Finished Overalls!

Here they are... finally!  I used the yellow creme brulee buttons.  Overall, I'm pretty happy with them.  They are a tad big, but it's not too noticeable when I have a blouse on.  I'll probably make them again, but in a less drapey fabric next time.  Last time I made them, I used a cotton linen look fabric, and that was perfect.  The darts originally came out really pointy, so I went back and pulled them out and restitched them, being good and tieing the ends off instead of back stitching the second time!  I also extended them by about 3/8" and turned my needle about a 1/2" before the end of the dart to create more of a curve.  Hope that makes sense. :)  The only other fitting change I made was lengthening the rise by a 1/2".

The blouse I'm wearing is one I made years ago and has gotten a lot of wear.   It's DuBarry 2471B, and you can find a reproduction of at it at Past Patterns.  I may have to reorder one myself, as I seem to have lost the pattern, and I love this blouse!

Simplicity 3322

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Buttons, Buttons Everywhere

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm getting really tired of looking at buttons!  I found a woman with a good selection of vintage buttons on ebay last night though, and I think I've found them.  I actually ordered four different styles from her, but only got enough of two of them for the overalls.  One style is a cherry red, but the one I think it's more likely I'll use is a beautiful shade of yellow!  My mother has dubbed them the creme brulee buttons.  Don't they look yummy!?!

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Overalls Progress and Button Indecision...

So the overalls are coming along.  They're actually going pretty quickly -- when I get the chance to sew.  Thing is, I don't get that much sewing time.  Mostly during naps.  I got the buttons in the mail the other day, and as you can see in the picture, they don't match after all.  Darn monitor.  Anyway, I'm kinda rethinking red now even though I had originally nixed it as an option.  I need nine buttons, so the smaller ones in the picture, which are the correct size, won't work.  I have exactly nine of the larger dark red buttons, but they are bigger than the pattern calls for.  Think I'll see if they'll work anyway. 

I decided to underline the bodice with a lightweight cotton broadcloth I had in my stash, because the linen/rayon softened up quite a bit after laundering.

In progress overalls bodice.

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Sewing & Cupcakes

I've started a sewing project!  Wheeee!!  My first in a few years other than mending.  Between lack of space, pregnancy and then baby, I haven't made anything in a few years.  It feels good to be working on something again.  I'm making the overalls from Simplicity 3322 in a navy linen/rayon blend found at Joann's.  I never find anything at Joann's!  Pretty sure you've all seen this pattern before, but I'll post a pic of it anyway.   This won't be my first time making this pattern, so even though it's a different size this time around, I'm not going to worry about making a muslin first.  (that makes it sound like I'm usually good and do make a muslin! ha!)  I'm pretty sure the fitting adjustments I made to the pattern should be good.  Plus, this pattern has a 3/4" side seam allowance for fitting already built in.  I'm still thinking about the buttons on this.  White is what I have in mind, and I picked up some basic ones at Joann's too, but I'm really not enthused about them.  Anyone know a good mail order button place?

Now onto the cupcakes!  I read about Jilly's Cupcakes here in Saint Louis the other day, and managed to persuade my husband to swing by there this morning after we did the grocery shopping.  I just had to take a picture of them!  They are soooo gorgeous, and pretty yummy too!!  The frosting is definitely what makes them!  We got the Creamcicle, the Death by Chocolate and the Jilly Burger.

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A Sewing Room All My Own!

I've always wanted a sewing room, but living in San Francisco, I didn't exactly have a lot of spare rooms. One of the things I'm enjoying about the mid-west is how much space we have! Finally, I have a sewing room. *insert jump for joy here!* It's still a /guest room, but I'm happy. It's not like I'll be sewing when we have guests. Last weekend we picked up a sewing desk and hutch for me to store my stuff in. I still have quite a bit to unpack and put away, but here's how it is looking so far.

A 1920's vanity which had lost it's mirror is now my sewing desk.


This 1950's hutch now provides perfect storage for my fashion & costume books. Plus, my many rulers fit perfectly in the drawer.

Last but not least, my beloved dress form, old Annie, and storage bins because I have too much stuff!

I still need to get pictures up on the walls too, but I'm having loads of fun getting my space all set up to start sewing again! Only thing left on my list to get for the room (not that I can fit in too much more furniture) is a folding cutting table. It's modern and quite ugly, but I figure I can cover it up with a table cloth when not in use.

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