Verity Vintage Studio

Pastel Christmas: 1950s Novelty Print Skirt

I have a few Christmas makes to show you this year - here's the first one!

I've owned this skirt pattern for quite a few years, and always loved the sketched version with alternating prints. Never got around to making one until I took a closer look at this novelty Christmas bike print when I was looking for something else in my Christmas fabric bin, and suddenly wanted to make a skirt out of it. 

 

At first I wanted the alternating gores to be either mint green or dark green, but I didn't have suitable fabric, and also wanted it to coordinate with my aqua 1950s sweater (scratch the mint green idea). While I was waiting to go to the fabric store for a dark green, I suddenly wanted to make it in time to wear to a Christmas event in 2 days. Scratch the fabric store idea! I looked through my solids and found a pink that was the perfect match, and exactly the right yardage. 

 

So I changed plans and went all sugar-plum pastel-ish instead! And yes, I cut it out one day and whipped it together the next day, just in time to wear to the event. 

 

I had to cut some corners to do so, of course. There is an incredible amount of hem, so there was no way I would have hand-hemmed it and gotten it done in time. Instead I top stitched lace hem tape to the edges, turned it over, and machine stitched it.

 

I wore it again on Christmas Eve, when we dress up to do a formal dinner as a family, which is when these photos were taken. 

 

The pattern calls this an "umbrella skirt" - and it's an appropriate name since it's very much like sewing an umbrella shape together. 16 gores make So. Many. Seams. 

 

There is just tons of fabric in this thing. Almost 4 yards, which is more than enough for a dress normally! I like how the contrasting gores play as the skirt moves, though I need to get a bigger crinoline to do them justice. 

 

Of course my red vintage style heels from American Duchess were the perfect accessory and the perfect era for this holiday outfit. 

 

So there's my impulse sew for this year! Impulse from start to finish, but I really love how it turned out.

Happy 3rd Day of Christmas!

Tinsel Tree Christmas Ornament: Free Cross Stitch Pattern

Happy 10th Day of Christmas! We are still enjoying the last of the Christmas season over here this week.

As usual, I got the cross stitching bug during the holidays. One of the things I made, inspired by my own little silver tinsel tree that I keep full of vintage ornaments, was this little retro hoop picture. 

 

I decided to share the pattern with everyone for free. After all, it is Christmas! (Scroll to the bottom of this post for the download link.)

The silver metallic thread is exactly the same color as my tinsel tree.

 

The pattern didn't have the same brand I used, since it's a new kind, so what is listed will work, but is not what I used for the sample. I used Cosmo Nishikiito Metallic Embroidery Floss in 33 silver, and found it quite soft and easy to stitch with (especially for metallic thread, which is notoriously difficult). If you use this kind, do not separate the threads but use the entire strand. I highly recommend!

 

The pattern also requires 18-20 small buttons. When stitching is complete, sew the buttons randomly with your silver floss, following cover photo for placement.

 

Don't like French knots? Skip them and use white or pearl seed beads instead. It's a simple pattern; if you omit the knots it's easily beginner friendly.

 

I used Touch of Pink Aida cloth for the sample. In 14 count fabric it finishes a bit too large for an ornament, but works very well on a shelf or a wall. If you want it sized down a little for an actual hanging ornament, choose 16 count Aida instead.

 

To finish it, I pressed lightweight fusible interfacing on the back to keep all the thread ends tidy, and then centered the design in the hoop. Trim the fabric to about 3/4" all the way around, and wrap the raw edge around the back of the hoop, gluing it down with a hot glue gun to the inside hoop. All done!

It's a super quick make, and also a fun way to use up some random tiny buttons! I love how retro it looks - just like my real tree.

Find the pattern at the link below. Merry Christmas, and happy stitching!

Download Tinsel Tree Ornament Chart

1950s Adjustable Dress for Thanksgiving

I hadn't done any personal sewing since July, but when I got a fun new vintage pattern from an Instagram seller I wanted to try to make it up right away and see if it would work for maternity, since it was adjustable. Thanksgiving Day was a good deadline to aim for.

 

I was missing the back piece, but since front and back panel looked identical, I just used the front panel again. It worked perfectly except I should have lengthened it since the back yoke is shorter.

 

I used a textured solid cotton basic called Shades from Riley Blake Designs. I love using quilting basics when I can, because they have a much larger color selection and availability. This one has a subtle textured print and looks kind of like linen.

 

I liked that the pleats would show up on it better than on a print, then at the last minute decided to dress it up even more by doing some a fancy sewing machine stitch to embroider yokes and down the front. I love tone on tone embroidery, and the depth it gives to a solid fabric.

