!), so that will come later in the week. Instead I decided to share a post on sewing failures that I had in my draft queue and had been tinkering on the past few weeks…
You all know I’m not a magical seamstress who has every project turn out perfectly, right? Good!
I, like everyone else, have had more than a fair share of projects that hit major snags or just bombed completely and were discarded in frustration. Just in the past year my two biggest sewing-disappointments were a 1940s swimsuit (above) I tried to make, which turned into a nightmare scenario of of fiddly fit and deciding I really wasn’t sure I like how the high-waist bottoms look on me with swimwear. The other was my version of Colette Pattern’s Lady Grey pattern. The latter has been a big frustration for me, and yet I can’t motivate myself to finish it. My first version used a wool I had bought online that was just too thin for tailoring, so I ripped all the horsehair canvas pieces I had handbasted and padstitched to the coat, and cut out another jacket from a boucle suiting I had in the stash. Problem is, I’m not crazy about the fabric or the style of the coat (on me–I love it on everyone else. I think I tend to gravitate towards more loose, trapeze style coats). So I’ve just kind of been dragging my heels for over a year on this one. Every time I look in my drawer of “unfinished projects”, the half-tailored pieces mock me. Maybe one day I’ll finish it, but I’m too ambivalent on the project right now to work on it. (I’d much rather sew a pretty dress, frankly.)
But even in the midst of some of these projects that have ended up in the scrap bin (which is highly frustrating!), I have learned quite a few lessons about sewing and myself:
- What I dream up and am super excited about, no matter how much planning I put into it, won’t always live up to my expectations. I don’t have to feel bad about it–that’s just the reality of translation from an idea to an actual garment.
- Putting a project aside–even for a year–gives clarity as to why it’s not working or I’m not as enthusiastic about it. Sometimes this means the project ends up in the scrap pile, other times it just needs to be reworked and seen with fresh eyes.
- In relation to the above, it is sometimes quite helpful to have a few close sewing friends who can give you honest opinions about what is going wrong, offer troubleshooting on things that have you stumped, or be the ones to agree that it’s a hopeless case.
- No project is ever a complete “failure”. Rather, they’re learning experiences! Through the Lady Grey jacket, I learned about tailoring and discovered my love of padstitching. Sewing the failed swimsuit meant I gathered a lot of information on sewing swimwear knits and how to properly line everything. Which I’m sure will come in handy in the future!
- The most important thing is: no matter how long you’ve been sewing, you’re constantly learning something new! I think the “failures” are a great way to keep one on their toes and searching for new techniques and stretching their skill set. Without mistakes, how would we grow?
So what is your biggest sewing disappointment? Is there a project that just frustrates you every time you look at it? What lessons have you found helpful when dealing with these “tough” projects?
January 23, 2012 ·
46 lovely thoughts
posted in sewing
· tags: sewing workshop
weekly visual moodboard be sure to click on the image to view image sources.
Hello! How has your weekend been? Doing anything creative or just enjoying a quiet couple of days to catch up on things? It’s been relatively calm and a bit lazy at times for me… Some knitting has been done, finishing up a book on the history of eating in America (Revolution at the Table: The Transformation of the American Diet by Harvey Levenstein for those interested), and lots of good conversations with the people around me. Just how a chilly January weekend should be…
- I love this gigantic collection of photos from the LIFE archives of 1940s showgirls in Florida that Johanna unearthed.
- Gertie showed some great photos of a Peggy Hunt dress sporting an illusion neckline.
- Hmm… floral applique would look very at-home on a 1/2 circle skirt, don’t you think?
- Lauren mused on the necessity of handcrafts.
- Anna shared some fun scans from a 1939 Dubarry Prevue booklet.
- This Maple Roasted Sweet Potato and Parsnips recipe looks so tasty!
- I wish my hair were long enough to do this French Braid Crown hairstyle–so pretty!
Be back tomorrow with a peek at a new sewing project!
January 22, 2012 ·
8 lovely thoughts
posted in links
· tags: weekly inspiration
Hopefully this week isn’t just seeming as a repeat of the previous week’s posts, but I thought I’d show how I styled the emerald skirt the other day!
striped top: thrifted | skirt:
made by me | jacket: Forever 21 | handbag: vintage, thrifted | shoes: Naya via DSW | earrings: Betsey Johnson
The day I wore this we were having the some really beautiful weather–what a tease! It was in the mid 60s, sunny, a bit blustery, but perfect for just a light jacket. I’ve paired this skirt with plenty of sweaters and long-sleeve tops, but pulled out one of my favorite stripy tops to pair. The bow actually is just al length of velvet ribbon I pinned to the neckline with a safety pin–one of my favorite tricks for dressing up the neckline of tops and dresses!
This is really an “everyday” outfit at it’s best: super simple pieces, but comfy and colorful! What is your favorite, “everyday” (but just a little special!) outfit?
January 20, 2012 ·
58 lovely thoughts
posted in outfits + wardrobe
· tags: 2012 outfit, fall-winter, outfit
Ready to see some more vintage lovelies this week? I have been studying these patterns quite a bit lately, concocting ideas for my spring sewing, and I might just be busy making a muslin of one of the patterns I showed last week… hehe! I hope you are as inspired by the silhouettes and details as I am–in some ways there is nothing better than looking through vintage patterns for some great touches to add to your own projects!
