Beach trip (suitcase view)

I think my last post was about what I wanted to sew for my beach trip. Well, the beach trip has now come and gone and this is what actually make it into my suitcase....

Oh and 2 bathing suits which I didn't save a picture of (and luckily my hubby hasn't posted any pictures on facebook). 

There were 9 pieces of clothing which could be used to make a dozen outfits:

The most versatile piece that I brought was the yellow shirtwaist dress that I finally finished from a fashionable stitch's shirt dress sew-along!

The first day I wore the yellow shirtwaist with the sailboat skirt (and forgot to take a picture because we left so early).

I also wore the shirtwaist dress by itself (I took this picture before accessorizing for some reason)

And I wore it with the circle skirt (I made during Casey's sew-along) over top of it (which is my favorite way ).

I also wore the circle skirt with the afternoon tea halter top (that I talked about a couple posts ago).

The halter also matches the sailboat skirt (which I made into an a-line from a vintage gathered skirt and does not have the yellow coloring in it that I thought it did. It is still really cute though), though the colors don't quite look like it in the pictures.

The white sorbetto (that I posted about making earlier) could have been worn with any of the skirts/shorts as well.

I wore the sorbetto and the pink linen pants to hang around in the beach house, it was very comfortable. The pants are vintage, though they are newer that usually my style. I really like them though they have an elastic waist which I do not love. Is there anyway to edit those to not have the elastic (add a zipper and waistband)? 

So, I didn't get all of the sewing done that I had hoped to, but I kind of expected that. I would have really loved to have replaced that jean shorts outfit with a cute 2 piece play suit that could possibly have mixed and matched with the other pieces. And I would have loved to have made two vintage inspired swimsuits (one of mine is vintage inspired, but the fit isn't too good). But, I am pleased with what I did accomplish and wear.

Beach bound (well not quite yet)

So, the groundhog did not see his shadow earlier this month which is supposed to mean an early spring. The weather, on the other hand, has not been very spring like so far.


However, since I am lacking in the spring and summer clothes, I thought that I had better get on the ball and get some warm weather outfits made so that I will have some good things to wear later this year. I started out by making a list of things that I think I will need for the year, but got quickly overwhelmed. I am having a hard time staying on a project to completion without getting burnt out, so I needed a smaller list to work with.

That lead me to thinking, what are the most important things that I will need. Well, since I work a fulltime job that requires a company logo shirt. I still have several skirts that are not really heavy that could be used in all seasons. That covers my work-wear. So that leaves weekends and vacation. I have a couple of tops that would be sufficient for weekends for now, so I decided to focus on vacation.

We are doing a week long family vacation at the beach and this year it is particularly early (first week of June). I am not sure how much I can get done by then, but I wanted to make a plan of what I would want to pack.

So here is my proposed packing list (clothing only and undergarments are assumed):

1 one-piece swimsuit

1 two piece swimsuit [I have something that will suffice if I don’t get to this]

2 one piece playsuits

1 Two-piece playsuit

3 tops (halter neck, sleeveless, short sleeve)

2-3 shorts/pants (Bermuda, short, pedal pushers) – that will match swimsuits, tops & playsuits

2 skirts – that will match swimsuits, tops & playsuits

2 sundresses

1 Hawaiian print sarong dress (nice enough in case I get to go out one evening with Hubby)

1 sweater for breezy morning strolls on beach [I already have]

Vintage Beach packing list by btotten on Polyvore

I don’t think that the whole list is really feasible for me, but I thought that I would get started on it anyway and accomplish as much as I can.

I have created a board on Pinterest for my inspiration and the patterns that I come up with. I am planning on doing a post for each item as I get around to thinking about them and making them.

But, I wanted to start with the bathing suit. I have decided on this inspiration photo. It isn’t vintage, but it does have a nice vintage feel to it and I think that is best right now for me at the beach because my hubby is still warming up to the idea of me wearing vintage stuff at the beach.

 

The place where I pinned it, doesn’t exist any longer, so I do not know if it is still available to purchase or not, but I don’t know that I don’t have the money to purchase it (I am going to be buying fabric with gift cards I got for Christmas).

So when looking for a pattern that I have that would be the closest match for it, I thought of this pattern which is a free pattern off of Burda for the top ( adding halter straps and a cute bow like in the second picture)

and either Burda's cheeky panties or the rosy lady shorts extended for the bottoms.

 

NOTE: All free patterns can be found on my free pattern board on Pinterest

 Since the afternoon tea top is a shirt pattern and I do need shirts as well, I thought that I might knock out two birds with this one stone (who is trying to kill birds, why are they using stones, and are there not enough that it matters you only use one?)

So, I am going to start with muslin in cotton the only changes that I am going to make are: cutting the darts (adding seam allowance) and add the halter straps.

From there I am going to check fit and whatnot, I will probably go ahead and make up a shirt, since I will have most of the kinks worked out of that pattern (hopefully). From there I will work on adding the front center seam in muslin (just not cutting the front pattern piece on the fold (but adding seam allowance). From there I will stop working on that and work on a pair of just the bottoms. Then after figuring out the fit on those, I will add length to the legs.

