Moving on Up!

This blog has moved from here to HERE (www.missdandysewing.com)!  I'm excited to finally have my own domain name and hope you will follow me there!

Completed Project: McCall's 6997 - 1990s Floral Romper

 So this floral romper is the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever made.  True story!  I used McCall's 6997, copyright 1994.  Hard to believe that I was a junior in high school the year this pattern was published! 

I remember this particular style of roomy romper / jumper dress being popular during the 1990s, but I somehow missed ever owning one.  I cut the size 10 and probably could have gone even smaller, but I actually dig the roominess.

Back view.  This romper involved lots of gathering.  From the back, you can really tell this is a romper, but I received several compliments on my "cute dress" when I wore it to work the other day, so it's almost imperceptible to the naked eye (and the business of the print probably helps).   

 Side view.  You can really see the fullness of the the romper here. 

 Here's a link to the fabric I used!  It's floral rayon challis from Wanderlust Fabrics.  I'm so delighted with this fabric!  It was so easy to work with and the drape is absolutely dreamy!  From the very first moment I saw it, I knew that it would be the perfect fabric to use for my retro 1990s romper.  In fact, it's described by Wanderlust Fabrics as "90s Inspired."

Front and back views, sans human model.

Cap sleeves.  I finished the interior seams and pockets with my serger and hand sewed the facings into place by hand.  I used a blind hem stitch for the bottom hem.

Close-up of a few details: Gathers and the self-fabric covered buttons.  It's hard to even see the buttons due to the extreme business of the print!

This romper was super-easy to put together.  Between the cost of the fabric, pattern (found at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore for only .25 cents!) and covered buttons, it only set me back about $20.00....SCORE!

In the Works!

I have a couple projects currently in the works!  First of all, I scored an amazing 1970s pantsuit at the Goodwill in Black Mountain, NC that I want to alter into something more wearable.  Here it is in all of its tacky floral polyester glory!  I'm keeping the pants as is; all they need is to be taken in at the elastic waistline.  

I'm definitely going to reconstruct the butterfly collar shirt and mix it with a solid colored stretch knit fabric.  I'm thinking about using the Briar pattern as a template. 

And here's a preview of my latest make.  All I have left is the bottom hem!  I used an incredible rayon from Wanderlust Fabrics.  The pattern is from 1994 and I thought the floral print was very reminiscent of the 1990s, especially when it comes to baby doll jumpers, which is the view I'm making. 

Completed Projects: Summer Round-Up!

Surprisingly, I've managed to complete a decent number (for me, anyway!) of projects so far this summer.  Sewing isn't really the issue so much as finding the time to model and photograph everything for the blog.  So I've decided to do an all-encompassing round-up! 

First up is McCall's 6965.  Let me tell you, this retro flared shorts pattern is a definite winner!  I love it so much!  They are a ridiculously quick and easy make.  I used a red linen look fabric which really helps with defining the "flare" of the cut.  

Admittedly, this kind of looks like a high school cheerleading skirt on, but I still dig it!  Next time I will make them in a draper fabric like rayon.  

Next up:  The Wiksten Tank.   Another ridiculously quick and easy summer project!  I salvaged the fabric (cotton/poly blend) from two vintage pillow cases that I thrifted for a mere .50 cents.  SCORE!

A lot of my summer projects have been basic wardrobe builders.  This is the Colette Mabel Skirt, whipped up in a mere 2 hours using black ponte knit fabric.  Flattering + figure-hugging pencil cut + no closures + low yardage = highly recommended project!

 

This was my most time-intensive project of the bunch: The now-iconic-within-the-home-sewing-community Bombshell Swimsuit.  This swimsuit is nothing short of amazing....A true miracle....A marvel of retro feminine engineering.  I feel so incredibly sexy and confident while wearing it and I will most definitely make another next summer!

Here's the final line-up (from left to right):  Colette Mabel Skirt, Wiksten Tank, Katy and Laney Tap Shorts (previously blogged with lots of photos HERE), Bombshell Swimsuit and McCall's 6965 Flared Shorts!

Completed Project: Katy & Laney Tap Shorts

TA-DAAAAH!  So it would appear that I am sewing and blogging again after a one year+ absence!  I was lucky enough to nab a job almost one year ago sewing cushions and upholstery for one of the few locally owned, strictly made-in-the-U.S.A. furniture companies left in my part of the country.  Business has been good so I've been extremely busy.  I also have a rambunctious 4-year-old son, which absorbs a lot of my sewing time.  The plant was closed for the week of the 4th, so I took a minor "sewcation" and actually had a chance to make a few things for myself.  

I'm in dire need of shorts, so my first recorded make after one year: the Katy and Laney Tap Shorts!  These were incredibly quick and easy to construct.  I opted to make view A which features diagonal seams at the front.  No pockets, just a faced waistband, back darts and invisible side-seam zipper.  There are thorough instructions for back welt pockets, but I just wanted to be able to sew something quickly in my limited free time so I nixed those.

I'm a sucker for a high waist, and these are a true high-waisted pair of shorts!  They're extremely comfortable and flattering. 

Back view and side view.  The high waistline is flattering to most backsides, I think!  And this is probably the best and most invisible invisible zipper I've ever sewn!  Their instructions for sewing the zipper are fantastic.

