The mysterious button store

For a while now, I’ve been hearing about some super secret button store which is stocked with all manner of vintage buttons. I never understood why it was a secret, because I’m sure such a tiny little business could use the support and customers!
Anyway, I finally found it. Exclusive Buttons in [...]

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A prototype - your thoughts?

Lately, I’ve been working on designing a new dress. I’d love to get your thoughts.
This is the muslin, still needing some tweaks. It’s designed to be made in two coordinating fabrics, because I love two-tone anything. There are so many possibilities when you make things in two coordinating fabrics. The next [...]

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A rosey spring dress

I bought this odd 80s sun dress for a few bucks recently. I thought it was really dowdy in that sort of horrible laura ashley way, but at the same time, the bodice is really beautifully cut. It has a very fitted princess cut, elastic shirring in panels at the back, and I [...]

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Book Review: Pattern Magic Vol 1 and 2

I’ve been meaning to post about these books forever: Pattern Magic Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, which I purchased from the always wonderful Kinokuniya in San Francisco.
I’ve been working a lot on pattern making lately, and I can’t tell you how inspiring these books are. They’re laid out like many other Japanese mooks, with [...]

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Folkwear 1930s Day Dress

Long ago, someone sent me this pattern for Folkwear #249, 1930s Day Dress. I bought the fabric, cut the pattern, and for one reason or another, it languished in my sewing box for many months after.
Well, I finally finished it, and it’s quite nice! I used a gorgeous blue toile cotton for the [...]

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Book Review: Madeleine Vionnet by Betty Kirke

I have so many books I’ve acquired or discovered recently and want to share. I’m going to start with Vionnet by Betty Kirke, a fantastic book well worth the hefty cover price (mine came from the library, but I do plan to purchase it now).

If you don’t know of Madeleine Vionnet, she was a [...]

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How to alter a wool sweater

Here are some step-by-step instructions on how I turned a boxy vintage cashmere cardigan into a much more fitted and flattering sweater.
My grandmother gave me this gorgeous rose pink vintage cashmere sweater a couple years back and though I’ve worn it from time to time, it was really too big for me and felt really [...]

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Vintage Sewing Patterns - A Directory of Sources!

I have a bit of an addiction to vintage sewing patterns. I find that the cuts are just totally unlike anything you would find in modern commercial patterns and much closer to the amazing garments you might see walking down runways. I love the illustrations, I love looking at them, I love collecting [...]

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Doily Embellished Cardigan

I’ve started using some of that wonderful craft treasure I wrote about. I bought this plain navy blue cotton-modal sweater at a thrift store in japantown recently, with the idea that I would fancify it with a bit of vintage trim. I love navy blue with white/cream. To me, they’re very wintery [...]

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Thank you Wardrobe Refashion

It’s been about five months since I first signed up for the Wardrobe Refashion challenge. As someone who loves clothes and takes great pleasure in finding the right clothes, I thought this would be really challenging for me. I honestly wasn’t sure if I could commit to four months, but hey, aggressive goals [...]

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