Lastly is the part of trying to figure out a pattern for all the pieces together and trying that out.

I see this as being a long journey ahead, but I am pretty excited to try it out and get back in the sewing saddle again. Wish me luck…

BTW- how far ahead of time do you start planning your sewing projects?

My vintage wearing process & giveaway winner

I want to announce the winner of the vintage pattern giveaway and I would like to update everyone on my wardrobe progress. I did start this blog to document my progress of sewing a wardrobe that fit and felt good to wear.

While I haven't had very many sewing adventures (and even less successful), I have been obtaining vintage clothing that does fit and flatter ( in my opinion). So much so that I now wear vintage everyday (well everyday I leave the house).

So how did I go from owning no vintage and vintage inspired clothes to now wearing vintage everyday?
(And I have no pictures of me at all. Which is why i have been reluctant to write blog posts. I am so sorry for this long and picture lacking post)

Well, I bought a nice vintage dress for my company's Christmas party while I was in Florida on business (there were quite a few vintage shops in St.Petersburg were I was at). It was on sale and was more of a splurge than I had expected, but I was happy with it.

At the Christmas party I met the wife of a then coworker and she runs estate sales. I went to one even though I knew I didn't have very much money and didn't expect that much because the pictures didn't show that much clothing.
However, my money went really far because the clothing was really inexpensive (some as low at $.50) and on the last day everything was half price.
The clothes were not perfectly my style. They were mostly 70s (the older stuff I did get was too large for me, but I hope to alter), but the skirts had a 40s kind of style to them even though they are a-line and have elastic in the back. I did get some pussybow blouses, though I don't get to wear them very often because I have to wear company logo shirts to work.
I started wearing these to work and them the transformation began. I really liked wearing skirts and though they were not perfect (wearing a belt, even without belt loops, takes away from the elastic look), I started feeling a lot better not having to force myself into jeans every morning.
Then I started to slowly add vintage pieces to my wardrobe that were actual 40s-50s pieces. Some from another estate sale, but most from eBay. I couldn't afford to do it all at once, but a low priced skirt every once in a while wasn't too bad.

I am now at the point where I have started to phase the 70s skirts out of my wardrobe and am beginning to only wear the older stuff.
My wardrobe is still lacking in some areas though.

Belts: I attempted buying a belt off eBay and while it is cute and labeled vintage (though it was vintage inspired), I am not digging that it is made in the Far East. I am currently looking for American made belts at thrift shops and things, but haven't had much luck yet. Two of my skirts came with belts, but I accidentally have ruined one by wearing it too tight (apparently I am smaller in the morning and grow throughout the day).

Shoes. I have bought a few pair of shoes on etsy and eBay, but none of them have fit very well (though I do still wear them occasionally).

(I just got these so crossing fingers)

For me, I think I am just going to have to buy shoes in person. I screwed that up once too though. I was at that same vintage shop where I bought my first dress and I saw a lovely pair of crocodile shoes in a case and asked to try them on. The lady handed me one, I looked at it (it was a little worn, but in mostly good shape). It had a dry rotted insole piece added, but it fit pretty well. I spent more than I have ever spent for anything vintage, but was feeling good because I sold a bunch of vintage pieces I wasn't interested in (at extremely low profit to a vintage store).
I got home and was showing them to hubby when I realized that the other shoe, not the one she handed me in the store, was in pretty sad shape. It had been repaired several times and the skin was starting to break off ;(
I have been pleased with some modern shoes that I have, but again I would prefer some nice American made shoes.

Dresses, well dresses tend to be more expensive then just skirts and blouses, so I haven't committed to many of those. Actually I have only bought one vintage dress and while it is lovely, it doesn't fit. I am trying to decide if I should alter it.

 I do have quite a few dress patterns, so I am hoping to make a few.

Loungewear: I have some nightgowns, but I need something to fill the gap from when I get home till I get ready for bed. I can't wear my day stuff because I will be cooking and cleaning. I just can't see getting my vintage stuff dirty like that even house dresses are expensive most of the time. I do have one "old lady dress" as my father in law calls it. It is more of a smock than a true dress, but I think it would protect my clothing a bit more than one of those cute aprons.

Another activity I don't have vintage clothes for... Working out. Admittedly I haven't done much of that lately, but I'd like to get back into it. I don't generally leave the house in workout clothes, but I'd still like to look cute and I'd like to feel like I could go to a gym in the clothes if I wanted to. I have some ideas (and a Pinterest board) for making some, but am unsure of working with those types of materials. I figure I will get there eventually.

Well there you go, that's my story.

Now for what you have been waiting for, the winner of the vintage patterns of her choice....
Gia of One Perfect Day. I have already shipped out her selections.

The other patterns I said I would do on ebay, but I am considering opening an etsy shop to get rid of some of my vintage things because I won't have to keep relisting each week and such. I don't know anything about running an etsy shop, but I am going to look into it. I will keep you updated.