Monday, 25 June 2012

Fabric of Win

I got this fabric about a month ago.  I saw it in the local market and my mum bought me a couple of metres of it as I loved it so much - I wanted to make a circle skirt with it ... Then I had to go back a couple of days later and buy some more, I love the fabric so much, it needs to be a dress.


But the question is, which dress?  It's actually an impossible decision!

As soon as I saw this fabric, it said to me 'big skirt', so I think I need to obey that.  And it's such an awesome fabric with a lot going on that it needs a simple pattern.

At the moment, Retro Butterick 5748 is winning, but I just can't commit until I'm sure this is the perfect pattern for this amazing fabric.


Am I the only one who sometimes gets frozen by this kind of perfectionism?  
Do you cling on to a fabric because it's just so awesome that you feel that you need to save it for the perfect pattern?  Or when your sewing skills are 'good enough' to do the fabric justice?
Do you get a bit scared of those sacred fabrics?
If you have any ideas for a pretty pattern for this one, please do let me know!

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

12 in 2012 - How did we get to half way already!?

So yeah, it's June.  How did that happen?!

Some of you may remember that waaaaay back in January (which, to be honest, seems like 2 weeks ago to me, but apparently it's a bit longer than that) that I joined in and wrote my own lists for Suzie's 12 in 2012.

Well, Suzie's just reminded me that we're now half way through the year (!!!) by posting a great refection upon her progress so far.  Quite sensibly, she's also revised her lists to add in her wild cards and adjust according to what she's completed (lots - go Suzie!) and what she wants to do.

Oh dear.  I suppose I should do the same ... though it's a far less successful story, alas!

Here's the situation so far:

Clothes to Make:
  1. Skirt 1 (Simplicity 2413, paper bag waist).
  2. Skirt 2 (slim skirt from a vintage pattern with inverted pleat at back).
  3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt from Simplicity 2654)
  4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
  5. Blouse 2.
  6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
  7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).
  8. Dress 2 (Macaron).
  9. Dress 3.
  10. Men's waistcoat.
  11. High-waisted trousers.
  12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).
Not Clothes to Make:
  1. House thing 1 - throw (possibly involving patchwork?).
  2. House thing 2 - doorstop(s)?
  3. House thing 3.  - Patch! cushion cover.
  4. Pattern weights.
  5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!
  6. Apron 2 - giveaway!
  7. Apron 3 - giveaway!
  8. Yule present 1.  (Well, my little sister's Birthday present *cough*fromlastyear*cough*) - A Kindle cover.
  9. Yule present 2.
  10. Yule present 3.
  11. Yule present 4.
  12. Something pretty!

New Things to Try Making:
  1. Men's clothing.
  2. Trousers.
  3. Piping.
  4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns!
  5. Actually completing an embroidery item!
  6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
  7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood).
  8. Outerwear.
  9. Patchwork. - Yay, hand-sewn patchwork, no less!  Patch!  Cushion cover.
  10. Making a lining.
  11. Underlining.
  12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe). - I have, in fact, done one of these now (now my favourite method of zip insertion - it makes sewing a zip actually enjoyable!), I just haven't blogged about the project yet.  It's a skirt from Butterick B5466.  The skirt isn't finished, but the zip is in!
Yep, I haven't finished any of the clothes on my list.  I feel bad about that, but it's not necessarily surprising, considering my fluctuating weight situation.  So I need to try not to beat myself up over this one.  Try.

Looking back at this list, I have noticed some things do need editing, slightly, though - my needs have changed over the past six months, so my list needs to change slightly, too (changes in lilac):

