My Vintage Vanity: Sewing Patterns

Signing up for the Vintage Sewing Pledge 2015, meant I had to go through my collection of vintage and retro sewing patterns. I thought it would be fun to share a little glimpse!

In my sewing room I store them in a bin on my bookcase. All of my commercial patterns are vintage or repro/retro and are stored in the red bin. In the black bin are my own drafted patterns which I tend to use more often. 

What I love about the vintage pledge is that it is forcing me to use my collection of purchased patterns and not just collect them. 

These are some of my repro and retro patterns. I love that the pattern companies are re-issuing old hard to find vintage patterns. I've chosen most of these for my pledge!

A small sampling of my vintage dress patterns. I really need to utilize these more!

Vintage lingerie, nightgowns, and bed jackets. Love!

Vintage jackets and coats. 

The possibilities are endless! Do you collect vintage sewing patterns? Do you use them or are they more for inspiration? Have you joined the vintage pledge?

My Projects: Vintage Sewing Pledge 2015

The Vintage Pledge hosted by A Stitching Odyssey and Kestrel Makes is back! I'm very excited about it this year, as I will be starting at the beginning of the year. Last year, you may remember, I had only discovered the Vintage Pledge 2014 in May. I was amped up about it and made a peasant blouse but then my sewing machine (that I had had for over 20 years) died. It wasn't a happy time. 

A few months later, I got a new machine. A Janome HD-1000, that I love! I made some items for my Etsy shop and worked on my pencil skirt pattern, but never dug back into the vintage sewing I had set my sights on. The next thing I knew, it was the holidays! 

So here we are, 2015, and I'm ready to pledge again. I have pledged to make 5 garments. I have already decided what they are. Here's my plan! 

Simplicity 6341. 

I have bought some white cotton for this. It's basically a Swirl Dress, so what is not to love? I can see this being made in several summer fabrics and being my essential summer go to! 

Butterick B4919. 

I love everything about this. I want to find a cotton stripe fabric and start with the shorter length.

Butterick B5895.

This is a Pattern by Gertie and I'm sure you've seen this on every vintage sewing blog. Now it's my turn. I hardly ever wear pants, so this should be pretty interesting. I am counting this as 2 entries. The top I will make in red & white gingham and the pants in a red stretch cotton satine. Fabrics already purchased. 

Vogue V8812. 

Can you tell I love summer dresses? I want a floral print for this one. If I love it, I will remake in lots of other fabric choices for sure! Undecided on the bolero. 

Will you join in? I hope so! 

Next week, I will be sharing more of my pattern stash, and hopefully I will start a muslin or two! Well, hopefully at least one. 

Mid-Week Inspiration: Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge

 I'm not one for "sew-alongs"or "knit-alongs", heck even book clubs don't work for me. I like to work on my projects in my own time, especially since the free time I have for them is really limited. Do you remember the "That's Sew Cinematic" sew along I wanted to participate in back in 2012? Nope, I still haven't made that dress! But I still want to! 

I also want to sew more from my vintage pattern collection. I've got some goodies in there and I did tell myself at the beginning of the year that it's time to start using them. I have always sewn more from my own drafted patterns and still do. Sewing from published patterns can be strange when you are used to your own. But my collection of vintage and repro patterns needs to be explored! 

Here are a few projects from the past where I've used vintage patterns.

You may remember this swimsuit cover up from 2009. I used McCall's 6370; an adorable pattern from the Sixties.

And of course, last summer I did my peasant blouse series. That was a lot of fun. I made three using the Butterick pattern above. Black Swiss Dot, Fruity Peasant Blouse and Hawaiian. Oh and I found some white Swiss Dot in my fabric stash so I will be making one more this summer, too!

Considering the amount of sewing patterns I have, this is not a great turn out. So, I was pleased to find out about Marie's Vintage Sewing Pledge from a A Stitching Odyssey.  I first discovered it from her guest post on By Gum, By Golly. Not only did I discover the pledge but also her fine blog! I love when that happens. I also discovered that I'm not alone in the vintage pattern hoarding collecting dust scenario. This is common amongst us vintage crafty types, and we have the fabric stash to prove it. 

