Silence may indeed be “golden” except when one is trying to maintain some regularity in writing a blog. My silence this past Fall and into the end of the year was not intentional. I actually got as far as starting a new post in November on a “Blouse for Fall” only to have its completion thwarted by more pressing priorities. Such is life, as all of us know. So now, in this sparkling new year we have entered, I have the opportunity to play some long overdue catch-up.
It is at this time of year when I like to reflect on my sewing from the year just past. And glaringly, the truth is I was not very productive. Here is what I made:
- Short black wool jacket, ostensibly to wear with a wool sheath dress made two years ago.
I suspect this jacket will prove to be more versatile than I have expected. Its jewel neckline will lend itself to scarves, and its solid black color will be a good canvas for brooches or other fabric flowers.
2. A birthday/sundress for each of my two granddaughters.
I generally do not post on my blog about sewing for my granddaughters, due to the limited audience for the subject. The girls requested dresses which they could wear “off the shoulder.” So of course, I obliged!
3. A pink striped casual blouse.
Pale pink is always a good idea.
4. A floral summer dress.
I was happy to use this fabric which had been long in my sewing queue.
5. Fun floral skirts for each of my granddaughters.
I used “kits” from Farmhouse Fabrics for each of these skirts. They garnered blue ribbons and a “Best of Division” at our local county fair this past summer. Full disclosure: there wasn’t much competition!
6. My 50th Anniversary linen dress made with vintage fabric.
I’m not sure I have ever made a dress which has given me more personal satisfaction than this one. Making this dress was truly a dream come true.
7. A fuchsia-pink silk shirtdress.
I persevered through the tricky construction of this dress made with a slinky silk jacquard charmeuse. I had the opportunity to wear it twice this past Fall. Perhaps the trending, pink “Barbie theme” contributed, but this dress proved to be a magnet for compliments at each wearing. How rewarding after all the trouble it gave me!
8. A blouse for Fall, using some amazing vintage buttons.
I will finally admit I will never get tired of making or wearing cotton blouses.
9. And some miscellaneous (and minor) gift and holiday sewing.
That’s it!
And I’m perfectly fine with it. I did what I could, and three of my projects had high priority (my girls’ birthday dresses, my anniversary dress, and my pink shirtdress). Completing them was very satisfying.
So what about my last make of the year – that blouse for Fall?
It’s very orange. And with the pheasant motif, it is very autumnal. However, with Fall undoubtably being my favorite season, it seemed fitting to have a piece in my blouse wardrobe devoted to that time of year.
I found the fabric on the website of Emma One Sock Fabrics a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful cotton with a very slight stretch to it. The quality is superb, being silky soft and very easy to sew. The Herringbone printed background makes it look like a much heavier fabric than it really is.
I debated on the style bouse to make, thinking a bow blouse would be lovely. However, in order to make this as versatile and wearable as possible, I defaulted to my regular shirt/blouse pattern, which I have altered and tweaked many times.
I also thought this pattern would be the one most likely to show off the buttons I intended to use with the fabric.
I can’t remember what came first – the fabric or the buttons. Somehow I was lucky enough to find these vintage Ultra Kraft buttons with their feather motifs. Just bordering on a bit too big for a blouse, these buttons seemed to balance the large pheasant groupings, making both fabric and buttons a good match. I didn’t realize until I had finished the blouse how much the silver in the buttons picks up the lighter colors in the feathers of the pheasants. There is a little “sparkle” in there!
I was able to wear this blouse a couple of times in season. Now it seems a long time away until its next wearing…
Which begs the question: what will transpire in the ensuing months – between now and then? I will wait and see how and when inspiration hits. What about you?
fiftydresses 
What a treat! Each and every one, but my favorite is the cotton pheasant blouse with feather buttons. I’m going to come back to this more than once for inspiration.
More later.
May you and all your readers find something special in each month of the coming year.