Clothes to Make:
  1. Skirt 1 (Simplicity 2413, paper bag waist - hmm, I've kind of gone off this pattern, so this is a wildcard skirt.).
  2. Skirt 2 (slim skirt from a vintage pattern with inverted pleat at back - actually, this is a lot like Butterick B5466 (see below), so I'm going to change this one to a wildcard skirt).
  3. Skirt 3 (high-waisted skirt from Simplicity 2654 - actually, I've started Butterick B5466, which is quite similar, but I preferred the idea of having a waistband)
  4. Blouse 1 (anchors fabric, vintage pattern).
  5. Blouse 2 - currently finishing the silk crepe blouse - fabric and pattern to the right, just need to do the button holes and hem.
  6. Cropped jacket (vintage pattern, silver-grey dupion).
  7. Dress 1 (New Look 6000).
  8. Dress 2 (Macaron - actually, much as I love this pattern, with the waist band it's not as easily adjustable as others, so it will have to wait; instead step up Retro Butterick 5748.  I already have an amaaaaaaaazing fabric for this, which I have photos ready to post very soon.  So excited for this one!).
  9. Dress 3 (after the lovely weather we had a couple of weeks ago, I'm thinking the very summery Vogue 8184 ... that's if the weather remembers that it's June!)
  10. Men's waistcoat.
  11. High-waisted trousers.
  12. Coat (McCall's 6442 - the hood, the hood!!).
Not Clothes to Make:
  1. House thing 1 - throw (possibly involving patchwork?).
  2. House thing 2 - doorstop(s)?
  3. House thing 3. 
  4. Pattern weights.
  5. Apron 1 - for that giveaway I mentioned aaaages ago!
  6. Apron 2 - giveaway!  I've realised it's probably not the best idea for me to make three of the same thing, that's just going to add to the time it takes me to do a giveaway and it's taken long enough already!  So this is a wild card.
  7. Apron 3 - giveaway!  Also a wild card.
  8. Yule present 1. 
  9. Yule present 2.
  10. Yule present 3.
  11. Yule present 4.
  12. Something pretty!

New Things to Try Making:
  1. Men's clothing.
  2. Trousers.
  3. Piping.
  4. Actually completing an item from one of my vintage patterns! - Nearly there, currently finishing the silk crepe blouse (see above).
  5. Actually completing an embroidery item! - I didn't specify at the time whether this included machine embroidery did I?  Hmm ... Let's say it does, OK?  ;P
  6. Doing some more advanced fitting/pattern altering techniques as needed (eg, grading up one of my vintage patterns that is quite a bit too small).
  7. Knit a garment (so far I've made a scarf and a snood). - I have started a jumper!  Well, I've cast it on ... not gone much further than that, though, to be honest!
  8. Outerwear.
  9. Patchwork.
  10. Making a lining. - This is in progress - I'm making a lining for my version of Butterick B5466 in an attempt to avoid the dreaded skirt-riding-up-on-tights curse!
  11. Underlining.
  12. Hand-picked zip (they look so lovely and seem like a relatively simple technique to use for a bit of couture luxe).

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

And the winners are ...

I'm so excited to announce the winners of these lovely patterns!  A big thank you to everyone who entered!

1940s
1950s

Without further ado, here are the random number generator results from random.org:


Comment number 6 came from the lovely Isis, of Isis' Wardrobe  (yummy 18th century costuming!), Madam Isis' Toilette (fascinating experiments in 18th century cosmetics) aaaand Fashionable Forties (1940s stitchery and style.  Phew, what a busy lady!).  Congratulations, Isis!!

And the first comment was from Rowenna, a long time reader and, dare I say, blog-friend, of Hyaline Prosaic (18th century stitchery and reenacting) and Rowenna, Writing (yes, she's a fellow writer and stitcher!).  Congratulations - I hope this will give you something to work on for post-pregnancy!!!  (Yes, dear Rowenna's expecting!)

Since Isis loved the 40s pattern and Rowenna likes both, I'll be sending the 1940s nightwear pattern to Isis and the 1950s nightdress/slip to Rowenna!  Please email me, ladies: quintefoil [AT] hotmail [DOT] co [DOT] uk

Thanks again to all who entered.  And if you didn't win, don't worry, I've got more giveaway plans, so watch this space!

x

Monday, 4 June 2012

Vintage Underwear Giveaway - extended

There is still time to enter the vintage underwear giveaway!  


I realised that as we're in BST, comments don't always show as the correct time, so it's all a bit confusing to set a specific time that entries have to be in by, soooooo, as long as your comment is in by the end of tomorrow, Tuesday 5th June, when I will do the random number draw, then you'll still be entered.  

So what are are waiting for?  Go and enter!

Friday, 1 June 2012

Sew Direct Jubilee Sale!



(First off, if you haven't yet, enter my vintage underwear/nightwear pattern giveaway!)

I love Sew Direct!  Just had an email about another sale: 60% off all patterns for members and 30% off for non-members from today until 5th June.  (Again, I really don't work for them, but I do think they're awesome!  I am a member, now, because I just think it's that great a deal!)

The only question is what to get?!


Retro Butterick 5748 - vintage, bows ... need I say more?

Vogue 8766 - something about that pretty lace version keeps drawing me to it...
Vintage Vogue 8811 - there's something wonderfully simple and comfortable-looking about this dress.

Vogue 8184 - the photo doesn't look it, but this design really reminds me of vintage sundresses, with that pretty turn at the top of the bodice.  Bonus features - princess seams for a great fit, lining (yay for Vogue patterns) and straps wide enough to hide bra straps!
Decisions, decisions!