Butterick 4790, only.... Not!!

Ok everyone... I've been dying to get this finished so I could show you, I'm SOOO excited and I think you all will be too!:D

Lookie what I found! And how easy it will be for all of you to adapt your 4790 dress patterns to make yourselve's one! :p
It's nice to just see another option for the neckline and some sort of sleeve!!

All the fun of the 4790, but with only about 2 yards of fabric and less time!

I had some scrap gingham laying around, and *barely* got the pieces cut out, in fact~ I had to piece a section together but it's in the back wrap part so you can't see.
By the way, I could not for the life of me judge the right/wrong side of this fabric!

The pattern is a 32 bust and I'm a 36. I don't know how to up-size patterns, this is only the second garment I've ever made from a pattern, the first being the actual 4790.... (you can see that here)

So, I decided I would just cut the pattern a half inch larger all around, and could always take it in.
It also stated no hem allowances and I wasn't sure what that meant!
Anyhoo, I wish I had just cut it out as it was, I think it would've fit just fine. I have to tie it pretty tight to fit me. I'm going to sew it together under the arms like I did the dress.

This blouse cost me less than $5 all together, I found the eyelet at a thrift store and had to buy two packs of bias tape.

And here's the finished product~

Gifts Galore!

I am long over due in posting about some wonderful gifts I have recieved~

You can click on the photos to enlarge.

First up is a give away I won from My Big Mouth.

EEK! This was back in February! It arrived in a festive mailer with a beautiful card.

Inside was a yard of cute Valentine fabric with love quotes all over, a pearled initial "N", bath petals, a notebook, and a cool toy for Nova! He had a blast watching it "grow"!

Still thinking of what to make with the material. I love the "N", I had see them on other blogs and was jealous~ now I have my very own!

Next we have another give away prize from Rose Vignettes. This was in April.....geeeesh! I'm so ashamed for not sharing these earlier! As you might be able to tell, this cute package arrived as I was busy making my Wizard of Oz dress. Ever since I opened it I was craving beer bread! I finally got to make it recently. Dos Equis was all we had on hand from a big mexican feast we had, lol! I made pretty pancakes with the heart cookie cutter. The "gloveables" are SO cute! I pulled weeds and my manicure was spared!

The most recent gift is from my friend Dee. She has started a blog but has been very busy, so give her some time and check back! Some of you may know her from her VERY popular Gone With the Wind site, Scarlett Online. Just look at the package decorated in cute little Scarlett bears! Inside was some gorgeous fabric for La Boudoir. An adorable cottage pillow with a pink velvet back, a vintage Quick magazine with Scarlett on the front to add to my gwtw book collection, and a Scarlett/bbq shoe figurine. Boy do I wish I had some *real* shoes like that in my size!! The mag is from the 50's and is such a hoot to read.

There were a few other gifts but I wasn't sure if they were meant to be shared.... but you know who you are and I thank you SO much!!

*Now for the last gift!*

It's my bloggiversary GIVE AWAY!! I'm not going to tell you what the winner will get, all I'm going to say is that it has something to do with THIS: Just remember I'm new at sewing and it shows in the "prize"!

NOW~ in order to be entered in the drawing you must follow the rules!

You have to visit an old post and leave a comment there. So, please check out my label cloud and blog archives in my sidebar and see what you can "dig up".

I can't wait to hear from you!

Winner will be drawn on Tuesday, August 11th.

Good luck, and thanks for following along with me!

P.S. Many blogs are having trouble with their comment boxes lately. If you are unable to leave a comment, feel free to email me at n2gwtw@gmail.com. Just be sure to tell me about the post you viewed and leave your name and blog site so I know who to put in the drawing!

There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...

We are back! It was a fun little trip. I'll start with the Wizard of Oz museum in Wamego, KS. I *thought* that it was a little farm house built out in the middle of no where like the film. But when we got into town, it was inside an old store-front building. This was their window display, very clever with the black and white look!

Once inside, I saw that they had built a little farm house for the exhibit. You pay at the window, then walk through the door to "OZ".

Here's the other side of the house, after falling from the sky!

