McCall 885: 1940 Quilted Comforter

I am so excited to say I finally finished my hand-quilted 1940 satin comforter! I started this comforter in early August and have been working on it in between projects since then. 

The 1940 pattern, which sometimes makes me wish I had gone with a dusty rose color like on the pattern. The pattern picture also looks puffier than mine, oh well. 

I definitely didn't want to ruin the original design so from the start I traced the pattern. I've never hand quilted something before and I actually even meant to machine quilt this too but found out quickly with so much fabric that is slippery it would be too hard. I originally safety pinned all the paper tracings onto the quilt and was going to quilt through them but that was horribly annoying so I ended up marking through the entire design with a removable pen. I still had safety pins all over to hold it together but used the pen tracing to quilt my design on. 

It matches my 1940 quilted back-rest pillow!

I do like it, but there's a lot of things I wish I could improve on. I started the quilt by making teeny tiny stitches which is partly why it was going so slow, I'd just get so bored. In December when I had to finish it quickly I started making larger stitches, partly to get done but also because I noticed on hand-quilted quilts I had looked at none of the stitches were as tiny as mine. They were all bigger. I took that as an okay to make my stitches bigger. With the larger stitches though I have to say I don't feel like the design is as distinct. If I were to ever quilt another large quilt by hand I would definitely want some kind of quilt stand (something like this maybe), even getting the largest embroidery hoop I could was annoying having to move it often and I think contributed to the fabric moving around. 

Because of the slippery fabric I do have some bumps in it but I guess at the same time, with this kind of fabric, it's a little harder to notice the bumpiness. Next time I quilt something I think I would try that sticky spray stuff to keep the layers together (I have no idea what it's called, but it's used for quilting!) 

I made piping for the edge to enclose it but at the end of the day I don't think it really mattered or stands out much. I did machine sew some of the closing edges. You can also see a bit of the wonkiness and not straight lines, oops! Also the larger stitches are noticeable compared to the center of the design. I may go back someday and machine stitch over the whole thing just to re-enforce it but I'm not sure it wouldn't mess it up somehow! 

I have it shown on a queen bed, but I actually made it for a full. So it fits on top but doesn't reach down the sides at all! I think I also made it even smaller than the pattern intends because it was hard to get fabric the correct size. I had to actually add some pieces onto the sides to get this to be the correct size. 

Part of me never wants to make another again but part of me wants to try again just to make a better one. I am interested to see how it would look in a cotton or a fabric not so slippery. I think the design would maybe stand out more without the shine. I would also try to use a thicker batting to get more puff in it like the pattern photo and like the 1940 satin comforter my friend owns. Maybe I'll try making a doll size one, that would be pretty quick and easy! 

Friday Updates #6

The last two weeks have been SO crazy with school midterms and papers and everything. I wasn't really able to get much done, hence no Friday updates. This week I finally started doing a little here and there so I have things to update on!

1.

I finally picked up the cap and started it, and even though it's all hand sewn once you actually sit down and start working on it it comes together pretty quickly. This isn't done yet, still edges to be sewn and a ruffle for the front! 

2.

The entire short gown and skirt are done!! Hopefully I'll get pictures up and a post about its construction this weekend! Not the most flattering gown though....

3.

and... as usual the never-ending quilted satin comforter. I think I'm in my third month on this one and there is still so much left on it! I admit though I'm not very concentrated on it, just doing little bits at a time! 

I know I've been planning a sheer 1860 dress for forever, and I actually have yards and yards of fabric for it, but lately I have just loved sewing 18th century! I literally can't stop, I'm already trying to think of the next 18th century dress I'll make. I started historical sewing with the 1860's but I actually think I enjoy sewing 18th century clothing so much more. Not to say that I won't go back to the 1860's or another time era but not till I'm out of this 1780 mood! 

Friday Update #4

1.

Obviously more work on the comforter, but a lot!! Although the blanket photographs badly, I'm getting really excited about it now that you can start to see the quilting in it. There's still soo much left though.... 

2.

I finished the matching petticoat to my jacket! I promise better pictures than the skirt just hanging are coming, probably tomorrow. I'm excited to try it all on together!

