Vintage Pattern Love: A Rare Romper!

I found a gem to add to my pattern collection this week. It may be my rarest pattern yet! For a few years in the mid to late 1920s, McCall made patterns with distinctive covers. They had photos of the garments on models: they must have hand-colored and edited these photos and they are quite beautiful. The patterns just so happen to be pretty amazing, too!

Here's the one I scored this week! It is a darling romper with a pretty scalloped detail at the waist and embroidered flowers. Look at the little girl's socks with ribbons at the top. This seems to have been a common decoration back then. Maybe they were elasticized to hold up the stockings?
I just love everything about this: the pink gingham with white, the embroidered flowers, the collar and cuffs, and the precious little model. This is one I would like to make someday!
I have the pink and turquoise overalls cut out and I'm hoping to finish the embroidery tomorrow! Are you ready for Thanksgiving yet? I am getting off easy this year- going to my parents' house! Yahoo- easy peasy and bound to be a delicious feast made by my MOM!

Planning...

I am working on Andy's Christmas outfit for the pictures we have on Sunday. I finished his knickers today and I will be smocking a shirt to go with them. Meanwhile, the weekend after Thanksgiving, we are having a first birthday party for my goddaughter Ella! I was despairing of finding time to make her a dress, when I had a middle of the night inspiration!
I will use these patterns by Footloose:

to make co-ordinating overalls and a-line jumper for Andy and Ella. I decided to use featherwale corduroy and I ordered 2 color combos from fabric.com:

I'm not sure if I'll go with the pastels or the brights. Obviously, Andy will have blue and Ella pink.

This is the snowman applique I will use. It's from Planet Applique. I think I will do fun prints for the scarf and hat on each snowman.
Now that I have everything planned, I just have to wait for the fabric to arrive to get busy. I had t send my machine in for a tune-up today. It just wasn't running well. I can still work on my daughter's machine, though- phew!
Oh, yes, I have a little blouse waiting for Ella that I picked up when MP had a big sale and I also have a white shirt for Andy, so I think we will be all set!

Tenille's Beautiful Baby & Bonnet!

Today's post is my favorite kind to write: I get to share the lovely work of a facebook friend! Tenille Brien shared pictures of her version of the Ella Kathryn Bonnet pattern on facebook. I asked her if I could share her gorgeous girls and bonnet with you and she graciously agreed!

Here is the bonnet on her little girl Veronica, 9 months. She is shown with sister Mathilda. These lovely ladies are from Australia, where it is warm!

Here is some info from Tenille:
The fabric came from an unused sheet, I also made the piping to match. The lace was flat lace that I gathered slightly. The smocking itself started out to follow a design from Australian Smocking & Embroidery because I was going to have it match a dress, but I deviated from that and just sort of made it up as I went along, I’ve only been smocking for about 3 years and I’m self-taught so I don’t do bullion roses or most of the other fancy stitches, I just like the neat geometric patterns, so I kept it quite simple. I did also make the dress that Veronica is wearing, and the blouse that Mathilda is wearing.

 I have to disagree that it's "quite simple"! I find the white on white absolutely stunning and the eyelet trim is so girly and pretty! Did you note Tenille's statement that she also made the dress and blouse shown here? Where does she find the time with 3 children: 4, 3, and 11 months!?

And one more...

Wonderful!! Thank you, Tenille, for sharing your beautiful family and stitching!
If you want to download a free "Ella Kathryn Bonnet" pattern, just click on the pattern picture on the right of my blog.