Hooded Scarf: Vintage and OOP Vogue 2793

This is a gift sewing project.  The plan was to save it as a Christmas gift but the cold weather arrived and it didn't seem right to wait.  

I was drawn to vintage and out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 2793 for the hooded scarf.  According to Vintage Patterns Wikia, this pattern is from 1982.  It's self-lined and made in a merino wool.  I am certain this will provide ample protection during a prairie winter.  

This pattern is a keeper.  The instructions were lovely, although I did skip the section that calls for seam binding at the bottom of the hood piece.  It just seemed unnecessary.  And it worked out fine.  No dislikes with this pattern.  

Sewing IS Political

This is a Canadian 🍁 made and tariff free project.  The fabric and the pattern were both purchased in 2023 before the convicted felon and his cohort were re-elected (and elected) into office and started their tariff war on the world and trying to interfering in other countries policies and launching gaslighting tactics.  Sewing continues to be a reprieve from the chaos.  

Thank goodness for a stash, the worktable and some good tunes for the escape.  The merino wool fabric was in the stash for a couple of years, purchased from Marshall Fabrics, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The pattern, OOP Vogue 2793, is a vintage find and came from a Canadian Etsy seller.  It was purchased around the same time as the fabric.  The fabric scissors are Merchant and Mills, a United Kingdom company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet.  The threads have been in the stash for years.  The cotton thread used on the sewing machine is Gütermann threads from Greece.  The silk thread used for hand stitching is Gütermann threads and are Swiss made.  The threads used on the serger state they are from Indonesia.  

Project details

Seams:  Knit (lightening bolt) stitch

Seam finish:  Serged and / or trimmed

Fabric:  1.3 metres (39 inches wide)

Pattern:  vintage and OOP Vogue 2793, circa 1982.

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, measuring tape, measuring gauge, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, fabric scissors, paper scissors, threads, hand sewing needle, screwdriver, mini vacuum, tweezers, canned air, new needle for the sewing machine, iron and ironing board.  

Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.  

March in Review

Sewing, Alterations and Mending

Left to Right:  Cotton Trapeze Dress, Merchant and Mill's; wool plaid scarf, no pattern used.  

March was a slow month at the sewing machine.  The scarf was just a project that I made to use up the last bit of yardage from this skirt project.  I've surprised myself with how often I've reached for this scarf as the weather warmed up and it worked well with this coat.  The dress has a sixties vibe that I adore.  I took it out for a spin pairing it with a turtleneck sweater and it's so comfortable.  This may become my go-to summer dress.  Although, I do like my Eva dresses and they will likely not be replaced.  

And there was a wee bit of mending to a piece of furniture that needed some care.  These sweatpants have a tiny hole in the left back side that needs to be closed.  I plan to mend them today.  Otherwise things were quiet in the workspace. 

Stash busting

This month 2.4 metres of fabric and two spools of thread were used from the stash.  I did pick up 2 metres of fabric this month.  And I quickly regretted the purchase even though it was on sale.  

It's a man-made knit with a metre long sticky tape residue at the centre fold and right side of the fabric. It's not the kind of fabric I go for but it was a good deal and I thought that I could use it as a toile fabric.  I didn't realize it was damaged by the tape residue when I took it to the cutting table and the sales clerk did not point it out when she measured it.  If I had noticed this, I wouldn't have picked it up.  I should have known, the sale price was too good to be true.  Thankfully, after three tumbles in the wash and a heck of a lot Shout stain remover, the tape residue is no longer noticeable.  But I digress.  

When the addition of toile fabric is considered, I didn't do much stash busting this month.  And there were some new patterns added to the stash.  Three new patterns from The Assembly Line (The Tulip and Balloon skirts and the Puff sleeve top) and a new Style Arc pattern to test out with the above fabric.  I hope to get to those projects soon.  Hopefully, April will be a more productive month.  

Stand Strong, Elbows Up and Keep Sewing!