3.

That was all for sewing, but tonight and tomorrow I have a lot planned and hey, I made a Friday Update banner! 

Friday Updates #3

I spent most of the week working more on the quilt comforter but progress on that has been pretty slow too but I did find some great things for future sewing projects!

1.

I finished up the bum pad thing though I feel like it's a bit too big. I don't have a real petticoat over it it's a sheer skirt leftover from a picked apart dress but it gives a kind of 18th century look and I was able to color over it to see what the jacket would look like with a red skirt! Anyways I'm considering making a smaller one.... 

2.

The quilt doesn't look like much yet but hopefully it will look a lot better when it's done.

3.

I went antiquing today and got some cute cat days of the week transfers for towels, a magazine from February 1917, The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing, and ton of pinkish red Taffeta( for $10!!!, definitely my most exciting find). I'm pretty sure Im going to use the taffeta for an 18th century gown since there's so much of it!  

Friday Update #2

This week has been pretty uneventful sewing wise, but yesterday and today I've managed to work on a couple of things though I haven't finished anything. 

I finally started my 1780's padding/ butt thing/ Bum - Rump (I'm not sure what the real name is). I'm hoping that it will help the tails of my 18th century jacket stand out more. I need to get more stuffing and hopefully I'll finish this up tonight.

The stomacher for my jacket I should have done like two weeks ago. It's not done, it needs to be sewn to the lining but I'm saving that for when I babysit tonight. It's off center but I didn't want to use up too much of the fabric because I want enough for a petticoat. The more I look at it, the more it bugs me... oh well... 

I also started my 1940 quilted satin comforter! It took me a while this week to pick a fabric and copy the design onto paper and get it all set up but it's finally ready to be quilted! I've only hand- quilted two leaves though.. this project is going to be a long one. 

1940 Quilted Back Rest Pillow

I finished up my 1940 quilted back rest pillow tonight! 

It was my first time hand quilting so I think I did it mostly right, my stitches could have been smaller but I got tired and anxious to finish it towards the end of quilting. 

I drew the design on the white back fabric and layered two layers of batting in between. I loved the bow design but in the end it didn't turn out very prominent  I'm not sure if it's because of the way I quilted or it's just not meant to stand out that much. 

I made a pillow in the same shape from plain white cotton, I used leftover pillow stuffing I had laying around and it wasn't as stiff as I think it should be but I wanted to use it up. I definitely think though the stuffing is a huge part of this. In the picture where the outer blue covering is still being made, you can see how the pillow stuffing puffs out and doesn't give it the straight line it should be.

I always hate making my own piping especially in a slippery fabric like this, but afterwards I'm always glad I did. I did really like how it turned out though! I'm glad I used this blue fabric, I can't remember what it was, but it looks like those quilted satin 1940 bedspreads! 

Vogue 9868

I had not been planning on making my 1940 nightgown so soon, but the other day I was at Hancock fabrics looking for some lace and I found the prettiest softest fabric that I knew just had to be a nightgown! Wednesday morning I was still thinking about the fabric so I ran back over and picked some up!

My unfortunately torn pattern

When I was really little I had one of those My Twinn dolls and we had matching nightgowns. It was my absolutely favorite nightgown and I wore it till I physically couldn't fit in it anymore! They don't sell it anymore, but it looked like this -

I think it's where my idea of nightgowns must have little rose buds on them to make them perfect! So when I found this fabric I just couldn't say no. It's not the same texture but the roses are almost identical!  

The pattern only had 4 pieces to it, so it was super easy and fast to put together! I love the length and that it doesn't use up a ton of fabric, though it is on the bias. Cutting on the bias always makes me anxious because it leaves a bunch of scraps I can't use but it was definitely worth it for this!

I was also excited because it gave me a chance to use my new serger I got for christmas! It took a little bit to get the tension right and everything, but it makes it look so much nicer inside! 

I don't know the name for this type of trim- the cotton lace with ribbon that's run through it- but I just love it! It was on sale too, so now I have extra for something else!  I like that the ribbon could be changed out too, I may put a pink one through it to contrast the white. 

