Sew-jo inspiration

My sewing mo-jo has taken a vacation and it feels like it is time to get it back to work so I have dressed my newly painted  mantle piece with a spot of vintage sewing haberdashery to fire up my Sew-jo

Vintage Sylko boxes

Vintage sewing pattern

The Vulcan children's sewing machine

Ladybird book of sewing

Vintage haberdashery

Sew-jo inspiration

 The framed vintage sewing patterns were from this January post Free make 2 I don't know if my sew-jo has returned but I certainly need to organise my vintage haberdashery collection and share a few more pis and pieces on here.

How is your sew-jo? have you got any projects on the go or do you need a bit of sewing inspiration?

Free make 2 - Vintage Sewing pattern displays

With my thrifty January head on I was looking round for more projects that I could complete without having to spend any money.  I remembered some photo frame I had brought from poundland in the summer and wanted to fill them with a sewing related display so hit on the idea of displaying a couple of my vintage sewing patterns in them.

I don't have a vast collection of vintage patterns, in fact this represents two thirds of my whole collection!  The patterns are narrower than the width of the frames so I have inserted a small off cut of fabric down the side to fill the gap and also to represent a possible fabric to use for the the pattern.  I like this idea as it gives you a good visualisation of how a finished garment may look and I might adopt this for future sewing projects.

I was concerned that the frames looked very white against the aged paper of the patterns so I tried to distress one of the frames with a used tea bag, I am not convinced it is a good effort and looks more like I have split my tea so I will probably wipe it all off.  I am sure that there are products out there that I could buy to achieve a distressed or aged effect, however, I am trying to use what I have available.

My original intentions for these frames was to to remove the glass and replace it with cork sheeting so that I can use them as mini notice boards to pin up our tickets and mementos from out days out, so at some point these will be re-purposed.


I am calling this another January free make as this was all things I already had in but I would estimate the cost at no more that 5 or 10 pounds depending very much on the cost of the vintage patterns you use for your display.


Thanks for popping by and please share if you have any no cost ideas for aging the frames.

... my walkaway dress

I finally finished my walkaway dress, but I am rather disappointed with the end result.

Walking away from my walkaway dress

Once again I don't think I cut the right size, as I started assembling the dress it became apparent that the waist line was far too low so I took an inch or so out at the shoulders to lift it up and it seemed to have worked.  However, when I attached the bias binding the already wide neck it  has moved out and is both wide and baggy.

Baggy neckline in need of help

The under arm area gapes and is exposing quite a bit of bra, I was experimenting with the use of safety pins as a means of holding things in place and that sorted out the underarm issue to an acceptable degree, but the neckline has me flummoxed and I would be grateful for any suggestions on a remedy, quick fix or alternative ideas.  I don't think the fit issues are helped by the design of the dress, the back has the full weight of the circle skirt so it has a natural tendency to pull towards the back which kind of disturbs the balance of the overall garment.

side view of the gaping arm area

I do love the floaty full skirt and I am so please that the fabric drapes exactly as I had imagined when I chose it . The other thing I loved about this project was making the bias binding, but because it was my first attempt and a bit uneven I chose to hand sew it and I don't know if that added to the problems around the neckline?

 So ultimately I have mixed feelings at the end of this, I don't know if I should try and convert it to a walkaway skirt or brave it out and wear it as it is, I do have a nice cardigan I could put over the top!


I have to turn this around pretty quickly as we are on count down for the Goodwood Revival, its only a couple of weeks away now!


Sadly this was my first vintage make for 2015 vintage sewing pattern pledge I don't think that the pattern being vintage has anything to do with my woes, however the instructions were rather brief compared to what I am used to.






Whatever your ideas and thoughts are on this please leave me a comment I need help and inspiration in the bucket load.

.....the vintage sewing pattern pledge 2015

My next sewing projects is a reproduction vintage pattern from the 1950's, it is the famous Walkaway dress as featured in the Great British Sewing Bee series 3.

It is alleged that you can start this dress in the morning and walk out in it to lunch, however, I have read the instructions that include  "Step 9, Allow 24 hours before hemming to permit bias to set" so I will not be lunching with the ladies in it today.

Walkaway dress pattern

I saw this as an ideal opportunity to take part in a blog challenge, as I have been following Marie at a stitching odyssey the vintage sewing pattern pledge seemed perfect.  This is co-run by Maria and Kerry at Kestrel makes and the idea is encourage you to sew either a vintage pattern if you are lucky enough to have any available or a reproduction one.


The beauty of this challenge is that you can start at any point through out the year and you make a pledge that is personal to you.  Mine is to make two reproduction retro patterns before the end of the year, however, as I am planning to wear them at the Goodwood Revival weekend in September mine should be completed in less than 9 weeks eek!  I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!

If you are planning to sew any vintage patterns do think about joining the challenge and if you need some inspiration take a look at what has already been achieved on this Pinterest board


Do you have a favourite vintage pattern? and have you been brave enough to make it up?

... buying my first vintage pattern

I love the idea of making up a vintage pattern and I have been keeping an eye open for something simple and affordable and this seemed to tick both boxes.  I am happy to say this little beauty dropped through the letterbox this morning, courtesy of a late night rummage on e-bay.


 As with all vintage patterns it does not have the sizing flexibility of a modern multi sized patterns but I am hoping that won't be a problem! I brought this size to accommodate my matronly bussom, however, I don't know if the pattern will cope with my overfed waist line, I learnt in my sewing class that you can reduce your seam allowance eg instead of sewing 1.5cm you sew 1cm and you gain 2cm over both seams so that will give me a little extra to play with,   As this is something of an experiment I have an old sheet that I will use to make a mock up before going for it.

Of course now I need some fabulous vintage fabric to make it up in, so it could be sometime before I get to share a finished dress with you.

In with all the pattern pieces and the very brief instructions was this flyer for sewing kits, they appear to be ready cut out garments that you just have to sew up.  Part of me quite likes the idea as it adds an element of convenience to the sewing process but when I make something I love that I get to choose the pattern and the fabric as well as being able to add my own personal touches.


I would love to hear of your vintage sewing pattern experiences or if you have made up a sewing kit