1940s Robe!

Robe, housecoat, dressing gown... whatever the you call it, whatever the differences are, I'm obsessed with the 1940s style.  40s styles were very fitted with narrowish hips and sculpted, pronounced shoulders.  Very feminine and iconic of the war-time era.

Take a look-










The crocheted kimono i made and my modernish cotton one, though cute and purposeful, just don't come to the bar, so to speak.  So what's a girl to do?
Why, sew one of course!



Look at the Butterick pattern i found online after only a few minutes of searching.  Not only can I buy it brand-new, but i can make it with long or short sleeves! 
I think it's very elegant.  I cannot wait to pick up the pattern and get to work on a long sleeved one for fall/winter.


I am really liking the flowered fabric the left robe is made of







I think it's my new obsession!

  I like this print, but am thinking it may be too large. (?)

 This could easily be a good 40s color.

  When making vintage clothing, one can never go wrong with polka dots!

~CLICK HERE to go to the Butterick web page and see the pattern and pictures~
 (this post was not sponsored)

Beth

New Old Patterns (Vintage Vouge)

After seeing that Vouge patterns were on sale at our local fabric store, i decided to look them up to see if they had any 'new' (reproduction) vintage ones.

Do they ever!

Not only that, but the biggest selection i have ever seen!

CLICK HERE to go to the Vintage Vouge homepage.

They have everything from sundresses to wedding dresses, from suits to coats and even a few hat patterns!

They are all from the 1930s thru the 50s and two 60s patterns. 

All you have to do is click on one and it tells you the price, sewing level and whatever drawings and fabric suggestions, notions and etc. that you would see on the back of the pattern.

I cant wait to go to the store!

This 1938 ensemble is definatley one of my favorites.  I have lots of 50s and 60s dresses i've found at thrift stores and the like, but do not own any 30s stuff, save family photos.  Why not make a bunch in whatever colors i like?

I also CANNOT RESIST this 1947 suit.  I think it looks very much like the suit Allie Fortune wears on the cover of the book Miss Fortune (by Sara Mills).
I love it!






Ok, those two are my favorite, but who doesnt love 1940s A-line dresses?  The only down side to this one is that its at an advanced sewing level :(




1952 flattering coat dress


1946 dress (isnt the model cute?)




I'm deaply considering  this 1933 Nacy Drew looking suit





APRONS!!!!

And who doesnt love wedding dresses...






and dont forget the hats!

(30s and 40s)


(40s-50s)



...Ok so i'm obviously not going to buy everything i've shown.. i dont think... but  now we both know of some awsome vintage patterns that arnet over 50s yrs old and make us nervous.  We can also skip the next strange colored frock we like the style but not the pattern we see, because i can make one with whatever print i like!
I hope you enjoyed!
Beth

How to Bake a Cake: A funny little story to make you smile

 

Good morning!  I trust that you had a wonderful weekend.  Mine was crazy but fun.  Oh yes, and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there.  Although i had tons of fun and enjoyed myself, i have to admit that i am ready to get back to the old routine!

To start off the week, here is a silly story that i received via E-Mail this weekend.

It is said that it's from an old cookbook.

Need a smile?

Read on!

How to Bake a Cake

Light oven; get out bowl, spoons and ingredients.

Grease pan, crack nuts.

Remove 18 blocks and 17 toy automobiles from kitchen table.

Measure out 2 cups of flour: remove Johnny's hands from flour and wash flour off Johnny.

Put flour, baking powder and salt in sifter.

Get dustpan and sweep up pieces of bowl Johnny knocked off the table and onto the floor.

Get another bowl.

Answer doorbell.

Return to kitchen.

Remove Johnny's hands from bowl.

Wash Johnny.

Get out egg.  Answer phone.

Return.

Take out greased pan.

Remove salt from pan.

Look for Johnny.

Return to kitchen and find Johnny: remove his hands from bowl: wash butter, etc. off of him.

Take up greased pan and remove nutshells from it. 

Head for Johnny, who flees, knocking bowl off table.

Wash kitchen floor,

Wash table.

Wash walls.

Wash Dishes.

Call Bakery.

Lie down!

CAKE PLATES!

I dont know about you, but i LOVE cake plates.  No, not the little plates that come in your dishes set, i talking the real- um, ok, some call them cake 'stands'?

