Verity Vintage Studio

All the Kitchen Things - Painted Blossoms Fabric Tour

It's time to share the projects I made recently with a brand new fall fabric line called Painted Blossoms, by Poppie Cotton. It has a lovely color palette, and lots of pretty floral prints. My favorites are the butterflies!

Here is the selection I chose to use from my fat quarter bundle. The colors are so perfect for this time of year! 

 

I felt a little burnt out after making two quilts on a close deadline with the last blog tour, so I wanted something smaller and easier this time.

 

I had a little yardage of two of the butterfly prints, so after some debating on what to use them for, I settled on making a fun little coordinating set of little girl size coverall aprons from a 1960s pattern.

They were super cute and easy to make! Just one piece to cut out, sew the shoulder seams, and bind all the edges. 

 

For the larger size apron, I used a contrast floral from Painted Blossoms to bind the edges. I think it turned out so cute in this pink color!

 

Of course there are roomy patch pockets. 

 

It slips on easily, is loose fitting, and snaps at the back of the neck - a great size-versatile way to protect the clothes underneath. 

 

I scaled down the pattern quite a bit to make the 2-year-old size, and bound it with a gingham basic.

 

I could make the whole thing in an hour or less, so these were very easy and quick projects. My girls were thrilled with them! I have a feeling these will get a lot of use during the upcoming holiday baking season.

 

But as usual, when I only use a few prints from a collection, I like to also play with the rest of it in something smaller. This time it was a selection of kitcheny things!

 

I badly needed a hotpad refresh in my kitchen, so I could get rid of the sadly stained and greasy ones I've been using.

 

I made 4 quilt-as-you-go hotpads in different styles and sizes. 

My last item was a non-quilted cloth for my folding bed table that I use as a tea tray almost every afternoon on the sofa. I used some prints that will hopefully hide any tea stains, and added some vintage lace for the perfect trim.

 

It's completely reversible, so I got two different looks in one. It's hard to decide which side I like better!

 

All of these were fun to make, and as usual if you check out the other makes on this blog tour you can see a wide variety of lovely and creative projects which are sure to give you inspiration!

Vintage Style Quilts with Poppie Cotton's Market Day

I've been eagerly anticipating when the time would arrive to sew with my sample yardage of Poppie Cotton's new fabric line Market Day, and it finally happened!

 

I love this line so much...definitely another top favorite of mine. So many sweet designs, pretty colors, little berries and florals and wreaths, buntings and dolls!

 

I couldn't stop with one quilt, so I made two! First I noticed that the fabric was a good match to the colors I had used to embroider these Sunbonnet Sue blocks I started as a teen and finished up the first year I was married (before I had taken up quilting, so I just stored them until later).

 

There are plenty of flaws from my less-experienced needlework days, but I still think the blocks are super cute. In order to turn the embroidered blocks into a crib size quilt, I alternated them with a print block.

 

I settled on deconstructed hourglass blocks, since those are fun to make. I had to do some tests first to come up with the correct size to pair with the embroidered blocks.

 

After sewing them together, I only had a few weeks left to quilt it, so I was hand quilting every spare moment in order to meet my deadline - and I finished it up by sewing the binding the very same day I had to take and send in the photos!

 

I custom quilted around each of the Sue blocks (the one with the parasol is my 2-year-old's favorite!), adding fun little details in some of them, and did all the star blocks alike. It was quite a bit of hand quilting in a short time, so now I'm ready to take a break before I start the next project!

 

This was also my first attempt at a scalloped border. I've wanted to make one for some time, and finally decided to just tackle it. It actually was fairly easy, thanks to online tutorials like this one, and now that I've done it once, I expect it will be even easier next time.

 

The scallops finish the edge perfectly, making it such a fun little girly quilt! I had to hang it up in my living room so I can enjoy it for a while.

 

But I also had a second idea I wanted to make, if I could squeeze it in. Teapot wall hanging!

 

For this one I used Lori Holt's Granny's Teapot pattern, making 4 teapot blocks, and adding my own border to make the size a good one for my space (and to add in more of the cute prints). 