The tin ceilings were awesome.

Who killed my sister? Who killed the wicked witch of the East? Was it YOU??

Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!
I DO believe in spooks, I DO believe in spooks,

I do-I do-I do-I do-I DO believe in spooks!
*O*E*O*
Poppies!
That's it for today, I took over 400 pictures, EEK!

Today is my birthday and I'm just putzin' around the house.

Had to go get my driver's license renewed, woohoo....

Thank you for your warm comments on my first sewing project, this Butterick 4790 dress! Unfortunately, we were the only ones in the museum at this time, (it was near closing time).

We're off to see the Wizard!

Poppies! Poppies will put them to sleep... sleeeeeeeep.

Now they'll sleeee-eep.....

We're taking a little trip to Kansas City this weekend to celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. (and my birthday!)


There is an exhibit at Crown Center, and then we will drive about another 100 miles to Wamego to the WOZ museum there.


I was going to post some more Titanic related stuff, but I got busy this week sewing my FIRST PATTERN ever! I decided to make a dress for the WOZ event when I saw all the great anniversary fabric they have out. I promise there will be more Titanic posts later!

So, I've actually made two dresses this past week, the first was a trial. I'm so excited that I've actually put a pattern together that I cannot wait to sew more!

The pattern is the famous "walk away" dress. The Butterick 4790 pattern. A re-issue of the original 6015. It has also been number 7500.

The following info is from http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Butterick_6015
Quick & Easy One Piece Wrap Dress. Here's the smartest idea of the season . . . a dress that has only back waist and shoulder seams, that has its back wrapped around to the front for a sheath-and-overskirt look. Binding finishes the edges. Wear it for any occasion. Made from just 3 pattern pieces, no facings!


Here's a look at the history of the Walk-away Dress:
During the 1950's, Butterick experienced a phenomenon it had not known since the 'Garibaldi Suit' of the late 1860's. It was pattern 6015, and it was dubbed the 'walk-away' dress, because it was so easy you could "Start it after breakfast... walk-away in it for luncheon!".


It's simple yet flattering wrap design and easy construction were what made it so popular. Sales of the pattern were so great, that at one point manufacturing of all other patterns ceased, and only the 'walk-away' dress was produced until all back-orders for this dress could be filled.
Fabrics - crepe, taffeta, faille, satin, velveteen, shantung, gingham, chambray, cotton prints, linen, pique, cotton broadcloth, light weight wool crepe, silk.


I read many reviews and have seen tons of awesome specimens of this dress!


Here are my notes on the pattern.... Now before I show you, let me tell you that it is quite obnoxious. I know the underskirt fabric is not "appropriate" for this pattern, but I don't care. I like it and wanted to use it~



Ok, I cut the shoulders at a size 14, but kept the neckline at an 8.I cut the rest of the dress to fit a 12. I sewed the breast darts at an 8, but the rest of the darts at a 10. Sounds crazy maybe, but it fits.It's a trifle snug in the waist, but I did that on purpose as I am up a few pounds right now.


I rounded off the skirt edges, which I now rather regret as I wasn't thinking it would hang like a jabot. Oh well. I also extended the waist line that wraps around the back as far as I could; all the way to the salvage edge of the fabric. Then I rounded off the edges on the bottoms there as well. After sewing the bias tape to the entire underskirt, it didn't ride up like it had before. I think rounding off the edges really helps to keep it from getting caught in the overskirt and causing it to ride up too.


I didn't have enough poppy fabric for the back bodice so I sewed two pieces together.


Oh! I also sewed the back to the front right where it crosses under the arms. Yes, I have to wriggle a bit to get in and out of it, but it's alot better than dealing with shifting all day long!



Soooo, without further adieu...

Nova told me I need snow for the poppies, lol! Too cute!



Yes, I could've just worn my "Dorothy" dress... but I've worn it so many times, and it would be expected right? : P

I bought the orange shoes at Old Navy. But they were $30. (I thought they were only $20 when I bought them.) I've decided I cannot do $30 for a pair of shoes and they are going back. They are VERY comfortable tho!

I like the green ones better anyway. I'll be on the look out for some yellow shoes!

