I thought I’d share some more images from this sewing pamphlet from 1928 called Easy Ways to Pretty Frocks, which I gave you a taste of earlier. It was published by thread manufacturers J&P Coats. The pamphlet guides you through drafting a “plain dress,” which is in the style of the day, a sack dress. …

Last year I was lucky enough to go to an open air screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘The Birds’. It was a magical night, with the sun setting behind us and the film projected onto the side of a castle. But aside from the memory of the experience, I also came away that evening with …

{image: sign from a 1940s boutique} I have long been drawn to black in my clothing. It is such a significant color to wear, but the funny thing is that it also seems to signal so many different things depending on the wearer. In my younger days, black was decidedly cool. The bands I listened …

One day last week, I posted about this dress on Twitter. It’s by Heidi Merrick and the retail cost is $462. It’s cute and I generally think her designs are lovely, but… THOSE STRIPES. Can you imagine paying $462 for a dress with stripes that almost but don’t quite match at the waist like this? …

If you’ve read my posts on this blog before, you may already be aware that I often use them as an excuse to indulge and fixate upon my sewing-related obsessions. On that note, enter today’s topic: piping! Very little seems to have been written (on the internet anyway) about piping aside from fairly basic explanations. …

I came across this wonderful image in a sewing pamphlet from 1928. I’ve been doing some personal sewing this week, so I’ve been thinking a bit about wardrobe planning. I love the idea of having set costumes for different types of occasions. I’m sure we all do this to some degree or another, with some …

I just came across this pretty paisley dress at croatiavintage and was really taken by the little fans along the front placket. Wouldn’t this be a darling application for a button placket on a silk dress? I think it would look amazing in a knock-out solid color. They look extremely easy: just strips of fabric …

{photo by megkroeker} It’s definitely Springtime where I live, and there are flowers everywhere. With that, I’m starting to finally get back into pastels. I’m definitely gravitating more towards the ice-cream colored silks and flowered cottons at the fabric store lately, how about you? So I thought I’d share some Spring color inspiration that I’ve …

Flicking through a 1970 edition of Golden Hands magazine recently, I discovered this image of an awesome appliqué panelled dress. The caption reads: ‘This enchanting evening dress with its pretty floating sleeves and attractive appliquéd bodice panel was designed by Adele Cooper, a fashion student at Hornsey College of Art. The dress is made in …

Perhaps it was the tiki night I attended last night, or maybe I am just longing for the warm weather to get here already, but I’m feeling like a little Hawaiiana. I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to lounging around poolside with a tropical drink this summer, and there’s just …

I am so in love with this linen dress from Dear Golden Vintage. Since it’s not my size, I did what I always do to make myself feel better when a lovely vintage piece is too small or large or expensive or holey: I think about how I’d satisfy my lust for it with sewing. …

(image source) So, do you actually wear the clothes you spend time creating? Personally, I often find it too easy to find fault in my newly completed creations and at times used to shove them in a drawer and allow myself to be quickly distracted by the next project. But thankfully eventually, the ratio of …

As much as I love Barkcloth, I must admit there is another fabric type that regularly vies for the covetable title of My Favourite Fabric. Whereas the appeal of Barkcloth for me is predominantly based on the awesome midcentury patterns and prints often featured, the attraction I feel for Cotton Sateen is all about the texture. …

Do you have a style icon? Someone that inspires the way you dress, or would like to dress? I’ve been thinking a bit about this since Gertie posted about her new fashion icon, Emma Pillsbury from Glee, and how that character inspired some of her recent creations and fabric purchases. I like the idea of …

Threads has a short little interview with Kenneth D. King in which he offers great advice to newer sewists: “If I were to say one thing and only one thing, it’s this: perfectionism is a disease, and a form of fear! When learning the craft of sewing (which I believe is absolutely necessary in order …

The origin of buttons is difficult to establish, but the word itself probably stems from either the French bouton for bud or bouter to push. The French were passionate about the potential of the button and by 1250 had established the Button Makers Guild. The Guild produced beautiful buttons with great artistry, much to the …

I just got back from a short but phenomenal trip to New York. I used to live in Manhattan, so it is really wonderful to be able to return and visit friends, eat delicious Indian food, enjoy some fabulous cocktails and, of course, shop for fabric. Guys, I forgot how amazing the fabric shopping in …

When I was little, Sunday afternoons always seemed to feature a film in black and white about the Second World War playing in the background because my dad was pretty partial to watching (read: falling asleep in front of) them. To me, most of these films were more or less just background noise, except for …

Somewhere along the line, I became a button collector. Or maybe “hoarder” is a more appropriate term. I am partial to glass, and I particularly like to scoop up the types that go with almost anything I make: clear glass, glass pearls, black glass, or rhinestones. But I also love early plastics like Bakelite. But …