Wasp Waists and Wiggle Skirts

And the Winners Are...

 
I'm sorry for the delay, but an emergency vet visit for the little beastie above delayed the draws by a few hours.  There's nothing like starting the day with your your little buddy turning blue before your eyes, while failing miserably at trying adapt human first-aid to a four-legged critter, all before your first cup of coffee!  As it turns out, apparently "Betty the Boston" is deathly allergic to wasp/hornet/bee stings.  She's now fine (although a little dopey on doggie drugs,) I'm fine (I think) and my guy (aka Speedy Puppy Ambulance Driver) is fine, thank goodness!

And now, onto the Giveaway!

Draw Number One for this lovely pattern goes to...

...Meghan!!!  Congratulations Meghan!

Draw Number Two for this sweet pattern...

...goes to..."Mascara & Anchors!!!"

Congratulations to the winners!  Please email me your addresses so I can pop these patterns in the Post right away.

If you didn't happen to win this round, I'll have another Giveaway later this week that will feature some feminine Forties loveliness!  Stay tuned...

xox
Elle

"Looking Like a Fashion Photo"

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful words about the scan of the Forties hats I posted earlier - they are amazing aren't they?

Some of you asked me to post the instructions, so here they are!  I've decided to post the instructions individually as trying to match the photos with the instructions in different scans was a bit more than my overworked brain could handle.

Fabric Covered Crinoline Sailor

More to come!

xox
Elle

ps  It's the very last day to enter the Vintage Pattern Giveaway!  Good luck everyone!  I'll be having  another pattern giveaway next week.  The next one will be for all of you ladies who love the Forties.  Keep your eyes peeled!

As Promised...

Here are the lovely 1940's hat images I promised last week.  Aren't they great?  They're from a wartime booklet titled "Make Do and Mend."  I'll be featuring this book a whole lot over the next few months as it's jam packed with fabulous photos, ideas and patterns.

The book actually shows instructions for making all of these hats - is that something any of you would be interested in?  If so, just leave a comment and I'll scan the instructions and post them this week.

xox
Elle

ps  There's still time to enter your name into the current Vintage Pattern Giveaway!

Tartan Bags and Adorable Chapeaus

Fall is coming and I, for one, will be more than happy to escape the incredible temperatures the Pacific Northwest has been hit with this summer.  I've been trying to decide on the perfect vintage inspired, all-around, carry-all to take me stylishly through the fall and winter, but I've been stumped.  It wasn't until I unpacked this gem from a box of patterns that I will soon (time permitting) list in the store, that I had a "Eureka" moment.  Look at the bag!!!  It's perfect!  The dress is cute too, but look at the bag!



With this in mind, I popped in to our local mall on the way home from work.  Now, I am not a mall shopper.  I can count on one hand how many times I've been in a mall in the past year (yes, Christmas included. It's Etsy, craft shows and DIY all the way for this cowgirl.)  Anyhoo, I had absolutely no luck at all.  There was nothing in my suburban shopping mall that even remotely resembled our little tartan carry-all.  The other thing I noticed was an overwhelming smell of plastic.  Weird.

On my drive home, I thought to myself, "why don't I make the bag?"  I'm on a budget, you see.  My work in film and tv is of the "feast or famine" sort and if I don't squirrel away a few nuts now during the busy time, I won't make it through the winter when all of the film people head south to relax in the sun they complained about having to work in all summer.  Working in the blazing sun and relaxing in the blazing sun are two totally different experiences.

Anyway, I digress, as I often do.  I will make the darned bag and I will have photos to show you.  Perhaps I will even do a hard-to-find-tartan-carry-all bag making tutorial as from where I sit, it seems pretty simple.  "Seems" being the operative word.

Okay, that's it.  I was going to post some incredible scans of "make it or make do" hats from the Forties, but that will have to wait until tomorrow as I can't find a reasonable way to segue from "darned tartan bag" to "adorable chapeaus."

xox
Elle

The Long Awaited Pattern Giveaway...Squared

Here it is!  The vintage shirtdress pattern giveaway!  There has been so much attention paid to shirtdresses lately, that I just couldn't resist giving away a pattern for one!  I'm also adding a second  pattern into the mix just for kicks.

Free Pattern Number One is a vintage Fifties McCall's shirtdress pattern:

McCall's Number 3618  Size:  Bust 38 
Waist 32  Hips 41

Free Pattern Number Two is a vintage Fifties pattern with a full skirt option, snug wiggle skirt option and short or long raglan sleeves. 

Advance Number 9361  This pattern is sized Bust 36  Waist 28  Hips 38

To win either of these patterns, leave a comment telling me know which pattern you'd like to win.  Feel free to leave a comment for each pattern if you're interested in being entered into both draws.

For a second chance to win, post a link to this giveaway on your blog.

Shipping is, as always, free free free!

