Fabulous Flamingoes Completo!

The Flamingo Fling Dress

Finally I have finished the 1940's flamingo shirt dress.  I thought I would never get there, it has been my tailoring class project and this has meant only working on it on Wednesday mornings.

At times I found this slow process quite frustrating, as I knew I could have got it done weeks ago without the stopping and starting.

However, I have learnt some invaluable sewing skills at class and have really enjoyed getting to know the ladies I have sewn along side.  

Skills I have gleaned:

• How to enlarge this pattern 
• How to put in a collar by hand
• Invisible stitching
• How to use the button hole function on my sewing machine
• How to put in an invisible zip

So I feel that the process has been productive.

Here it is on.  It is very light and comfy but a bit loose at the waist so 

I have made a sash belt to go with. 

                                       In this photo I am wearing a sash belt at the waist. 

Other Things

Aside from the 'flamingo dress', I have not been able to get much else done, apart from cutting out a new dress project and making a few accessories for a 'nautical' themed birthday party, a sailor hat and collar.  I have always wanted a sailor collar and now I have one!

So what next?

Well, my new piping foot finally arrived so I will be back to the 'Shirley' dress.  I also hope to explore the world of retro winter wardrobes.  We may still be having a rather warm Autumn but winter will soon be here and it would be nice to be stylishly warm.  Check out these rather gorgeous examples of 1930's-40's coats.

Cheerio!

History Heroine xo 

Flamingo Dress - Almost there!

Flamingo Dress

This week I have to admit that I have been putting this blog entry off in the hope that I would have a finished garment to show you.

Unfortunately I have only an...almost finished garment to show you.  Sigh!  

The 'Flamingo 40's dress is almost complete.  The bodice, looks like a bodice and the skirt just needs to be attached to the bodice.  I still have the collar to fully install, the buttons and zip to put in and the hem to do.

Nearly there!

If you look closely you can see the collar is not actually attached yet, but has been basted all around the edges so that when it is sewn into place it will sit correctly.

The skirt was a little narrow for me so we have put these little panels into it, at each side, to give it more room.

Shirley Dress

Unfortunately I have hit a slight snag with my little girl's dress.  The piping I did last week was done with the zipper foot of my sewing machine.  It looked okay in the photos but up close it was very baggy and I was not happy with it.  A friend of mine lent me her piping foot but it didn't fit onto my machine, so, I have ordered a foot of my own and am awaiting its arrival.  It should come in two weeks time.

What is Piping?

I was explaining a dress design to someone the other day, saying, "It has the sweetest piped collar", to which they replied, "What is a piped collar?'

It turned out that they didn't really know what piping was.  I realised that it isn't that common in fashion garments these days, and most people only see it around cushions and upholstery.  So I thought I would explain it briefly here.

Piping is a trim that is used to neatly edge a sewn item.  It is decorative and used as a feature in some garments.  Basically it is a piece of cord, wrapped in fabric which is sewn into a seam so that just the roundness of the cord protrudes from the seam-line.  As I mentioned it is used commonly in upholstery and to edge cushions...

 It also looks great as a boarder or trim for a dress, blouse, jacket etc

Well, that is all for this week.  Short but sweet! 

I hope you all have a dandy week ahead. 

Sew Happy!

History Heroine

xo

Retro Kids!

 I'm back!
                I apologise for keeping you waiting for over a week for this blog entry.  I have no excuse, all I can say is LIFE!  

I now have the time to sit down, listen to Elton John and write for YOU.  

"I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words, how wonderful life is, while your in the world" - Elton John 

                        I just sang that for YOU!  

                      You probably didn't hear me but I did! 

Shirley Temple Dress

I have been on the search for a 'Shirley Temple' dress pattern, but it has been a bit challenging to get a pattern that is a replica of any of her dresses, except for this red polka dot dress that is commonly worn as a costume.  

A cute dress but has been a bit overdone by costume companies.

I was hoping to create a dress like the one she wears in 'Bright Eyes'. 

Or this one...

Or this one which is so sweet with its little buttoned detail 

and cravat like collar...

Here are somethings I have been getting together for this project, I just need to get the pattern.

Retro Kids

On my 'Temple' quest, I have stumbled on some delightful childrens' patterns from the 1930's, which has been very exciting.  Retro kids clothes are sooooo cute.  Have a look at these finds and let me know if you agree?

                        

I haven't got my hands on any of the patterns above but a few days ago these lovelies arrived from the US.

