Throwback Thursday: Simplicity 2286 in Vintage Barkcloth

Yes…. in a blatant ripoff of the Sometimes Sewist, I’m posting a Throwback Thursday…#TBT to you young, hip kids 😉

This is my Simplicity 2286 completed way back in 2012, solidly pre-blog.  In fact, this was the first finished garment I made once I really got into sewing…. There was a very 80’s leopard print jumper/overall atrocity made for a Girl Scout sewing badge in elementary school, which we don’t talk about *shudder*.

Simplicity 2286 is solidly a beginner/learn to sew pattern and a really great one!  There’s no closures, but a lot of very basic skills 🙂

I honestly can’t remember too much about making this, except I basically completed it in a day from cutting the pattern pieces to hemming.  I also cut straight into my “special” fabric….no muslins, no trial runs in less “special” fabric!

The fabric is a vintage barkcloth my Mom had gotten, she had had it since forever (I remember rummaging through her fabric stash and finding it periodical growing up).  I’m not sure how old it actually is, but I’d say at least 1970’s.   And there couldn’t have been much more than a yard 😦

It is amazing looking back….. I just jumped straight in- there was no hemming and hawing about finding the “right” pattern, no muslins, no trial runs to make sure I had gotten all the techniques down; there was just cutting (and the hubris of a beginner).  I guarantee you had I not made this skirt that fabric would probably still be languishing in my stash waiting for the “perfect” project….. there’s a lesson somewhere in that

Now, being the n00b that I was, I actually didn’t finish the seams….at all.  I also, used the wrong size elastic, twisted said elastic, and then hemmed it too short.  It was kind of a hot mess if you looked close enough! So, after a year or two of things slowly unraveling with each wash, which honestly wasn’t that much because I hardly wore it due to fear of flashing everyone every time I bent over, I went back and “fixed” everything.

I used store bought bias tape and finished everything with Hong Kong seams.  I also unpicked the hem and used lace hem tape to help lengthen things a bit.  And replaced the elastic.

Since then I’ve gotten a lot more use out of it!  I still find it a bit short and so will usually pair it with tights, but given I only started with about a yard it’s not too bad!

And there you have it!  I’ve got a couple of other pre-blog makes I could post about, so we’ll see if this becomes a regular thing 😉

Works in Progress XVI

Yes… it’s that time of the semester when I don’t want to do anything except maybe knit and binge watch Netflix 😦

I have been making good progress on both the husband’s scarf & my sweater 🙂
Not so much on the arm warmers….

Before things got SUPER busy I did have a mad tracing weekend and planned and traced a bunch of new patterns to start….which are still littered all over the living room floor, much to my husbands dismay

I’ve also have a stop-gap fabric organization system.  I was getting super annoyed with the previous system of “bags & boxes of fabric all over the floor”, but I’m not sure when we’re going to be able to get to IKEA.  Hence, we have the new system…. “boxes stacked neatly off the floor”!

I also managed to score a pretty sweet haul of fabric from Mulberry Silks and the new Jo-Ann’s

I’m super excited about the floral & fruit fabric on top… it’s some sort of fancy washable silk that I can’t remember the name of right now

Well…. there you have it! Hopefully, things will settle down at work soon and I’ll have some finished objects for you!

Works in Progress XI

Holy Shit!  Long time no see dear reader…did you miss me? …my 10s of readers, you?  The husband and I have moved into the new digs and are (very) slowly but surely getting settled in 🙂

Sooo…. aside from packing, unpacking, moving across town, and you know work- I’ve gotten started on a new knitting project!

These were formerly 3/8 of a pair of socks, but after sitting for over a year I decided they needed to become wristwarmers….further adding to my “Winter is Coming” wardrobe.  I had a bitch of a time getting these started, but things are progressing nicely now 😀

I’ve also been working in fits and starts on yet another Grail T-shirt!  In related news, I have completely abandoned my resolution to sew new and different patterns

However, despite the fact I’ve barely sewed in the last month & a half I have continued to buy fabric….because I’m crazy and evidently made of money!

So we have future swaddling blankets for a co-worker….

Jeans fabric for Ginger Jeans….in my defense this came from the Hancock going out business sale- how could I not buy!

Future Grail T-shirt and Carolyn PJs.

And just to further solidify my status as a fabric addict/hoarder- I promptly snapped up one of the new Sophie Swimsuit kits from Closet Case Files….

