Vintage Skills and Style in the Modern World
Looking for an easy project with almost instant results? Try the Popover Dress from Gretchen Hirsch’s latest book.
If you sew vintage-style clothing, you’ve probably encountered the work of Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch. She’s a pattern maker, fabric designer, blogger, teacher, and all-around superstar sewist. I couldn’t resist her latest book, Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses, because it promised easy patterns, limited fiddling, and quick projects.
Continue reading “The Popover Dress: A Pattern Review”The world (and Internet) is full of makers. That’s why I’ve joined the 2016 Vintage Pledge. Thanks to fellow blogger Raven Gemini of Revisionist Vintage, I actually remembered that the Vintage Pledge is a thing, and signed up for it.
The basics are thus:
Sewists and knitters around the globe commit to using vintage or reproduction patterns to make a number of things of their choosing. They share their projects on a dedicated Pinterest board, and use the #VintagePledge hashtag, and eventually there are prizes and such. It’s a great way to see what other people are up to. I’m in it for the inspiration.
So here’s my #VintagePledge:
I, Megan, pledge to make at least three vintage style garments, using fabric and patterns I already own.
This is what’s known in the crafty world as “stash busting.” As a person with very limited storage space, I’m sure my fabric stash pales in comparison to many. This is fine by me. I want to be a person who uses fabric, not a person who stores it. I have two dresser drawers devoted to fabric, and I try hard to keep it strictly to that. However, lately it’s been getting a little crammed in there. There are some pieces I’ve been saving for “something special” which so far seems to mean, “the inside of this drawer.” It’s time for them to live their best life.
This should be fun.
All kinds of things. Food things. Crafty things. Story things. Here’s a little peek into what I’m working on lately.
The Green Cardigan
The project: I’m knitting a sweater. I’m farther along than I’ve ever been. There is still a sweater back and a box of yarn that I embarked on seven years ago waiting for me, but this time, I’m for real.
The details: It’s the “Essential Cardigan” from KnittingatKnoon, and it’s very no-frills. I don’t know how to knit frills, so that works out. I’m knitting it in Plymouth Yarn’s Encore in dark forest green. While green sweaters are not exactly a hole in my wardrobe, I don’t have a green cardigan, so I feel okay about it.
The schedule: Done before spring, I hope.
Fingerless Gloves: Great Weekend Mitts
The details: What do I love? Three quarter sleeves! What do I hate? Cold wrists! Thus, a pair of mitts. I’m knitting them in cheap-but-soft acrylic, in burgundy and navy stripe.
A word about the name of this pattern: While some humans could knit these up in a weekend, I have not. I have been picking at them since October, when I started knitting them so I’d have something to knit in a scene in my acting class. (The key to Chekhov is to add knitting, it turns out. You’re welcome, I solved acting for you).
The schedule: Done before spring, I hope.
In the past month I’ve completed Gertie’s “Portrait Blouse” and a pair of Wearing History’s “Smooth Sailing Trousers.” I’ve cut out an additional pair of trousers in black, and they’re just waiting for me to stitch them together. I need to fix the first pair’s zipper, as I have somewhat mucked it up, but otherwise it’s set. The Portrait Blouse is a dream, and a quick sew.
I found that cutting out a bunch of projects at once, and sewing them later seems to work out for me. It provides a jumping off point–it’s harder to make excuses about starting a project when it’s already cut out.
You can make seitan in a slow cooker. I’m not sure how I missed this. I was so skeptical. I gave that roast serious side-eye as it cooked, but holy cats! It works! Recipe here is equivalent to the one I used.
I’m writing a new play, and that feels deeply satisfying.
What are you making lately?
It’s really because I’m cheap.
For example, I have wanted a flannel full slip for a long time. I had one as a little girl, but finding one at all for an adult has been hard. More than that, the ones I can find seem a little pricey.
Enter a thrift store night gown. I was wandering the aisles of my favorite neighborhood thrift store, when I saw the most comfy looking nightgown. It was quite a bit too big for me, but the flannel was heavy and soft, and pretty. It was $3. “I could make a slip out of that,” I thought to myself.
And I did.
