vintage may inspiration: vintage sheet projects

May 8, 2012May 8, 20128 Comments

i love sewing with vintage sheets, and i’ve had great luck finding lovely, nostalgic patterns at a normal thrift store. you get a lot of yardage for little money – most of mine are full size sheets that cost about $4 or $5 each! a full sheet is 81 x 96″ (2 1/4 yds x 2 2/3 yds), so it really is a great amount of fabric and you can often get multiple projects out of the same sheet. want to know more?

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WHERE TO BUY THEM:

i found almost all of mine at goodwill. there are usually a few lovely vintage sheets buried among the ’80s grids and scratchy cheap modern ones when i go (and i actually don’t get out thrifting very often). if i find a print i like, i buy it because i never know if i’ll see it again. if you can’t find any where you live, a quick search for “vintage sheets” in the vintage category of etsy yields 250 pages of results!

i tend to gravitate toward florals.

hey, how’d that get in there? a stripey outlier!

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WHAT TO MAKE WITH THEM:

clothes! i’ve been sewing almost 3 years now and am only recently starting to have any success at sewing clothes for myself. i’m so nervous trying something new, i tend to prefer using inexpensive fabric so i don’t stress out if it’s a flop. for my bow collar top, i was drafting adult-sized sleeves for the first time and adding a bow, and i was pretty terrified it wouldn’t work out at all. i used a vintage sheet just in case, and it actually turned into a nice top!

they’re good for kid’s clothes because they resist wrinkling and are very soft. many i’ve found seem to have some polyester in them, but are mostly cotton (details of the skirts below here and here).

i really like using vintage sheets for quilts and picnic blankets. plenty of yardage means you can easily make a baby-sized whole cloth quilt (the funnest and quickest quilts to make, if you ask me. that’s right…funnest) with plenty to spare. check to make sure they’re not too threadbare first. this quilt is backed with new quilting cotton.

or you can mix them with new fabrics to make a sweet garland. two vintage sheets are featured in this one. can you spot them from my stash above?

here, the popover sundress is a vintage sheet, and again, it blends nicely with skirts made with newer fabric (details here).

be sure to wash them once (or twice) first and avoid holes and stains when placing your pattern pieces. try a floral with a modern pattern, use them to build your sewing confidence, and wear your vintage sheet with pride! for even MORE vintage sheet inspiration, visit the vintage sheet blog!

have you sewn anything from vintage sheets, especially garments? please add them to the vintage may flickr group!

today my co-host jess has sewn a sweet little dress with a vintage pattern and modern fabric. you can find it here. more about vintage may here.

vintage may inspiration: modern patterns, vintage style

May 7, 2012May 10, 201211 Comments

as we prepare for vintage may, i wanted to round up some patterns and tutorials that i think have a “vintage/retro” look to them, many with a modern twist. most of these designers have a vintage/retro sensibility in general, so be sure to click around their sites to see more.

you know, in case your project list isn’t long enough already…

*note: aside from the title photo, i’ve disabled pinning in this post to protect the original sources. please click through to pin. thank you!*

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COMMERCIAL PATTERNS

patterns by independent designers to purchase in your local sewing shop (or online).

1. Oliver + S: Croquet Dress and Puppet Show Tunic, Dress & Shorts (available for download). Oliver + S has a classic aesthetic in general, and these patterns are just the tip of the iceberg. be sure to check out their free popover sundress (the first actual “pattern” i ever sewed)! EDIT: You can also now download the Sailboat Top, Skirt & Pants pattern! it’s my favorite boy pattern and quite vintage inspired – get it here.

2. Figgy’s Patterns: Zephyr. rompers make me nostalgic – i have photos of my 6-year-old self climbing a fence in the summertime wearing one with saltwater sandals, but they also harken back to the ’30s depending on fabric choices. figgy’s also makes a classic-with-a-twist peasant dress in the ofelia.

3. Clever Charlotte: Finch Top & Shorts. a pinafore-esque top and pleated shorts? doesn’t get much more vintage inspired than that! clever charlotte patterns are a fun sew. also check out their wren dress.

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PDF PATTERNS FOR PURCHASE

by lovely blogging ladies with great vintage style!