 

There was lots of folding and pressing pleats, but really that was the longest part (and taking care to get them right paid off with no frustration). Otherwise assembly was super simple; I just had a few long seams before sewing to the yoke.

 

I also added a hidden closure under each edge pleat to allow for nursing access. We'll see how well it works in real life - but I do love how it's a different opening than just a regular button front.

The final dress shape turned out like a long tube, but as you can see it still fit over my 8 month bump. I'm curious to see how it looks once I have a waist, but since it was intended to be worn simply belted as non-maternity wear, I'm sure it will both look nice and be comfortable.

 

The pattern was for a sleeveless dress, but since I don't wear sleeveless, I looked through my patterns for a suitable sleeve, and settled on these cute tulip sleeves. It's been a while since I made them, but I really like them and how easy and unusual they are. I should have remembered to cut the sleeve holes a bit bigger before I set the sleeves, but now I know for next time!

 

It was fun to sew for myself again, taking my time, with something both unusual and simple. Plus I have another adjustable dress pattern to add to my non-maternity-but-maternity-friendly collection!

 

We had an incredible midday feast with family, then watched a classic movie. It was a lovely holiday. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving too!

Christmas in June: Reversible Placemats with Poppie Cotton

When I got the chance to play with a little of Poppie Cotton's upcoming Christmas line, Snuggle Up Buttercup, of course I jumped at the chance. I mean - little retro pink pickups! How can you not??

 

I have been so busy this month and juggling so many deadlines, that I had to figure out something relatively quick and easy to make for my blog feature when it came my turn for the Snuggle Up Buttercup tour. A reversible placemat set was the answer!

 

I use a lot of placemats for everyday use, on their own or on top of a table cloth where the children sit. It is so much easier to toss a placemat in the wash than change a tablecloth due to one spill. And I have a lot of lovely floral ones, but as I discovered last Christmas, nothing suitable for the holidays. I was happy to change that.

 

I picked out 4 my favorite prints from the fabric line and used them for the solid side, then divided the measurement in 3rds, added a half inch for seam allowance, and cut out 3 strips to piece together for the remaining side. I used exactly 8 fat quarters, since the leftovers after cutting the strips were just enough for binding.

 

To finish it, I used some smaller pieces of leftover batting and did some big stitch quilting using size 10 crochet cotton in several coordinating colors. Big stitch quilting both quilts and adds a decorative element - plus it looks great on both sides so it works well for a reversible project like this.

 

Instantly I have all these different looks for my table. I made 4 placemats, but I actually have 8 options here. I can use all the pieced side...

 

...all the solid side, or alternate them! Each one gives a different look to a table setting, yet they all coordinate.

 

The exact same placemat on one side...

 

...and on the other. 

 

I like how simple these are and quick to make - truly beginner friendly. And the large strips mean that the fabric really shines, rather than being cut up into small blocks. So it's ideal for showcasing your favorite prints!

 

Of course, the binding still has a "right side" and a "wrong side", but I make sure to hand stitch the binding invisibly using tiny stitches, so it's as unobtrusive as possible. 

 

So that's it for my fun holiday project right as summer is ramping up its heat! Make sure to check out the other lovely creations during the project tour for this adorable fabric line.

 

Friday, June 18	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 21	http://www.linenbouquet.com
Wednesday, June 23	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/
Friday, June 25	https://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
Monday, June 28	http://prettybyhand.com/
Wednesday, June 30	http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 2	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/

 

 

A 1930s Christmas Dress

Merry 3rd day of Christmas!

Christmas is far from over at our house on the 27th so it's still quite season-appropriate to post about the dress I made for Christmas Day this year.

 

Last year I made a festive dress that was more dressy and elaborate, and actually wore it the Sunday before Christmas instead of the day of. This year I wanted something more comfortable, for chasing children and getting meals all day, so I opted for a house dress with a lovely 1930s reproduction print.

 

This print is not so obviously Christmassy as many holiday prints...I actually didn't realize it was until after I bought it and saw somewhere that it was once part of a Christmas line. I looked at it closer and realized, Oh, it is red and green! But that gave me hopes that if I accented the green instead of the red, I could potentially wear it for other seasons as well.

 

I needed a pattern that was suitable for the era of the fabric, and also one that had some contrast, because I was trying to squeeze out a dress for me and my baby girl from just 3 yards. Thankfully, the 1930s abounds with contrast detail. I settled on a pattern with contrast yoke and half of a sash; that plus cutting the sleeves from the infant dress out of contrast, was enough to squeeze the rest of the pattern pieces onto my length. But it was close! No room for error here.

