The 2015 vintage sewing pattern pledge

I have to confess to complete failure with my 2014 challenge. I pledged 4 and made a big fat zero.

Despite that, I've joined up again but not being quite so optimistic. The 2015 Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge has a slightly different take to the pledge this year, encouraging those for whom a numerical target isn't the best approach. Following on from that:

I pledge to use one 1930s pattern and one 1950s pattern this year.

Another fabric for a vintage summer dress

OK, not the only thing.  At the end of December I bought this piece of brown cotton satin with a duckegg & cream print.  I needed to get fabric for the collar cos I realised it's perfect for the wrap 1930s New York dress pattern.  The olive foliate print I had been planning to use was impossible to find a matching plain, except in white. I looked for a few years and not only does white not suit me, I figured it shows marks to easily for someone as clumsy as myself.

The choices of plain duck-egg or mint were un-inspiring. They looked flat and dull, and not right for this lightweight fluid cotton satin, and then one of the shop assistants suggested the quilting micro dot fabric. It works really well and is a lovely soft and spendy cotton.  This metre of fabric cost 75% what my 4 metres of brown print cost - ok that was ridiculously cheap for Australia, but still. meeep



I also got some black for contrast collar on my red/black print cotton. Red was meh, white a no-go-zone.

summer dresses I might make - 6 each of fabrics and patterns

I've looked at my stash & vintage patterns (as I've failed to live up to my vintage pattern pledge this year) to see what my options are.

Here's a pic of my 6 vintage patterns of choice, and 6 dress lengths I already own. They're not in any particular order, except the top 2 patterns are in the mail to me. 

I've let my subconscious think about it which fabric and which pattern.  The top left pattern gets the martini fabric; the top right pattern gets the 4th teal/navy trefoil print and maybe the red + black print; middle right pattern gets the top splodgy print; bottom left dunno really maybe the olivey print; the bottom right gets the flowers on  black? maybe.

I may not use all patterns, but I want/ need to use all fabrics.  I can't buy another dress length until 4  of the 6 pieces are made.  Must shop the stash first!

MAGAM: October plan

The MAGAM theme for October is "Opalescence - sew & shine". Opals being the birthstone for October.

This was an easy one for me ... the fire opal is far more appealing than the milky ones. I have my two Anne Adams pattens and this fabric. Thats' as close to fire opals as I have in my stash.

It also counts in my Vintagw Sewing Pattern Pledge, which I've kinda let slide all year. Oops

clicking on eBay's fabric offerings

I have to confess to buying 2x 2metre pieces of fabric (same fabric so 4m in total) to make one of my vintage dress patterns. I really need to maintain the momentum I got at the sewing retreat. Talking with one of my friends, I used to sew every night for about 20 to 30 minutes when I got home. Somehow I really got out of the habit, starting with the months I had glandular fever (the 2nd time). That was swifly followed by tennis elbow so I couldn't hold anything and I never really got back to including it in my daily routine. I no longer resemble the person a friend said "how can you do so much", as at the time I was studying shoemaking at TAFE and also going to a movie every Tuesday (about 50 weeks of the year).

Anywho, this fabric will be used for my Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge for 2014 - after my coat, wedding outfit and UFO shirts for work!

joining a Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge

As soon as I saw this through a blog I follow, I knew I was in.

During 2014 I, CostumesFromAShoebox, will sew up at least 4 of my vintage sewing patterns.