pattern junkie

Monday Morning Eye Candy: More 1930s Ruffles!

OK, so it's more like Monday afternoon/early evening eye candy.  But who doesn't want a nice little pick-me-up come late Monday?

I don't know why I'm such a sucker for ruffles in the MMEC feature.  I'm not a big ruffle-wearer in real life.  Half the time I try them on and feel like a clown, and for some reason I'm convinced they make my face look round.  (Which, even as I type it, I know is an absurd statement.  But isn't it just the kind of advice you'd read in a woman's magazine?  I mean, the other day I was leafing through one at the supermarket and ran across a handy sidebar on "How To Wear Bracelets After 40."  I was utterly baffled.  As far as I can tell, you still put them on your wrist.)

Anyway, enough about my personal mixed feelings on ruffles and onto to this purty, purty slice of goodness, McCall 7954.  It manages to make the ruffles elegant instead of girly, don't you think?  If I had a steady stream of elegant cocktail parties to attend, I might just try it out.

 

 

Art Inspired by Vintage Dresses

How beautiful are these vintage dress watercolors by etsy artist JoJoLarue?  I think they're absolutely drool-worthy!

I love the neckline -- and the twirly skirt, of course.

If I had a ball to go to, this is what I'd want to wear.  It's in blue, no less, which is a great color for me!

You can get the dresses on notecards, postcards and art prints.  I'm thinking they'll be perfect to top off my sewing room when it's nice and organized.  Now if only the dresses themselves would appear magically in my closet...

As an added plus, the dress prints are on sale today via Heartsy.  (I know I've mentioned my addiction to this "Groupon for etsy" site before, so I warn you -- it's dangerous!)  But...should you take the plunge...sign up through this link and get $5 off your first purchase!

 

Fabric Giveaway Winner!

OK, I've been a little behind announcing the winner of the Fabric Giveaway...so let's get to it!

The winner is (drum roll, please!)...

VIOLET!

Congrats, Violet, and I hope the jammies you're planning to make bring you neon-filled dreams!  Please email me your info and I'll get this special special fabric out to you!

 

 

Last Day to Enter the Pattern Junkie Fabric Giveaway!

Don't forget!  Today is the last day to enter my fabric giveaway for a chance to win 3 yards of this 1980s pinstriped, neon-figured wonder!

To enter, leave a comment on this post by midnight PST tonight.  Good luck, my fellow junkies!

 

006: License to Nil

Vogue 1561, 1966

She backed against the faux bois wall, doing her best to affect a casual tone.  "Microfiche?!  I don't even know what that is!  How could I possibly steal it?"

They weren't buying it.  She could tell that.  Why oh why hadn't she listened more carefully to Q when he explained how to use the hidden compartment in her dress collar?  It wasn't fair. They'd never make James wear something that made him look like one of those stuffy American pilgrims at Thanksgiving.

Monday Morning Eye Candy: Ruffles Galore!

Oh, how I love the exuberant ruffles of McCall 8258:

Four rows of ruffles at the hem!  It looks like it would be so much fun to walk in -- you'd swish and rustle and make a grand entrance.  Let's not even get started on what it would be like to dance in it.

It's from 1935, but I can't be the only one reminded of this dress style that was so popular in the 1970s:

Web Junkie: April 25, 2011

Some fun web diversions for the weekend:

• Kathleen of Grosgrain is hosting a Free Pattern Month starting Monday!  Stop by daily to check out offerings from some fabulous blogs, including Big Dill, Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing, Colette Patterns and Elegant Musings!
• McCall's just released some new summer patterns.  I looked them over and...yawn. 
• Looking for solace after inserting a sleeve backwards or sewing the wrong pattern pieces together?  Check out CraftFail, the misery loves company blog devoted to craft projects gone oh-so-wrong.  My fave?  "Yarn Barf Slippers."
• I'm dangerously in love with a new site called Heartsy that's basically Groupon for handcrafted and vintage goods.  Sign up through this link and get $5 off your first purchase.  
• Speaking of Heartsy, through it I discovered a wonderful etsy shop, Jenna's Red Rhino.  I purchased a waist cincher to use as a wide, corseted belt and fell in love with it!  The workmanship is just gorgeous (and I'm very picky when it comes to handsewn items.)  I highly recommend the shop!

• Finally, don't forget about my fabric giveaway!  Enter by Wednesday to bring some 80s glory to your home.

Unfortunate Fashion Friday: Harem Perils

I'm afraid I have no words for Burda 8130:

Really.  I don't know what to say about a pair of pants that balloon around the hip and thigh, narrowing to hug your calves from the knees down.  And that are decorated with criss-crossing leg ribbons.

Sorry.  You guys are on your own on this one.

Pattern Junkie Raging 80s Fabric Giveaway!

As I wrote on Sunday, I'm on a mission to get control of my sewing room and bring my stash down to a manageable size.  Giving away some fabric to blog readers is an obvious way to get closer to that goal, right?

Here's the problem I've been struggling with: what exactly should I give away?  What fabric qualifies to be featured in such a glorious manner?

Perhaps you think it should be something useful.  The kind of fabric any seamstress would be happy to get.  Or maybe you think it should be a thing of beauty: a breakthaking length of cotton or silk that you can hardly bear to cut into.

To which I say: have you been reading this blog?

Drum roll!  Prepare to meet your destiny: three yards of 60" wide vintage 1980s fabric.  Words don't really do it justice, so here it is:

"Wait," you may be thinking.  "Those look like people, yet...their shoulders are so enormously large!  And what's with the teeny heads with sharp points?"

Yes, it demands a closer look.  Behold:

Yes!  Those are 80s dudes and Valley girls with new wave haircuts and "Stop Making Sense" shoulder pads!  They're dancing!  And skateboarding!  All in neon 80s colors!

To enter, simply leave a comment telling me what you'd make with this treasure.  Would you zig on the zagged line and embroider giant chains on it?  Would you offend 50s fashion lovers by making a winged wiggle dress?  Or would you embrace the 1980s in all their misguided glory and make this Dihann Carrol ruffled capri pantsuit?

Enter by midnight PST by Wednesday, April 27.  I'll pick the winner by random number.  Again, be sure to tell me what outlandish dream project you'd make with it (and if you'd like, email me a pattern photo.)  Don't worry -- I won't hold you to your promise to make hot pants or giant jackets, but those boppin' New Wavers just might...

 

Monday Morning Eye Candy: Delicious Draping

Put down that latté and take in the pretty that is Vogue S-4730:

The draping!  The bows!  The way the two women are just so, so elegant...while clearly ready to give anyone a piece of their mind if need be.

Personally, I don't think I have the build for a hip bow...but this pattern is almost enough to convince me to try.