Mrs. Hughes

Retro Inspired Sewing

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Gatsby Summer Afternoon 2017

09/15/2017

How’s tricks? Well, my favorite event of the year came and went and now I have a chance to share it with you!  We’ve been attending the Gatsby Summer Afternoon in Oakland, CA for several years now, and even with the heat, I think this was my favorite year so far.  The Gatsby is an […]

Filed Under: Costume Events

The 1920’s Mata Hari Dress

09/13/2017

How’s tricks? 1920’s.  I can’t quit you.  So here’s another 20’s ensemble. 🙂  This time, it’s the Decades of Style 1920’s Tier-riffic Ensemble. I used some gorgeous hemp silk from Organic Cotton Plus, that I was given in exchange for a review.  I had never sewn with hemp before and it sounded interesting and a […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

An Eyelet and Entredeux ESP Dress

09/1/2017

Hello friends! *Portions of this post originally appeared on the Cali Fabrics blog* I absolutely LOVE using heirloom techniques to add interesting details to everyday clothing. Yes, they take extra time, but they really add that extra little bit of casual couture that makes your clothing stand out. For this dress, I used my TNT […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments, Uncategorized

The 1950’s Robin Hood Dress

08/17/2017

Hi friends! I’m so happy to share this dress with you!  It’s a dress that I not only love immensely, but one that means an awful lot to me as the fabric is not only vintage, but it is a treasure that I recently unearthed.  A couple of months ago, I started going through some […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments, Vintage Patterns

A 1960’s Floral Dress [Simplicity 1059]

08/11/2017

Hi, friends! First, I want to thank all of you for your comments on my recent post about the terrible wildfire that burned our ranch.  It’s still incredibly sad to look out over the burned pastures, destroyed homes and areas resembling moonscapes in my county.  So many people were displaced and are rebuilding their lives, […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments

The Wildfire

08/3/2017

Hello, friends. I find it difficult to start sharing the many recent makes that I’ve yet to photograph before delving into a recent “natural” disaster that happened on our ranch.  If you follow me on Instagram, you may already be aware that we had a fire hit our pastures.  This was the most frightening event […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

My Thrifty Tips for Secondhand Sewing

07/7/2017

Hi friends! I hope you’re all well! I have several garments to share with you, but I’ve been busy getting ready for a trip to Southern California for Costume College and a vacation and I don’t have much time to take photos, so those dresses are waiting in the wings at the moment.  I also […]

Filed Under: My Sewing Room, Sew-cializing

A Rayon Chambray Lenox Shirtdress

06/19/2017

Howdy, friends! I sure hope you’re keeping cool (or warm) where ever you are.  It’s very hot (109 F) and humid (75%) as I write this here and I sure hope it gets better soon as it’s utterly miserable here.  We can take the heat and are used to it here in the Sierra foothills, […]

Filed Under: Sew Stylish

A Rainbow Seersucker Peasant Top [Scroop Henrietta Maria]

06/14/2017

Hello friends! Surprise! It’s not a dress! 😉 I don’t often wear pants — especially in the warmer months — but I wanted a loose-fitting top to wear with jeans.  Basically, I needed a blouse that looked good with skinny jeans and didn’t cling to me.  I had seen the Scroop Henrietta Maria pattern a […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments

Lobsters and a Flashy Monogram [Cashmerette Harrison]

06/8/2017

Hi there, friends! Have you ever been so excited about a fabric and recreating a vintage design and then just let it sit in your fabric stash for a year?  Well, I have… I had been yearning for a lobster print skirt or dress for a while and designed some fabric to make my own […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments

The 1920’s Egyptian Revival Gown

05/17/2017

Well hello there, friends! I am supremely proud to share this post with you.  It is by far the most time consuming and elaborate project that I’ve ever taken on (and that includes sewing my wedding dress!).  This post is going to be very photo heavy as I made everything you can see in these […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming

A Chambray Isabella Dress

05/12/2017

Hello friends! *Portions of this post originally appeared on the Cali Fabrics blog* I’ve been a fan of 1920’s fashion nearly my entire life, but it’s only been the last five or six years that I have really gotten into actually sewing and wearing styles from that era. All of my 20’s garments thus far […]

Filed Under: Retro Garments

My Dress Like Your Grandma Dress [McCall’s 5864]

05/10/2017

Well, hello there! I’m finally sharing my dress that I made for the Dress Like Your Grandma sewing challenge!  I intended to share this earlier, but I got so immersed in a huge project that took me much longer than I had imagined.  In fact, I was working on it up until the night before […]

Filed Under: Dress Like Your Grandma Sewing Challenge, Retro Garments

Dress Like Your Grandma WINNERS!