Vogue 8476 – I adore this pattern…
in theory. The gathered bodice looks like it could be quite frumpy if it isn’t fitted well, so a muslin would be a must! But still, it would be a perfect summer dress (not that I
need any… three years of Florida living left me with a lot of summer clothes). I just love the bow at the back neckline!
Vogue 4522 – A straighter, less body-skimming suit than what one would typically associate with the 50s, but is lovely nonetheless! I really like it made up in a snappy plaid with the contrast.
Vogue 9378 – Does this dress not make your heart skip a beat? I think it’s the high, bateau front and dipped neckline in back that appeals to me. You could easily swap a less full skirt out too for a more casual, daytime dress…
McCalls 1836 – This is, I think, one of my favorite out of the bunch! This set of collars and cuffs (and token stole–a 50s DIY staple) has instructions for various decorations to be applied. Rhinestones and felt flowers, beads, sequins. I really want to make the View C collar soon!
Vogue 196
– I have a great weakness for super simple, classic styles. This dress and jacket set is just that. I really love the pleated skirt (perhaps a use finally for
this handy gadget I picked up last year?), and this that would make one of those summer dresses I’d want to live in 90% of the summer.
Vogue 1162 – Finally, a grand 1960s ballgown (or cocktail dress) to round out this week’s patterns. I really don’t care for the view with the odd, cut-out sleeves. But those can be left off, and would make a gorgeous gown! (If only one had more reasons to really dress up nowadays!)
This post is part of an ongoing series cataloging a collection of my grandmother’s patterns. To view previous posts, please click here.
January 18, 2012 ·
23 lovely thoughts
posted in vintage inspiration
· tags: 1950s, 1960s, nana's sewing patterns, sewing patterns, vintage inspiration
I get asked a lot about where to find vintage-styles shoes when you’re on a budget. Believe me, I can sympathize with this plight! Although I love and adore reproduction brands like Remix (Aris Allen is another, though those are dance shoes and soled accordingly), they rarely fit into my shoe budget. So I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to unearth pieces that look vintage, but aren’t expensive. Note: this is not a post about specifically where you can find shoes that fit the vintage aesthetic, but rather on training your eye to find vintage-compatible footwear.
I say this to everyone who has ever asked me about “how do I find [insert garment here] that looks vintage?”: educate your eye. Even if you shop at a “vintage” themed store, you need to understand trends, silhouettes, popular styles of the era you’re looking to emulate. For me, this has involved lots of reading over the years as well as looking at fashion plates, vintage magazines and photographs of people sporting everyday fashions. I have a fairly good handle, if I do say so, of silhouette variations from the 1910s through the late 60s, as well as construction details that are appropriate to the era. It’s all because I studied. Boring (not really), but will save you a lot of time and money in the long run if you’re serious about integrating a vintage look into your daily wardrobe.
Once you have the silhouette down (for in the case shoes), it’s going to take some sleuthing on your part. Until there is a manufacturer that produces lower-priced vintage reproduction shoes (though I do like the quality of the high-end ones; they last for years), you’ll have to learn to pounce when you see something. Right now there is a heavy 70s influence in the fashion footwear world, and the 70s saw a revival of the 40s platform. So knowing this, you can keep an eye out for 70s-does-40s style platforms (I’ve seen more than a few that would skew to either decade). The 60s is also experiencing a continued comeback, and kitten heel shoes are showing back up in the stores (but didn’t we just do this trend at the beginning of the last decade???). Sweet, pointed toe pumps with dimunitive heels have been popular. So another trend to jump on if the early 60s look is your thing. For the 50s, the classic pump with a round or almond toe, moderate heel (both in height and width) and leather never goes out of style. A stiletto also works for later 50s looks, although be mindful of the heel height and whether there is a platform under the toe area; a super high heel and chunky platform are wrong for the 50s.
examples of vintage-inspired outfits paired with modern footwear.
Realize I’m saying all this from an authenticity standpoint. Don’t feel like you have to have your shoes perfectly matched to the era of your outfit? Great (me too)!!! In which case your options open up quite a bit. While I wouldn’t advocate pairing a super-modern, studded wedge bootie with your chiffon 20s dress, I find that contemporary shoes with a more femenine flair work beautifully with vintage styles. I love shoes from all eras, and especially have a weakness for modern platforms, so knowing how to choose classic, feminine styles has proved useful when blending my footwear with my closet.
If, in case you’re wondering what some of my favorite places or brands for vintage-inspired (or vintage-compatible) footwear, here’s a few to keep an eye out for. Not all are completely “budget priced”, but keeping an eye out for sales or hunting your local department store discount shop is worth it! Many are “trend” brands as well, so it’s worth noting what “vintage trend” is in each season and hunting accordingly. (Please note I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies or totally advocate the quality–they’re just ones I’ve found as good options for me.)
I’d love to know: what is your favorite budget-friendly shoe brand?
January 16, 2012 ·
39 lovely thoughts
posted in inspiration
· tags: fashion