Looking forward to the challenge of making this coat, but I am not sold on the leggings. They look a bit scratchy to me. 

I think this is so cute, especially with the little white gloves. 

I always get excited when a parcel arrives from overseas, but was even more pleasantly surprised when I found an envelope inside with this lovely card and treat inside.

The tea was so relaxing!

Will do Rebecca!

I have since ordered a few more retro kids' patterns from the 1930's, 40's, 50's and 60's.  

I have also been studying the fashion of children in the 20th century through old photos.  Here are some priceless images I found.  

Anonymous photographer - Chicago 50's

This is a great picture, as it provides a wide range of styles and designs.  I am guessing these grade 3 children were all wearing their Sunday best for their school photo.  The girls look gorgeous and I love the little boy who is in the top row-far left with his cheeky dicky bow... so cute!

Projects on the go

So, apart from all this exhilarating research, what have I been doing?

Well, I may not have begun my 'Shirley' dress but I have begun another darling little girls frock.  Here is the pattern and the fabric of choice. 

I am working on view 2, and the stripes will be vertical.  

 So far I have cut it all out - including a contrasting white collar and I have started working on the bodice which has piping dividing it from the skirt.  

I thought piping looked quite easy, but I was wrong!  Fortunately I cut two pieces for the piping and ended up having to use both to get it somewhat right.  Here are my attempts. 

I am still working on the 'Flamingo Dress'.  I made a muslin for this dress, as I was concerned about the fit.  I am making this dress at the tailoring class I have been attending, so the process is slow.  It is all cut out now and ready to sew.  Here is the muslin.  It doesn't look like much yet. 

Well that is all for now...

Have a happy week

XOXO

History Heroine

Flamingos and film stars

Good day to you!


A Flamingo Shirt Dress

This week has been one of little productivity but much inspiration.  As I mentioned last week, I had my first session at the tailoring course I enrolled in.

My bag packed ready for school. 

The project I decided to start work on in class is the Simplicity pattern #1880.

 It is not a 'retro' or 'vintage' pattern but it is very similar to the shirt dresses of the 1940's as you can see below.

I am making it in a flowing fabric with a lovely drape.  It has a royal blue background and pink and white flamingos scattered throughout.

  I was quite nervous at my first class (not sure why) so I was not as fast as usual.  It took me the whole two hours to trace out the pattern and then cut it.  I started to cut the fabric but didn't finish.  This fabric is silky and quite slippery, so I am anticipating that it will be more challenging to manage.

I learnt a new way of marking onto the fabric using a tracing wheel and carbon paper.  I had seen this technique illustrated in books but never seen it in action.  My instructor showed me how it works and let me use hers.  Basically the carbon paper sits under the fabric and you push the wheel over the fabric and pattern piece where the markings are.  It was very quick and quite accurate.  However, I had already purchased a 'Clover' chalk marker earlier in the week so I think I will give that a go next week.

Clover chalk markers

Marking wheel and yellow carbon paper under the fabric

Hopefully next week I can start to piece the 'Flamingo Shirt Dress' together.

The Good Ship Lollypop!

This week a childhood heroine of mine left this earth - Shirley Temple Black.  

When we were kids, my best friend and I loved watching her films and we would sometimes put on concerts singing the songs from her movies.  I had photocopied pictures of her stuck on my bedroom wall and occasionally put my hair in ringlets to get that 'Curly Top' look.  As an adult she also lived an inspiring life, working as a US diplomat.  Even as a child I thought it was wonderful how she didn't let her childhood stardom direct her life but instead forged an adult career of her own choosing and passion.  She inspired me back then and I will let her inspire me again.  

              

For some fun I have decided to create a little girls dress reminiscent of her style as America's little darling, in memory of her and my childhood.  Come back next week to see the beginning of my 'Shirley' dress.

Other Leading Ladies

The other day my husband and I went out for a Mexican feast with friends of ours.  We had a great time.  During the course of the evening I was gifted with some lovely books full of inspirational photos of the classic Hollywood film stars.  Here are some of the pictures from the one called 'Leading Ladies'.  

                                     

It is great to have pictures like these as a source of inspiration.  I am really intrigued with the outfit Marilyn Monroe is wearing here.  

It seems quite contemporary, you could get a similar look very easily with things you already have or can get from current fashion shops. 

Retro styling is not so difficult or out of reach and you don't have to spend a fortune or make it all your self.  

Hmm time I went through my cupboard with a fresh set of eyes :-)

Well that's all folks

Keep well

:-)

History Heroine