Marie has made a pledge at the beginning of the year to sew at least 5 of her patterns from her stash in 2014. That to me, seems achievable! I'm starting 6 months too late (realistically it will be June before I start!), but better late than never. Let's see how many I can do. Unlike other sew alongs- I've got time and can share along the way. All is required is to share with #vintagepledge on twitter. This is a pledge, not a sew-along. This is inspiring!

Here are some patterns in my hopeful pile! Oh and that Lana Turner dress too! 

Mid-Week Inspiration: Sewing for Summer

Beach vacations are booked (Key West in May)! Summer will arrive...at some point! Lately, I've been inspired to start sewing up some Summer fashions. Now is the time to get the stash organized and patterns planned. 

How about some beach cover-ups?

For inspiration, any day of the week, follow me on Pinterest.

My Projects: Hawaiian Peasant Blouse

My sewing goal (one of many) this Summer was to complete three peasant blouses from vintage Butterick 9768 pattern.  I have finished peasant blouse number three, which means I've completed the series! You may remember my fruity peasant blouse and my black swiss dot peasant blouse from earlier posts. 

This time I chose a lightweight cotton with a Hawaiian print on it. I had to cut it on the cross grain due to the direction of the print. 

I wore it last weekend to brunch with my red Trashy Diva pencil skirt and cherry print espadrille wedges. 

A close-up of the print and puffy sleeve. 

I thought my cherry print espadrilles were a fun complement. Don't you? 

Do you mix prints? Have you completed any of your Summer sewing goals? 

My Projects: Fruity Peasant Blouse

Peasant blouse Number Two of the Summer is finished!  The first one I made was in a lightweight black swiss dot. This time, I used an Anna Sui remnant (fabric shopping in NYC is the best!) raw silk with the cutest floral and fruity print! I really love this print. 

The pattern is vintage 1950's Butterick 9768.

Here it is laid out on my chenille bedspread. 

I wore it last Saturday to work with my Trashy Diva red pencil skirt and a vintage purse. Sorry, wish I got a better shot of my lovely black woven raffia vintage purse. Next time. 

Detail shot. My glass leaves necklace and earrings were a gift from my husband. He also suggested I wear them with this outfit! He's got good taste!

Now on to the third! Stay tuned for the final installment of my Summer peasant blouse sewing series! 

My View: June Instagram Highlights

Ahhh June!! Summer has made it's arrival and I couldn't be happier! Here are some highlights from my Instagram from last month. To see my vacation pics from Memphis, go here.  Should you want to keep instagram, ya know instant, follow me @BobbinBombshell.

Sewing projects are in order this Summer! I am committed to making more of my own clothes. Here is some patterns and newly purchased fabric for summer sewing goodness! 

The yarn arrived from Craftsy for the Mystery Knit Along! It's no longer a mystery. The pattern is now available. We are making a lacy shawl! My first one! 

Discovered this van completely yarn bombed! Wow! 

Spent the first day of Summer at the High Line afterwork to watch the sun set with my sweetie! 

Happy Summer! 

My Projects: Update and Upcoming

You know how it is, the weather warms up and the sewing and knitting projects cool down. I am still working on a few projects but I definitely feel like I have slowed down. Here's an update, since it's been so long, as well as a few projects on my list!

Do you remember the Seed Stitch Cambridge scarf I started knitting a while back? I'm still working on it, but hope to have it done real soon! It's beautiful in this blonde tweed! 

I made these wall hangings from an old vintage crochet cutter and used embroidery hoops as frames. They are a gift but I love them on my exposed brick wall. 

I really want to get back into sewing. These are the three patterns I want to use this summer for my own wardrobe. Several peasant blouses are needed, the halter dress I want to make out of gingham, and the wrap dress, well don't judge, but I still haven't started my Lana Turner dress. So please! Encourage me to get back into a regular sewing habit! 

