Fun Finds while cleaning

So today is my big cleaning and packing day before I head off to summer stock theatre for 2 months and I always forget how many interesting things i can find in my room. the find of the day is a pattern that I bought 2 years ago from goodwill on a random trip where i just picked up patterns that i just like the look of. So this pattern is Butterick 4906, it's a perforated pattern size 14 (which means when I get around to making it I'll have to make size adjustments). I spent about a half an hour doing some research trying to find something about this pattern online with no avail, no one had written about it, posted a picture, or sold it on ebay or etsy. From the research I did do though I am dating this pattern around the late 1940s, the dress has a peplum belt option which puts it in the first big peplum area (based on it's style/size) and the style of the patterns envelope fits the period as well. So without further ado here is the Butterick 4906.

Simplicity 5404 Final post

Well it's done! pockets, zipper, hem and all. It's absolutely adorable and so comfortable that I wore it to trivia night at our local bar and people loved it :) the pattern fits perfectly, I shortened and hemmed the skirt enough that I can wear flats and my legs don't look short but the dress is still long enough that it's modest. cute when paired with a belt and sandals or with quirky platform heels. Very fun and I would definitely make this again as well as recommend as many people as possible to get their hands on this pattern and make it.

Krysta Sews: Simplicity 5404 Update

So far this pattern has been a dream to work with. the pattern itself is super easy to follow, the size is spot on and fabric is really nice to work with. so to back track this is the pattern from 1964 that I set out to work on the other day.

 I cut it out and started putting it together last night and I've come pretty far,  I've gotten everything put together except for putting on the pockets and the zipper. But I'm not far from doing that now.

Of course I still have to iron the arm hole facings down as well as iron the dress all together. the i get the fun job of hemming this adorable baby doll 60s dress. 

 

Krysta Sews: Vintage Simplicity 5404

So I've finally gotten around to pulling the 1964 pattern out of its sleeve and I got a very lovely surprise. Not only is the pattern already cut from its previous owner (my least favorite part of patterns) BUT the previous owner also had the same measurements as me around the bust so i don't have to do any alterations to the pattern other then maybe shortening the skirt because the pattern falls a good 4 inches below my knee (before hem of course) and I'd like it to fall just above the knee.

I've decided to use this adorable green and white gingham that I've had sitting in my fabric box for a while. Can't wait to get it started!

Krysta's stitch binder

This year in school I decided to take a costume construction course because I knew it would help be with my career and with my hobby, and you know what, I came out with a whole bunch of techniques and samples that I can use to refer back to. Everything is made using muslin.

These are hand samplers, they are a hem stitch, whip stitch, and invisible stitch with snaps, hooks, and buttons (one with an added shank)

This is the machine sampler, uses a straight stitch at both 5/8 and 7/8 with a zig zag stitch through the middle. The edges are surged together and the middle of the fabric has my initials traced to show machine maneuverability.

This is a very wrinkled arm hole, but you get the idea, a straight piece to a curved.

This is a gathered sample, a piece of muslin 3 times the other piece to fit together, using 2 rows of basted stitched 5/8 and 7/8, gathered evenly then stitched to the smaller piece

The invisible zipper, basted, ironed, sewn and seam ripped. never has an invisible zipper been so easy.

The button hole is pretty self explanatory. 

we had to create a paper hat pattern, mine is a mock up of an edwardian hat

This is a distressing project, we were given a red dress and my partner and I took the dress and added knife woods and blood and dirt stains, creating a believable distressing for a dress.

A couple things I didn't picture:

A drafted male bodice pattern using the forms we had available in the shop. in the binder is the paper pattern and also a muslin mock up

A swatch sample page. 12 swatches that I found and labeled type based off of weave pattern and texture

History: May 25, 1950-1959

SO I decided it would be fun to take a look at what happened today but back in the Fifties, a decade in review.
To start off then, May 25:

1950: The Brooklyn Battery Tunnel opened
1951: NY Giant, Willie Mays, 1st Major League Game (for any Baseball fans)
1952: USS Iowa bombards Chongjin, Korea
1953: First atomic cannon electronically fired in Nevada and the first non-commercial educational television station was launched.
1954: no news
1955: A Series of 19 twister destroy areas of Kansas and Oklahoma
1956: Pope Pius XII published encyclical Haurietis aquas
1957:"Shinbone Alley" closed on broadway after 49 performances
1958: no news to report
1959: U.S. Supreme Court rules Louisana Prohibiting Black-White boxing unconstitutional



(Information from Historyorb.com)

Krysta cooks: Rice, Black Beans, and Stewed Tomatoes

So while I'm on my dinner break at work i figured it's about time for another meal post. So this meal is quick and easy and great to make right as you're heading out the door for work. Vegetarian, gluten free, and easy to make vegan :)

Ingredients:

- 1 Cup of intant rice

- 1/2 a can of black beans; drained

- 1/2 a can of stewed tomatoes 

- shredded cheddar cheese

Boil a cup of water

Measure a cup of rice

At the rice to the boiling water

Cover and let sit

Drain black beans and open the cans all the way

Layer 1: rice

Layer 2: Black beans

Layer 3: stewed tomatoes

Layer 4: cheese 

From there pop the meal in the microwave until the cheese is melted an everything is warm. I typically put it infor about 2 minutes. Enjoy!!

