03- Bc Cografya Arşivi: sewing

You Learn Something New Every Day

There is always something new to learn. Yesterday I learned two new things. I was reading an old Singer Sewing Manual circa. 1954 (with marvelous illustrations!) and came across this tip for turning corners. I have never heard of this before! And I have read my share of sewing books, old and new. I love when I find a new tip. I did try it out, works really nice!

The other thing I learned, is southeast Wisconsin is at the same latitude as southern Spain. But because Europe is a smaller land mass, they have a more temperate clime then here. Interesting.

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A Find from Holland

I found this bais tape with lace edging on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HollandFabricHouse

Mailed all the way from Holland! She has a lot of fun things. Very bright, colorful fabric and trims. It just arrived in the mail yesterday. To to cute!

I can't wait to sew an apron. I haven't decided what pattern yet. I am thinking 40s. As they loved ruffles and trim. I might make up my own pattern. Still thinking, but with this for inspiration, it shouldn't take long!

A close up. So you can see the tiny little Strawberries and Cherries! And the cute flowers! I almost didn't get the fruit one, I know! what was I thinking?!

Life has been rather busy lately. Tax season you know, and of course since I do really like doing taxes, I do them for the whole family! I was so hoping that I would have a bunch of aprons sewn by now. But I haven't had the time. They are still all cut out, waiting on my sewing table. I did sneak an hour or so of sewing in on Tuesday. I have a little half apron almost done! It was so rejuvinating to be able to sew! I am hoping next week I will get time!

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How to do the Outline Stitch

This is a 1940's illustration on how to do the outline stitch. Very simple really. (I just realized that I have been holding my thread down, not up, as in the picture! My stitches overlap the other way. It is still pretty, either way!)

For those of you who are still feelling a bit uncertain. Here are detailed instructions.

1. Working from left to right, with needle pointing right to left, pull needle up at starting point.

2. Take a small stitch along line you want to embroider, going down on right, coming up on left.

3. Take another small stitch about 1/8 of an inch away from the one just worked.

4. Repeat step #3.

I snapped a few quick pictures this morning, but they don't really illustrate the stitch very well. Maybe I will take a few more.

I love the wrong side of vintage embroidery, all so neat and tidy. I have noticed that they never hop around, but always cut their thread and start again. So, I have tried to do the same. It makes for a lot of knots, but it is tidy!

And here are apples and grapes for you to try! If anyone is interested in the whole collection, feel free to email me, I love to share!

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Iron On Embroidery Transfers- The Modern Way

Lately I have been into embroidery. I found some vintage iron-on embroidery transfers at the antique store. They are really cute fruit! (In case you didn't know, I LOVE fruit!)

The problem? How to get the design on the dish towels with out using the transfers. I only had one copy of each and I wanted to be able to use them as many times as I wanted. I knew I couldn't trace them very accurately. I tried buying sheets of iron-on transfer paper from the fabric store, that you put in your printer. What I didn't realize is it was for ironing on pictures or letters. What ever you don't cut off gets ironed onto the fabric in a sheet of plastic! Not what I was looking for.

I finally found the most simple solution! It is so easy too!

First, I scanned in all the transfers. Then I found a plastic report cover, trimmed it to the size of a page, put a piece of paper in it for support and printed the fruit on it. As soon as it came out of the printer I placed it faced down on my dish towel, laid a book over it (I found a soft cover book works best) and pressed firmly.

WHA-LA! Fruit on dish towel! Isn't that simple?!

And the great thing! The report cover is re-usable. Just wipe off with tissue and hand sanitizer.

All ready to start embroidering my peaches and pears!

Strawberries, Apples, Plums and Grapes!

Tomorrow I will write about how to embroider and post a few transfers for you to use!!

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Weekend Sewing

It was a marvolous weekend! I sewed three aprons and have four more all cut out, just waiting to be sewn together.

The first apron I made was one I drafted using a vintage 1928 ad as inpriration. It has a dropped waist and flared skirt. Made in a pink rose print with pale pink binding. I am very happy with how it turned out, but I think it could use a few changes. I think the skirt is too long and the waist is a bit low.

Hopefully, one day I will have patterns for sale for this apron!

1928 advertisment that was my inspiration.

Second up, is an apron made from my Ten American Novel Aprons book. Cira 1940. This one is for my sister. Yellow banana fabric with orange rick-rack. Very fun! (I woulnd't be caught dead in it! But it is cute!)

I also whipped one up in black and white fabric with black rick-rack. Very elegant! Looks kinda like a maid's uniform :)

Back detail. The skirt is triangle in shape.

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Digression....

I know this really doesn't have anything to do with aprons....... but I just had to share this with you all!

Eva Dress (www.evadress.com a fabulous website selling repro patterns in multi-size) had a contest. It was a great jump start for creativeness! I made her 1929 Ladies Frock with Handkerchief Hem. I am really pleased with how it came out. I dug a length of peach silk habotai out of my stash. It wasn't the color I was picturing for this dress, so I dyed it a lovely salmony-pinky. The color came out perfect!

Don't you LOVE the flowers! They are made from a vintage 1920s pattern in my stash.

The skirt has a handkerchief hem. Meaning that it is cut in points. You can't really tell in the pictures very well, but there are points at center front, center back and each side. The bottom of the bodice is pointed too

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Repro Fabric

Oh......... I just got spring fever! Is this not one of the prettiest fabrics you have seen? It is such luscious eye candy.

These fabrics are from one of my favorite fabric companies. Marcus Brothers (http://www.marcusbrothers.com/) This is from the Aunt Gracie Collection, which is 30s reproduction fabric. Perfect for aprons!

Another of my favorite fabric companies Windham Fabrics (www.windhamfabrics.com) has a reproduction feed sack collection.

a repro feed sack with flour labels

"Printed floursacks, (and feedsacks) were a tradition beginning in the great depression, but lasted into the 1950's. It is estimated that by the early 1940's over 3 million women and children were wearing some version of a printed feedbag garments.Not only were flourssack designs simple, so was the concept. They were used as a promotion to sell more flour because the bag, or sack that the flour was packed in could be reused to make clothes. One of the reasons for there being thousands of different flour sack designs was the idea that the shorter the time that a particular design was available, more designs would be used. Women wanted more fabric designs and would therefore help drive demand for the flour."

(an excerp from http://www.windhamfabrics.com/ )