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A little food for thought as you unwind for the holidays and prepare for the New Year, I have posted my next challenge well in advance as I have largely advertised it in print! Everything 40's fashion is-FABULOUS!  Suits were highly tailored for men AND women, drapery on an evening gown lent luxe details, even the humble and comfortable at-home house dress was loaded with interesting lines; everything was so well fitting. Projects may not be started earlier than 12:01 a.m. EST on February 1, 2017 although a muslin for fitting may be created any time before the challenge kick-off...

...an 18th Century-esque raven, that is.  Actually, a costume pattern from the 30's as a retrospective on a crinoline costume per The DuBarry Pattern Co. I modified this design to come up with a raven costume and now it is in the finishing stretch! Just a few 'teaser' (throwback process) photos until I have it all together and share it for The New Year! I plan to make the pattern available in multi-sizes in 2017.       (Funny enough, my muse perched atop a pine outside my window and 'sang' as I worked up the costume!)    

As everything in life, sewing patterns are a balancing act-especially VINTAGE patterns! After being folded for who-knows-how-long after having been treated who-knows-how by the one(s) who previously owned it and after warping the ease in the fragile tissue paper to create as careful a draft as possible, chances are a vintage pattern will be un-balanced at best. When I first started drafting from vintage originals back in the 90's, I did so verbatim.  That is, I drafted each piece as it lay on my table (after CAREFUL iron pressing) without matching the balance between front and back, side seams, etc....

I added a new department this week.  I am selling yardage and notions as I can stock them. Fabrics are sold by full yards, although upon order I will advise on increments in between when available.  Watch for the offerings to expand to select colors of Gutermann silk over soon. 

I fashioned an apron from View B of my pattern A40-3250 (originally a 1945 Butterick). I did so thinking that upon entering a vintage apron challenge that we had to actually sew from the apron pattern we were posting (this was not the case).  Understand that I was in the sewing challenge frame of mind at the time just having concluded my EvaDress Pattern Challenge.  Regardless, I have a fabulous apron in fabric I have been drawn to for a few months! As I posted in the challenge: 'Had I been able to source the contrast fabric I wanted for...