1. Made by Rae: Peekaboo Bonnett. i mean, come on. make one of these and you’ll get hit with girl baby fever, HARD. also check out Rae’s Flashback Skinny Tee, a real blast from the past.

2. Shwin & Shwin: Claire Top and Dress. the ruffle in the back harkens back to the turn of the century, but pair it with leggings or skinny jeans and the styling is very modern.

3. Sew Liberated: Huck Finn Cap. my grandpa was from scotland so i have a soft spot for tams. this one is so cute and adds a vintage twist to a little guy’s outfit.

4. Running with Scissors: Maxi Sheet Dress. want to sew a maxi dress? you’re gonna need a lot of fabric. want to make it for next to no money? vintage sheets are perfect!

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FREE ONLINE TUTORIALS

probably the single greatest perk of following sewing blogs – free tutorials! especially perfect if you’re just learning how to sew – i have learned so much from free tutorials. these gals generously share their methods for everyone to follow.

1. Craftiness is not Optional: Vintage Feedsack Dress Tutorial. my lovely vintage may co-host has plenty tutorials for you to try. my favorite is the vintage feedsack dress, but i also love Jess’ emma dress, vintage heirloom dress, and cinched up skirt.

2. Smile and Wave bloomers to romper. Rachel’s blog is a must-read for vintage style inspiration and i’ve been a fan of hers forever. check out this tutorial to turn bloomers into an adorable summer romper!

3. Crafterhours: Pleated Sundress – a simple sundress is elevated by beautiful pleats and tucks. also check out this lovely 20s inspired boardwalk dress.

4. Girl.Inspired: Dress Shirt to Shirtdress. i’m so in love with shirtdresses. they remind me of the ’40s and have a great ladieswear/menswear thing going on. stef shows you how to upcycle a men’s shirt into a classic shirtdress!

5. MADE: heirloom skirt and circle skirt. dana shows how to add vintage embellishment to a simple skirt, and takes a classic circle skirt and created an easy-to-follow tutorial. circle skirts add twirl to any bodice! and if you need bloomers to make rachel’s tutorial above, dana’s got you covered. dana also has a pattern shop here.

6. The Cottage Home: Happy Day Big Bow Dress. a sweet summery sundress with eyelet shoulder straps. check out Lindsay’s patterns too!

7. Noodlehead: vintage inspired skirt. inspired by catherineholm enamelware. a skirt for grown ups, but scale down the design and it’d be adorable on a little gal. and if you’re in the mood for some selfish (or mother’s day) sewing, check out anna’s patterns.

i’m pretty sure that should give you plenty to work with, and i’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s out there. do you have any favorite pattern/tutorial suggestions to add to the mix? chime in especially if you know of good vintage style patterns for boys – they’re hard to find! happy sewing!

head on over to Jess’ blog for a roundup of her adorable vintage sheet projects!

appliqué boy bib tutorial and pattern

May 3, 2012March 21, 201417 Comments

i’m bringing home this guest post, my first tutorial and guest post ever, while I “recover” from KCWC and prepare for Em’s fourth birthday party.

this originally went up on Sparkle Power! as Candace took a blog break to welcome her new baby boy. the bib pattern is a simple design, easy-to-sew and functional, and the appliqué templates can be used on anything that needs a little embellishment. if you make something based on this tutorial, please add your creations to the flickr group!

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I was so excited when Candace asked me to guest blog for her while she’s on maternity leave, and I am happy to share my pattern for a simple infant bib and some fun boyish appliqué templates with you today.

I’m a mostly self-taught, part-time working mama of two little ones, a 3 year old girl and a 9 month old boy, and I absolutely love to sew. After learning on toddler skirts and dresses for my daughter, I wasn’t sure what I would sew when I found out I was having a boy.

I also come from a family of four girls, so the whole boy thing was very new to me! I quickly discovered that it’s just as fulfilling to sew for boys, since commercial clothes for little guys tend to be a bit…plain. Knowing how to sew makes it very easy to do something about that!

My bib template works for young infants (spitup happens), but it’s also big enough to work for older babies messily trying out solid food. It’s a quick bib to make, and a great use of scraps or fat quarters. I’ve drawn an old timey handlebar moustache, paper plane, whale, and fox templates for you to trace and use.

