7/13/2007

Useful Mannequin


I bought this Christmas Past fabric with the idea of making a pintuck blouse from an old 70s pattern of mine, but ended up making this cobber's apron from a vintage 50s (40s?) pattern:

The pattern still has the transfer for the applique and embroidery detail and the pattern sheet has detailed instructions for doing the buttonhole by hand. It's been so many years since I sewed a garment of any kind that this was really fun to do.

The other fabrics are from stash. Still have a hankering to make the blouse, so I may get more fabric today. This is the first sewing mannequin I've ever had, and I enjoyed its inspirational company here for several months before making a garment with its help. Of course, when I first got it home, I assembled it and set my post-48-pound-weight-loss measurements, which were satisfying to see 3-D :-). And how useful and reassuring to fit the pieces on in-progress. I've wanted to get one for a long time, since I have areas that need to be altered, like narrow shoulders and short-waistedness. Also I have many vintage patterns that I would like to try out and who knows what size is right since they've changed sizing too many times to count and since, if I remember right about 50s and 60s patterns, you had to get a smaller size than what their measurements indicated. I have several of my own patterns from the 60s on that were new when I bought them, ladies, and are now Vintage. One might even say Antique.

9 comments:

Joyce said...

I was offered a mannequin free at one point in my life but I had a small house and four kids so I had to turn it down. I'd love to have one now. So handy for sewing your own clothes.

Melanie said...

I love the 35 cents price tag. Cute apron, love your fabric choices.

Libby said...

I think my grandma had a mannequin for her dressmaking. What a fun item for you to have.

Jeanne said...

Aaaah, another TOO-CUTE project!!!
And Karen: 48 pounds!!??!!
Jeanne :)

Anonymous said...

I love that apron and especially since it is from a vintage pattern. The dress form will come in handy for altering and it looks like you'll be making more garments too!

MARCIE said...

That is sooo adorable and will look so cute on your slender self! Way to go!

Thimbleanna said...

Very, very cute apron! And congratulations on your weight loss!

Jeanne said...

Love the apron! It's fun seeing the vintage patterns again. Wait to go on losing weight!!!!

Anonymous said...

That's really pretty! I too want a dressmaker form sooooo bad. I keep looking at them online, but I'm too cheap to buy one. Where did you get yours?