05/3/2017

Hello! It’s time for me to announce the winners of the Dress Like Your Grandma challenge.  As stated in this challenge’s description, this is a non-competitive sewing challenge and not a contest.  That means that there was no voting and no competition involved in choosing the prize winners.  Winners were chosen randomly by me, using a […]

Filed Under: Dress Like Your Grandma Sewing Challenge

Dress Like Your Grandma FINAL PROJECTS

05/1/2017

Hello there! What an amazing sewing challenge this has been!  I have loved seeing the cherished photographs and inspired makes from each and every participant in this challenge.  It’s been lovely getting to know all of these beautiful ladies and I’m so happy to share what they’ve made.  Thanks also to our generous sponsors!  I’ll […]

Filed Under: Dress Like Your Grandma Sewing Challenge

DEADLINE EXTENSION for the Dress Like Your Grandma Challenge

04/7/2017

Hi, everyone! Just a quick note to let you all know that I’ve talked with a few participants and I have decided to extend the deadline for the Dress Like Your Grandma Challenge to April 24, 2017.  That gives you an extra week and weekend to finish up your project and either pin it on […]

Filed Under: Dress Like Your Grandma Sewing Challenge

{review} Husqvarna Viking Jade 20

04/5/2017

Hi, friends! If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I got a new sewing machine a few months ago.  I had been looking at sewing machines for a couple of years as I figured out what my needs are vs. my wants and decided on a machine that would suit me and […]

Filed Under: Reviews

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My Favorites

  • The 1920’s Egyptian Revival Gown
  • The Embroidered Zig Zag Dress
  • The 1929 Pansy Dress
  • The 1930’s Silk Velvet Dress
  • Sailors are My Weakness [The Dorothy Lara Dress]
  • The California Poppy Blouse
  • The 1950’s Robin Hood Dress
  • The Broderie Anglaise Birthday Dress

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“Dress Like Your Grandma” Host

Behind the Scenes on Instagram @tanyamaile

Meet my new favorite dress! This is the @gertie18 Meet my new favorite dress! This is the @gertie18 Charm #cinchitdress in cotton linen from @lafinchfabrics . It is my third and favorite version thus far. I did several alterations to this pattern for both fit and preference. This is a size 22/24 in upper cup sizes. I'm not sure if it's because I am on the lower end of the bust sizes at a D, but I raised the bust darts and also raised the shirring line a few inches. I took a wedge out of the back for a swayback adjustment, raised the armholes as they're too low for me and lowered the neckline slit. This version has the banded collar. Other versions I've made have sleeves and no collar. I also lengthened the skirt and am wearing my lightweight petticoat with this. It's difficult to see, but this version has a triangular pocket from a similar vintage 1950's tent dress pattern, which I also used to add more width to the shoulders and create a bit of a sleeve, which I'll be extending out more for my 4th Cinch-It dress. I just had my second dose of the Pfizer vax, so if I feel okay, I'll be cutting out another dress. 😉

This is a great every day dress. It's so comfortable and quick to sew. Without a belt or shirring, it looks a bit like a muu muu, which really isn't a bad thing, but I like some waist definition. My first one I made out of rayon challis, and that's a bit too drapey IMO for this pattern and I prefer this cotton linen and version 2 in chambray, which I'll share when I finish with the appliques and pockets on that. I love this pattern so much that I was going to use one of my treasured vintage Hawaiian fabrics, but didn't have enough yardage to cut this pattern out as that 50's fabric is narrow.  Now that I have this pattern fitted exactly how I want it to, I may just sew 5 or 6. 😉

#charmpatterns #lafinchfabrics #polynesianAF #vintagesewing #plussizesewing #sewistsofinstagram  #sewistsofcolor #curvysewingcollective #sewing #1950ssewing
I made a dress and took photos of it! 💃💃 Thi I made a dress and took photos of it! 💃💃 This is a @gertie18 Charm Lamour Dress and Dorothy Bolero made of cotton linen from @lafinchfabrics. 