Kevin actually likes my ruby slippers with it, but I don't want to be dropping red glitter everywhere all day, lol! I'm taking them along just in case.

To see more notes and pics on this dress, click here.

If you do a google image search for Butterick 4790 you'll see many of the wonderful versions out there, along with great reviews. Thanks to all of you out there who have made this dress, you made taking the plunge a lot easier for me!

Should I or shouldn't I, that is the question~

Help! I have a vintage tablecloth I want to use in the bathroom as a window treatment. I was going to hang it with ribbons, and swag it over. But I tried it and didn't like it. It just doesn't swag well with the pattern on the fabric.

It has some stains that won't soak out...

and these are just a few of the holes...

It would look cute like this *if* I didn't want any light coming through the window. I'm thinking of cutting it down the center to make two panels. Then hanging them so the blue borders would be facing each other in the middle.

Thing is, I don't know if I can bare to cut it~

Here is a virtual of how it would look cut into two panels and hung as stated. I would then swag one or both panels back... or push them back on the rods further, as I'll be making a pocket to sheer them on.

So, what do you think? Should I do it, or leave this vintage beauty as is?

If it didn't have stains and holes, I wouln't want to cut it at all.. lol... at least as curtains, they will be lost in the "gathers"...

I did it!!

I sewed on my new machine!! I even tried some of the "fancy" stiches! As some of you may recall, I was terrified to use it!

I tackled it a few weeks ago, then finished my first little project last Saturday. Woohooo! I feel so ALIVE! Bwah-ha-ha...



So here's my first victim~ A black wicker(?) rocker that my friend got out of the trash for me! (Thanks KIM!) I don't know what it's made of. It's not wicker, or rattan. It's a rope-like material. Seems to be pretty old. Naturally it has issues. Coming apart from the top and has no seat. I don't care, it's shabby and free and I love it!


Click to see the large version~ if anyone knows what this is made of, let me know!

(don't let my toes distract you, lol)

I asked Kevin to cut a new seat. The chair had once been green and then painted black and I love the patina. I don't want to paint over it. I knew if I painted the new seat black that it would be a "fresh" black and I wouldn't like it. So, I dug in my fabric pile and found some old yellow duck cloth. Perfect! Put some batting over the seat and covered it.

Now for a cushion! I had an extra hydgrangea pad from the front porch set.

Below is my fabric for the new cover~ I've had this for over 10 years! I bought it as a remnant for probably $2, with no idea what to do with it, I just loved it. It's a strong brushed cotton. And what do you know, *JUST* enough for this project! *Squeeeeee!*

Click to see the detail~ The black teapot fabric you see is actually curtains that I made about 10 years ago too... they were for my back porch on my other house. I just loved my porch then, (wish I had pics) and am glad I can do it all over again. It's a rather Mary Engelbreit"y" I think.

Now I won't tell you it all went smoothly. I jammed the machine two or three times. Hmm... probably because I was using upholstry thread on top and regular thread in the bobbin. It's all I had and I wasn't going to the store, ya know?

I did't use a pattern and I'm quite proud of my corners, even tho my stripes don't *quite* match up in front. I had to alter the pic because the flash was so bright on it!

Wanna see the finished look? I can't wait to put it in it's place on my "new" back porch!

Show me your form!

Welcome to "Show Me Your Form", hosted by Tiffany at Shabby Scraps~

If you don't have a dress form, make your self one with duct tape! I've always wanted to do this. Instructions here!

These are my "double mint twins".

They are both vintage dress forms, one was my Grandma's, and I acquired the second one later.

I've used them for various projects and eventually want to display my costumes and vintage clothing on them in my parlor, bedroom, and craft room.

Currently one is wearing a vintage pearl collar, a lamp shade carcass, and on top of that my 15" Franklin Mint Vinyl Scarlett doll's wire hoops for her costumes. I have to store them on something round, and for now this fits. However, Miss Scarlett actually has doll dress forms of her own! Here's one featuring the Blue Mill Dress,

The other twin is wearing my unfinished red staircase robe from Gone With the Wind. All she needs is the friggin' sleeves sewn on (which are sitting on top), but as you may have seen in my last post I have to learn to use my new sewing machine first.

