Posts Tagged ‘Vintage’
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:44 am, by Admin
in Category Embroidery | Tags: Embellished,Karen,Nicol,Vintage
Images top and bottom from Embellished: New Vintage (A&C Black / Bloomsbury, London). Center image: Embroidered Necklace Dress by Karen Nicol for People Tree.
The recently-published look-book of Karen Nicol’s couture embroidery design and her inspirational sources is pure eye-candy for anyone who loves to embroider, or just gaze at embroidery. The variety, originality and sheer volume of Nicol’s work is jaw-dropping.
Embroidery for commercial fashion is (a) totally different entity to labour-intensive hobby embroidery. There is a crippling cost to an embellishment which demands many hours of work and it is all too easy to price a piece out of the market so designs have to take into account the timing, amount of work and quantity of stitches from the offset.
Speed is also paramount because there are often last-minute adrenalin-fueled ideas and short time-frames are endemic. It is not unusual to receive a piece on which the embroidery has to be designed and executed a matter of hours before a show.
- Karen Nicol
x – x – x
(Fashion) is not exactly an art, but needs an artist to exist.
- Yves Saint Laurent
Win a copy of Embellished: New Vintage (compliments of the publisher). For details, visit the Sublime Stitching Blog.
Embroidery as Art
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 3:13 pm, by Admin
in Category Sewing | Tags: dream...,machine,Singer,Vintage
Just had to share a couple of photos of the lovely Singer 99 I bought yesterday in a local charity store. She is in lovely condition, all decals intact, and more importantly has her original instruction book, tool kit and set of feet - hadn’t ever thought about using a ruffler, under braider, quilter or hemmer, let alone a tuckmarker or five-stitch pleater, but hey, I try to keep an open mind on these things.
I wasn’t sure of her exact date but the lovely folks at Singer have a serial number checker on their website, machine-serial-numbers link here. I was able to accurately date this little beauty to 1939.
Test run will be taking place here in the Fens this weekend. Happy retro sewing! brocobelle
STOP PRESS — STOP PRESS — STOP PRESS Have just lugged my little 99-er up onto my work table, threaded her & – hoping that she maybe had a bobbin already in there! – cranked the handle. She runs like a dream, a pleasing combination of purring and clicking as the handle turns. She manoeuvres really nicely on curves. Keen to try some free embroidery with her. Phew!
Sew Retro
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 11:59 pm, by Admin
in Category Sewing | Tags: 3461,4841,Simplicity,Vintage
Well I loved the first dress so much, that I decided to make it again.
This time in a seasonal Liberty tana lawn called Becky Jane. I love this dress – it’s just perfect for spring!
As with my first version of this dress, the bodice was made with Simplicity 3461 and the skirt from Simplicity 4841, both from the 1960s.
I love the the kimono sleeves and really love the shape of the skirt. The two pleats at the front add a little interest, but all the darts shape it nicely. I think next time I’ll shorten the bodice to the petite size as it does sit just a fraction below my waist. I also inserted the zipper on the side this time, just because the fabric is so lovely I didn’t want a nasty zipper to break up the design. Other than moving the zipper and shortening the hem, this dress is very true to the original design.
More sewing adventures can be found on my blog.
Happy sewing!
Sew Retro
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:16 am, by Admin
in Category Sewing | Tags: Hand,Salvage,sewing,Sweater,Using,Vintage
One of the things I’m always looking for at thrift stores is vintage and high quality cashmere sweaters. I know I can go to Macy’s after the first of the year and buy a new cashmere sweater for .99, but cashmere is one of those items that it is true that you get what you pay for. After touching Pringle, or most other Scottish cashmeres, you’ll never be content with Charter Club again.
As with many used items, you really have to be careful about condition when buying used cashmere. Some advice: 1) If it pills, don’t buy it. 2) Learn to mend small holes 3) Don’t be afraid to hand wash cashmere. I use conditioner shampoo.
I recently found a nice tan Pringle, button front with a collar. I knew I’d wear it a lot, but there were two issues – the elbows were getting thin, and there was a small hole. I learned a long time ago that holes are just part of owning cashmere, and that if I was to wear it, I’d have to learn to mend them. So I did.
The elbows were a larger problem. I decided to go with patches. I like the look of elbow patches. I can remember a time when all men’s sweaters had them, so maybe this preference is nostalgic in nature.
Here is where it is convenient to have a fabric stash. A stash is not hording. A stash is made up of fabrics and trims and buttons you love and can see yourself using. My stash is carefully edited! I had no problem finding a fabric I liked, a Pendleton plaid taken from a skirt made unusable by the presence of multiple moth holes.