I used a vintage lightweight pinwale corduroy from my deep within my stash (and when I mean deep, I mean that this particular yardage has been in my stash for well over ten - yes, TEN - years!  I thrifted it from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore and could never find the right project for it, mainly because it was only a one yard piece.  View A of the Katy & Laney Tap Shorts only requires one yard of fabric so I finally found the perfect project !

 Inside view of the front diagonal seaming detail.  I finished all interior seams with my trusty serger.

Closer photo of the vintage pinwale corduroy.  Hopefully I will be able to photograph and blog a few more of the projects that I made over my "sewcation" sooner than later.  Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing!

Completed Project: Scout Woven Tee

I have nothing but enthusiastic RAVES for the Grainline Scout Woven Tee!  It's a fairly simple to make, super-flattering and an easy-to-wear design.  And well-worth shelling out $6.50 for!  For the front of the tee I used reclaimed fabric from a vintage 1970s floral print scarf.  

Yes - quell horreur! - I plead guilty to cutting up a perfectly fine and wearable vintage scarf, but it was put to good use, right?  And I have a confession - I have tons more of these oversized vintage scarfs in my stash just like this that I've stored up from my various thrifting adventures.  I find that, at $.50 cents to $2.00 each, they are an affordable fabric option for small projects like this and usually offer nice pops of color or unique design that's usually hard to find in modern fabric.             

Since I only had a small amount of scarf fabric for the front I opted for a matching rust-colored rayon challis for the back and the sleeves.  I found this fabric at a thrift store as well.  This tee is extremely comfy to wear I really love the swingy fit!  Although the floral scarf fabric is slightly sheer, I opted not to line it because I have a feeling this summer is going to be a hot one and I plan to wear this often!

"Te Amo" - Look of the Day

My first post in about 3 months!  I hope to be able to do more of these "look of the day" posts.  You see, I work as a cook during the day and I kind of live for shedding my kitchen scrubs and dressing up every afternoon when I arrive home.  Plus, I suppose this will be the last time I will be able to wear a plaid wool skirt and grey over-the-knee socks and get away with it before the slight winter chill is gone and Spring is here for good.

None of my look is handmade, but the bias plaid skirt is definitely vintage 1970s.  Scored with an entire armful of similar skirts all at once during a lucky pitstop at the Goodwill in Black Mountain, NC last fall (and they all fit, too)!  The awesome "Te Amo" Han and Leia shirt was definitely love at first sight and is from We Love Fine which has nerdy t-shirts at decent prices and awesomesauce customer service too!  The skinny belt is from Banana Republic from, like, 13 years ago.  The combat boots by Espirit are just about as old.  You see, when you're poor you tend to make your things last....

Shorts....with lots of fashion zing!

No, my latest sewing projects haven't been 1970s glam rock era hot pants (although the View 4 leopard print hot pants are very tempting).......but I have been sewing a lot of shorts!

My wardrobe is seriously lacking in this spring and summer wardrobe staple. In fact, I used to hate wearing them. But with a two year old boy who constantly wants to play outside, well, let's just say that dresses and skirts aren't the most appropriate attire for me to wear while accompanying him on his adventures!

I finally purchased this downloadable scalloped shorts pattern from Pattern Runway on Etsy! Only $9.50 and going to a good cause, in my opinion (YAY for independent pattern designers). I hope to start these this weekend and my plan is to make them with a dark blue crinkly linen fabric that I thrifted a while ago.

And I actually finished making View C from Simplicity 3850 from the Wendy Mullin "Built By You" pattern series several days ago (hope to post here very soon). I think it's obvious that this pattern would win the award for the absolute worst pattern envelope illustration ever.....the shirts are covering up the cute waistband, belt carriers and pocket design details! So thank goodness for simple line drawings:

Hopefully these shorts will fulfill a few spots in the "wardrobe basics" section of my closet and I can move on to sewing a couple of fun and frivolous designs next!

Completed Project: Waves Print Dress

This was a relatively speedy project for me! The total time spent cutting out and constructing was a little over 2 hours....because I didn't have to construct or hem the skirt!

I used an early 1980s pattern for the bodice, which is made from black ponte knit (the best knit fabric in the whole wide world to work with, by the way!). It has puff petal sleeves and I added a white embroidered floral collar to brighten up the bodice. The skirt is actually an upcycled vintage 1980s rayon skirt that I thrifted a while back. I love the crazy squiggly waves print and the bright primary colors! Altogether, a quite satisfying project for a very time-strapped person like myself!

Completed Project: 1970s Wide Leg Trousers

So I've finally resigned myself to the fact that I will probably only be updating this blog whenever I complete sewing projects which, at my current sewing rate, will be about 1x per week. I'm just in love with posting on my Tumblr blog, which I actually do daily, so check me out over there if you'd like!

My latest completed project is a pair of wide leg trousers that I made from an early 1970s Butterick pattern designed by Betsey Johnson. I think the design was actually inspired by 1940s-style trousers but with a much more exaggerated silhouette for stylin' 1970s seamstresses. :) These were really simple to make: several top stitched pleats at the front, a 7" zipper at the back, and a wide waistband with a button closure. I used a slubbed black and white rayon/linen blend fabric that I scored from a local thrift store for $4.00.

I'm really happy with how they came together. I'm obsessed with high waist, wide leg trousers (just as I'm obsessed with 1970s fashion in general) so I have 3 more (different) pair in my sewing queue waiting to be made. They are so comfy and breezy and perfect to wear up until it gets really hot during the summer!