Thrift Store Find Today!

I have been coveting this book by Claire Schaeffer and found it today at a thrift store! I have taken it out of the library and read it, but it is one that really needs to be in the sewing library.

Another top!

I have been wanting to get these photos up for a week now and forget to have Tim do the photos. The one I took of myself in the mirror. I see lots of ladies who do this well, but I can't seem to get the hang of it.

Anyway, the pattern, using my normal 12, was very large. Luckily I had done a muslin of it and altered the muslin and it fits well. I was glad I made the sleeves according to the pattern, even though they seemed kinda floppy, which I feared might annoy me. I put a snap halfway down the sleeve opening and added a button for decoration. The buttons are vintage ones from mom. I just love the buttons!

There is one problem, as you can see in the last picture. The back princess seam by the arm scythe is much too large. I have been wanting to get into pattern drafting, and have read a couple of books on it. I just might have to use this as my first pattern drafting trial. Much more research will have to be done first!

I love this top and the way it fits. The fabric is fantastic. It's a nice cotton/poly that washes up beautifully.

Finished Blouse

I finished the blouse, or I should say more accurately, that I got my picture taken in it and am finally getting it up on the blog. The blouse went together nicely in spite of the missing sleeve pattern piece. I like the way it fits and especially like the rounded collar. Don't know if you can see it well or not, but the pattern envelope shows the collar not pressed flat and I left it rounded. I'm not sure I would do those "pleats" instead of the darts, but its fine for a summer blouse.

Swiffer Pad

I saw this crocheted Swiffer pad on Craftzine. Since I have been wanting to learn to crochet anyway, I looked up a tutorial and was on my way. I like my floor to look nice and streak-free when people come, so I plan to use a damp mop and then run this over the floor to dry. I'm very excited not only about the Swiffer pad, but found crocheting to be fun!

New Gadget

My thrift store find today. A handy dandy gadget that I have never seen before in the store.

 

Hunter's Quilt

Here is a quilt that I recently finished for Hunter, for his new bunk bed!

 

Hunter's Quilt

 

Trim

Here is some trim that I bought. It's elastic and has a crease in the middle. It's a cinch to sew on and you can sew in onto either stetchy or non-stretchy fabric. I love it. After folding, it's about 1/4 inch wide.

 

Apron

A future apron. It is a heavier cotton, which will be nice for the apron and I have some new green trim to match.

 

New Fabric

A nice piece of cotton fabric waiting to be made into a blouse.

 

Pink Blouse

Here's the pink blouse without buttons or buttonholes yet. I will model it when it is completed. I think it needs gray buttons, but I have none in my stash that will work. The pattern is one I picked up at a thrift store labeled as 1957. Each piece meticulously has "Nancy Linden's" name on it. It would seem that this was a blouse done in Home Ec. I still have my home ec jumper from 11th grade with my name on every piece. Alas, Nancy Linden's sewing partner must have gone home with her sleeve piece. I was able to use another sleeve pattern and it seemed to work okay. The pattern has an interesting "waistline tuck" as opposed to a dart, which makes for a looser fit. It has the same tuck on the back. The extra room makes it nice for moving the arms around, since this is a cotton and not a knit.

Needle Felted Fish

I saw this really cute needle-felted fish. Apparently there's no pattern for it, you just do it free hand. It will be a koi. Update later.