 

I would have liked to match the medium green in the print, but was working with my stash like a good little seamstress, and didn't have anything the right color. So I pulled out my dark green cotton pique for the contrast.

 

(Incidentally, I find that dresses often look less homemade when you use something textured as a contrast, instead of another color of quilting cotton. Something like corduroy, velvet, embroidered eyelet, linen, or in this case, pique, is often a better choice that really upscales your finished garment. So there's your sewing tip of the day.)

Also incidentally, I realized this is my 3rd project in a row that features a contrast yoke! Funny how that accidentally happens...I often tend to sew in groups, it seems - whether era, color, or some other factor like yokes in this case.

 

This was a pretty basic pattern with a few cute details. I loved the little points on the yoke. I didn't feel like switching out my thread - and also had none the right color - for top stitching the dark green, so I left my light thread on and made it look purposeful by using a decorative stitch. I haven't used this stitch before, but I really like it. It looks a bit like tiny feathers and adds just a touch of trim to the bodice.

 

The sash in half a contrast is something I'd never tried before, but it was sketched in on the pattern picture, and I decided to try it. I do like how it looks. Definitely something unusual, but it actually works. I love how creative fashion was - another reason to love vintage style.

 

I tied in the green with bands on the sleeves, but used white buttons - cute vintage ones thrifted for just 50 cents at my favorite thrift store back east. I think overall it does look Christmassy, but not so much that I will mind wearing it at other times. Just what I had hoped.

 

Of course, paired with vintage holiday jewelry and my red Marilyns from Royal Vintage Shoes, dressed up with vintage bow shoe clips, it does pull out the Christmas theme. It was so bright outside I could hardly keep my eyes open, but with the busy madhouse here on Christmas, it's lucky I had time to snap pictures at all! :-)

 

I also made a matching infant dress for my baby girl. I messed up the closure on the inside, but thankfully since it was on the inside it doesn't really matter. I was really happy how it turned out overall.

 

Our first matching mother-daughter outfits!

 

I made it big enough that she should be able to wear it for a while. Green is such a good color for her!

 

Thankfully they were both easy and quick projects, because though I left myself a week before Christmas to stitch them, with all the other Christmas baking and events, a serger that stopped working, as well as a crochet deadline rapidly approaching, I began to wonder if I would have time after all. But once I could block out a few hours during children's nap times, I was able to get most of the major construction done - a weight off my mind. I did finish up just two days before Christmas, but without too much stress involved.

 

I'd had this pattern for a long time and it never got pushed to the top of my queue, but I'm happy I found a good match for it. The dress was festive, comfy, and fun to wear on a busy family Christmas Day with all its food prep, eating and drinking, games, dishwashing, baby nursing, and curling up for Shop Around the Corner. Yet I expect to get more wear out of it than just one season a year.

 

Besides, it's so nice to find a suitable use for this adorable 1930s print!

Illuminations

This post was originally written for July 4, 2015, but since this year I didn't have time to put an Independence Day blog post together I thought this one was worth sharing again.  

 

Ever wonder why it is an American tradition to stay up late on the 4th of July, lying out on the lawn and swatting mosquitos, and exclaim over all those transient colored lights and smoke and hear the reverberating bang of fireworks? Why fireworks? Why on this holiday in particular?

 

It's because of this...

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

- John Adams, July 3, 1776

 

So while we all love a holiday for its freedom from our common work routine, its family memories made over barbecues or picnic lunches, or whatever we do to celebrate - let's not forget it's more than just another day to enjoy the pleasure of leisure or be with folks we love.

There's a reason for it.

 

Happy Independence Day!

Vintage 4th of July

Since it is almost Independence Day, here's a roundup of vintage posters and ads, mostly from the 1940s, gleaned from Pinterest for you to enjoy.

    

 

  

 

  

And one not so vintage image...   

Happy Independence Day!

December Tutorial - Crochet a 1940s Style Star Ornament

This month I designed a little crochet star ornament especially for my blog readers, inspired by pictures of 1940s aluminum star ornaments. It's the perfect way to add some vintage homemade specialness to your decorations this year.

 

For these ornaments I used Knit Picks' Curio, size 10 cotton thread. I can't say enough nice things about this thread. It comes in a gorgeous color palette (though limited), it's so soft to work with, and it comes in enormous yardage of 721 yards per ball. That's a huge amount of thread for your money!

 The pattern is written out below in standard American terms. But first, here are a few step-by-step photos to guide you through the process.

 

At first it looks nothing like a star!

 

Tightening the slip ring gives you 5 loops, like a flower.

 

After the first few rounds, it's starting to look like a star.

