A bit of Bunting

Recently I got to work from home -sewing! My boss asked me to make some bunting for a display in one of our customer’s shops. I have included the steps if you want to try making some.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen anything and I was happy to find that I wasn’t too out of practice, the simplicity of the project certainly helped.

• Cutting all the triangles is the biggest job. Pile them up keeping the colours together. I cut four layers at once – you might do less – I am impatient!

• Cut pairs of triangles – as many as you need. I did about 4 pairs in each colour – the whole length is almost three metres in length.

• Set up your sewing machine with your first colour. Stitch to the point. Sew in a “chain” – leaving only a short amount of thread between each “flag” – why waste thread?

• Trim the seams on either side of the point.

• Turn the flag through and push out the point (gently!! A knotting needle is perfect for this task).

• Each flag is then stitched into bias bunting which is cut from one of your colours. If you don’t want to mess around making your own – you can buy it in packets. Use the thread colour that matches your bias binding.

• Neaten the ends of the bias binding last just in case you want to add another piece at either end. I like a nice long “tail” on the end – to tie it around something perhaps.

I hope our client likes it!

Dusty old dust jackets

It’s the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in this part of the world. We get Monday off – along with the washing, I have some plans!

I have come across some lovely old books lately. I think the art work on the dust jackets is so charming.

I think they would look great enlarged made into artworks for a vintage themed home.

I have also had some luck in finding 1950′s art prints recently.

This one called “Sea Scape” no artist, is in the living room – the colours are perfect for that room.

The “Nutcracker Suite” is much more restful so its going into the sewing/guest room, where I have visions of creating a Kate Spade Gallery Wall, I hope I can get this little project up this long weekend. Do you have any plans for home decoration or sewing this weekend?

The Fifties Red Car Coat

I have been thinking about this project for a year at least.

I have a few pieces of wool, coating bundled together and several of patterns in mind.

I need to decide whether I can be bothered to make a lined coat. Makes it easier to wear and warmer. I’m still deciding which lining fabric to use?

I really had hoped to whip up a car coat before the cold weather hits. This is really all you need in Sydney for Winter, if you have a car. There are really only a few really cold days which warrant a full length coat.

Every one complains about how freezing it is – for months, but they really don’t have a clue how to dress for truly cold weather. Not the way you learn when you live in a cold climate like NZ, or even Melbourne!

Tips for beginner sewers:

Don’t be intimidated by the idea of making a coat. A short coat should be not too difficult as there is less fabric to handle. They are easier than tailored jackets as the fabrics are easier to work with was they are more spongy and forgiving and the lining at the hem is not caught in – easy!

Make sure you have your linings and interfacing together before you start sewing.

If you get tailored button holes done it will give your coat a more professional look

A boys linen shirt – colonial style

Happy Mother’s Day – for last Sunday!!  I am sorry I am so late with that greeting – but we have the kids and I have been struck down with a nasty tummy bug, which the Doctor told me is raging through the school at the moment.  My youngest had four days off school and my eldest is home with me today for the second day.  I am all better – and it feels great to be well!!

Anyway! – Here’s something I made for my son recently.

A SCHOOL EXCURSION

My 10-year-old had a school trip last week. It was to Old Government House in Parramatta, one of Australia’s earliest settlements.  He is studying Australian Colonial History this year.  I made him this linen shirt for the day – which turned out to be a bit of a battle!  The kids really enjoyed visiting , where they visited a classroom of the day, and experienced a very harsh teacher, with a cane!  The other mums did amazingly well with the costumes, there were a few admirals, a convict with a ball and chain, and lots more creativity.  The girls looked cute in their mothers’ skirts pinned to fit them with shawls and mob caps!

THE FABRIC

I chose the natural, unbleached colour as at that point in time, it is similar to what would have been available around that time.

THE PATTERN

I used the shirt pattern from Butterick 7064 (1985) , which we had used for the last thing he and I made together – the “Alex does Alexander Hoody and Tracky-Daks“.

THE ACCESSORIES

I borrowed the hat and vest from a friend.

His corduroy pants came from the opshop and I cut them down and elasticized the bottom of them to give a Knickerbocker effect.

I made buckles from cardboard, tinfoil and tape – they were trashed by the day’s end – I would use sturdier card next time.  They worked ok – just threaded the laces through the buckle.

