Craziness / Amy Alan / Really Handmade

It’s been nuts around here this past week. I been sewing and sewing and sewing, but not sewing from my stash. I’m really disappointed, but hey! This afternoon is ALL MINE. FINALLY. And I will spend it pushing work aside and sewing only for me!

I did try to work on my stash after my last post. I draped the pattern for the navy dot dress, and then realized it was a big NO for my body. Those pleats did a lot to make me look pregnant (which I’m most certainly not), so that had be pitched. I’m grateful that I hadn’t started cutting into my navy fabric! I decided after that failure that I’d use this pattern. I’m so excited to cut it up this afternoon that I’m going to have to put it back in my closet or I won’t get my work done!

After my draping incident, I realized that there’s no way I’m going to get thru my stash in time if I don’t start buying patterns. I have a guilty conscience about buying or using someone else’s patterns. Since I know how to make my own, and have everything to make them, I feel like a cheater. Yes, it’s dumb. I realize how much time I’m giving up by making a pattern when I could be sewing garments though, and it’s frustrating. So onto Etsy I went!

I’ve looked thru Mrs. Depew’s vintage pattern shop before, and I’d always eyed this 1930s French dress. I don’t feel like as much of a cheater when I have to draft the pattern myself, either. Win, win! I’m going to turn this on into a long top, instead of a dress. I’m pretty excited to start working on it!

Just to give you and idea of what else I work on when I’m not making my way thru my stash, here are two recent projects. The first one is a set of three pajama tops that I made for a gentleman here in Portland. He had an existing top that he really liked, so I used it to make a pattern and then sewed these up out of white cotton.

Another custom piece I’ve been working on is a wall hanging made out of 8 very bright molas. It’s quite a contrast from the pajama tops!

I will post more photos of each of these molas soon. The handwork that goes into each of these is exquisite.

http://www.jaggedrose.se Jennie

Sorry you haven’t had more time to sew for yourself. I haven’t had time either this week, but now I have 3 weeks holiday, so I should get some things made
Love the 30′s dress & I feel the same about patterns, I can make my own, so I feel guilty if I don’t. But at the same time I usually alter ready made patterns anyway & it does save time, so IT’S OK!
- http://reallyhandmade.com Amy Alan
  
  3 week holiday? Nice! It does stink that work gets in the way of me playing. But, I do have the pattern all adjusted and finished for the navy dress- now I need to sneak more time to cut it out and sew it! Argh! Thanks for making me feel less guilty about using a pattern. Isn’t that ridiculous?! It’s true, I do alter them, which usually makes them almost a whole new pattern… so it counts, right? Have a wonderful holiday, Jennie!
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Laura Sorenson

Hi Amy,

I just checked out Mrs. Depew’s Vintage Pattern Shop over at
etsy. Holy Smoke but I think I’ve actually made some of the patterns there when
they were new! (Some of the Simplicity and McCall’s patterns) Does that make me
vintage? ;-D

I unfortunately know nothing about drafting clothing patterns
so I’ve had to rely completely on commercial patterns. I have a few questions
for you… I was fascinated with some of the French patterns that require
drafting the size you need from the miniature pattern template. (Like the 1930’s
pattern above) It looks as though the “how to” is included in the pattern instructions
but it also looks as though I would need a special ruler or rulers. Do you know
what kind of rulers and where I could find them? Is it difficult to draft the
pattern? In other words would a newbie to pattern drafting be able to handle
it? Also a method of pattern drafting was mentioned called the Lutterloh golden rule patterns. Are there resources available that I can reference where I can learn more about this method and how to do it? I’m thinking it’s time I learned more about drafting patterns and any info you can give me would be very much appreciated!
- http://reallyhandmade.com/ Amy Alan
  
  That does not make you vintage- that makes you AWESOME! I wish you still had the patterns so I could get you to send them to me.
  
  Mrs. Depew gives you the size of ruler you need with your pattern. You tell her your bust size and it’s all done from there. It’s a fascinating process, really. My dress got put on the back burner for a bit, but I’ve been itching to get it out again. I will for-sure do a post on it when I get it done! I’m sure Anna has more resources for the Lutterloh pattern method if you’d like them.
  
  I’d say the patterns are for someone with an intermediate skill set in pattern drafting. But, it may be something that you fall in love it, so give it a try!

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