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Thursday, August 2, 2018

When I Fell In Love

Did you ever make a garment that you just could not forget? One that has such fond memories that you would love to make it again, if only you could find the pattern?

I learned to sew when I was just a child. If you've followed the blog for some time, you've heard me tell the story, embroidering a handkerchief and stitching the edges when I was 5. That of course led into garment sewing. 

There was never much money in our household, so I figured out ways to earn money for what I needed. I am going to sound like a true stone age leftover with this ;), but I actually sold greeting cards door to door. At the age of 11/12, that was the most intimidating thing I had ever done, but I was determined. With each door that I knocked on, I became a little stronger, a little more confidant. My grandmother had also taught me to knit, so I made scarf and hat sets, as well as knitted bags. I really didn't make anything off of my endeavor, enough to cover the cost of my yarn, and maybe $5.00 of profit. But, I could knit while I babysat, so basically, 2 birds with 1 stone :)

With my earnings, I was able to stretch my money even further by making my clothes. It only took 1 shopping trip to figure this out!

For years I have thought about a pattern that I bought when I was 16 years old. I purchased a lovely light blue piece of wool that had a faint plaid in the weave. I also purchased a coordinating piece of blue wool for the pants. I LOVED that outfit! It was the first time that I made a bound buttonhole, and had worked with a good piece of wool. As I am writing, the thought just came to me, I think it was this outfit that made me fall in love with sewing. Maybe that's why I have dreamed of that outfit all these years. 

The pattern lost to time, I thought would only be a memory, but as fate would have it, I found it. You know how it goes with the internet, you click on 1 thing that leads you to another, and then in the end, you have no idea how you got from 1 place to another. I think that how it happened was that I saw a pattern on Instagram that someone had used. I typed the pattern number into the Etsy search engine. It came up, and then I clicked on something else that caught my attention, and then suddenly, I saw the pattern. That was it!!! That was it!!! The pattern that I have thought of for more years than I want to count.

Without hesitation, I hit, buy now, and it arrived yesterday. It's not a fabulous Vogue Designer pattern. I couldn't afford those at that time. It's really quite simple, but it brought me so much joy.



I loved the rounded yoke. As I said earlier, rather than do machine worked buttonholes, I took the leap and made my first bound buttonholes. I'm sure that they were atrocious, but I was proud. 

  
The rounded yoke is repeated in the back. The elastic casing only runs across the back. The tie is stitched to about the middle of the bodice on the front. 



I haven't been as excited about a garment as I am now in I don't know when. Crazy, I know. 

I have a special piece of wool that I have had for quite some time. A plaid. It will be perfect!

Sometimes memories are best left were they are, in the past. And then sometimes, we get to have them visit us once again, bringing with them all the happiness, and joy that they gave us so long ago.



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16 comments:

  1. YEAH! for finding the pattern. I know exactly what you are talking about. Some of those old patterns bring back such memories--I keep the good ones and try to forget the bad. :)

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  2. Thank you Rhonda for such an inspiring post! have a Wonderful Day!

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  3. This pattern is gorgeous! How awesome that you were able to find it again!

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  4. Thank you for sharing. What a wonderful memory

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  5. Enjoy! I have had the same feeling!

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  6. I know exactly what you went through trying to find a long lost pattern whose number you don't know! I searched for decades for a Vogue pattern from 1968/69 that my sister and I made for my senior prom. It was a Jackie Kennedy couture knock-off Vogue pattern that I finally found on eBay. It is still the most beautiful dress I've ever seen or worn. Thanks to Vogue and their incredible instructions, a 16 and 17 year old were able to produce an amazingly beautiful, classic dress.

    Thanks for sharing your experience and letting me relive mine.

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  7. That is such a cute pattern! Such fun finding it again. Hope the new version brings as many good memories.

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  8. Rhonda,

    I love it when things like this happen!

    Welcome back in time!

    *hugs*
    Kelley~

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  9. Oh, this will be fun! Great pattern and love the rounded yoke as well. Can't wait to see your interpretation.

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  10. There's one sewing pattern I would buy in a heartbeat, too, if I found it. Can't even remember what company published it, but it was a jacket w/ rounded lapels and the bust shaping gathered into a right-angled seam....not describing it well, but I'd know it if I saw it. I think it had a halter top and pants, maybe a skirt, with it as well. I scroll through vintage sites from time to time because...you never know...

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  11. What a beautiful story , Rhonda! xx

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  12. Yes, I remember it’s a Vogue pattern for a dress. I had the nicest blue polyester and this dress was fantastic. I made it about 5-6 times in knits and changed everything except the basic shape. I had v neck, oval neck, sleeveless and short sleeves. Loved it.

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  13. This was such a great post & reminded me of some of my own memories. Reading your post me elites flooded back of making matching dresses for my younger sisters when I was about a freshman in HS .

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  14. WOW ... I hear the humbleness in your story. I appreciate you sharing it. I too have a pattern in mind that was made for me in high school. I can see it but I don't remember if it was McCall's or Butterick. However; reading your story. I know that I am not far behind ... FIESTA :)

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  15. I enjoy the patterns of most decades, although I thought the 90's less inspired than the 60's and 70's, and to some extent the 80's. The 70's had an understated, casual elegance that I adore. I recently found one pattern from the 70's that I loved, and am still looking for a couple from the 60's.

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  16. so wonderfully said. I just love reading your stories!!

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