THE SHIRT

In the end, the shirt took hours!  I was totally over it after all the sewing (machine, not hand!!)  so I did the unthinkable and threw some velcro  in the place of buttons and buttonholes.  It might get worn again for a special occasion – the fabric did drape beautifully.  And I think it looked more realistic than the bright white shirts other kids were wearing.  I will get around to putting the buttonholes in when I can face getting out my domestic sewing machine out.  And my youngest son will be going on the same excursion so he will use it for that too!  Sorry it’s not pressed for the photo!

TIPS FOR SEWING LINEN

• Work fast! Linen stretches and frays, don’t delay sewing after cutting
• Definitely staystitch the curved armholes or necklines to stabilize it
• Finish your seams = overlock, french seam, or bias binding – as you go!
• Press as you go – it will look better in the end (this is true of all garments in my opinion)
• Press it inside out so you don’t over press, and get shiny marks which don’t come out – very important!

 

LINEN – A NOTE ON LAUNDERING – Inspired by Steph

I don’t  recommend washing a length of linen more than once before sewing it up – linen loses colour very rapidly

And I would never leave it to soak – the colour will float right out of it!

I suggest hand washing in warm water, with a nice eucalyptus wool wash (Plain Packaged Brand  is just fine)  dry immediately in the shade

Read the rest of Steph’s great tips for working with linen here

 

Fifties fashion from Australian Home Journal advertisements

You may like to do your Vintage Wardrobe Research using original source materials. In Australia, Australian Home Journal magazines from the forties through to the sixties are easily obtainable for under $20 on eBay or in Junk shops. They are a rich source of inspiration for your wardrobe, hairstyles, and make up.

This ad has has it all.

* Divine fabric
The diversity of fifties fabric never fails to surprise me.
This print features what looks to me like a night scene of fireworks over a Chinese village.
The cornflower blue with the pink background really appeals to me.

* Five cute fifties looks:
- two simple buttoned up blouses
- what would have to be a pleated or gathered waist skirt
(but is drawn as a circular skirt)
-and a classic button front skirt for whipping off at the beach
- revealing a pinstriped sun suit
- a shirt using the border print over the hip region,
just like a menswear style!

* Period make up – heavy, unplucked, brows,
winged eyeliner, pink lipstick

*Three hairstyles

* A palm tree – love!

If you can’t get your hands on Australian Home Journal – you probably have a local equivalent in your country.

Source: Australian Home Journal September 1959

I’ve had my feet up – in Bali

During the recent school holidays we visited Singapore and Bali. Here are a few shots from my phone of me relaxing. In between excessive bouts of shopping, eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner and keeping the kids busy. As you can imagine – relaxation was brief and I mostly unwound in the pool of our villa.

Ku De Ta – In Seminyak

This was my first glimpse of a Bali Beach Club and I was wowed. Cool music, comfortable seating, big umbrellas and cool drinks. I love the beach – who knew!?

In Villa Bugis – Seminyak

This was our Villa – it has three bedrooms and a pool in the middle. I surprised everyone by swimming three to four times a day. It was the best way to cool down. Temperatures were around 30 degrees and very humid. You were hot and sweaty by 10am.

Finns Bar in the Samara Resort, near Uluwatu

This place was divine. Our driver Nyoman took us to Uluwatu temple where there were monkeys. Then my sister in-law Lisa had read about this place Finns Bar which is part of a resort. We caught a cable car down to the otherwise inaccessible beach – it was just stunning. The surf came crashing in. The food and drinks were divine. I swam in the surf after – it was an unforgettable day.

I took lots of photos using my big camera so come back please to see my random take on Bali and Singapore.

My sewing room – a sneak peek

Here’s all I can show you right now because the rest is such a shocking mess!!  This Brother industrial sewing plain sewing machine is what I do most of my sewing on.  I have a domestic machine for buttonhones or three step zig zag stitch (but its been a while since I’ve used it for knits).  I have a domestic overlocker which I think I need a new cord for – the wires are definately loose.

I keep stuff that inspires me in there – vintage, stuff, Kiwiana, artwork like this one.  There is a theme, in that I use kitchen storage items to store sewing stuff.

Ikea book shelves hold books – so many books, Art Deco Jars, Cake Stands, a Champagne bucket for the scissors, cake tins for yet more junk, and jam jars for buttons!  Ironic as I don’t really care for cooking!!  Although I am trying!!

There is fabric, boxes for my eBay shop, “stock” for said shop – or “junk” as my husband calls it.  The bookcase is piled high.

The patterns are mostly really organized – in Ikea boxes – organized into decades.

The ironing board is piled high with ironing and new op shop finds usually!  Although I have been cutting back a bit on that lately.