The draw will take place on August 29th.  Good luck!!!

xox
Elle

My Very Own Holy Grail

This is it...the one.  If I found this pattern, my life as I know it would end and I would spend the rest of my days in a catatonic state, running my fingers over this fifty year old envelope and conjuring up images of the finished dress. 

If I owned the pattern, would I actually make this dress?  I'd like to think so, but I fear that the reality of the finished dress would pale in comparison to the photo of the finished dress and disappointment would ensue.  Have any of you dealt with this?  Have you fallen in love with a pattern only to find that the actual garment isn't even remotely close to how you thought it would be, either due to fit, fabric, the lack of era appropriate undergarments or high expectations?

Vogue Paris Original Models were, for the most part, ambitious patterns for the experienced seamstress.  Here's a brief rundown of how the patterns came to be:

1957 was a good year for fashion, a good year indeed.

Vintage Vogue...how I love thee.  Sigh.

xox
Elle

ps:  Check back tomorrow for the Vintage Shirtdress Sewing Pattern Giveaway!

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You...

...another pattern giveaway!  More specifically, a vintage Fifties shirtdress pattern giveaway!  Yippee!

xox
Elle

A Week of Vintage Vogue Knitting - Day Seven

"Ambitious" is the word of the day here at "Wasp Waists and Wiggle Skirts," but I think that the endless options for customizing this dress and stole make up for the daunting task of putting yarn to needle. 

Perhaps you'll decide to use self-cover buttons in the same fabric as you've lined the stole with.  Perhaps you'll even decide to co-ordinate the pocket flaps with the stole lining.  Narrow belt or wide belt?  Barely perceptible crochet edging on the sleeves and hem?  This dress has Capsule Wardrobe written all over it.

The Dress and Stole

She's a beaut. this one is, and she's worth every syllable of profanity that passes your lips during the myriad hours you spend knitting her.

 

*As always, click on the image to make it larger, save it on your computer and print it out as many times as your little heart desires.

As I've mentioned before, in terms of the needle sizing (most vintage patterns use UK/Canadian needle sizing) please use a conversion chart to find the needles you need depending on where you live.

Be sure to choose a fine yarn for this pattern, making sure to compare the pattern's needle size to the suggested size on your ball of yarn.

These are vintage patterns in small - large sizes.  If you're a curvier girl, I suggest that you use slightly larger needles than the ones suggested above, but stick with fine gauge yarn.

xox
Elle

A Week of Vintage Vogue Knitting - Day Six

It took me years to figure out how to dress myself.  Seriously.  Years. 

Of course I figured out the technical aspects of putting clothes on my body while my age was still in the single digits but it took me years to figure out what kind of clothes to put on my body.  How to dress for my body type was a lesson that took a long time to learn. 

I always figured that looser, baggier clothing was better on my curvier figure - boobs, waist, hips and all that stuff- but then I found this post from Erin and it changed my life.  No really, It Changed My Life. 

I'm a textbook "Hourglass" and all that I had accomplished by wearing loose, baggy clothing was to look three sizes bigger than I was.  I had always loved vintage clothing, but it was only after reading Erin's post that I realized the reason I was drawn to fashion from the Fifties - it was made to fit me! 

I dedicate this pattern to all of the inspirational "Hourglasses" out there.  Low V-neck, Snug waist, shoulder detailing...an Hourglasses dream come true!

Now...what colours would you choose for this blouse?  Would you wear it with a full skirt, a snug wiggle skirt or sailor pants or snug cigarette pants?

The Two Colour Blouse

*As always, click on the image to make it larger, save it on your computer and print it out as many times as your little heart desires.

As I've mentioned before, in terms of the needle sizing (most vintage patterns use UK/Canadian needle sizing) please use a conversion chart to find the needles you need depending on where you live.

Be sure to choose a fine yarn for this pattern, making sure to compare the pattern's needle size to the suggested size on your ball of yarn.

These are vintage patterns in small - medium sizes.  If you're a curvier girl, I suggest that you use slightly larger needles than the ones suggested above, but stick with fine gauge yarn.

xox
Elle

A Week of Vintage Vogue Knitting - Day Five

You know, I just adore the illustrations on vintage sewing patterns, but it's the photos that inspire me to try new (old) tricks.  Take, for example, the photo below.  I wear scarves.  I wear scarves a lot and I'm completely smitten and inspired by everything this model is doing outfit-wise.  Sunglasses.  Scarf.  Sweater.  Cuff.  Love it...love it all.

The Garter Stitch Pullover

 

*As always, click on the image to make it larger, save it on your computer and print it out as many times as your little heart desires.

As I've mentioned before, in terms of the needle sizing (most vintage patterns use UK/Canadian needle sizing) please use a conversion chart to find the needles you need depending on where you live.

Be sure to choose a fine yarn for this pattern, making sure to compare the pattern's needle size to the suggested size on your ball of yarn.

These are vintage patterns in small - medium sizes.  If you're a curvier girl, I suggest that you use slightly larger needles than the ones suggested above, but stick with fine gauge yarn.

xox
Elle