Welcome to the internet, Mom!

Just a quick post to share my mom's first foray into the blogosphere. She's decided to use this as a way to help her work through (and document) her stack of UFO's she's collected over the years; some sewing, some needlepoint, some knitting, etc. She will be collecting and sharing all of these projects on her brand-spanking new blog Unfinished Business. 

Here's a sneak peak of UFO number one:

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Pretty in pink

I finally finished another project that has been languishing on the sewing table for a while, waiting to have the finishing work completed. It's a pair of bubblegum pink shortie pajamas from a 1960s pattern that I've had for a while.

The pattern I used was Butterick 7559.

Image courtesy Vintage Patterns Wiki

I've wanted to make these for a long time, but have just never gotten around to it until recently. I made View A, with a couple of alterations to the bloomers which I will address in a minute. The fabric I got online for pretty cheap. It's a cotton/poly blend lawn in light pink, with a monochromatic polka-dot pattern.

Instead of using the bloomers from this pattern (since they sit at the natural waist), I wanted to make some that would continue to fit me during my pregnancy. I used the Colette Mini Bloomers pattern. I decided to cut out one size larger than my measurements, so that they would be extra poufy, and I also added about 3/4" of length to the crotch so they would sit a tad higher. I'm very glad that I did. I really should have read more reviews before cutting my fabric because these mini bloomers turned out to be MICRO mini! They are completely wearable, just not quite what I was expecting. If I make them again I will definitely cut them to a larger size and add a couple more inches probably to the height in order to make them slightly less... revealing... shall we say? I will say, it is nice that these sit so low because they do sit comfortably below my stomach, so as it continues to expand they will continue to fit comfortably.

It's fun to have something pretty and girly to sit around in despite the fact that I often don't really have the energy to get off the couch for very long right now.

Ta Ta!

Maternity Top c. 1955

Hello all! I've finally finished the vintage maternity top I've been working on. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It's very comfortable and looks really cute with my skinny jeans, and I think will also work really well with the black pencil skirt I've got. I've put the buttons on as well, but took the pictures while there was still some light coming through the windows, so I hadn't had a chance to sew them on yet. They are just plain, black, 3/4" buttons.

 (I realized after I'd made all the buttonholes that I put them on the left instead of the right, but was too tired to cut them all out and make them again). 

The fabric is a woven cotton dot, with red, yellow and pink threads running through the polka dots. I used scraps of the linen/rayon I used for my 1930s trousers for the trim around the yoke.

I'm really excited about having something new to wear, as well as having something nice and loose, since a lot of the basics I've acquired so far are more form fitting. I've got several pieces of fabric in the stash that I'm considering using for some more, similar tops. This pattern, along with some other really cute maternity patterns, were a gift from a friend and fellow vintage-lover. This one is Simplicity 1174, from 1955. The shorts are really cute too, and if I'm desperate for another quick project and it's gotten warm enough in early spring to wear shorts I may whip a pair up. My sweet husband told me he was very impressed and thinks this is really cute also (I will add that he is impressed with anything I make, but I'm not going to turn down the compliment).

I've actually started another maternity project as well, from a dress pattern included in this delightful goody bag of vintage patterns. This one is a bit later, Simplicity 3345. I haven't been able to date this one exactly, but judging from the hair and overall style of the dress I would guess early '60s. If anyone has any better guesses/info, please let me know.

The fabric I'm using for this is a neutral, cotton-print cotton. I have a bit of black linen/linen blend that I'm going to use for the rolled collar and the sash. I'm making the sleeveless version, so I'll be able to still wear my short cardigans with it when the weather gets a bit warmer. I'm excited to have another dress to wear. It's been hard getting used to not having my normal winter wardrobe, as well as having a wardrobe that is now about one tenth the size it used to be. All of the fabric for this dress came from the combined stash that my mom and I have accumulated, and since the pattern was a gift the only thing I will have to spend money on is the zipper for the back, as I don't currently have one long enough or the right color (as always).

Once I get this one finished I have some other knitting and upholstering projects I need to take care of, and then I may make a few more tops.

I bought the Advance pattern ages ago, just because the style of the top was so interesting. I can't decide what to make it out of though. Nothing in my stash seems to be calling out for this pattern.

These last two were from the lot of patterns I was gifted. I like the wide, open neck on the first one, and while I don't love the dress versions of the 1960s pattern, I really like it as a top. I think that one will definitely be in the line-up for my next projects.

 Hope everyone had a nice New Year!