All in all, I'm very happy with how this turned out. I LOVE this fabric and love the pattern! I'm thinking I need to trace the pattern so I can have a sturdy version and am able to remake this again if I want too. Though, I can't picture it in any other fabric, did I say how much I really loved this fabric?! It was a quick sew, it took me just a night and that's with all my fiddling with the serger to get that to work right. With this nightgown pattern and Advance 4522 I'm set!

Seventeen 1946

A couple years ago, I found an old Seventeen magazine and ever since then when one comes up on eBay or somewhere else and it's not too expensive I snatch it up!  I love looking at them, they offer such a great insight into young fashions of the 40's and 50's and just about the teenage culture of the time. I thought I'd slowly start sharing photos of them on here, since you really can't find out much information about early seventeen magazines anywhere online except for their cover photos. It's too bad Seventeen doesn't post an archive of their old magazines from the 40's and 50's and even the 60's.

This is my newest Seventeen magazine, from April 1946! It's one of the earlier ones!

  

The Sleeves on this one!!!! So pretty!

I love the low cut back on this! 

Can Homemaking Really Be a Career?

This is one of my favorite things in this issue! Below it says "Homemaking is not just doing a series of dull things to make a living. It is living... filled with variety, exciting and challenging" by Margaret Mead

You'd never in your life see an article like this in the modern Seventeen magazine put out today! 

How Not To Get Another Prom Bid

And finally a funny article about what "not" to do on a prom date! From across top row to bottom row says:

- Display your talents long and loud, it makes your date ashamed and cowed

- Too many frills, small bows and lace will make Tom turn away his face

- Big books and words denote a brain all beaux will fear to date again

-A lipsticked shirt makes Jackie blush- The culprit will not get a rush

- Go in for gossip; smirk and chat, for no one likes a vicious cat!

- Eye all the stags; ignore your date (When he deserts you, call it Fate)

-If you would stay at home alone- Antagonize the chaperone!

- Wave both your arms and shout whoopee, then watch the startled stagline flee!

On a side note: I finally got around to updating the look of the blog a little! I made a new banner that actually fits! 

An Old Skirt made into a Sundress

 I bought this skirt a while back at an antique show and I absolutely loved the pattern and fabric of it but the waist was just a bit too small and made it uncomfortable to wear.

Since it's summer and it is a summery print, I thought i'd just cut it shorter and make a sundress out of it! I used one of my favorite sundress patterns Simplicity 2880. I've used this pattern three times before actually. 

Even with cutting the skirt there wasn't a ton of fabric to work with so I couldn't mess up at all.

The trickiest part of this pattern is the inverted v in the bodice. On my previous attempts at this it came out more rounded and even a little to the side.

This time I knew I had to get it right so I tried to search how to do an inverted V seam and the only thing that came up was this tutorial. It isn't the most detailed but it got the job done and I'd say my point on this dress came out much better!

Vintage Nightgowns

This winter I realized I needed a warmer nightgown and since I'm usually really picky about nightgowns, I wanted to sew my own from a vintage pattern. I spent days searching online for different patterns to find one I liked and I bought a couple.

I bought two nightgown patterns, Advance 8488 and Simplicity 2646.  I made the Advance one first in a soft blue flannel. The pattern was easy and went together very quickly! It was missing the sleeve band though, and I had to make one of my own and for whatever reason I still haven't been able to get the measurement right and so the sleeves are a bit snug. Other than that I really love this pattern and I quickly made another in red. I didn't have as much red flannel so I made it in the shorter length. 

Now that it's getting warmer I would love to make this pattern in a soft cotton. It's the perfect nightgown for me and I could make twenty of them! 

 

The simplicity pattern though didn't come out nearly as well. I didn't like the sleeves or just the fit in general. I actually still haven't fully finished it still. Im trudging through finishing up the sleeve bands, the neckline, and buttons. I will finish it soon, but I wont make this pattern again! When I finally finish it I'll get some pictures of that one!

I did buy one other pattern, which are pants and a top and I suppose I will get to it eventually but probably not till next winter.