Stash busting: Winter Scarves / No Pattern Used

I'm in the process of cutting out a winter jacket.  It's a lesson in the benefits of having the proper tools or if you're lucky enough to have the right tools, the importance of keeping your tailor shears under lock and key.  But I digress.  

I took a break to give my hands a rest from cutting to make a couple of winter scarves.  With left over coat fabric, I was able to cut two lengths and with the help of the Janome Air Thread serger, I finished the sides with a rolled hem.  

These are a charity sewing project.  Easy peasy.  Now I should get back to cutting out that coat.  

Happy Sewing!

October in Review...

Sewing

This month has been all about gift sewing and preparing for the winter ahead.  

Stash busting

All of October's projects were made with fabric and notions found in the sewing stash.  This month 10.2 metres of fabric, 3 metres of elastic, 1 label, 1 zipper and 3 buttons were used from the stash.  

Mending

There has been some mending happening this month.  I'm thrilled that I was able to rescue two pairs of wool socks from the neglected and forgotten pile of socks I have for mending.  As well, there was a pair of pants, Vogue 1325, that now fit after extending the elastic.  

And a previously gifted pair of pajama bottoms came back to the sewing workspace to have the elastic shortened.  I used to dislike mending but lately, I've embraced the activity.  It feels good to fix and rescue these pieces.  

What's Next?  

There was talk here about making another winter coat, only to discover that I don't have enough fashion fabric to make Vogue 8934 when I started laying out the pattern pieces.  There is enough fabric to make a short coat, I will just have to decide on a pattern.  

Charity sewing projects are in the plans for the November sewing list and will likely be the first items to be sewn.  I've printed off the tuque pattern I used previously and plan to whip up some.   Maybe, I'll try my hand at making pompoms for the tuques?  I think there is some yarn somewhere in the stash.  We'll have to see how much time I have to search for yarn to accessorize the tuques.  And maybe some winter scarves if I can find enough appropriate fabric in the stash.  I would like to get the charity sewing done and delivered this coming week.  We'll see how that goes.  

Happy Sewing!  

In Sewing News Today...

Instead of sewing, I've been busy changing over the seasonal wardrobe.  Winter is around the corner and it's dressing-in-layers season right now.  

And I'm dealing with some hard clothing truths.  I've outgrown some of my clothes.

No matter how lovely the wool suiting fabric and well-made my collection of wool pants is, I'm likely never going to fit into most of them again.  I made many of them with out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 1325.  There is one pair that still fits I can still squeeze into.  The other four pairs are sitting in a pile waiting for re-fashioning inspiration to strike.  This dress no longer fits and also made it onto the to-be-refashioned pile.  I don't want to lose this treasure of wool to the donate pile.  I am thinking maybe a dress or something can be made with the harvested fabic.  

I am also trying to see what I can fix / alter before going full-on re-fashion mode.  

This too-tight-to-wear pair of pants, Vogue 1642, was sewn back in 2019 and found its way to the mending table to adjust the elastic back.  

I opened up one side to expose the elastic casing and dug up a length of elastic to stitch and add another four inches of elastic.  It was exactly what these pants needed.  They are now the most comfortable pair presently sitting in the closet.  I just might have to dig out this pattern, Vogue 1642, and give it another try.  All I know is that I'm at the elastic back pull-on stage of my life, it's all about comfort and this style is my secret pajama pants.  

There are socks to be mended.  I've neglected this task in the early spring when I discovered that I could sew socks and just forgot about the RTW pairs that could use some care.  But now that the cooler temperatures are here it's time to sit down, listen to that audio book I've also have been taking too long to get through and get some sock patching and mending done.  

There is a crazy idea of sewing another winter coat.  I've been putting off because it's a big project.  I would want to underline it with some wind-blocking fleece.  That's going to mean a lot of hand stitching.  And OOP Vogue 8934 has a lot of hemline darts to sew.  I'm going to use the dart shortcut I recently discovered on a rerun of Sewing with Nancy.  

