Irene's Gift to Me... A Day Off and a 2-Project Extravaganza!

So, after buying the necessary batteries, gallons of water, and filling my bathtub in case manual flushing was needed (only to have it drain out steadily over the course of a few hours, leaving us potentially without flushing mechanisms), the only Hurricane Irene casualty experienced in our house was a few hours without cable. Not a big deal, especially since I went 4 years of college-- by choice-- without cable. Then of course came the rumors that surround days off of school: "We won't get any more days off" - "We won't be back at school until AFTER LABOR DAY!" - "They're canceling school for the rest of ETERNITY!!!" You know how it goes. In the end, last Monday and Tuesday were my only days (thank goodness), and productive they were. Behold:

Project #1: Vintage Butterick #3999: Simple A-Line Skirt- Circa 1968


Classic, right? Definitely. Problem-free? ...think again. What appears to be a deceptively simple skirt became rather the challenge.

First of all, the layout. I had long ago purchased the super-awesome crazy print fabric for this skirt, and there was NO WAY I was going to change it or go back for more. So, when I followed the layout suggestion and came up, oh, practically a quarter yard or more short, I was like, no, NOO. So, I got creative with the layout:



A bit wacky, but it worked. Then, just when I thought I had overcome my only hurdle, I realize there is NO WAISTBAND PIECE. Aw, come OONNNnn. I'm always preaching the joy of how vintage patterns are ALWAYS intact and never missing pieces! Gaaaah. So, I just cut a 4-inch wide strip of the fabric that was longer-than-needed (to avoid coming up short) and bada-bing, bada-boom, waistband.

So this was definitely one of those super easy patterns that anyone with a lot of experience could do with their eyes closed. So I'm just sewing along and when I go to put in the zipper, it is nowhere to be found. Did I forget to buy one? Has it been swallowed alive by the apartment? How long does it need to be, 7 inches? Okay, time to call on Grandma for help. In the form of her old stash of many vintage zippers. Even though she isn't here anymore to really help me, her over-collecting of sewing notions is helping me all the same. So, thank you, Grandma! No orange or black or brown was to be found, but I thought blue might be a nice contrast:


Of course, the directions were rather vague ("follow directions given on the zipper package"- huh?!) and I end up placing it a little too low and when it's all said and done, there's a nice gap where you can see my skin. Gaarrrrr. It can be hidden though, it can be!

The finished product:


Alternate wear option:


Garment Features:

Natural Waistband
Hook & Eye Closure
Hand-stitched Hem

Pairs well with: Miss Love Shoes


Project #2: Vintage Simplicty 9061- Wrap Dress, Circa 1970


I've had my eye on this pattern for a while. The lines are just so simple and clean, it was irresistible. This was one I KNEW wouldn't end up on Etsy, as long as I picked the right fabric. And that I did. I think I need to stick with earth tones, because light and happy tones make me look like a light and happy five-year-old.

This dress was different because it was my first wrap garment. No zipper, just a smart arrangement of hooks and eyes to create that really neat wrap appearance. No sweat, right?

Apparently this wasn't my day for waistbands. Belts. Things that go on your waist. Lo and behold, this pattern was also missing the belt piece. WHY?! Luckily, I cut the piece out freehand to the best of my knowledge of what it should look like and it ended up fine.

I chose not to line the dress- except for the bodice - mainly because I didn't have enough fabric to (didn't realize it even called for a lining... oops), and it really wasn't necessary. Just more work if that was the option. So it really wasn't that complicated-- just one really, REALLY large facing running the whole perimeter of the dress, and then came the insane amount of HAND SEWING. My fingers were sore, to say the least, from the ever lovely:

-3+ attempts to place the hooks and eyes correctly so no bunching would occur

-4 snaps for the belt, which placed about a half inch too loose, but I said SCREW IT!

-(A number so high I lost count) attempts at making thread belt carriers until I said, yet again-- SCREW IT! So I made some fabric carriers and ended up with my most favorite garment ever thus far to date:



So, that's what I did on my hurricane days off.

Garment Features:

Wrap dress
Hook and eye internal closures
Contrasting belt
Lined Bodice
Hand-stitched hem