Butterick Retro Pattern Orgasm

Joann's had Butterick patterns on sale for $1 from Aug 22-24.  I went absolutely NUTS for the Retro line.  As a big girl, these patterns are very pricey ($20 each!) and not in the usual catalogues.  So, at any opportunity, I grab them like a shrieking fishwife at a fire sale. 

Such beauty and elegance!  And such amazing possibilities!

And in sizes I can actually wear and use.  I'm so excited for the mash-up possibilities, the color blocking and fabric blending, the mind BOGGLES.  Or bottles, if you're a Blades of Glory fan.  And I AM. 

Because these are Retro (as opposed to Vintage), I'm much less hesitant to cut on them and tape pieces together.  But I do have an awesome hipster shirt in the works that will KILL.  

More on that later.  For now, revel in the Retro lusciousness with me.  And Dream...

Selfish Sewing, Part 1

Yay, selfish sewing!  I've been rounding up projects, finishing little things and making some others and I was ready for something new for myself.  Big Daddy reconned some absolutely GORGEOUS knit from a garage sale for me and inspiration smacked me in the gob.

New dress for Momma.  Like, right now.

So pretty.  And even close up...

I did the back in the contrast knit because I just couldn't squeak out the back bodice from the fantastic ikat knit.  I'm thrilled with the way it turned out and it feels absolutely wonderful on. 

The pattern was a simple McCall's. The gathers in the front and back are very flattering and, if Big Daddy can be trusted to give an honest opinion where my feelings are concerned, it looks as good as it feels.

I am definitely making this again in anything I can find.  The possibilities are endless and I can whip one of these out in a day.  Plus, the Pretty.

Shared on 

Superhero Dresses, Super Easy, Super Awesome

Secunda and Tertia, the twins, lovelovelove their superheros.  Secunda's heart will always belong first to her daddy and second to Spiderman.  Tertia is Batman's moll.  Prima is way into princesses now so she's exercising her Flower Power at every opportunity.

My super-of-choice is Wonder Woman, natch.  I had the underooz, watched the divine Lynda Carter religulous-ly, and truly believed I'd grow into a 6-ft Amazon that.  Kicked.  Ass.  As that did not happen, I compromised with a boss tattoo.  And lots of daughters...  But I digress.

I lovelovelove sewing some fabric to a shirt and calling it good.  ALL of us were happy with this project!

Prima's dress is a yard of fabric sewn to her tank top.  It took maybe 25 minutes, start to finish.  I just gathered one side and zigzagged it to the knit tank.

I wish I'd cleaned the sticky off my camera.

The superhero dresses were slightly more involved.  I started from the bottom and worked my way up.  Gathered the sparkle ruffle and attached; gathered the superhero panels and zigzagged those to the elastic band.  Last, I attached the tank tops.  The fabric is from Joanns, elastic too.  The tanks are from The Dollar Store, and I think we cleaned them out. 

And here's the obligatory "She's holding me too TIGHT, Mom!" shot that I usually get first.

  The whole point of this is to show how easy it is to sew in straight lines for about an hour and make some sweet babies so very happy.  They wear these straight from the dryer and don't take them off until they have to go directly into the washer.  They get positive attention, are idealizing human qualities through pretend play, and sometimes only answer to their superhero names.

I'll take it over the Princess Pandering any day.

Seen here!

Vintage Fabric Orgasm

Because I am a normal girl, I accept tokens of affection.  In. Giant. Boxes.

This is a giant box of VINTAGE FABRIC.  I'm geeking out because the previous owner of this fabric died in 1974.   1.9.7.4.  I just about laid it all out and rolled in it naked.  The linens, oh my god, the linens.  I found these two complimenting fabrics, a retro pattern I scored someplace, and GOT TO WORK.

 It took me all day, what with the momming and such.  But I'm absolutely thrilled with the results.  I love it, I love how it feels on, I love the fabric.

The skirt is a true circle and it's ALL ONE PIECE.  Goes over like an apron, ties in the back (underneath) and i added the bows in the front.  It calls for snaps, but I wanted bows.

 It's just bias tape.  The bodice section is a little long for me, hence the flaps at the shoulders.  I cut the upper back on the bias for fun.

I'm a big girl and I love this pattern for ease and the ability to customize everything...  I'm literally shaking with anticipation to make more stuff for me and my loves...

So more fabric inappropriateness very soon!!

Diva-In-Training

So I made a cute little sundress for my eldest and naturally forgot to take any photos of the project.  It was a quick one, just an hour start to finish and very simple.  After I gave it to her (matched with shoes she already had) she looked up at me with those GIANT blue eyes and asked for a hat.

A matching hat.   And a giraffe.  Did I mention she's three?

OK then.  It will be the first photographed and documented project for the site so it's only fitting it's for one of the princesses.  

I know a little something about making hats (she said nervously) so this should be fun.  Plus the added bennie of teaching my little hippie-fashionista that you should MAKE the cool stuff you want, not buy it.

We'll see how it goes.  I have until Thursday to complete these two projects.  My loving partner is off Bringing Bacon and I'm flying solo.  And Elmo is on TV doing Riverdance.  

All is right with the world...