 

I actually made this one from start to finish (except for one teapot block) in one day, so it went pretty quickly. 

 

I love how the large size of the teapots show off some favorite prints! Now if I could just find some REAL teapots with chintz prints like this...

 

I machine quilted it all over with a double line diamond grid, and really love how it looks. I think I'll use this for a larger quilt when I have one I want to machine quilt.

 

So many pictures in this post, but I was so pleased with both these projects that it's hard to narrow it down!

 

There have been so many adorable projects using this new fabric line, in this blog tour. I hope you check them out, and ask your local quilt shop about the availability of Market Day! It's honestly the cutest.

Monday, August 19	@elliebugmakes	Ellie Bug
Tuesday, August 20	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com	Dori Troutman
Wednesday, August 21	http://prettybyhand.com/	Kristyne
Thursday, August 22	https://charismascorner.com/category/blog/	Charisma
Friday, August 23	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/	Lisa Garlic
Monday, August 26	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/	Kristen Clay
Tuesday, August 27	creamcraftgoods	Karen
Wednesday, August 28	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com	Belinda Karls-Nace
Thursday, August 29	https://www.mollyandmama.com.au/blog/	Lauren Wright
Friday, August 30	charisecreates.blogspot.com	Charise Creates

 

1930s Aqua Print Blouse

I had made this blouse pattern a long, long time ago when I was just starting to branch out into more complicated vintage patterns. It was a sloppy job, and I since got rid of it. When I got 1 1/2 yards of this super cute repro print recently, I decided to pull it out again.

 

I really like the fitted peplum around the hips, and all the feminine gathers on the bodice - but that does mean it's rather a pain to iron!

 

I didn't get the fit perfect. Another time I would do a few things differently. But it still turned out cute, with or without a belt. 

 

It's definitely not a quick-and-easy pattern, though I did remember a lot of the construction from last time. There are so many gathers and details, and the sleeves are not put in the traditional way. But the result is quite pleasing.

 

I paired it with a recently thrifted 1970s-does-1930s skirt that I picked up for $2 because I couldn't resist the polka dots, despite the polyester. 

 

Since it is stretchy polyester, it is comfortable to wear, though I don't prefer the feel...and the ruffles are just too fun! 

 

It goes with this blouse quite well, I thought. I'm glad I got it, though it IS quite a loud color!

 

The hat is sadly too small for me, so I intend to list it on Etsy, but I had to get one set of photos with it first. The details and bakelite buckle are just too cute!

 

We had quite a smoky stretch of summer this year, so that's what the haze is in the distance.

 

The purse is actually 1950s, but it was cute and navy and I wanted an excuse to carry it, so here it is! Also this was a perfect time to wear my most flamboyant art deco gauntlets and favorite 1930s repro shoes from Remix.

 

Summer is coming to an end, so I don't know how many more summer sewing projects I'll get done. But I'm glad I fit this one in so I could use up this fun fabric instead of storing it on my shelf!

 

Late 1930s Cobalt Blue Dress

I had a few yards stashed of this lovely repro print from The Timely Tailor (now sold out, but there are some similar prints still available), and one day this summer when I was in the mood to sew with it, I cut out a late 1930s dress.

 

This was a recent pattern buy, and the first time I'd made it. It turned out to be quite a bit more complicated than it looks!

 

The bodice definitely took some concentration to assemble. I've never done anything like it. 

 

I wouldn't say it was an unqualified success in the fit department, but I sure learned a lot while I made it. I would definitely do some tweaking to the pattern if I make it again. But as a wearable muslin it works.

 

I love the cheerful blue and white fabric. Such a classic!

 

Lots of white top stitching on the bodice bands trim it, and I ended up inserting some rickrack on the sleeves, just for fun.

 

Other than the bodice, the dress was pretty straightforward. It's an interesting example of how something can look simple but be deceptively complex in construction - which is definitely a common element in fashion design from this time period. 

Gingham Placemats with Cottage Charm

Today I get to show you some fun little crafty projects I made with a new Poppie Cotton fabric called Cottage Charm. I selected a just a few prints from this new fabric line to sew with. 