I didn't get everything that I want to sew this past summer done.  But that will have to wait, winter sewing is calling, and I need to replenish my pants if I'm going to stay warm this winter.  

Talking about staying warm this winter, I would like to answer the call for some charity sewing from the church.  Winter items, hats, mitts and scarfs were asked for from parishioners that knit and crochet.  I'm not that talented but I can sew some winter scarves.  Maybe some hats?  I will have to check what is in the stash.  I know that I will have some left-over wind-breaking fleece that will be perfect for winter hats.  

Well, I better get back to work.  I think I will start with cutting out the coat and seeing what materials I have left over for the charity sewing.  

Happy Sewing!

Stash Busting: Wool and Silk Plaid Scarf

There was a length left over of the beautiful wool and silk blend fabric that I turned into a scarf.  This project was made into an easy task with thanks to the Janome serger.  I used the 3-thread rolled hem on a Janome AirThread 2000D Professional and some Fray Check on the clipped corner threads.  Easy!  And I feel good that there are no scraps left behind from yesterday's pants project.  

Happy Sewing!

August in Review...

Sewing

This month I didn't sew anything that I planned to sew a month ago.  The birthday caftan that I thought about sewing did not materialize.  The black denim that I was thinking about sewing a denim jacket with became a pair of culottes.  And it proved to be the wrong fabric choice for the project.  Frugality played a part in sewing a cell phone protector.  Little girl dresses were part of gift sewing projects.  And then my sewing direction took a turn into some serious stash busting territory after Pattern Review announced their stash busting contest.  

Stash busting

All of the projects sewing were made with fabric and supplies found in the stash.  There were 15.3 metres of fabric, 5 spools of thread, 9 metres of trim, 1 metre of elastic, 1 cord stopper, 1 button, 1 zipper and 0.5 metres of Knit 'N Stable tape stash busted this month.  

I'm so grateful that I decided to join the Stash busting contest at Pattern Review.  Once I started with a fabric, it seemed easier to match it with a pattern or project.  It feels wonderful to use these sometimes overlooked pieces and transform them into objects that can be used or gifted.  It feels good.  I won't win any prizes for most yardage used, I'm not as fast as some of the others who have entered the contest.  But I do feel like a winner for finally using the fabric for the scarf and that denim for the grocery bags that have been in the stash for way-too-long.  My goal is to at least empty one bin by the end of the contest.  

What's Next?  

I'm just going to keep sewing.  I have that tweed fabric I wrote about this month at the foot of my cutting table.  My focus is to use the oldest fabrics that have often been overlooked over the years.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

Stash Busting: Art Full Scarf

If it weren't for the Pattern Review Stash Busting contest on right now, I might not have dragged this fabric out of the stash yet.  I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, it's been in the stash for around twenty years.  I picked up 2 metres of it on a trip to Toronto.  There were once plans to use it as an overlay piece for a dress.  And then incorporate it into a pullover top.  It just sat there while ideas floated around as to what it should become.  I really like the print and wanted to showcase it some how.  

In all honesty, turning it into a scarf is the most practical thing.  I first thought to sew the ends closed and the stitching didn't quite look good.  Because of the fraying it would be best to work with a French seam and the sheer polyester fabric was a bit challenging.  So after a length of stitching, the seam ripper came out and I turned to my Janome serger for some help on this one.  

I removed one of the needles, adjusted some dials and got to work on a roll hem.  Everything was going perfect until I tried to trim one end with the serger.  

My sweet Janome was not having anything to do with that plan when some excess width got caught in the bottom needles.  Luckily, I was able to cut into the tangled mess and set the almost completed scarf on the cutting table for some trimming before finishing up this what should have been an easy peasy, done-in-no-time project.  The corner tails on the rolled hem were trimmed down and given a dab of Fray Check to prevent unraveling.  

Project Details

Seams:  None

Seam Finish:  Rolled hem

Fabric:  2 metres

Pattern:  None

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, thread clippers, Janome sewing machine, seam ripper, screwdriver, Janome serger and a good kick in the pants from Pattern Review to stash bust this one.  