Thank you, Mery! And may every month of the year bring something special to you as well!
A very Happy New Year from across the pond. I love reading your blog posts – you are a wonderful seamstress and the clothes you make are beautiful. I especially like the anniversary dress. Exquisite! And suits you so well.
Thank you, Pauline, for this lovely comment! Happy New Year to you as well!
As always, a lovely and inspiring post! Thanks. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and creative year. 😊
Thank you, Heather! It is always nice to hear from you, and may you, too, have a wonderful 2024!
Happy New Year! I look forward to your posts and projects in 2024.
Marjorie
Thank you, Marjorie!
You have a pheasant blouse and I have a cow blouse, but your buttons are waaaaay better!!!🤣 I think I love your anniversary dress the most, though, you look so very happy in it! MY 2024 be filled with creativity and blessed family time!
If I ever find any cow buttons, I’ll send them to you! Thank you for your good wishes, Kathy. I hope my 2024 will be as creative as I know yours will be!
I have never seen cow buttons, so if you do, YES, I need some! 😂
You inspire me.
I’ve been wishing for your “diary of treasures” to appear. I share your tastes indeed. The previous post about the tricky pink shirt dress was great entertainment and I wondered what reactions to it you enjoyed.
I have 2 large pieces of Chanel fabric I purchased years ago at Stone Mountain and Daughter in Berkeley (CA). They came from bolt ends that had just been received the day I happened to be shopping there! Somehow copying the classic jacket hasn’t inspired me though that was my original plan. Any thoughts?
Also I really like the exact shirt pattern you use but doubt I could find one. Any ideas there? I have cottons waiting …
As you say – life goes on without considering our plans! Since September I’ve been the caregiver for my daughter who survived a life threatening accident. Now she is back on her feet, nearly and I have time to follow my nose somewhere…
Thanks for your help!
Hi Marjorie, Hmmm, you may be able to find that shirt pattern either on eBay or in an Etsy shop. It might take some perseverance, though. Your Chanel fabric sounds luscious! How about a sheath dress? Either sleeveless or with. I’m assuming your fabric is boucle? As long as it is not too heavy, it should work beautifully in a dress with simple lines.
Goodness, what a scare with your daughter. I’m so glad she is recovering well. I can only imagine what a help and a blessing you have been to her. We do what we have to do with no hesitation, don’t we? I’m happy you are getting back on track for something for you!
Thanks! I actually started a search and found it on an Etsy site. They responded quickly ( it was already gone) and put me on their roster. Very nice.
The fabric is boucle. I like your suggestion and hope I start adventuring out more. My daughter took me to her favorite place – Disneyland as a thank you for the months of care. I could have used such a dress there. Over the years she has developed friendships there and I was treated to several visits people rarely see. I was not told where we were going but asked to dress well. It is like a different country. Came home rested and amazed.
Inspired by your makes… blouses for the upcoming Spring and Summer!
I think you can count on more blouses, Ginger!
Everything looks lovely. The orange fabric goes so very well with those buttons, and I recall seeing that pattern on the shelves when it came out. I find that jacket so handsome with the sheath too.
Good for you for a productive year, and thank you for showing us. It has indeed been a while–
Thank you for your lovely comment, Donnalee! I’m glad I was gone, but not forgotten!
You had a very good sewing year! Here’s to the next one!
Thank you, Robyn! Let’s see what the next one brings!?
Than you for sharing your beautiful makes with all of us. You are an inspiration. I love your style.xx
Thank you, Sue! I so appreciate your comment!
Beautiful shirt…you are such an inspiration, thank you for posting and sharing your work.
Thank you, Joanna, and thank you for reading!
Welcome back, I have to confess I was beginning to worry!
The blouse pattern (and the blouse) is a winner because it has all and nothing; all that is essential in a blouse, nothing that will go out of fashion….. well maybe the collar but that is easily tweaked. Happy sewing in 2024
Hi Elizabeth! And I have tweaked that collar over and over! I think the version I used on this orange blouse may be my favorite. Happy Sewing to you as well!