 

Of course the little cottage prints called for fussy cutting, so I featured them along with some coordinating florals to make a set of 4 gingham placemats. 

 

I think they are perfect for setting a summer or fall table!

 

I cut 3" squares and made a super basic patchwork panel, so it went quickly. 

 

I like how the gingham frames the little cottages. 

 

Of course you can mix up the colors, but I think it's fun to have them in color groups like this. 

 

There wasn't a pale aqua floral, so I chose one of Poppie Cotton's basics to go with this one.

 

For another small project, I took my favorite little cottage and embellished it with freehand embroidery. It adds some cute texture and detail. 

 

I'd never done anything like this before, but I've seen it done - and I think mine wasn't too bad for a first attempt!

 

We can always use placemats in our house, so these will come in useful - and the hoop will decorate my sewing room.

 

If you like whimsical prints in earth tones, you should definitely check out this new fabric.

 

Check out this list of participating makers to see all the lovely variety of projects featuring this fabric!

Friday, July 5	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com
Monday, July 8	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 10	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 12	https://charisecreates.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 15	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/
Wednesday, July 17	https://bemandythings.com/blogs/news
Friday, July 19	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
Monday, July 22	@elliebugmakes
Wednesday, July 24	https://www.sewmariana.com/
Friday, July 26	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/
Monday, July 29	http://www.creamcraftgoods.com/

1940s 4th of July Dress

You've already seen the little girl dresses I made for the 4th of July, so now it's time to show you my 4th of July dress for this year!

 

I have so many blue dresses and such a big stack of blue fabric, that it's quite easy to find something suitable for patriotic apparel. This year I decided to use this gorgeous large floral from the Mona fabric line called Dwell - one of my favorites, and it's now starting to go on clearance so I snagged some. 

 

I broke out a pre-war pattern I haven't made for years. I've made this twice in striped fabric before, so this has quite a different look.

 

I made the collarless version this time, mostly because with the extreme July heat we had forecasted, I had no interest in having extra fabric around my neck.

 

The same thing went for the sleeves. I wanted something cooler than the elbow sleeves that came with the pattern, so I substituted these cap sleeves from another 1940s pattern.

 

I had never made a sleeve quite like this, but I rather like it! I think it gives it a very 1940s look too.

 

The pattern said to bind the edge, but I cut a wide facing instead, using the sleeve piece as a pattern. That way I didn't have to worry about wrinkles or warping of the shaped edge.

 

I chose a contrast tie belt. It's nice to have the look of a belt, without the actual extra bulk at the waist. 

This style does mean that I need to have a good fit, because I can't just cover up deficiencies by slapping on a belt, but there is a bit of adjustability too. 

 

I had to take some width out of the skirt to fit it on the pattern pieces, but it still has a nice flare.

 

The vintage buttons I had picked up for $.50 years ago at a favorite thrift store in PA, when we were on vacation, and I finally found the perfect project for them. 

 

It was a fun project, comfortable for summer, and I love the bold floral. I have this same floral yardage in navy that I have plans for soon! I got both colors because I couldn't decide which I liked best. 

 

The garden is flourishing despite the heat, and the roses this year have been lovely. It's hard to believe July is halfway over already!

 

My First Structured Bag - with Zakka Workshop

I have made a fair amount of sewn or quilted totes and bags so far, but never one with purchased frames or handles. I have often admired the ones I've seen, and wanted someday to try my hand at it. That chance came when Zakka Workshop reached out to me to ask if I wanted to try one of their new products. 

 

I picked the carry me tube frame bag, since I love the shape. It reminds me a lot of the style you might see a granny carrying around her knitting in. 

 

Since this is the first time I've done anything like this, I followed the instructions carefully and took my time. I found it to be quite clear, and broken down into little steps.

 

I used this adorable canvas weight home dec fabric by Lori Holt, and lined it with another Lori Holt print (this one was just regular quilting cotton.) Honestly, though, I could think of soooo many combos from my stash that would have been just perfect!

