KCW Day 2: Christmas in July

Today's Kid's Clothing Week project was a super-quickie. It's a 1/2 hour cape! I have wanted to make one of these since I first saw the Cape Adeline Pattern months ago. I bought some sweet pink cotton velveteen from the recent Martha Pullen sale, intending to make Ella a birthday/Christmas dress (since her birthday is in December). I think a little cape will keep her warm in her special dress, which I haven't made yet!

What can I say about this? It's adorable! It was easy! I love it! The only hang-up was the perpetually shifting velveteen against the cotton batiste lining. Even though I used my walking foot, the batiste wanted to shift one way where the nap was up and the other way where the nap was down. A little pulling made it behave. This is such a quick and easy project. I could see making a bunch of these to match a little girl's winter wardrobe. The best part of all: I am getting ready for Christmas early this year!
Check back tomorrow- I plan to do some (overdue) smocking while at a pool party!

Kid's Clothing Week Day 1: Andy's Undies

This is my first time participating in Kid's Clothes Week. The idea is to sew for at least 1 hour each day all week. I really want to do it and blog about my progress each day. I should have been working on another sample for my new pinafore pattern, but we had lots of kids here today, so I wanted to do something simple instead. I looked through my PDF patterns and saw the Little Fishies Undies by Fishsticks.
I have been wanting to try these for Andy, recently 3 years old and potty-trained since his 2nd birthday! He loves soft clothes and he's so funny about undies. If I pull them up to his "waist" he says "too high" and pulls them under his tummy a bit. Anyway, I had a horrible nightshirt that I made him from a McCall's pattern a few months ago. I didn't share it then because it is awful. The neckline would be big on me- no kidding.

UGLY- I actually threw away the pattern.

So, I thought of the soft knit in this yucky nightshirt and I also had a piece of soft green knit that was on red-tag at JoAnn's for $2/yd. I was able to cut 2 undies from the zoo print and I could get loads from the green.

These are the first undies I've ever made, other than some adorable American Girl panties. Let me say, this pattern is genius. See the inside- fully lined and the only exposed seams are at the leg cuffs. The waistband is soft cotton knit, but with elastic hidden inside. Easy to make? Yes!

The posterior view. Plenty of coverage for tiny hineys! I only photographed one pair, because Andy is already wearing the other!! They fit beautifully. I made size 4, because Andy is a 90th percentile 3 year old. I can't praise this pattern enough and will definitely try more Fishsticks patterns soon!

I wanted to show you one more project today. Disclaimer: I am an expert seamstress, but a less-than-novice woodworker. However, I made this AMAZING chicken "ROOST"!! It is a thick dowel nailed and gorilla-glued onto 2 squares of wood. The chickens love it! Blackie, Shelly, and Bennie all sit on it and look so cute!

Come visit tomorrow- I am hoping to start a piece of Ella's Christmas outfit from pink velveteen. That's my only hint!

The Lost Arts of Sewing: Some Pattern History

This originally posted at A Jennuine Life, but I thought it would be fun to share if you haven't already read it!

I am happy to be visiting a Jennuine Life today to share with you one of the Lost Arts of Sewing. My post is a little bit different, in that I am not sharing a technique, but some history about how ladies sewed in the past. I am also offering a FREE vintage sunsuit pattern and machine embroidery design!

I have loved sewing of all types for many years. I started smocking when I was 10 and haven't stopped. I have made many outfits for my 5 children and I cherish the photos of them in the clothing I made.

Recently, I joined a group that shares their love of PDF sewing patterns. It has given me a feel for what many young Moms and beginner sewists like. They like the PDF patterns because they are instant download, come in many sizes, have excellent directions with many photos, and there is a wide range of styles available at a click.

But this world of choice and convenience is a recent development! When our mamas, grandmas, and great-grandmas wanted to sew for their families, things were very different. Madame Demorest was the first to offer patterns in one size in 1860. In 1863, Ebenezer Butterick was the first person to start selling graded (available in different sizes) sewing patterns. In 1870 James McCall started his company and 2 of the biggest pattern companies were born. At this time, the patterns were pre-cut pieces of tissue paper, with no printing and very scant directions. By the 1890s, these unprinted patterns were widely available and many companies had sprouted up: Pictorial Review, May Manton's, and Ideal (for Montgomery Ward) for a few.

Early Ideal Layette Pattern

Here are your only directions!

In the early 1900s, Butterick started including a separate instruction sheet, which was enlarged and improved in the early 20s as the “Deltor.”

1920s Butterick pattern

Example of Butterick Deltor

In 1919, McCall also improved their patterns by printing directions directly on the pieces, to resemble blueprints.

Example of a McCall "Blueprint" pattern piece- circa 1919

McCall was also the first to use a full-color illustration on the covers, starting in 1932. These early color patterns are quite collectable and often sell for $30-60.

In 1927, Simplicity Patterns sold their first patterns, which were known for being easy-to-sew, every-day clothing.

Early Simplicity Pattern, c 1929

In the early 30s, 2 more brands joined the mix. Superior Patterns, which were exclusive to Sears and Advance, which was JC Penney's brand. Now women could shop for patterns, fabric, and notions at their favorite department store.

This Advance is c. 1950 and I made it!

I really do sew these patterns!

Hollywood, DuBarry, and New York patterns also started around this time. These were very stylish: Hollywood patterns featured a movie-star on each pattern.

Charlene Wyatt of Paramount was featured on this Hollywood Pattern from the 40s.

Starting in the 1930s, many mail-order pattern companies started: Anne Adams, Marian Martin, Sew-Rite, Spadea, Alice Brooks, Patt-O-Rama, and Laura Wheeler. These companies advertised in ladies' magazines and offered crochet and knitting patterns as well as sewing.

Anne Adams Ladies' Dress

McCall was the first to switch to all printed patterns. They were a leader in the industry and are among my favorite vintage patterns. Their name changed from McCall to McCall's in 1951. They were followed by the other brands. Here's a fun look at a Simplicity pattern I have in both versions: printed and unprinted.

Example of the same bootie pattern piece in printed and unprinted.

Another interesting offering of McCall patterns were their patterns that came with transfers. They offered many of these from the 30s to the 50s and the embroidery designs are lovely. They were a great idea, because the embroidery designs were made to fit the exact item.

Beautiful early 30s child's coat with transfer

They also offered transfers on their own, which were called “Kaumagraph” transfer patterns.

Kaumagraph Transfer Pattern, Cute Animals

Once printed patterns with good instructions were the norm, not much changed until recently. Sewing Mamas today can enjoy all the benefits of PDF patterns: instant download, shop at home, photo tutorials, wide range of sizes and styles, and even being able to speak to the designer by email or on facebook if you get stuck!

To celebrate my first guest post, I have a wonderful FREE pattern to offer you today. It has the vintage style of the 1950s combined with all the conveniences of a PDF pattern. I present:

Timmy & Mary's Sunsuit

This is a sunsuit with shoulder-ties and open romper legs with a snap crotch. You can make it lined or 1-layer with bias binding. The fit is loose and comfy for summer! It comes in sizes 6 months to 3 and is perfect for novelty prints or embroidery- by hand or machine. In fact, I am giving you this adorable puppy face machine embroidery design, too.

This pattern is still available! Just join my MAS Patterns Group on facebook!