 

You could stop after Rnd 5. Nothing wrong with that. 

 

 

But like the icing on the cake, do one more round to emphasize the points and add a bit of trim.

Then the large star is done. You could easily add a chain loop for hanging before you fasten off. I prefer to use the less noticeable ornament hanger inserted through one tip, so omit a chain loop.

You could use this little fella all by himself, but there's more, just to add a little more with color fun.

 

 

 In another color, make this teeny tiny 2 round star, leaving a long end for sewing, and stack him on top of the large star.

 

 

Once he's in position, whipstitch him in place, all around the edge so his points won't curl. Weave in all the rest of the loose ends, and it's done!

 

You could starch the star if you want it super stiff, but if like me your stitches are tight, the star will hold his shape without starching. To get a perfect shape, mist it with water and pin it to your ironing board to dry, stretching out the points. 

 

So...without further ado, here's the pattern: 

 

1940s Christmas Star Ornament

Materials:

Knit Picks Curio size 10 100% cotton thread (721yds/100g per ball)

-a small amount of both Bluebell - 26273; and White - 26255

size 7/1.65mm steel crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

tapestry needle

 

Skill Level:

low intermediate

 

Gauge:

Not important - use a hook size small enough to get nice tight stitches with your thread.

 

Abbreviations:

ch=chain

dc=double crochet

hdc=half double crochet

lp(s)=loop(s)

sc=single crochet

sl st=slip stitch

st(s)=stitch(es)

yo=yarn over

 

Finished Size:

2 1/4 in. at widest point

  

Special Stitches:

dc3tog (double crochet three together)=yo, insert hook in same st as ch 2, draw up lp, draw new lp through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in next st, draw up lp, draw new lp through 2 lps on hook) twice, draw new lp through all 4 lps on hook

 

Large Star:

Rnd 1: With your main color, make a slip ring, (ch 7, sl st in ring) 5 times. Pull loose end of slip ring to close tightly. 5 lps

 

Rnd 2: sl st in next 2 chs of first ch 7 lp, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, ch 1) in each ch 7 lp around; join with sl st in first sc. 10 sc, 10 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 3: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 hdc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next dc, hdc in next 2 hdc, ch 1] around; join with sl st in first hdc. 30 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 4: ch 1, (hdc in next 3 hdc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next dc, hdc in next 3 hdc, ch 1] around; join with sl st in first hdc. 40 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 5: sc in each st around, working (hdc, dc, hdc) in each of the 5 dc; join with sl st in first sc. 45 sc

Rnd 6: sk first st with sl st in it, * sc in next 3 sts, sk next st, in dc work (dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc) sk next st, sc in next 3 sts, sl st in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around; join with last sl st in first sl st. Fasten off.

 

Small Star:

Rnd 1: Make a slip ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 1) 5 times in slip ring, join with sl st to first dc. 15 dc, 5 ch sps

Rnd 2: [ch 2, work dc3tog (see Special Stitches), ch 2, sl st in top of dc3tog, ch 2, sl st in same st as last dc of dc3tog, sl st in ch sp, sl st in next dc] around; join with sl st in first ch; fasten off, leaving a long sewing end. 5 points

 

Finishing:

Weave in all ends except long sewing end. With needle threaded on long sewing end, sew small star to center of large star. Block or starch if necessary.

 

I chose blue and white for these ornaments, but you could use endless combinations of red, gold, green, silver, ivory, rose, white...anything that takes your fancy or matches your decor. You could even do random bright colors and use up your odds and ends of thread. You can hang them alone or in coordinating pairs scattered over the tree, or go wild and make a whole bunch and thread them together to make a garland. 

So find your crochet hook, turn up some big band Christmas music, and get in the 1940s Christmas mood!

 

Happy crocheting!

Till next time,

~Kristen - Verity Vintage Studio

 

Look for my new tutorials posted sometime during the first full week of every month. Hairstyles, crafts, repurposing, project journals, do-it-yourself vintage or alterations, etc.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 And Be Ye Thankful

 

Thanksgiving is more than a day.

It's a way of life.

After all, we have nothing that we have not received.

 

It's not taking the basic blessings for granted...

family, friends, food, shelter...

But also finding enjoyment in the mundane.

 

In that sense, it's looking at life Anne-ishly.

Nora: "Well, let's tackle this pile of greasy plates and look as if we liked it."

Anne: "I do like it...It's fun to make dirty things clean and shining again."

Nora: "Oh, you ought to be in a museum!"

-from Anne of Windy Poplars

 

It's an abiding appreciation of the multitude of good things and quiet beauty surrounding us.

And when you get a chance to celebrate,

you do it with zest.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!