 

I didn't have any fusible fleece, so I used another layer of a canvas-like fabric in my stash, and I was pretty happy with the structure, even though the interfacing they recommend would no doubt have been better.

 

I didn't see the tip to baste the handle cases in place until I had already had to redo one of them, so I can definitely recommend that tip - it would be a huge help! That was the most fiddly part.

 

The rest was straightforward. It actually went together fairly quickly. Now that I know what I'm doing, it would be even faster next time. 

 

I like how roomy it is. You can fit two fat quarter stacks in there side by side. 

 

I also like how the tube handles hold it open so nicely. It's definitely perfect for a carry-along project bag!

 

It's so fun to see the amazingly different looks you can get with other fabric choices and styles, if you follow along with the other makers that are part of this! I have to say I'm quite happy with my first attempt at this type of bag, and am encouraged to try out other types in the future.

 

Check out Zakka Workshop for your bag making hardware, and if you're a little intimidated by the idea - don't be! It's much less scary than it looks. :-) 

 

2 Small Patriotic Dresses for 4th of July

A few years ago, the cutest nautical/Americana fabric line called Portsmouth came out, by Amy Smart for Riley Blake Designs. It remains one of my favorite patriotic lines ever.

I was lucky enough to snag a bunch of it, and ever since I have wanted to make the girls coordinating red, white, and blue dresses using it. I finally got it done this year!

 

I had already made a summer quilt from it a while ago. It has the loveliest sketched toile seaside prints, giant hydrangeas, gingham and plaid, tiny oars and stars and flags...so much cuteness. I also love the more faded color palette and the dash of pink. 

 

I was somewhat limited by what I had on hand, but I was quite pleased with how they turned out. For my oldest daughter, I made this sundress pattern again, only this time with a contrast yoke and contrast ruffle. Must get as many of the cute prints in as possible!

 

The yoke is double sided, so it's finished on the inside too. I also added the bow this time, squeezing it out from the little bit that was left after cutting the ruffle. 

 

I lengthened the skirt and the ruffle pieces so that it will fit her next year also. She is growing so fast, and so many of her clothes have gotten too short this summer. 

 

It's loose and breezy, perfect for the triple digit stretch of July weather we are scheduled to have next week. 

 

For my 2-year-old, I made the 1930s pattern again that I had used for her Easter dress this year. I had to go with the navy star fabric, since I had enough of that, but of course I had to figure a way to add in some of my favorite toile.

 

I fussy cut out the sleeve pieces and the pockets, to showcase a couple of the sketches, lining them on the inside with white star fabric from the first dress. 

 

The contrast sash and bows were squeezed out of a little bit I had left of the pink flag print. 

 

I also made the round neck version instead of the V neck this time. 

 

It turned out super cute and I was very happy with it.

 

I love how they coordinate even though they don't match. That's one of the benefit of using a curated fabric line where the color tones are made to look well together. 

 

Next week I will show you my 4th of July dress, but until now, here's a little of our Americana festiveness this year!

 

1940s Daisy Suit Alternate Jacket

When I made this year's 1940s Easter suit, I realized that I would likely only wear it a couple times a year because of the 3/4 sleeves, and I liked the fabric well enough I decided to also make a short sleeved top - this would give me 3 pieces to mix and match.

 

I pulled out a favorite pattern I've made twice before for a 1940s ruched jacket.

 

Since this was the 3rd time, it was quite quick to make and went together with no issues. I was very pleased with how it turned out - the fit was better than the 3/4 sleeve jacket, and it feels very spring-ish and trim.

 

As always when I do a pattern again, I like to change it up a little. This time I made the no collar version, so that I can either wear it plain, or with interchangeable vintage collars.

 

I also added wide pink lace cuffs to the sleeves. 

 

Fabric and buttons were both from The Timely Tailor, and the pink buttons were such a good match to the pink in the daisies.

 

This was also the first outing for a new pink vintage hat I'd been sighing over from Abigail's Vintage Attic, and finally pulled the trigger on it when it went on a big sale. Isn't it delightful? 

 

I was so happy to find a pink hat that wasn't straw, so it will be more seasonally appropriate to cold weather if necessary. 

