Twin Baby Blessing Rompers

 It's been toooo long since my last post.  But with some encouragement, let me share my latest creations:  Blessing outfits for twin boys!

My most recent grandchildren are twin boys.  Beautiful little ones!  I offered to make their blessing outfits.  Their mother chose this pattern after seeing the many I had access to.  I was so glad-- such a cute pattern!  I should have taken a photo of the whole pattern.  But this is the view.

I wanted to make them out of seersucker fabric.  I had some blue and green -- the colors her boys were using to differentiate themselves from each other.  I needed to get more white because there was so much white in the pattern.  My closest JoAnn's didn't have any seersucker in stock but I found some vintage seersucker on Ebay and promptly ordered it.  

I decided to use a white poplin for the bodice lining, which I had on hand.  I cut out and began to put them together.  I used the colored seersucker for the accents on the collar and the suspender straps. I attached them first, then stitched the shoulder seams. Once I made the collars, I pinned them to the neckline and basted them on.  Then I attached the lining at the center back and around the collar.

I topstitched the accent pieces onto the sleeve and attached each sleeve to the armscyes.  This photo shows how they were pinned on with the lining moved out of the way.

Once the sleeves were put on, I was able to stitch the side seams and hem the sleeves.  I trimmed and graded the seam allowance, and whip-stitched the lining into the armscye.  The waistband in the pattern was actually like a separate belt, but I wanted it attached at the waist.  So I folded them in half and topstitched at the fold.  Then I basted them in at the bottom of the bodice matching the circle markings. 

I followed the directions to make the pleats in the pants part, but didn't like how they looked.  The instructions were to fold the tucks in place and baste them.  That looked sloppy.  So I stitched the pleats together like darts and then basted them.  It looked so much better.  I also gathered the pant legs and added the ankle cuffs.  It's turning out so nicely!

I pinned and stitched the pants to the bodice, excluding the lining.  They are looking good!

Now all they needed are the snap tapes at the crotch.  The outie side goes on the front and the innie side goes on the back.  And you stitch it on and wrap it to the other side and topstitch it into place.  With that done, the inside needs to be hand stitched to close up the lining.

Looked for good matching buttons-- found some at JoAnn's.  Here are the boys in their little blessing outfits!  

So happy I was able to have this part of this special day!

Let's be Sneaky!

 

Let’s be Sneaky!

The BYU Idaho apparel major teachers are making Sister Genet Orme a memory quilt for a retirement thank you gift.  All of her students, former students, alumni and colleagues are invited to add a square.  We hope she'll wrap herself in it when she is having a hard day.  We are also collecting thank you notes to bind in a book for her.

Color palette:  blues and yellows

Size:  Image size should be 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", so use a 7" x 7" square, or trim it to that size when it's complete.  That gives us a 1/4" seam allowance.  

Name:  Use the alphabet on our Berninas', any embroidery machine or hand stitch your full name onto the square.  You may also write more, but your name is a must.

Ideas:  Consider using fabric Sister Orme would recognize as fabric from something you made in her class.  If it’s not blue or yellow that’s okay. Or appliqué a miniature of something you made onto a blue or yellow square.  Or refer to an inside joke or other something that will make her smile.  Maybe make it fashion, sewing or pattern related.  Simple designs or elaborate-- all are welcome!

Due date:  June 1st, 2022

Submit to Sister Melanie Johnson.  If mailing use this address:  

Melanie Johnson— Home and Family  

525 South Center;  Clarke Building 223;  Rexburg, ID 83460–0665

Thank you notes:  We are also collecting thank you notes to bind into a book-- printer paper size 8 1/2"x11" paper portrait layout.  You can say more on paper than will fit on a quilt square.  These are due July 1st, 2022 also to Sister Johnson. You can email those to me to print out if you want: johnsonmel@byui.edu  

WE WILL PRESENT THE QUILT AND THANK YOU BOOK AT THE SPRING FASHION SHOW!

Please share this with everyone who may want to participate and NOT with Sister Orme.  Let's get the word out!  Here's the QR code for this post to share.  

(Quilt image courtesy of sew-what-quilts.com.)

Something Special-- Dolly's Adventures-- A Vintage Die-Cut book

This little cardboard die-cut out book from about 1894 is charming and delightful.  This copy was owned by Alice Bloss when she was just 2 years old.  She probably received it for her second birthday on February 20, 1898.  This book shows lots of love-- the back cover is missing and the binding is broken  A single thread holds it together, and it looks like a hand sewing patch up.  Clearly this book was loved by little Alice.  This is a wonderful example of a young child's book from 19th century America.

This front cover still sports vibrant colors.  I'll post the inner pages, although when the hand sewing was done, I think the pages got mixed up.  The story and illustrations don't match up right anymore.

This copy is missing the back cover.  

My Stylin' Aunt's Sweaters from the 1940's

Aside from the awesome dresses and suits my Auntie Jeanne wore, she also had some great sweaters.