“Hi, My name is Liz and I have a problem with fabric”

Works in Progress V…. a.k.a Super Awesome Sewing Afternoon

Well, hellooo there dear reader!  I spent the last week back home relaxin’ and chillin’ with the family (the little bro even flew out from the Left Coast!).  We ate and drank ourselves silly…which is why I will be doing nothing but eating salads and drinking water this week

However, I was able to get back down in enough time to enjoy a lovely sewing afternoon with Jen and Elizabeth 🙂

This was a potluck event and at the last minute I threw together some Baked Brie with Strawberry, Balsamic, Basil Jam [say that 3x fast!] and Pecans.

I realize now that baked brie doesn’t really photograph well, but I assure you it was very tasty!  I used this recipe, but replaced strawberry balsamic jam for the apricot/raspberry jam and pecans for almonds.  I had made and canned the strawberry balsamic basil jam a few months ago when strawberries were still in season and it is perfect for this kind of thing. P.S. I can too 😉

The original plan, for the sewing afternoon, was to work on a blanket skirt with the leftover fabric from the Failed Walkaway dress.  I cleverly went out and got contrasting fabric for the waist band and was promptly distracted by the remnants bin and their 50% off sale….. One hour later I realized there was zero time to actually wash the fabric 😦

So, instead I worked on my Neverending Sweater and cutting fabric for my next Zinnia skirt…… because why would I want to try something new when I can just re-make the same three patterns over and over again 😉

Elizabeth is here hard at work on a white Maxi dress….she was, surprisingly enough, the only one actually sewing at the Super Awesome Sewing Afternoon.  Although not pictured (because she’s behind the camera…err…iphone) Jen was working on drafting a costume pattern.

And now time for some fabric eye candy!

I mean just look at that shit!  Elizabeth somehow manged to score vintage-ish “scraps” of suede/leather of varying sizes from a woman who used to design and sew gloves on 5th Avenue!  I say vintage-ish because these are from the ’80s and I refuse to call anything from the ’80s vintage.  And I say “scraps” because some of these pieces were at least a couple of yards. [It should also be known I have offered any number of skills in trade to the original owner for glove making lessons!]

Hardcore vegetarians and vegans should probably avert their eyes though 😦
Although, Elizabeth claimed they were faux suede I’m pretty sure at least half of these pieces are real leather- including, but not limited to, that ridiculously, fabulous gold and turquoise number!!!  Jen picked out a few pieces for herself and I proceeded to take EVERYTHING else.  I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m going to do with it all, other than adding it to the Hoard along with The Precious, but it was all way too fantastic to pass up 😀

However…. I am open to suggestions????  Obviously, I see many bags and clutches in my future (and possibly gloves!), but I also have visions formulating of a ridiculously over the top ’60s-esque leather A-line mini in turquoise and gold!

Works in Progress IV…. or My Aunt ROCKS!

Happy Pre-Fourth of July! Or for you Canadians: Happy Post-Canada Day! And for those of you in the rest of the world: Happy Friday!  I’m back with a much happier post today 🙂  Things have been a moving and a shaking and yet I never seem to have a enough time to sew 😦  However, I have high hopes for the long weekend!

The tomatoes are FINALLY starting to come in!  This is always a delicious time of year 🙂  They’re looking pretty good, I have high hopes for a good crop this year.

My friend has spawned a tiny human, so I’ve been working on a lot of baby stuff.  I’m planning a fuller post with all the baby things I’ve completed so far, but this here is a teaser for you 😉

This is my priority project now- My oldest friend (in that I’ve known her since kindergarten) is getting hitched and I am responsible for hemming her wedding dress!  Easy enough you say! …Well…. the dress has sequins and while they’re gorgeous they add some complication to an otherwise easy project.

And finally we come to the reason why my Aunt is so awesome, because she brought me beautiful fabric!!!!  My Aunt was quite the sewer in her day.  She still is, but has switched to quilting 🙂  Which means I have scored some gorgeous apparel fabric!  Above we have some cotton/poly blend plaid, red linen, a bit of wide blue lace, a bit of red chiffon (not sure on that one???), and lovely green velvet! But that’s not all….

4.5 yards of fabulous blue silk all the way from Hong Kong!!!!  Her sister (Aunt #2) is a stewardess and brought this back for her years ago (like they still flew the British flag years ago)….. and now it’s mine…. all MINE….The Precious! *clutches and pets fabric in corner a la Gollum*

So, now here’s the question….. what do I do with The Precious?  A blouse??? A dress??? The most luxurious pajamas ever???  Hoard it till I can give it to my own adult niece???  I am open to suggestions!