Hello, I hope you don’t mind me asking your opinion on a sewing point. Many vintage coat and jacket patterns feature a vertical shoulder-to-bust dart, including the divine a now extinct Vogue 9239 car coat circa 1957 (how I love it!). No modern patterns feature this dart, and that peaks my curiosity. Do you think it is better for shaping compared to the modern side-to bust point dart? or is there no significant difference?
Thanks!
Elizabeth
My profuse apologies for my very tardy reply to this interesting question. I agree, I don’t see that vertical shoulder-to-bust dart on any newer patterns. I have a vintage bathrobe pattern with that type of dart and I think it makes the robes easier to put on (versus a side bust dart). I see it most often, I think, in coats – as you mentioned – and in looser-fitting garments such as bathrobes. So perhaps that is its targeted function – to ease movement when one puts the garment on or takes it off. But that is just my guess. Personally, I love it! It is a little more forgiving than a side placed dart when targeting the apex of the bust. I also think it would be of benefit if one has a rather “hollow” upper chest. Anyway, thanks for your patience and thanks for the question!
Great to hear from you! I love all of your bright and happy sewing projects that you have been working on for yourself and your granddaughters!
Happy New Year 2024 & Happy Sewing as always!
-Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie! Happy, bright sewing to you as well for this new year!
Love your anniversary dress. I’ve been sewing with more pink fabric than usual and it is because of the Barbie movie , I’m sure.
Pink is just the most wonderful color! Barbie or not, it is always a winner! Hope your pink sewing is super rewarding for you this year!
Lovely reading about your ‘sewing’ year! All look lovely, but your pink floral anniversary’ dress is stunning on you….. Julie
Thank you, Julie. I’m quite partial to to it, too!
Here is another wonderful year ahead for you and your creativity. All your creations are fantastic. As always, I look forward to your updates as each story makes me strive to reach your heights of execution. I never shall, but I will do my best.
Thank you so much, Peggy! If it makes you feel any better, please know I am rarely completely satisfied with any of my finished projects – still serving to do better…
Thank you for taking the time to write this post and give us an update! You’re pace of sewing and your projects make sense, as they all seem to be garments that you’ll wear again and again (not to mention the ones that you made for your granddaughters!)
It was a treat to see your pheasant blouse, the color and print it beautiful! I’ve looked through my overstock of vintage patterns for Simplicity 5256, unfortunately, I don’t have one. I have many that look similar though. Does it have a separate collar stand?
Hi Cheryl, Yes my Simplicity blouse pattern does have a collar stand. It is such a funny little pattern, but it certainly has served me well! And of course, having a pattern which fits well is worth its weight in gold.
I thought that it must, as it seems that having a collar stand makes a better shirt. I think it must be unusual for the era. I’ve found many similar patterns, but none have a collar stand. I’ll continue my search!
Loved each one of these beautiful projects. Your choice of color is wonderful. Of course the style and execution are perfection. Happy New Year! Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2024.
Thank you, Marguerite! All the best to you as well, for 2024!
Love seeing your most recent post! I love your style; in clothes and blogging! It is SO rewarding to end up with a garment that fits well and that you want to wear over and over again. I’ve slowed down on work so I’m hoping to sew more. I wish you lived next door for sewing encouragement and advice when needed! The grandchildren’s clothing is adorable. My grands are 4, 1 and newborn. I’m thinking I’ll wait a little before I sew for them as I think they are growing faster than I sew!
Thanks for sharing your projects!
Everything you make looks absolutely gorgeous! I adore your orange pheasant blouse—that was just meant to be. Vintage buttons are the best!!
I so agree! I love vintage buttons. It’s amazing how something so little can add so much spice to life! About that pheasant blouse – I’m already looking forward to wearing it next Fall.