I always go on half price days and I generally pick up stuff that I intend on making into something else.
Thrifting for me is not a matter of being cheap .. It has to do with the thrill of the hunt and the fact that I find relics of my childhood or other treasures I can't live without...I am a highly nostalgic person, and I respect items that have previous experience.
I have been picking up these 50's and 60's sewing and pattern making books at thrift stores here and there for a couple of months.
A few weeks ago, I really found one that got me thinking...
Most of my favorite things in my wardrobe are vintage...
What If: I got some vintage patterns...
(a lot of about 20, in my size, on ebay, still meeting my 10.00 limit, if you don't count shipping)....
And, use some of the great material available these days, and made "New Vintage" clothes?
Like This Jacket that I Finished Over the Weekend!! :
I used some hoarded Amy Butler Charm Parrot Tulip fabric from my stash..
(I noticed Sew Mama Sew has it in a pink version.)
Okay, never mind that I lack serious seamstress training.. I sew a bit, but I am mostly self taught ( despite my mom's best efforts.) I have stuck to easier, more self explanitory things, like simple dolls, pillows, curtains and cutting up t-shirts.
What was I thinking??? This is a hoot.. I am learning great finished seams, new techniques for installing zippers and buttonholes, what kind of interfacing you use on what kind of fabric, and how to alter a pattern and custom fit a garment. This is my new favorite thing to do ever...
I am going to post a garment every other week until my husband takes away my fabric shopping license or my crazy stash dries up. Just you wait!!!
sigh...
I * heart * sewing.....
17 comments:
That is amazing! I am so totally impressed! Truly. And you are a doll!!! Love how the different hairdo's change the jacket completely. How crafty!!! I admire the things you are learning.. I am what you would call, the head of the "unteachables." WOW!!!
You are stylin' and you wear that jacket! Love the blue and and the green lining edging stuff is right on! Your reading photo is a hoot! Is that a matching headband?
You accessorize beautifully! I love the wardrobe planning book, I could use some help there!
I am SO beyond impressed! And what LOVELY photos of you!!! Pretty soon you will have an totally one of a kind wardrobe all expertly sewn all on your own!
You give me hope as struggle along, wanting to do rash things like drop-kicking my machine out of the window. (As tho' it is the MACHINE'S fault that i can't get a seam to stay straight...it has NOTHING to do with any failings on my own part! :D
Keep it up! I so love seeing your progress!!!
That is a fabulous jacket! What a great idea to rework those vintage patterns with modern fabrics. Love it. I can't wait to see what you do with those dresses! PS--Love seeing faces in blogs!
you go girl! great work. look forward to the weekly catwalk!
This is my favorite post of yours now, ever. I enjoyed it even more than the recycled material handbag post.
If you tell me what your size is (either in measurements or in vintage terms) I might be able to pass a couple of vintage patterns along to you (for free which is even better than cheap). I have the exact same goal as you and have collected quite a lot of vintage patterns. Mostly for cheap from e-bay, but a few at huge expense because of collectability issues.
That jacket is fabulous and you look so charming in it!
you are SO glam!!! and what an amazing jacket. thanks for giving us all a peek at you :)
all of the above and great photos too! Gosh I want to be sewing right now...as soon as the studio warms up!
That is VERY cool! Great job, and an excellent idea. It is funny how the hairdo changes the look. It looks different in the picture with Michelle's baby, too (I saw it on Flickr).
I just found your blog and it's like I just got a first edition of wuthering heights in a second hand store! What a fabulous post :)
That jacket is the cutest! And so are you! :) I'd love to see you create an all handmade, vintage pattern wardrobe. How wonderfully eccentric would that be?!
Oh, you should check out Violette Crumble's How to be a Thrifty War Wife post. You'll get a kick out of it. :)
Love your jacket! I'm going to start digging out Grandma Dede's old sewing books for sure now...by the way, I just bought some Amy Butler fabric online through Glorious color, the Rowan Fabric website. They had quite a variety and it was $7 a yard. Not too bad even with shipping.
COULD YOU BE ANY CUTER???? I don't think so.
Dang, I need to go to the thrift stores where you live! Great jacket by the way, I am impressed by anything one sews with sleeves. Old sewing books really do rule and I love the band names in your profile, esp. Sargent Poopers. I am still hoping to start a band named the Magic Johnsons personally. I will be back :)
You are amazing! I LOVE that jacket. I would pay big bucks for that jacket! I have to say, you don't look like a size 20! (This is coming from a size 22 woman) I'm thinking that a vintage size 20 must be like a size 12 today!
Hi,
I am interested in the gren tulip parrot fabric you used in the jacket in order to finish a quilt.
Do you have some amount left?
Thanks
Post a Comment