I have also purchased the Mystery Knit-Along for July from Craftsy! I am so excited. As I mentioned my scarf is nearly done and I wasn't sure what to start next so this is perfect timing. The pattern is also from Stefanie Japel, who teaches the Knit Lab course I took!  It is currently on sale for $14.99 and that includes the yarn, pattern, and workshop materials! Who doesn't love a good mystery? I would love it if you would join me. Follow the My Projects series here to see my updates and find out what it is or let's knit this together! Click here to purchase it before it gets too late! 

What are your project plans for the summer? Have you slowed down, or are you still going strong? I would love to hear what you have been working on! 

My Projects: Perky Snood Progress

You may remember I started crocheting a snood from a vintage pattern. Here is my progress so far. I hope the opening comes out large enough to fit my head. If not I will have to start over. We'll see!
The yarn is Red Heart Classic worsted medium weight wool in #3 Off White. I want the snood to be chunky and have a lot of texture.

This is the image that came with the pattern. What I'm aiming for!

My Vintage Vanity: Sewing Patterns

**Have a peek into my vintage collection.**

The vintage community is so generous. It never ceases to amaze me how resourceful, helpful, and kind my fellow vintage sellers can be. I recently received a sizable package of vintage patterns from the super sweet Emily of Tea Street Vintage! She was given a huge lot of them and sent me the ones that she couldn't sell due to missing pattern pieces. Lucky for me the missing pieces are just simple facings and being that I know patternmaking, I can easily and willingly make new ones! Emily knew that and sent them to me free of charge! Thank you Emily...I can't wait to get started on my new projects!

Here's a small sampling of the many she sent.

I must get started on this one right away!


So simple...but I really love it!

This can go in many directions!

Please visit Emily's Etsy store, Tea Street Vintage for some amazing vintage finds. (psst..she's having a sale!) and follow her on Twitter @teastreetvtg.

5/26/10 Edit- Emily is now offering my dear readers ( that's you!) 10% off any sewing patterns in her shop, Tea Street Vintage, when you mention Bobbins and Bombshells in the Notes to Sellers! She will be listing more patterns this week! Don't forget to mention you read about it here! Happy Shopping!

Shop News...This Just In!

I'm having a HUGE HAND RECOVERY SALE in my Etsy shop The Sparkling Cocktail! 60% off ALL items! The peach lace blouse pictured above is now $60 marked down from $150! This sale won't last long...I'm making some huge improvements in physical therapy!! YAY! I will hopefully be sewing up a storm in April!
And newly listed at Femme Fatale Vintage this past week are the following Spring dresses and sewing patterns:

Pink Silk Tweed Vintage 1950s Sailor Collar Dress with Velvet Trim sz M

Spring Bouquet Vintage 1950s Pink Blue and Silvery Grey Floral Shirtwaist Dress sz M

Vintage 1960s Simplicity Pattern 8114 A Line Sheath Dress and Cape Bust 32

Vintage 1950s Simplicity Pattern 1620 Full Skirt Dress with Collar Bust 31

Vintage 1960s Simplicity Pattern 5317 Skirt Suit Jacket Bust 38

Shop News...This Just In!

I am still destashing several vintage patterns and have listed a bunch in my Etsy shop Femme Fatale Vintage. Here are a few:

And don't forget...you can get great vintage deals and help Haiti! 100% of the proceeds from my CLEARANCE section will be donated to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund! This offer ends 2/28 so don't delay! $50 have been raised so far! Let's send more!
My handmade shop, The Sparkling Cocktail, is still open. New items will be listed again as soon as my hand is fully healed. Instead of sewing I've been going to physical therapy and doing my hand exercises. I miss sewing and blogging about my projects so I am working my hardest to get my skills and hand back in working order!
Be sure to follow me on twitter @BobbinBombshell or @femmefatalevtg for instant updates!