I made this from an exsisting vintage robe. It zips up the front. I didn't want real velvet as I actually want to wear this garment as an every day housecoat. It had regular sleeves and I cut them at the elbow, and tried to get that draped sleeve effect as much as I could with the fabric I cut off. I think this will work out perfectly, because having the really large draped sleeves like the real robe wouldn't be practical. I long to wear this Christmas morning, so I must conquer my machine by then, lol!

Here is Scarlett in the staircase robe~

Closeup of fine lace and netting behind it~

A rare sketch of Walter Plunkett's original design for the robe...

My robe as I found it on eBay.

I sewed the lace and tulle on by hand. I wish I could afford fine lace and net!

A shot before I cut the sleeves off.
What is a staircase robe without a staircase?

That is my doll's dress form and red robe on the post.

Wow, my staircase is looking much better these days!

I also have a torso dress form.

I like to use it for vignettes like this one I did for Valentine's Day, see all of my heart necklaces?

Displayed on the form is an antique velvet waist from the 1870's. It is the MOST LUCIOUS velvet ever. They certainly don't make things like they used to. I believe it to be silk. Here is a slideshow featuring it on yet another form made of wire. You will also see a bustle gown from the period which the waist would've been worn with. The peice used to be heavily beaded. I wish I could've seen her in all of her glory.

Here is one of my prized possessions, an antique period gown from 1910. It is made of aqua moire taffeta. Beautiful tissue silk draping, pearls, lace, and faux flowers. It has some repairs to make at the shoulders, but other than that she is in excellent condition~sans a few pearls here and there. It has steel boning and an attached silk petticoat. These are old scans, but you can see more details of the gown in this slideshow.

I musn't forget to show you Scarlett's "Shame" gown. I think it's my favorite. Here it is in the works.

I love embellishing pre-made dresses.

Here's what the dress looked like before. I got it for $25 on eBay. Ripped off the sleeves and added the stones. The train is just pinned in the pic, need to sew that and add feathers and she's good to go. It's more red than the film version but that's ok for the price!

"And put on plenty of rouge, I want you to look your part tonight!" She's so beautiful here,

Wow, this post is getting much to long! I shall try to simplify it somewhat, lol!

The twins have helped me with my Drapery Dress and Jump dress too.

NOTE: let me tell you that many of these photos are taken in rooms before they were redone. (We're redoing our 100 year old home). So you'll see boxes and junque everywhere. It's slowly getting better! My craft room is full of all of the stuff we had to move out of Nova's room when I found out we were expecting! His room was to be used for storage for a while... not any more!

Here's a shot of the "Jump" dress from Titanic. I embellished a prom dress to look like Rose's gown. I added a tulle underlay, beading, rhinestone buttons, and cut the overskirt at an angle. You can see more in yet another slideshow here!

The "Drapery" dress I bought on ebay. I had to take it in 6 inches, and redo the collar and sleeves. Thank goodness I had those twins!!

YES! That's Kevin as Rhett! I cut and colored a wig for him, made him shave, and dyed his brows and mustache. LOL! I even bought him a pinky ring, *snort*

If you're still here and you're not saying "ENOUGH already!" then you can see more pics in this album.

Kevin before morphing into Rhett. HEY! If you squint hard enough you can see my mannequin in the background, along with one of the twin's torsos on the floor with Dorothy's dress on!

I'm sure I could bore you with more, (such as Rose's Tea dress from Titanic), but before I go I'll show you a pic of my mannequin. She's kinda spooky, and about 7ft. tall. She was nekkid, but I threw this vintage plastic apron on her for now. Like her "Rose" wig?

Then I walked around the house with camera in hand and was surpised to see how many other little dress forms I had.

My newest addition to my GWTW collection. Kevin's cousin surprised me with this.

Thank you Vickie!

Tiffany, I hope this helps your husband to see how much these gals mean to us. Thank you for hosting "Show Me Your Form". Nadia is a true gem of a find, enjoy her! I look forward to meeting Miss Kitty.