Happy Birthday to me!

Today I am 34. 30 was a pretty tough birthday for me, but now that I am firmly entrenched in my thirties, I'm actually pretty OK with it. My 30s have been great so far and I expect them to just get better. Anyway, since we are here in a new city, I've been planning to check out the local fabric scene today. Mitch told me to get some things just for me. Here in Salt Lake, there is one street with 4 fabric stores, including Yellow Bird, which I have been itching to go to since Sunni talked about it on her blog.

If you are itching to go yourself (and you should be) I have to warn you that it is not an easy place to find. It is in the former location of "Fashion Affair" and Google Maps can't seem to get them straight. It is a wee shop hidden in the same parking lot as a frame shop. Adorable and cozy. Also, most. gorgeous. fabric. ever. I couldn't stop touching - silk, linen, wool, rayon - all beautiful. And so much silk! Two rooms full!

Here is a small corner full of linen with silk on the bolts next door. I love her inspiration board. You'll also see on several bolts photos of garments you could create with the fabric. Cute and inspirational!

Here are a couple of little rolls of brocade next to a few remnants. This one is on sale! Her prices were not bargain basement, but they were quite good for the quality of fabric in the shop. She also carries Decades of Style, Folkwear and OOP Butterick (which were only $3!) patterns as well as a small selection of hard to find notions. The proprietress is helpful and friendly, but not at all intrusive. Overall it was a wonderful experience to shop there.

While I could have easily spent a small (or even large) fortune there on lovely fabric, I picked out just one yummy sateen to make a dress, and also got this Butterick wardrobe pattern. Look past the scary orange and pink cover art and the jacket and blouse are very cute.

After Yellow Bird, I popped in to a local quilt shop (why do I ever bother??), then checked out JoAnn (where I bought duckie buttons and nothing else) and then Hancock. At JAs, it was the usual story. Long lines, grumpy customers and not enough sales help. I really don't know why anyone shops there. After that, I went to Hancock's. They were not busy and the sales help were all friendly and welcoming. I found some pique and lining for a jacket as well as some knit remnants for the kids. After that, I was planning to head home, but on a whim stopped in at a thrift store. Now I don't have the kind of luck at thrift stores that you all read about on Mary Nanna and Kristy's blogs. But today I did great!

They had patterns and fabric!!! Now, most of the fabric there was of the scary polyester variety, I did score some lightweight purple stuff that may have some natural fiber in it. It has a linen-y feel. I also got the striped velour for PJs for the kids. The patterns are mostly from the 80s, but there were two (in my size even!) great wardrobe patterns from the 70s as well as a cute little girl's dress pattern from the same era. There was also a mail order Marian Martin pattern!! It's a little big for me and the pieces are cut, but how fun is that? Anyone know anything about dating these patterns? The postmark is 1980, so I guess that tells the story? I didn't realize they were still being produced that late. Guess I have some homework to do but first, dinner out with my family and some cake and ice cream! And in a few days, there will be a package from Gorgeous Fabrics to admire. Thanks, Mom!

Patterns...

Did you get a chance to hit the Burda patterns sale at Hancock's this weekend? They were 2.49!! I know, I was in shock! Good thing they had that 10 pattern limit. Actually, I only got 8, but only because two I wanted were out of stock.

I have been thinking about my crazy pattern collection lately. Myrna posted the other day about how her fabric and pattern collections have started to feel overwhelming, and that really struck a chord with me. My patterns are literally overflowing the six file drawers I have to hold them, and that was before the new additiond. As a result, rather than buying new drawers to fit in new patterns, I'm downsizing. A little. So, check out my newly minted Ebay listings!

Patterns to give away!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to all who played along!

My patterns were overflowing the 3 drawer file cabinet in which they were stored, so I got a new one, which led me to contemplate my organizational methods (or lack thereof!).

The top set of drawers is the original - note the duct tape to keep out wee hands.  Within size constraints (why does Vogue and Jalie have to use giant envelopes??), my patterns are organized so that I can choose them based on the fabric I am using, since that is generally how I plan my sewing.  The patterns are divided first into broad categories (Mens, Misses, Childrens, Unisex, Sleepwear and Maternity), then within the Misses and Mens category into subcategories.  Menswear is divided into activewear, pants and shirts and misses is dived into knits and wovens, and within those subcategories into tops, pants, skirts, dresses, jackets and wardrobes.  Children's is divided up just by size.  Other than that they are just sort of thrown in within each subcategory, so if I'm looking for a specific pattern, I just have to rifle through the entire category.  And this doesn't include the large envelope patterns or the magazines, which are in their own areas.  This is beginning to get cumbersome as I continue to acquire patterns, which I will!  Despite my recent forays into patternless sewing, I love patterns.  Aside from the fact that I'm just not as creative as a fashion designer, I'm just to lazy to draft something from scratch every time, and I like variety.

Of course, as I rearranged all my patterns, I found a few that I knew I wasn't going to need, for one reason or another.  Many are from the days before I knew how to do an FBA and was still basing my size on my full bust, which actually put me in a larger size category and a few I have many of the same style and know I won't sew them all.  So, up for grabs are two sets of patterns, one in each size grouping.