 

I took the silver touches from the hat and incorporated them in the shoes and jewelry, since I didn't have pink shoes to wear.

 

Even though it's the same fabric, it has quite a different look than the original Easter suit. Swapping out accessories can do a lot!

 

Altogether, I'm delighted with this ensemble, and am glad I tried again since I love the fabric so much. It will be nice to have 3 pieces to interchange depending on the weather!

Christmas in June with Poppie Cotton Prairie Christmas

I believe in enjoying the current moment, so I always prefer to sew or craft in the season I'm currently in - but when I need to work ahead of schedule, I find it's also nice to get a jump start on my later seasonal sewing! This month I took a few days to make some Christmassy projects with new Christmas fabric by Poppie Cotton, and it was rather fun...also nice to stock up on some gifts and decor before the seasonal crunch begins. 

 

This is a rustic Christmas line, and while it's not a style I would normally gravitate towards, I quite enjoyed these projects using it, and kept making just one more thing! The little town and farm scenes are especially adorable.

I started with a couple of 18" pillows. 

 

I used the Flower Love pattern by Sew Mariana and made 1 block in 2 different combinations, choosing my favorite prints to highlight in the bigger areas of the block.

 

I quilted them differently, and added a basic envelope back. This is so helpful if you have a lot of pillow covers but limited space. You can fold and store the covers flat, and reuse the same few pillow forms as you switch out the seasonal covers. 

 

I really love the bold flower block look. It reminded me of a giant Christmas bow, and really works well for Christmas with the star and heart center - perfect for this traditional collection. 

 

The edge finish provoked thought since I wanted something stronger than hand stitching a binding, but that looked nicer than a machine stitched binding - which I still have not mastered.

 

The answer was to hand stitch it through all layers with size 10 crochet thread. Super strong, looks nice on both sides, AND adds a lovely contrast stitching detail to the edge. Now I want to try this technique with a full size quilt. 

 

I'm looking forward to using these on the couch this Christmas season.

 

Then I grabbed the leftover fabric and made a slew of smaller scrappy projects!

 

I quilted two panels, cut them in a circle for potholders, and added a pocket for little gifts or decor.

 

I did my favorite quilt-as-you-go string blocks, sorting the strings by color. The green one I left as is; the white one I added little raw edge hearts on each corner and loved it! These are so quick and easy - sew your fabric strips together through all the layers, trim, and bind! Great for a quickly made addition to a gift basket.

 

I think my favorite potholder though was the log cabin - also quilt as you go, starting with a large center cut from the scenic fabric. I loved it so much I'm thinking about doing a whole quilt-as-you-go quilt like this, with fussy cut floral centers!

 

I love how they all coordinate but are all different and unique. 

 

The final project was one I've wanted to try for years, and this fabric line was the spur to finally make me get around to it - folded no-sew Scandinavian stars. I followed this YouTube tutorial and found it quite clear and helpful.

 

It was SO FUN and easier than it looks. I want to bust out my Christmas scraps and make more this year for sure! 

 

The one other thing I had made earlier were these easy gift placemats for our table this past Christmas, and really enjoyed how festive they were during the holidays.

 

I do wish Prairie Christmas had more red options in it, as I quickly ran low on the reds. But I'm still super pleased with the results of a few days of crafting. If you love rustic or country Christmas, this is definitely the fabric line for you. Stock up early for this holiday season, as it's shipping to quilt stores now!

 

Check out the other lovely Christmassy makes too. It's so fun to see everyone's unique spin and creativity using the same bundle of fabric. 

Monday, June 3	@sewmaryhappy
Wednesday, June 5	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 10	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/
Wednesday, June 12	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com
Friday, June 14	http://www.creamcraftgoods.com/
Monday, June 17	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
Wednesday, June 19	@elliebugmakes
Friday, June 21	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com
Monday, June 24	https://bemandythings.com/blogs/news
Wednesday, June 26	https://ivoryspring.wordpress.com/
Friday, June 28	https://www.arabesque-scissors.com/journal
Monday, July 1	http://prettybyhand.com/