Appliqué is great for livening up plain onesies, baby blankets, and burp cloths. Baby boys deserve fun threads too!

DOWNLOAD THE FREE BIB PATTERN & BOY APPLIQUÉ TEMPLATES:

bib pattern

appliqué templates

MATERIALS:

Main fabric for front (quilting cotton or flannel works great)
Thicker absorbent fabric for back (I like using terry cloth/old towel or minky)
Coordinating fabric scrap for appliqué
Velcro or snaps
Double stick fusible web
Point turner, chopstick, or knitting needle
Bib pattern and appliqué templates (see links above)

TUTORIAL

Cut out bib template, trace shape onto main fabric on the fold (I traced mine onto cardboard since I use it so often). Cut out the bib front.

Place bib front right sides together with backing fabric, pin, cut out the backing in the general shape of the front bib. This allows for a little margin of error while sewing, since terry cloth tends to shift a little bit. It’s also quicker because you don’t need to be as accurate while cutting out the backing. Pin around the edges, marking a 2″ opening to turn.

Sew together with a 3/8″ seam allowance using the bib front as your guide, backstitching at the opening.

Trim seam allowance to 1/4″ except at opening. Clip into curves around neck line and bottom edges.

Turn rightside out, using your point turner to poke out the neck tabs completely. Finger press, then press with an iron on the front side of the bib (terry-cloth and minky don’t iron well).

Topstitch around the outer edge of the bib 1/8″ from edge.

Sew on velcro. Sew 1.5″ of the fuzzy side on to the backing side of the left neck tab, and 1″ of the scratchy side onto the front side of the right neck tab (or add snaps, if your little one is prone to compulsively ripping off their bib).

Trace your appliqué onto the fusible web paper. Cut out the general shape. Remove the backing paper, stick it to the wrong side of your scrap, then cut out your shape (I have a pair of sewing scissors dedicated to this purpose). Don’t cut the inner lines of the paper plane. They’re provided to guide your stitching later.

Remove the other side of the paper backing, and place appliqué where you’d like it. Iron it to fuse to the bib, then machine stitch close to the edge to secure, using whatever stitch you’d like (straight, zigzag, blanket, etc.). The web prevents it from fraying, but if you use a straight stitch it will get a little fuzzy around the edge after a few trips through the wash. I like that look.

Add details to the appliqué. For the whale’s eye, I use fabric marker, but it could also be embroidered. Appliqué small scraps of the terry for the fox’s face and tip of the tail. Mark the paper plane’s “folds” with disappearing fabric pen and use contrasting thread in your machine to stitch the detail.

Put a bib (or three) on your little fella, and enjoy the cuteness!

Thanks for having me, Candace! I’m so happy for you to have a little guy of your very own – they are such fun.

Enjoy those wonderful newborn snuggles!

announcing…vintage may!

May 1, 2012May 3, 201217 Comments

i’m so excited to finally spill the beans on something that has been in the works for a while now – a brand new series that i’m co-hosting with jess of craftiness is not optional! it’s called Vintage May, it’ll run for two weeks starting may 14, and it’s going to be a blast.

we started chatting during week 1 of my season of project run & play when i remixed her junebug dress into the sweet tartan dress. after hitting it off via email and talking about blog stuff, jess said she had the idea to host a series, but didn’t know what it should be about. i helped her brainstorm, and then she totally surprised me by asking me to co-host! i made sure she wasn’t joking, then quickly agreed.

i’ve been a big fan of CINO for a really long time. jess is generous with her tutorials, her daughters are adorable, and she writes in a funny, friendly way. she’s one of those gals you wish lived nearby so you could just hang out and your kids could play together (her Sadie and my Em are just a few months apart in age, and her Charlotte and my O are pretty close too). i even love the name of her blog – if you’re a crafty/creative person, it really isn’t optional – you MUST create and you make the time to do it!

we’re both enamored with vintage style, especially for kids (but for ladies too), and find ourselves drawing inspiration from the past. whether it’s using thrifted/vintage materials, retro-inspired patterns with modern fabrics, or vintage patterns themselves, the results are interesting and fun.