I cut two identical ovals (being careful to avoid those pesky holes) and carefully pinned them to the elbows. I then used buttonhole twist to hand sew the patches to the sweater, using a blanket stitch. This is quite easy, the only problem being that it is easy to catch up both layers of the sleeve instead of just the one where the patch is applied.
Sew Retro
Posted on July 3, 2011 at 3:41 pm, by Admin
in Category Sewing | Tags: France,Paris,sewing,Vintage
This is a post from a Parisian 33 years old sewing lover who would like to share her addresses in Paris.
If you make a stop in our romantic city, you will probably be eager to know where you can buy fabric, zippers, patterns and much more for your retro creations.
The area is even more attractive because it’s located in the touristic district of “Montmartre”.
Do you remember the movie “Amélie Poulain”… yes, it’s just here…
Have a look to my blog to know where to go! http://ellepetille.over-blog.com
Sew Retro
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:08 am, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: Blog,Caboose,Knits,Modern,Tour,Vintage
Guess who got the lucky positiong of “bringing up the rear” for the Vintage Modern Knits blog tour? I am happy to be included in this group and to have the chance to review and share some of 
the lovely projects in this new book from Interweave Press.
No doubt you are familiar with The Fibre Company and the talented ladies of Kelbourne Woolens who distribute the yarn… they have created so many lovely (and popular!) patterns over the years. Courtney Kelly and Kate Gagnon Osborn, like many knitters, are inspired by traditional patterns. In this book, they have put a contemporary spin on so many classic styles and techniques like colorwork, lace, and cables.
All of the patterns feature the luxorious yarns of The Fibre Company’s line. (And let me tell you, these yarns are gorgeous. I have made several projects with them: I designed the Sherbrooke Cowl with Terra’s texture in mind, I knit the Felicity hat in Knightsbridge and I used Organik for a weaving project back in 2008, the Take Two Scarf)
Courtney and Kate both possess a keen eye for modern styling and fit. The book is filled with beautiful patterns that will be wonderful additions to every knitter’s wardrobe. It’s hard to choose a favorite – but because I like colorwork so much, my eyes go there first. I love the modern shape and color choices for the cover design, the Adelaide Yoked Pullover (links to Ravelry).
I love the Cowichan-inspired “woodland” feel of the Maple Bay Cardigan – complete with squirrels!
The Yvette Roositud beret is particularly beautiful, using the Estonian inlaid embroidery technique with multiple colors:
Another favorite – and a nod to Nordic motifs are the cute and comfy Telemark legwarmers:
With all the cardigans, pullovers, shawls, hats, and socks that this book has to offer – I must admit that the pattern that is calling my name – ney *screaming* my name! – is the lovely Madeleine shawl. That chunky lace with the picot just looks like a great transition-to-spring piece.
So… you want a copy?
You can see all the projects from this beautiful book over on Interweave’s website (in the Scribd preview). Before you go… drop me a comment for your chance to win your own copy of this book! Interweave sent an extra copy with this giveaway in mind! I would love to hear what projects you have planned – or just a simple hello! The giveaway is open until Saturday, February 26th. A winner will be chosen on Sunday and I will notify you!
::
And if you want to see where this blog tour has traveled, please see these other blogs and podcasts that were part of the Vintage Modern Knits tour! There are some great posts with additional photographs of the projects and interviews with designers Kate and Courtney!
2/5 Ready, Set, Knit podcast (WEBs) http://readysetknit.yarn.com/
2/7 Knitting Daily http://www.knittingdaily.com
2/8 Knit and Tonic http://www.knitandtonic.net/
2/9 Winged Knits http://cecilyam.wordpress.com/
2/10 Narrating Life http://mirandawalker.blogspot.com/
2/11 Knitbot http://knitbot.com/
2/14 Knitting School Drop Out http://www.knittingschooldropout.com/
2/15 Never Not Knitting podcast http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/
2/16 Knitgrrl http://www.knitgrrl.com/
2/17 Sunset Cat Designs http://www.sunsetcat.com/
2/18 Neoknits http://www.neoknits.com/blog/
2/21 Tenten Knits http://margauxelena.typepad.com/
Lolly Knitting Around
Posted on January 24, 2011 at 2:28 am, by Admin
in Category Crochet | Tags: Shawl,TRULY,Vintage
If you’re a fan of the vintage patterns I’ve featured over the months, you’ll enjoy this one that would be perfect in worsted weight for our cold winters or made in a lighter yarn for a nice Spring wrap. You’ll like this one! The free pattern for it can be found at the link below the picture.
http://blog.bramcostpublications.com/2011/01/11/ring-in-the-vintage-new-year-day-11-vintage-edwardian-pattern.aspx
Follow the links on the website to see their other vintage patterns – not all are crochet, but you’ll probably enjoy taking a look at all the oldies.
Crochet
