Lead me not into temptation, I can find it just fine by myself

[vanillafluffy]

I spent the weekend house-sitting for the Cs. One thing about being over there, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can always find something to read. For instance, AI had the latest copy of the Pyramid Collection catalog lying around...read through it and fell in love with their Coral Reef dress

Comments

[cbtreks]

Every once in awhile I'll spot an article about cutting costs that mentions sewing your own clothes. I always wonder when was the last time that particular writer went to a fabric store. (I don't seem to see that "helpful hint" as often as I used to, though.)

[vanillafluffy]

Well, that and the younger generation didn't have to take home ec, so the vast majority of them don't know fabric grain from 5-grain bread.

[pwcorgigirl]

I didn't have to buy fabric for years thanks to snagging a huge pile of it at a yardsale shortly after we moved here. And when I did finally need some, WalMart had done away with the fabric department and I had to go to an independent cloth shop. My heart damned near stopped when I saw that the on-sale price was $7 a yard.

The Simplicity dress is really lovely. That's an excellent idea you have about making a trial run version, and also about making a tablecloth and seat covers out of the Fiesta!Fun fabric.

Big Lots sometimes has slipcovers on sale for a really good price. You might keep an eye out there for one, and maybe for some twin size sheets to turn into curtains. They don't look like sheets if you just run a line of stitching across the top to turn it into a narrower rod pocket.

[vanillafluffy]

I have two pieces of fabric I'm contemplating, the trouble is, the pattern envelope specifies 60" fabric, and these are both 45", also quote "Sized for stretch knits only". (I'm a quilter, for crying out loud, I don't DO knits!) Neither of the hunks o' cotton I have needs to be matched, which may make a difference. One is teal green ships sketched on a white background. I figure it'll make a cute summer nightie if nothing else. The other is an all-over navy blue and white floral, and I have A LOT of it (enough that I was thinking of backing a quilt top with it, but navy and white is so classic for summer---)!

Big Lots...hmm, there's a thought. Maybe I'll wander over there tomorrow and see what they have in the way of slipcovers and sheet sets. It's hazardous, tho'---they're right next to a Chinese buffet that I like.

[candesgirl]

I love the Pyramid Collection Catalog. That's awesome that you could maybe make that dress. Sewing machines scare me, I don't know how to use one at all, though my mom made most of my clothes when I was a young girl.

[vanillafluffy]

At some level, I'm disappointed not to be a 50s housewife. I started hand-sewing before I even started school, sewing buttons from my mom's button drawer onto scraps of fabric. One year for Christmas, she gave me sewing-themed gifts---my own sewing box, scissors, thread, pins, needles, pincushion and a bunch of patterns to make Barbie doll clothes (which I'd been trying to do without patterns---it wasn't pretty).

I took sewing in high school, where I learned how it was *supposed* to be done with regards to laying the patterns on the grain of the fabric and how to match plaids (which I've never attempted) and how to operate a sewing machine. I haven't had one in ages, though, and this one is a bit spiffier than my old one. I'm SO glad I got the manual with it!

[vanillafluffy]

Let me guess---gargoyles?

[vanillafluffy]

One of H.W.S.N.B.N.'s hobbies was leatherwork, and he made a number of spiffy celtic items while we were together. I gave it a shot---it wasn't as easy as he made it look---and produced a checkbook cover with a celtic knot design...I haven't used it in a very long time, but just ran across it the other day---timing!

[karaokegal]

That is a gorgeous dress! I love the drapey lines and the color (in the initial picture.)

[vanillafluffy]

The color caught my eye, and the style of the dress GOT me. Kinda of a "Starlet from the Golden Age of Hollywood goes on a South Seas cruise, fends off bandleaders and buccaneers and still finds time for romance with suave man of mystery as played by Robert Mitchum" vibe. (Me, lead a rich fantasy life? Mai oui!)

[karaokegal]

I'd go to see that movie. :)

[vanillafluffy]

Me too...although it would probably be in black and white.

My favorite dress in a black and white movie would have to go to one Myrna Loy wore for a party scene in one of the Thin Man movies. It was striped, bias-cut and had a ruffle. That May sound like a recipe for a hot mess, but it was divine. Then again, so was Myrna Loy.

I personally think I resemble a young Barbara BelGeddes, myself. She also starred with Mitchum, tho' it was a western. As did Myrna, come to think of it. Alas, I was born about thirty years too late....