jess and i will have a little pre-show the week before the series starts to share some of our projects and ideas, and then the real fun begins! we have each rounded up ten fantastic guest bloggers that we’re thrilled to have on board for two weeks of vintage/retro inspired projects and tutorials. we’re so thrilled, in fact, that we can’t keep them a secret! these are the guests i’ll be hosting here at skirt as top. some are blogging celebs, some are hidden gems, all are super talented. here they are!

sophie from cirque du bebe
danielle from my sparkle
gail from probably actually
rae from made by rae
cherie from you & mie
jess from running with scissors
rachel from nest full of eggs
meg from elsie marley
stef from girl.inspired
stacy from hart & sew

if you’ve never checked out these ladies’ blogs, do yourself a favor and click through. and jess will be hosting ten lovely guests of her own, so be sure to go check them out!

because this series is all about inspiration and sharing the love of vintage/retro, we’d love to see YOUR projects, too! if you’ve ever sewn an item of clothing from a vintage pattern, vintage bed sheet, a modern pattern that looks vintage, modern fabric that looks vintage, anything along those lines, please add it to the Vintage May flickr group! i’ve added some of my projects, jess has added some of hers, and a few of our guests have added some too, so there’s already plenty of fun stuff in there to browse. we’ll round up a few of our favorites from the flickr group somewhere along the way, so get ’em in there! we’d just love to see what you’ve made.

are you excited? i sure am! hop on over to CINO to check out jess’s awesome guests here, join the flickr group, and get ready to celebrate vintage lovelies!

KCWC spring 2012: days 6 & 7:: butterfly dress

April 29, 2012October 3, 201217 Comments

final post for this kid’s clothes week challenge – a butterfly dress!

i love wearing blue. my eyes are blue and when i wear it, they look even bluer. my daughter’s are blue too and it looks wonderful on her, but she calls it a “boy color” and wants nothing to do with it. to persuade her, i need to give the garment a “special feature” that she’ll love, like ruffles or butterflies or a major twirly skirt…or all three at once!

this is the coraline dress, a tutorial by jess of craftiness is not optional. jess is kind of the queen of sewing tutorials (check them all out here) and i realized that aside from her junebug dress which i remixed, i haven’t really made one even though i wanted to! when i saw this pop up, i knew it was time.

probably not the greatest choice for my final project of KCWC, after sewing more than just one hour a day all week (and blogging too!), to pick a pretty involved, bias bound/ruffle/buttonhole/full gathered skirt dress, but jess and i have some fun news coming up this week, so i wanted to end with one of her tutorials. and oh yes, it was a very solid tutorial. no head scratching moments, though i always struggle with the sandwich-and-sew method of bias binding and have to finish sections of the inside by hand. no worries – an easy fix.

i used rae’s flashback skinny tee as the bodice base (word to the wise – size up if you do this! i’m pretty bummed that this just barely fits over her head now, so she’d better stop growing so she can wear it for more than a couple weeks!). i trimmed the tops of the shoulders and wrapped the bias around to the wrong side of the armholes rather than having it show.

one benefit of having a ridiculously messy sewing room is that some of the dark gray shot cotton that i used in her elephant charlie dress was still laying around on my cutting table. when i saw how nicely it paired with the lizzy house butterfly sky fabric, i decided to work it in on the placket and added some flat piping, too.

as has happened a few times before, Em saw the dress in process and protested “but i want pink!” and then when she saw the actual dress finished, she giggled in glee. she’s a good sport. i think i’d better make her a pink dress next, or she may stage a revolt. though as long as she can twirl, run, and ride her strider bike in a dress (with the skirt tucked into her underwear), she’s pretty happy. in fact, she moved so much during our photoshoot, i didn’t get a straight on shot of the dress! i didn’t realize this until she had changed into her (pink) swimsuit for some sprinkler-running, so i had to use the old hang-the-dress-in-the-lilac-bush technique.

that’s it for me! five items sewn in six days (took a break on friday). the energy around this KCWC was fantastic, it has been so fun watching everyone make such amazing stuff. really great job, ladies, and thanks again for hosting, meg!