Happy Sewing!

May in Review...

Sewing

Four out of the seven projects sewn this month were for others, the shirt (McCall's 7940) and pear print dress (The Eva dress by Tessuti patterns) and the black wool cardigan (OOP 4192) were for moi.  Gifted projects were the cotton slips (Kwik Sew 3645), men's pull-on pants (Kwik Sew 3663) and dress (Simplicity 2372).    

Stash-busting

  

All of this month's sewing projects were made with fabric and notions found in the stash.  Stash busted this month:  12.4 metres fabric, 10 buttons, 4 packages of seam binding, 1 - 55 cm invisible zipper 0.2 metres of Knit 'N Stable tape and 1 metre of elastic.  

Me Made May 2022 

My MMM pledge was all about editing my wardrobe and trying to figure out what I want to do with the lesser used / loved / don't fit anymore pieces in my wardrobe.  My focus was making my wardrobe function for my current lifestyle.  Some items were fixed, altered or replaced.  

And I continued with wearing my me-made clothing and accessories everyday.  I've been working hard at trying to lose weight.  Since this time last year I have lost fifteen pounds and I would like to lose another seventeen pounds to bring myself to a healthy weight.   This year, I am wearing me-made items that I wasn't able to wear last year.  That feels good to bring them out to wear again.  But I must say, other than wearing me-made pajamas most often, the knit wrap dresses were my go-to comfortable item to put during this year's rainy MMM season.  

So, what did I learn about my me-made wardrobe.  Well for one thing, the older I get the more I appreciate easy access clothing.  Back zipper dresses are not my favourite to pull from the closet.  I'm not as flexible as once upon a time.  Give me a wrap dress or pull-over dress over a fitted back zipper dress any day.  And dealing with arthritis in my thumb, which was behind my wrist pain but that's a whole other story, makes me appreciate buttons that are not itty bitty and cute.  There is nothing cute about button struggles.   This leads me to my favourite accessory this year, a thumb brace--replacing the face mask of 2020-21 as the must-have fashion accessory.  The thumb brace is a game changer at the cutting table and sewing machine.  But it also leads me to consider picking clothing that I can fit over the brace.   My Me-Made-May 2022 wardrobe choices are all about easy access and comfort.  

Stay Safe and Keep Sewing!

2020 in Review

January

From these items, there are currently three items found in my wardrobe.  The hankerchiefs, butterfly print and black silk scarfs were gifted. The floral dress was worn and loved for about eight months until it was lent and not returned.  Win some and lose some.  There were plans to replace this dress since the fit is lovely.  The denim shirtdress is another favourite make.  

February

February was all about a journey to find my ideal white shirt.  This was before the pandemic changed my idea of what I want to wear and my body shape.  The white pin-tucked shirt is currently packed away waiting for my pre-pandemic shape to return.  

March

March was about sewing for others and a basic black skirt sneaked in there for moi.  

April

As reality of pandemic life settled and changed our everyday life, face mask sewing over took the sewing space.  These were all gifted to others.  

Before personal shopping bags were banned from grocery retailers early on in the pandemic, I made a set.  And of course, getting dressed meant having a day time pajama set or two.  More gifted masks and one for moi.  

April was the start of a lot of charity sewing,  face masks for others and scrub caps for a nurses at an Ontario care home.  And there were re-useable Swiffer pads and one more piece of sleepwear.  

May

May continued with face masks and scrub caps to be gifted along with a cotton and silk blend slip.  I crossed off sewing a woven brassier from my sewing bucket list.  And as the novelty of wearing pajamas day and night wore off, a few dresses were added to the wardrobe to address the pandemic pounds that crept on this year.  

June

June was a mix of gift, charity and selfish sewing.  I tried out a Burda Petite pattern for what I hoped could be a car coat but it wasn't petite sized enough.  The white and black shirt was to replace a similar shirt that was damaged.  And the cork eye glass case is a much used item this year.  