Krysta Sews: A New Costume Project - Mulan Jr.

This time I'm not creating a costume for me, my friend Sarah is directing Mulan Jr. with a bunch of kids and we are about to make 3 of the characters dresses today. I volunteered to help out so that my other friend Brigid didn't have to create 20+ characters from scratch. so today we're working on the 3 dresses for the women who get Mulan ready for her meeting with the matchmaker. Working with just a sketch by my friend we'll see how well this goes and I'm sure we'll be able to get these done.

Also, today I'm teaching Sarah how to sew. So this will be an interesting day indeed, updates to come I hope. :)

Everyday Fashions of the Fifties

Everyday Fashions of the Fifties A Pictured in Sears Catalogs  Edited by Joanne Olian
Buy Here

I received this amazing book last year as a present from my big and I spent hours studying the pages. Each page of the book is full of pictures out of Sears Catalogs in the 1950s, with the prices and description of each item. The clothing ranges from young children to adult men and women varying in occasions. there are several outfits that I have a love for that I want to make one day.

My favorite thing about many of the outfits is they picture them as sets. For instance one 4 piece outfit came with a Skirt, Weskit, Shorts and a Visor Cap, while another 4 piece outfit came with a Skirt, Sun Bra, Blouse, and Shorts. I would find it so much easier to pick out an outfit for the day if they came pre made.

Another thing that I just LOVE in this book is the swimsuits because the style is so classic, modest, and gorgeous. The suits show have the traditional skirt look to it but the one that I absolutely love is the one that comes with a matching skirt that just wraps around the waist to go from easy sun bathing to picnic in second.

And lastly there is a page with House Coats/Robes that just look so comfy and classy and it reminded me of this post by Frances over at Polka Polish with her beautiful floral House Coat that she made. when I saw it I fell in love and decided it is officially on my to-do list for this up-coming fall, to track down the pattern and make my own.

Krysta's Next Project: Vintage Simplicity 5404

So while I put off adjusting the hem of my Sultry Sheath for a few more days I've decided to take a look through my collection of patterns. I came across a beauty that I completely forgot that I had. Simplicity 5404 is a pattern from 1964 its an Empire baby doll dress with multiple sleeve styles.

I will have to alter it a little bit based on the bust being 32 and I'm a 36 bust but luckily that should be easy enough to change. My plan is to do number 4, sleeveless and with pockets, what more could I possibly ask for? 

The best part about this is that I got this pattern from a reuse shop for $0.50, if that isn't a win i don't know what is!

Krysta Sews: The Sultry Sheath

Like I said previously, I've had this pattern cut out for a while now (5 months at least). But I finally set out to sew it and I'm almost done!

I spent the last few days sewing it together, I decided to opt of lining it because I found it wasn't my favorite thing to sew or wear.

the only things I have left to do is sew in a zipper and choose where I'm setting the hem.

other than that the dress looks pretty good if I do say so myself!

I've decided I will probably end up hemming it about 4-5 inches because where it falls right now makes me look like my legs are short which is weird when I'm mostly legs. It will most likely be accessorized with a thin black belt and black pumps, keeping it classy. Can't wait till it's done, will hopefully get some pictures in it next week sometime :)

Krysta Catches Up

This year has been one of the busiest I've had in school, but I'm back and finally sewing again! so last I left off I was working on a Glinda costume for my fraternity's Fall Masque. Lets just say that with the limited time I had to work on it it was a HUGE success. I won both best costume and most creative.

This is a picture with my friend Tyler and I as Glinda and Elphaba. My dress came together fairly well it was 2 pieces, skirt and bodice that I attached inside with snaps for an easy way to get in and out of the costume. I made the collar using thicker jewelry wiring, bending it into shape and then covering it with the blue fabric.

My favorite part of the costume to work on though was the last thing I made, the crown. using thinner jewelry wire, blue and silver beads and then a few rhinestones the crown was what I consider the icing on the cake.

Since then I haven't been making much of anything because I was thrown right into rehearsals for Legally Blonde the Musical when I got back from Winter break, playing the role of Brooke Wyndham, I spent the majority of my time in the gym or in rehearsal.

Now it's time to get back to work!! In the fall I purchased "Gertie's New Book For Better Sewing" and I immediately fell in love with the patterns. I immediately cut out The Sultry Sheath but left the pattern pieces to sit as my schedule filled up. So 2 days ago I pulled my sewing machine out and pulled the pattern pieces off of my fabric and decided that it is officially time to get to work. Today I start sewing again!