Inheriting Grandma’s Notions

Well, I have been languishing taking photos of myself in my latest self-made garments…. it just seems like I’ve been so busy since we returned from our trip to New Mexico.  I do not think I will take anymore client orders for a while.  I just have too many things I have (and want!) to do around here that I don’t want to alter or make anything for anyone for a while.

I have also been renovating my sewing space for what seems like ages…..I have a big area for my studio and half of it is being remodeled.  We got the tile for it last month, but I wanted to paint before I put the tile down and I am just being lazy about that….When I’m down there, I just prefer being on the other side (which is curtained off and separated) and sew!  I inherited a new serger a few weeks ago and have been learning to use that.  I am one of those people who prefers couture techniques when finishing seams and I’m a fan of French seams and seam binding.  But, my serger will be great for casual garments and home dec and lingerie, etc and I’m looking forward to that.  Right now, my serger sits on my cutting table.  I have a big sewing table where my sewing machine sits and I’ve noticed that most people put their sergers next to their sewing machines.  Although I have more than enough space for two machines, I don’t want the serger there…. so I ordered a new desk in which I will set my serger.  I plan to put it caddy corner to my sewing table, that way I can just swing my chair over and use it.  I think that is a perfect place for it.  That also means that I’m going to have to move some things and since I’m doing that, I also decided to finish the unfinished wall that is there and set up some new shelves.  I really wasn’t planning on doing this until I had completed the renovation on the other side….. oh well!  My goal though, is to finish this area by September!  My husband (who is a teacher) will be off for most of the summer after he finishes teaching summer school, so I will have some needed help.  I really would love to share photos of my fabulous sewing studio, but I didn’t want to share anything until it is completely done….. so….. I have a goal now and am going to stick to it!!!!

Anyway…… my grandma used to be an excellent home seamstrees and although she unfortunately donated her patterns and fabrics a loooonng time ago, she did not get rid of her notions nor her Pfaff (which is now mine!).  My grandmother also taught me how to sew, along with my mother and my 4H and high school home economics teachers.  She had told me that I could have all of her sewing stuff a while back, but I haven’t taken it all yet.  I was wondering if she had some lingerie elastic though, and decided to take all of the notions with me.  Or…. most of them….

Most of these notions are from the 50’s/60’s

Shoe boxes full of notions

There are all of these wonderful metal zippers!  Unfortunately, they are mostly short ones and wouldn’t work well for my back zips, but will be useful for skirts and such.

a plethore of vintage zips

And a bunch of lingerie parts!  I wondered if my grandma had ever made any lingerie or if she just had these on hand to fix things.  There are a lot of bra clips so that your bra doesn’t show.  I see a lot of women these days who could really use some of those…… My grandma was a very classy lady back in the day as she was an officer’s wife and spent most of her time socializing while traversing the world with my grandpa, who was a USAF colonel.  Unfortunately, my grandma now has dementia and my grandpa passed two years ago, so I can’t ask any questions.  I can, however, view her style in the many photos of her in beautiful suits, dresses and gowns.  I should share some on here someday. 🙂

vintage lingerie notions

I have been really into making belts for my dresses and am always on the hunt for buckles.  I was glad to find this!  Also, I think I now have more belting than I could ever use….. I bought a whole roll on clearance at Joann’s a few months ago for a couple of bucks, and now I have like 5 or 6 packages of it from my grandma!  And a covered buckle kit!  I am always looking for those, too!

vintage belting and buckles

I don’t think I’m ever going to have to buy any more hooks and eyes either…. or snaps!  I think I may enough (paired with what I already have) to last a lifetime!  You can never have too many covered button kits though….

vintage closures

There is also a box of bias tapes and rick racks, etc.  Unfortunately a lot of the bias tape that was left in it’s plastic packaging for 40+ years is unusable.  One of the first things I learned when curating antiquities in my former life as an anthro=archaeologist was to not store items (ESPECIALLY TEXTILES) in plastic.  Plastic decomposes the materials, especially if they are natural fibers.  I do, however, store my fabrics in plastic bins…. although they are not meant to be there very long and won’t disintegrate in that period of time.  Fabrics that I have that have been stored longer are in cardboard boxes, which is a much safer method.  It’s unfortunate that many of these old bias tapes, etc are not usuable, but it’s a good lesson on how textiles should be stored.

vintage bias tape and rick rack

And, as I was taking these photos, some new fabric arrived!

cotton lawn and cotton damask

The top one is floral dot print cotton lawn and the bottom one is a leaf print cotton damask.  I just LOVE these fabrics and cannot wait to make myself dresses out of them!!!! I haven’t decided yet which patterns to use, but I have four yards of each, so enough to make just about any dress in my pattern arsenal.  I have a few things to make first, which include Oakland A’s dog costumes for the Dog Day in the Park and outfits for my husband and I for the Art Deco Society of California’s Gatsby Summer Afternoon.  I am hoping to get my 1920’s dress for the Gatsby picnic done in time for Miss Crayola Creepys’ Gatsby Sewing Challenge, but although I have the fabrics, I do not have my pattern…. I had my heart set on using Vintage Vogue 2535 and was not able to find it under $35 until the other day when I was fortunate enough to snag it on ebay when one I had been watching was marked down to $16!  Yeah! So I’m hoping it gets here soon.  It should not be hard to make.  I also have a 1920’s sun hat pattern to make with it and have been waiting for the fabric samples so that I can perfectly match my hat to my dress and then make myself a matching clutch as well.  I can’t wait to get my outfit all put together and then start work on my husband’s 20’s outfit.  Unbeknownst to him I am going to make him into a dandy…. lol 🙂

I hope you all are as “sew busy” and having as much fun as I am. 🙂

Happy Sewing!