I was recently at an antique store in Winfield, Kansas ( i'm not saying the name because i cannot remember it and i didnt buy anything there) where in one of the rooms she had a great big dining room table FULL, i talkin' COVERED with cake plates.  Light green, pale blue and pink, nontransparent glass and simple, smooth, beautiful stands. 

I have two of my own that i've picked up at estate sales so that inspired me to bake a cake yesterday.  Maybe i should post my recipe?  Anyway,  the cake looks great on the plate so i thought that if you did not have a cake plate, you need to get one!  Here are some of my favorite pictures i found while looking around the web because i love them so much and i couldnt resist. 

(OK so i'm on ANOTHER kick now.  So what?)

How neat! i should paint one for display like this!

ok now i want a square one...

one of mine looks a lot like this

so delicate and darling

Crystal! i think i'd be afraid to own this one! ( i'm sometimes such a klutz!)

Well, that's all for now.

Headed for the fabric store again today!

 I hope you enjoyed these wonderful cake plate pictures.

Which is your favorite?  Do you just love cake plates or do already have one of your own?

So long,

Beth

Free Vintage Crochet Pattern: 1940s Springtime Blossoms

Here it is!  This bag is made to match the Springtime hat in yesterday's post.  Its cute and so retro!

The only problem i had with this was that you need a bag bottom for, well, the bottom of the bag.  I just used a very small crochet hook with the regular belstraw art (i used smaller hook so stitches would be tighter and sturdier) and just crocheted until i got the size i wanted and then sewed cloth to the inside.  You can do what ever you want or you can to to the Free Vintage Crochet website where they have a bunch a crochet bag patterns or theAntique Crochet Patterns website (where i got this pattern) for more.  Oh yea, and if you're a knitter, be sure to check out Free Vintage Knitting website.

Have fun crocheting!!!

Free Crochet Purse Pattern:
Crochet a Stylish Bag

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Hiawatha Belastraw Art. 35, 3 Tubes
Hiawatha Leather Bag Bottom No. 6515
Steel Crochet Hooks No. 1 and No. 0
Lining Material, Buckram and Snap Fasteners
Flower Trimming

Gauge: 5 sc = 1"

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Springtime Bag - Sides
Using No. 1 hook start work in hole nearest one seam.
Rnd 1: With right side facing, work 2 sc in each hole around. Change to No. 0 hook and work sc even until crocheted section is 6" deep. Sl st in next st. End off.

Springtime Bag - Flap
With No. 0 hook make 5 1/2" chain.
Rnd 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch to end, 5 sc in end ch, do not turn but continuing around, work sc in each st along other side of starting chain, ending with 5 sc in end ch.
Rnd 2: Sc in each st to 5 end sts, place marker along edge just worked to indicate back section of Flap, work 3 sc in next st for back corner, sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 so in next st (front inc.), sc in each st of front section to 5 sts at other end, 2 sc in next st (front, inc.), sc in each of next 3 sts, 3 sc in next st for hack corner.
Rnd 3: Sc in each st to 3 sc of hack corner, sc in next st, 3 sc in next (center) st, inc. 2 sc evenly across front section (not directly over inc. of previous rnd), work to next back corner, sc in next st, 3 sc in next (center) st. Repeat 3rd rnd until Flap measures 8 1/4" across back section. Work 1 rnd even, Sl st in next st. End off.

Springtime Bag - Handle
Make 22" chain.
Rnd 1: Same as 1st rnd of Flap.
Rnd 2: * Sc in each st to 5 end sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, 3 sc in next (center) st. Repeat from * once more. Work 1 more rnd with 3 sc in center st at each end. Sl st in next st. End off.


Finishing for Springtime Bag
Sew back edge of Flap to outside of one long edge of Sides 1/2" below top edge, making sure ends of Flap are directly above corners of leather bottom. Line crocheted portion of bag with double fabric and buckram interlining. Fold in top edges of short ends of Sides (to form gussets). Tack at folds. Sew 2 snap fasteners to curved edge of flap. Line Handle with ribbon and attach as shown. Tack Flower in place.

Free Vintage Crochet Hat Pattern: 1940s Springtime Blossoms

Ok then, we'll try this again.  Something happened and now i have to start over (oh well!).
 

