Sewing From the Past

My sewing is at a standstill, it's the school holidays and I've been having a bit of a tidy up (photo albums). So once again I've been lost to the past...

This is Granny's cat I once tried to chop him up with her big dressmaking shears. Luckily they were blunt and I was stopped just as I had a big hunk of black fur wedged between the blades. 'Monty' the black cat always drunk his milk in a cup, he used his paw to lick it up...Granny used to send me photos of him when I came back to NZ.

The dress on the left is made by Granny I'm not too sure about mine...In the second picture all the sisters are wearing dresses sewn by her also.

The pics at the bottom are two dresses made by me. The one on the left was perfect except for where I placed the buttons. That's always a hard one isn't it? Has anyone got any tricks how they place their shirt buttons?

The dress on the right just got shorter and shorter. For a dropped waist dress there was hardly any skirt, I didn't do alterations to patterns in those days...The yellow dress was one of my self taught efforts, just when I started sewing. There was no one to tell me I should have shortened the bodice a wee bit...and those sleeves are so puffy!

'Monty'  Granny's cat

The girls and their grandmother in dresses
sewn by Granny...

Made by me....
The dress on the left (70's )was red with a
draw string waist and full skirt...

The (60's) dress on the right is yellow with
 a  dropped waist...

Granny was a Dressmaker

I've been having a tidy up and I found my Granny's sewing machine photo. This was her new Singer machine and the last one she used. It was then passed down to my Aunt. I don't know where it is now (wished I had it). It's a Singer Fashion Mate 237 it's supposed to have a really good satin stitch.

Close-up....(source Google)

We are such lucky sewers these days with all our fancy sewing machines. In my Gran's day you only had a plain basic mechanical sewing machine...Oh how I would have loved to see how Granny sewed everything and what finishes she used to tidy up her seams. Here is a pic showing some of the dresses she made for her girls, she dressed them all alike...

The sewing machine at my Aunties house in the
  late 90's. I think the Singer Fashion Mate 237
 is from the 1960's

Old Rag Doll McCall's 5514

This is a easy to make 24" vintage rag doll.
She's pretty old now, made by my daughter.
It has to be my most favourite rag doll....

I really love her ripped calico hair and her
black snap fastener eyes

This is how the hair is sewn at the back...She's
rather messy because she's been played with...

Her soft legs bend so she can sit.
Her babies missing, probably
in a toy box somewhere

A vintage pattern well worth making...if
you see one snap it up! 

My calico cover is a real 'blast from the past'. I made it years ago and it's very old now....So it  just sits on top of my freezer. I used a painting of a cat for inspiration, but I've forgotten now where I found it. I know it was in a book......Oh those were the days when I just created things, now it seems  to be more of a chore, where did I get all that energy?

I  thought I'd take a pic so my effort can stay ageless in cyberspace. Sadly now there is mildew on the  satin white pussy tummy and it's all rumpled with a few more dirty marks too. I can't wash it because it would never be the same....

To make this: I used fabric paint, wool, satin. calico, corduroy,
embroidery thread, velvet, and sequins for the butterflies,
fluff for the caterpillar and pink felt on the paws....

Babies and Butterick

Butterick 5896 is a 'blast from the past' I first used this pattern about six years ago....The sewing pattern is looking rather jaded and crumpled now, but nothing an iron can't fix. I sewed View C, it's a long sleeved top and the fabric I chose was a lycra/cotton blend (stretch). This fabric was sourced from Global Fabrics ( I love that place) and it has stood the test of time very well. This is the third baby to wear this top......

 A very easy (old) pattern to sew and a very simple top to put onto a baby or small child. You get value for your dollar with this sewing pattern as there are a range of styles to chose from to sew. Unfortunately I don't think you can get it anymore...but probably it can be found second hand.

Butterick 5896 View C......
Excuse the dribbles!

Can be worn over an outfit or under......
The top is still fitting at 9 months

The Miraculous Journey of Teddy

This teddy was the first one I ever made and he's still the only one! He is a bit goofy looking, his eyes are too close and his stuffed face has gone flatter with age. I think I sewed some of him by hand...... No child has ever been remotely interested in him (maybe he was too big and goofy). He has been totally ignored and forgotten, every now and then I'd get him out and sit him in a cane chair.....

Now I don't know if I'm happy or sad as he's been spotted by a cute two year old.  She dragged Teddy around the house, she laid on him, she cuddled him and then she threw Teddy onto the floor. Those two are are almost the same size!

Well I've given up my sewing project from so long ago. It's time to let him begin his own 'Miraculous journey'. Poor thing his growl no longer works and he has no nose. I think the dog ate it, and he has paint on his legs.....Oh well someone loves him now....

I couldn't let Teddy go without a nose, so I patched him up and gave him a new felt one ( he looks smart). I gave him a cuddle and squeeze and said goodbye he just looked at me with his two goofy eyes (funny how you can get attached to a teddy bear). Instead of spending his life in a chair or cupboard he's off to live somewhere else to be squashed and cuddled by a rather busy little girl...

I think he came from a pattern called 'Ernest Bear'
Except Earnest Bear looked like the pattern but
Teddy did not!

Woolley Tights for Bubs

These knitted tights I made a winter or so ago......I loved the quality of this wool, it had that 'good knitting feel to it'. I've gotta have that, feels so good on the needles you can't put it down or I wouldn't complete my project (you know what I mean?) I found the Tiny Birds Soaker Pants pattern online it was pretty easy to follow.  I liked this project very much the tights are pure wool so they absorb  any wetness from wicking nappies/covers etc....

I managed to match up the stripes...
the cord is a single crochet

Knitted in Cheakheaton Country Prints 8 ply
I bought the wool on sale for a couple of dollars...