#lamourdress #dorothybolero #charmpatterns #1950sfashion #plussizevintage #vintagedressmaking #vintagesewing #lafinchfabrics #curvysewingcollective
My new hussif/housewife sewing wrap that I made in My new hussif/housewife sewing wrap that I made in @the_sewing_room_alameda 's class at the @gbacg virtual costume academy last weekend. I sewed it in class and added the binding today. I love how it uses remnants and that I had everything to make it in my sewing room. It was perfect for this little piece of vintage fabric (printed off grain). I'm planning to make another one to go in my 18th pockets and do some embroidery on it.
I feel incredibly grateful that I've had my first I feel incredibly grateful that I've had my first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. My husband (a teacher) has also had his first dose. It feels like being on the path to some sense of normalcy and being able to breathe again after a tumultuous year. I'm also looking forward to seeing my grandma and my aunt who is in a care home -- both of whom I haven't seen since before this pandemic began.

If you're curious, as I live in California and we are not doing great amongst the states with our vaccine administration (currently ranked 38) and my county has not reached my age group yet. On Monday, I became eligible in my state as high risk due to BMI (fat privilege!). I would have had to jump through hoops and wait to get a shot at the only vaccine option  my county has (I was on the list), and looked for other options. Our state vaccine website (MyTurn) gave me clinics in other counties which I am not eligible for as I'm not a resident or worker. VaccineFinder gave me locations at area pharmacies and I tried to get an appointment and they were all booked. Finally, a friend told me about Walgreens and I went on their website and made an appointment on Tuesday and had my first shot today. 🎉🎉
This lady head brooch by @lipstickandchrome really This lady head brooch by @lipstickandchrome really made my day. Thanks to @wanderingwhipstitch for telling me about it. 💖
It was pretty unbelievable when my husband and I f It was pretty unbelievable when my husband and I found these Pyrex orange butterprint Cinderella bowls at a thrift store the other day. The orange (along with pink) butterprint were promotional pyrex from the late 1950's/early 1960's and very hard to find. I never thought that I'd have some in my collection as I've never seen these for sale in person and there are so many pyrex collectors in my area. These are mint, but missing the 444 (largest size). At $75, these were not a thrift store price, but a steal considering the current going rate. Plus, I love them, which makes them valuable to me. I rearranged this hutch of my favorites so they could be displayed there. 😊

#pyrex #vintagepyrex #pyrexcollector #orangebutterprint #rarepyrex #pyrexcollection
Today, @mommarainbows and I had a Castle Cake-Off. Today, @mommarainbows and I had a Castle Cake-Off. Who wins? We both do. 🤣 I present to you my Count Chocula cake. 🧛‍♂️ It's a chocolate malt cake with malt fudge sauce, chocolate malt frosting, malt crumble and some somewhat charred marshmallows. I used the recipe from the Milk Bar. 

This is the fanciest bundt cake I've ever made as I usually just pour a glaze on with coconut, sprinkles or berries.
Just finished: A crewelwork pillow with California Just finished: A crewelwork pillow with California poppies and bachelor buttons. I made this from a vintage 1970's Bucilla crewel embroidery kit. This is the second Bucilla crewel kit that I've made and I just love using them. I was fortunate to find this one with my state's flower on it and it was a pretty quick embroidery project.

#bucilla #crewelembroidery #crewelwork #embroidery #handembroidery #1970sembroidery #1970sstyle #californiapoppy
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Copyright 2012-2021. Tanya Maile Hughes. All rights reserved. Please do not copy or reproduce any content from this site without approval and credit. Sewing graphics by katieshoestring and California poppy graphics by DigitalDesignsAndArt

Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.

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