This knit sweater had no labels, but felt like 100% cotton.  Note the covered buttons and small collar.  The contrast cable detail on the yoke is stitched to the outside of the pebble stitch throughout the sweater.  Three-quarter length sleeves and a short waist give it a trendy look.

This black beaded sweater features full length sleeves and extensive beadwork.  Check out the details below.  Small seed beads are stitched into elaborate florals in the upper center back, the upper front and the sleeves and lower edges.  Fully lined.

The black sweater has a twin-- or nearly one.  

This cream sweater features amazing beadwork like the black one.  It's beads contrast slightly, as they are white and tan on the cream ground.  Full length sleeves, fully lined.  Lovely.

The back neck detail is exquisite.

My Stylin' Great Aunt's Fashions

I was given some awesome old clothes recently.  They used to belong to my Grandpa's sister, and she was a stylin' lady.  They are tiny, although the labels show them as size 12 or 14.  Apparently they changed the sizes over the years, as these clothes are about a size 6 in today's sizes.

This navy floral dress features an A line skirt and stiff collar, and pockets!  Auntie Jeanne had a hankerchief safety pinned into the front as well, a bonus.  This is real 1940's style at it's best.

Size 14 California Cottons by Libson

The dropped waist is fitted to the hips in a curve front bodice, then full through A line skirt.  V-neckline with self-collar adorn the top.  

Sleeves have band with sharp points at button.

The Handkerchief is pinned to the dress inside the front bodice.

This wool tweed suit dress looked amazing considering it's age.  Made by Millikin of 100% wool, by Lilly of California, Inc.  Los Angeles.  Gold and black tweek looks distinctively brown from a distance.  

This tailored suit features a single button band with covered buttons, deep flap pockets and a wide collar.  The skirt is straight with a backed slit for modesty.  

This simple sweater dress features a shaped square neckline and a self belt.  Fully lined.  The belt was made by Vogue in Studio City, California.

These lovely 1940's styles were beautiful then and still look great today.  

Thanks to my daughter Stephanie for her willingness to model these fashions for me!

Vintage Post Cards from the 1900's-- lovely artwork

This charming painting features an artist pallette shape and dogs chasing a cat, who escapes in the thumbhole of the pallette.  Reads, 'A Close Call' and is postmarked 1908.

This portrait is copyrighted 1908 NY.  

This veiled buxom woman stares without shame at the viewer.  Printed in Germany, it is postmarked September 1909.  

Another plunging neckline and direct gaze follows the viewer in this portrait.  Red flowers seem superimposed on this painting as an afterthought.  B. B. London printed this, postmarked August 1908.  

'Sables' shows a woman heavily draped in the fur.  Printed by the National Art Company, it's postmarked 1908.

This photo inserted within the heart is labeled 'Mostwood series pub by E, B and L Co. Detroit.'  Being good makes one happy.

This heavily embossed moth is amazing.  Postmarked 1908.  

This Stork proclaims a new arrival.  'Only Just Arrived, Haven't seen much of Life Yet.'  This embossed card is postmarked 1910.  

Vintage Postcards showing Bouquets from the 1900's.

Not all bouquets are of flowers.  This bouquet of acorns is postmarked 1908.  B B London, printed in Saxony.

This humorous one is embossed.  

Best Wishes features poppies deeply embossed in the Postcard.  BB London, printed in Saxony.  1909.

This deeply embossed card is dated 1910.

Remember me, commands this bouquet of embossed flowers.  

This embossed yellow daisy arrangement is surrounded by silver metallic ground.  Heavily embossed, it's postmarked 1910.

Best Wishes features a single flower and embossing behind it.  Postmarked 1910.

Another heavily embossed postcard, hand colored in bright pink and yellow, and cool teal.  Made in Germany, postmarked 1908.

Love to all-- this embossed floral says it simply.  Made in Germany, published by TP and Co, NY.

Good luck is offered in this 'Best Wishes' postcard through the lucky four leaf clover in this floral arrangement.  Heavily embossed, no date.

'To My Cousin' covers the front of this ornate card.  Ivy embellish the letters, while garlands of roses drape below.  A small inset of a Dutch hamlet, complete with a windmill, fills the upper left corner.  The thick embossed card was printed in Germany.  

This spray of Lavendar accompanies a floral arrow, ready to bring 'Best Wishes' to the recipient.  Heavily embossed, postmarked December 1907.

A small spray of roses rest beside the portrait of a lady.  'Good Luck' reads the gold leaf writing in the corner.  

The bouquet of pansies is original; 'Greetings from Porkey Pa' is dimensionally written by hand.  This embossed postcard is postmarked August 1909.

This ivy wreath centers on this friendship postcard.  'Friendship like the ivy clings close, whatever fortune brings.'  

This embossed wreath seems entangled in iron railing.  

'May every Day be Bright, and the Morrow Brighter.' embossed postcard August 1909.  A small bird looks over a rose arrangement with a flower in it's beak.