Slips and scrub caps for others.  Linen pants for my changing body shape and soccer face mask to ease the sadness that the Euro Cup was postponed until next year.  

July

July wasn't a fun month for sewing.  I injured myself when trying to modify the pattern while taping and redrawing pattern lines on the floor before trying to find a table large enough to safely cut out the fabric.  Where the project didn't succeed in breaking my back it did break my heart as time ran out before the project could be completed.  By the time I had the fabrics needed to complete the project (it would be a couple of months before it would arrive), I couldn't get access to the location where I could use a tabled area to cut out the fabric.  It will be the project that messed with my heart and all the joy I felt for sewing.  

The projects that I did manage to make in July are my least favoured, I made the dress because I wasn't able to fit into my summer wardrobe from last year and the top felt more comfortable as a jacket.  Pandemic pounds are starting to bum me out.    

August

While waiting for fabric for the cloak pattern to be decided on, I spent most of my time sewing for others and watching the pandemic news hoping and praying that the local government would mandate face masks in schools.  I crossed off jeans from my sewing bucket list and tried to make my own medical device.  

What I thought would be the last of the scrub caps sent to the care home in Ontario. 

September

The beginning of September was void of cloak fabric and cooling temperatures dictated a need for something warm to wear.  There was a baby outfit cut out as I waited for fabric to be decided on and purchased, it's still hanging out on the unfinished pile.  Fabric for the cloak finally arrived around mid-September but not with appropriate lining fabric added to this, difficulty in the arrangement for a spot with tables large enough to cut out the fabric.  I returned to work at this time as well, making time to cut and sew an added challenge. Tragically, time ran out and I was asked to return the fashion fabric so that someone else to take on this task.  This project crushed me, it broke my heart.  I lost my desire to sew and my desire to to look at my sewing equipment.  I gave away one of my sewing machines.  I couldn't imagine ever wanting to sew again.  

October

Around mid-October, a heart-breaking comment by Rocky Delahunty appeared that spoke of incredible strength and the power of sewing.  I must have read and re-read that comment what felt like a million times before I made my way to unpack and set up the sewing machine by the end of the month.  

November

November's sewing ended up being all about work related needs.  The need for work appropriate clothing that fit while I try to loose weight.  And after success with a new face mask pattern, I made more and gifted a majority of these to school staff who have to wear glasses.  

December

 

December my sewing mojo had not yet returned full swing although it did start to emerge along with another request for more scrub caps. It felt like just a final push to get some requested items done and off the sewing table but this time I learned how to pace myself and take a break when needed. With the exception of the cardigan and one of the black tuques, all of the December makes (plus one more face mask not shown here) have been gifted with some on route to other parts of the country. And there you have it, this year's sewing story.  

This year I have managed to de-stash: 

• 164 metres fabric 
• 1 refashioned sweater
• 1 refashioned sock
• 1 sewing machine
• 2 sewing books
• 1 tomato pin cushion
• 1 package of tailor's chalk
• 4 packages of sewing needles
• 2.7 metres basting tape
• 13.94 metres elastic
• 4 invisible zippers
• 2 jean zippers
• 11.45 metres fusible interfacing
• 34 metres Knit 'N Stable tape
• 28 cord stoppers
• 72.9 metres twill tape / ribbon
• 34.75 metres bias tape (seam binding)
• 1 shoe laces
• 2 metal hook and eye
• 76 buttons
• 4 snaps
• 4.1 metres cord
• 4 labels

So, the question remains... How did I do on my 2020 goals that I set out at the end of 2019?  

1.  Patterns.  I had a goal use the patterns I have and not add anymore to the stash.  There were sixteen patterns added to the stash in 2020.  My bad.  

2.  Charity Sewing.  I can proudly check this one off as complete.  

3.  Explore Cost Saving Tips.  Okay, that fell to the sidelines.  Maybe in 2021?  

4.  Sewing from the stash.  I did happen to add to the stash mostly notions for making face masks otherwise I did sew from the stash.  