I pray my parents arent planning a visit anytime soon – even though I am missing them and Mum recently had a cataract operation.

It’s lovely to have a nice garden to look out at, and its good to change your focal length to keep your eye muscles working ( great for computer users too).

Essentials are music and my portable DVD player – which I can watch movies on (or mostly listen to). And most important for any time spent in the sewing room – a big mug of coffee – and a handful of biscuits too!!

We are in the middle of school holidays now – I will be posting again afterwards with some of our holiday snaps!

Going all pink with Kat and Drake

Oooooohhh, look – I’ve given the blog a little pink rinse makeover – what do you think?

And still on a rosy note, the last couple of times I have travelled to NZ I have met up with this gorgeous creature with pink hair, its Kat from Modern Vintage Cupcakes!  and her wee man Drake!

The first time I met Kat we had a great time over coffee, and gelato and a walk on Wellington’s foreshore on surely one of the best days of the year!  At the end she shyly told me she was a little bit pregnant.  I went home and sent home and posted her all those maternity patterns that I have been collecting (mostly by mistake!).

This time we met up in my old stomping ground Newtown, and had breakfast at the totally cool Baobub Tree Cafe

It was so lovely to meet Drake!  He was transfixed by all the traffic flowing past through the window and all the light that reflected around the cafe.  Then Kat was very clever as she got the very pink cheeked Drake off for a big sleep and after our coffee and we got to visit three op shops – and I got to meet her lovely Mum too.

Found a totally cool cushion made of a New Zealand teatowel.  And a coffee mug from my brother’s old school.  I feel sure he’s drinking milo out of it , right now, at his place in Aberdeen.  Or I am sure he will when he gets in from the oil rig.

I flew back over to the South Island after some shopping on Cuba Street later that day, but that needs another blog post.  It was quite a special day.  Thanks Kat and I hope to meet the other Wellington Sewing Bloggers next time.

Please don’t lick the jewellery

Even opshops have rules and vinyl records are hard to shift, so I reckon these upcycled, in-house, advisory messages from one of my favourite places um, rock.

I felt so guilty when I read this one – as I am totally guilty of tapping jewellery on my teeth – to determine if its plastic or glass.  You probably can’t see but this blue lady even has a real vintage earring on!  Mixed media!  Noice!

Ah yes, the “No tag, No sale” rule.  I have never actually seen this rule enforced.  Personally I would think you would have to be a bit of a scumbag to try they old “I’ll rip the tag off and hopefully get it cheaper” stunt.

My favourite thing about these “artworks” is the model’s hair and make up – all false eyelashes and lacqured hair – they deserve to be seen, even if no-one wants to listen to the music!

Wonder who the clever person who created them is?

And finally – a note to myself too – Nobody wants to handle jewellery after you have put your saliva all over it.

The “Polka Dots and Cocktails” Dress

We got invited out – which is kind of rare!   To a 40th! In Newcastle!  As soon as we got the invite this fabric sprang to mind and I unearthed the bakelite buckle, which is a perfect match.

Accessories selection – decided just to go with the earrings.

So, the fabric – First it’s polka dots – so what’s not to love?  And second – the tag said it was poly/cotton – I doubt that!  It might be polyester and viscose – as the dots are quite lustrous, perfect for evening wear.

The pattern is B5748 – I wanted to use it again and see if I could improve the fit (of the “All Singing, All Dancing” Dress)  and the low back is perfect for a summer occasion.  I achieved a better fit than the first time but the waist is too tight!  Whoops!

All set!  Here’s the Bathroom selfie.  Nearly took the Lucite handbag for its first outing – but I got scared and left it at home!

I knew it would be a warm evening so I put in a cotton voile lining – this was perfect as it was steamy!

Mark in his new trousers and his Marcs shirt (not new!). Scrubs up well doesn’t he?!

The backyard cocktail party was lovely, for our friend Susan who was home for her 40th from Germany where she lives with her Greek/German husband Dimi and their three munchkins.

This is my friend Kathy and I – not the birthday girl!

The beautiful Susan!  Happy Birthday!

I managed to make it through the evening tugging it back into place.  At least I didn’t bust out of my dress like one of the lovely waitresses did!  I spent the first half hour of the party sewing the poor girl back into her dress!!  It was so nice to be invited – we had a great time thanks!!

The Facts
Fabric:Poly/Cotton Double faced brocade fabric
Pattern: Butterick B5748
Year: 1960
Notions: Zip, lining
Time to complete: 7 hours
First worn: A friend’s 40th
Wear again? Yes please!
Total Cost: ~$45