Good mornin', good mornin'!  I hope you enjoyed that peppy little song the other day.  But now its time to move on with one of my favorite crochet patterns in my favorite department, hats!
I found this the other day on the web and realized just how much i need a good spring hat.  I saw it and just fell in love with it.  The bag pattern will be coming tomorrow, so stay tuned. 
I found it onAntique Crochet Patterns (.com).  They do have some different stuff on there than Freevintagecrochet.com like a suit pattern!  I just might have to try that some time!
Anyway, here it is, enjoy:

Free Crochet Hat Pattern:
Crochet a Stylish Ladies Hat

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Hiawatha Belastraw Art. 35, 2 Tubes
Steel Crochet Hook No. 0
Flowers for Trimming

Springtime Hat - Crown
Rnd 1: Ch 2, work 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st (12 sc). Mark beg. of rnds.
Rnd 3: * Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st. Repeat from * around (18 sc - 6 inc).
Rnd 4: Inc. 6 sc evenly around (not directly over inc. of previous rnd).
Repeat 4th rnd until piece is 6" across.
Work 2 rnds even.
Next Rnd: Inc. 6 sc evenly around. Work even until hat is 5 1/2" from beginning. Sl st in next st.


Springtime Hat - Brim
Ch 2, turn.
Rnd 1: Through back lps only work as follows: Over, draw up lp in next st to measure 1/2", (over, draw up lp in same place) twice; over and through all lps (puff st made) * (ch 1, puff st in next st) 3 times; skip next st. Repeat from * around.
Rnd 2: * Ch 1, puff st in next ch-1 space. Repeat from * around.
Repeat 2nd rnd until Brim is 3" wide.
Last Rnd: Rather loosely work sc in each ch-1 space around. Join and fasten off. Double brim to right side.

Trimming for Springtime Hat
Tack Brim up at one side and trim with flowers as pictured

1940s Pageboy

Ok, i know i just posted like 15min ago but i JUST came across this video by Ashley of LisaFreemontStreet on YouTube and i am in love.   She shows how to do an easy Pageboy style that is going to work with me because i am getting my hair cut soon.  I can't wait to try this!
Is is defiantly worth your time to watch this quick video.
Enjoy.

There's No Place Like Kansas

  Really good vintage hair is hard to do in Kansas.  Some days it's hot, others cool.  It's almost always windy.  There's weeks without rain, then a sudden outbreak of severe weather.  Sometimes it rains for days in a row.  Oh yea, and let's not forget the wind.  And then there are the days when its perfect outside.  And did i mention the wind?
  You probably get the point.
  Most of the time its windy and there my perfect Rita Hayworth hair goes down the drain. Er, out the door. (blown out the door by the wind, get it? Never mind)
  Most of the time i just put up with it, but it all but ruins the curls and i have pin it up away from my face or something. 
  I was on YouTube yesterday and i found a gal called LongHairedFlapper.  She does a lot of 1920s hairstyles with REALLY long hair.  Mine isn't that long, but I'm no Joan Crawford either.  She recently did a cute little video inspired by Dorthy in Wizard of Oz and i love it.  It looks more authentic on her because her hair is longer but i can do it and it still looks darling.  ( i think)
  So... windy day? Never fear!  Up dos can get old but add this to your list of must try vintage hairstyles.

  ~Enjoy

 

So long,
Beth

Dress Inspiration: Happy Spring!

  Hello everybody and happy first day of spring!

 I have been working on literally one dress after another in every spare moment I can get due to the fact that i recently found a boatload of great vintage/older patterns at different thrift stores.  Most of them have spring-like fabrics but there was a long sleeve dress that i made in dark purple about a week ago in case it turns cold again.

  If i really work at it (that and i am steadily getting better at sewing) and don't neglect any other things that needed to be done around the house i can get an easy dress finished in about a week.  But they have been taking me about two weeks because i have also been knitting a lot.

  I was stumped on a fabric choice and decided i needed a little vintage spring dress inspiration.  I Googled it and now I'm crazy about it.  It really did help with my color choice by the way. 

  So come on and get inspired with me on this first day of spring!

  Here are some of my favorites:
  I own none of the pictures, nor do i claim to they all are the result of a simple Google search.  Enjoy.


 

*Sigh*   I almost wish it was the 1940s...

Hope you liked it!

So long,

Beth