5.  Avoid the trappings of trend watching.  Well, the only fashion trend I fell for this year was face masks and I don't regret that at all.  

Stay Safe, Happy Sewing and Wishing you all Health and Joyful times in the New Year!

In Sewing New Today...

A few months ago the strap on my handbag broke. The leather strap was fine, it was the hardware that gave out. The strapless handbag sat unused for months because I miss having a strap. Until now.  

Instead of spending funds to replace the handbag hardware, I created a new strap with one of the scarves made earlier this year. I actually like how it looks and it sits comfortably on my shoulder. I'm still holding onto the leather strap that came with the handbag, it might come in handy for another fix-it project.  

It seems like the pandemic's greatest impact on my life has been driving home the make do and mend mantra. Going out to run errands takes more time and can be stressful if you're in an environment where folks are not taking social distancing and Covid-19 medical precautions seriously. Making do with what is on hand is a much safer and less stressful option. And it's challenging me to be more creative. There a sense of joy that comes with successfully completing this challenge and giving new life to a old object.  

In other sewing news, I discovered the likely reason for an increase demand in face mask sewing requests. Costco is no longer selling face masks or gloves in their stores and online. But I was able to find a box of 50 disposable face masks at my local pharmacy for sixty dollars. That wasn't a typo. I would have to work more than half a day to pay for that one box. No wonder workplaces are not supplying face masks or if they are, they're limiting how many you can use during the day. I'm so glad that I can sew. Needless to say, there is another batch of 3-ply reusable face masks on the sewing table.  

Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

January in Review

Sewing

Top L to R:  3 cotton handkerchiefs, The Assembly Line's Tulip dress, Multi-coloured Silk scarf / headwrap, Butterfly print polyester scarf / headwrap, 

Bottom L to R:  Black and beige Silk scarf, Multi-coloured Silk scarf, Butterfly print polyester scarf, Denim shirtdress. 

In January, I managed to de-stash without adding any new fabric, patterns or supplies. Even though I was tempted by a couple of the Vogue Spring line of patterns. I held on to my pledge not to add anymore patterns to the stash. But I might have trouble with holding off on Vogue1678.  

• 10 metres of fabric
• 1.10 metres of basting tape
• 1 - 55 cm invisible zipper
• 1.5 metres of fusible interfacing
• 2 spools of thread
• 2 sewing machine needles
• 2 packages of bias tape

Happy Sewing!  

Make Something Week: Wool Scarves

I am a maker.

A maker is someone who transforms things s/he already owns into something new by sharing, up-cycling swapping, repairing, and creating.  Make something celebrates creative, resourceful and social people that enjoy the experience of making something new out of their old things for the people we love.  

Today's project is a recycled project.

Prior to the transformation:

I found this 100% wool knit skirt at a second hand store. It's in perfect condition and it even fits. 

But it is not my style. The lacy knit fabric at the lower portion of the skirt is see-through, it could benefit from a lining or a slip. Or if someone had the figure to pull it off, a pair of leggings underneath.  But that is not me.

I picked it up for the fabric and because it was large enough to transform it into something else. 

It is a 100% virgin wool fabric with no piling and no damage and best part

is that I picked it up for a song.  

I would have refashioned it into a sweater but I went the easy route instead. This project is dictated by need. Since, I'm on a natural fibre vs man-made fibre experiment at the moment I'm in need of a wool scarf. You know, something to keep the winter chill at bay.  

This one is a single layered scarf with serged lengthwise edges. 

And a second scarf has the lengthwise seam stitched and then turned over to create a tube scarf. I can easily turn this into an infinity scarf but I quite like it this way.  

There is still more fabric to consider.  This is a quarter of the yoke of the skirt. It's not like the lace portion, rather it is a beefy knit wool that would be perfect for a couple of matching mittens. I just have to find a pattern.  Or maybe hand warmers.

Happy Sewing!