In the 8-16 size group is Simplicity 2590, a peasant style dress (easily converted to a top just be leaving off the skirt!) and Butterick 5191 which is a wardrobe with a sleeveless wrap top, kimono sleeve shrug, full legged pants and straight skirt.

In the 12/14 to 20 size group is McCall's 5936, a cute lined jacket with peplum, McCall's 5522 an empire waist, princess seamed top with tons of sleeve and ruffle variations and Butterick 4686, a full skirt with yoke that includes a pleated and unpleated version.

So to enter the giveaway tell me, how do you organize your patterns?  Do you have a method that works for you?  Be sure to let me know which pattern size range you'd like (both is OK, too!) and contact information if your comment doesn't link to a profile or blog.  I'll close the giveaway on Monday the 22nd  at 6AM Central Time and announce the winner later that day!  Sewing buddies from all over the globe are welcome to enter - I'll ship to you.

Did you notice?

The websites for the Big 3 just got an upgrade.

Vogue
McCall's
Butterick

I haven't really started surfing them yet to see how I feel, although my usual hatred of change is kicking in big time!  The down side?  All my links have to be updated...  Sigh.

On the plus side, I just noticed that Vogue has the new Spring patterns on the site.  I think I'll head over there and check them out.  After the colossal fail that was this Winter's line up, here's hoping for a better Spring...

So, what do you think of the change?

Vintage yummies

Well, I admit that I am late to the vintage pattern party, but a friend at church today gave me this adorable item, so here I am!  My first honest to goodness vintage pattern!  Ironically I actually ordered this last week, but it hasn't arrived yet.

Isn't that the cutest ever!?!  It is in amazing condition, the pattern is uncut and still in factory folds.  How nice was that of Jerry to give it to me?!  It's even Myra's size, so it is totally getting sewn up soon!

So, all you vintage experts out there - how old do you think this baby is?  Based on my limited knowledge of the cover art and logos I'm guessing 40s.  What do y'all think?  The paper is quite fragile, so I'm going to need to take careful care of it.  Any tips?  I'm such a vintage n00b!  Help me out, sewing sistas!

ETA (1/17/09) - Thanks to Myra who sent me this link on Ebay to help date vintage Simplicity patterns.  There is an actual copyright date printed on the back of the instruction sheet.  This one is from 1949!

Lust

Have you ever had a piece of fabric just grab you and make you take it home?

It happened to me today.  I've been eying this piece of wool coating at Hancock for many months now.  I'd walk by every time I was in the store and stroke it, imagining the beautiful jacket it kept whispering to me that it wanted to become.  I was there today for Vogue patterns (3.99!) and thread (Metrosene was 50% off) and I spotted it on the clearance table for 50% off.  I couldn't leave it there.  I think I'll spend this afternoon poring over my burdas to decide which jacket it will become.  In my head it is boxy with simple lines, but maybe it wants to be more tailored?  What do you think?
I picked up a couple of Vogues too, of course.

I love the sleeve on that Badgley Mischka jacket.  It says crisp cotton Spring jacket to me.

Confession

I used to laugh at that 10 pattern limit at Hancock's pattern sales. I laugh no more.I didn't get 10, but I would have, if they had gotten in the new Simplicity patterns for fall. There are also 2 more Vogues that they didn't have in my size. I'll be stalking the next Vogue sale for those...

You still have the rest of the day to go take advantage of this ridiculous sale. How often are the Big 4 all on sale at the same time??

Post

It came! My Mini Mod pattern from Kitschy Coo came!!Isn't it lovely? The instructions are printed in color on cardstock. Each pattern piece hand drawn individually on heavy butcher paper. I could cut them out and use them, but I don't think I can bring myself to actually cut into them, so I'll trace. I have great plans for this pattern...

If you want one (or one of her other beautiful patterns - I'm sorely tempted by the puff sleeve smocky top myself!) shipping is from the states right now, so head on over!!

Looky, looky

...what I won!! I know, it's not nice to gloat, but I can't help it!!

I am so excited to have this pattern! I have been thinking about it for days. I may even be ready to cut up some of my pretty Woodland Friends mushroom fabric for it. I must REALLY like it...

You know that you want one of your own. Well, you are in luck. Go to Kitschy Coo's shop and buy it! You can't have mine.

A visit

My Dad came over yesterday for a short visit on his way to Seattle to see my sister (and take her all of her stuff). He brought me a bunch of stuff my Mom has had hanging around since we were kids. Look at the yummy Little Vogue patterns!!My Mom is amazingly anal retentive and labels all her patterns when she buys them. These are all labelled 1984. I love the smocked dress!! I'm not sure I am up to smocking yet, but maybe by the time Myra is big enough for this dress I will be. It starts at a size 3, so I have a few years. The pleated skirt in the middle is so cute, and I can't wait to make that long dress on top with the pintucked bodice! I'm glad to see some boy stuff, too. Maybe a duckie vest wouldn't be too girlie??