Barbeque Accessories-Free Father's Day: A Gift Guide

Father's Day is this Sunday (I realized, like a day ago), and so every commercial website has been offering a gift guide to help out with buying your dad something he really doesn't want. I was casually scrolling through Amazon's offerings, and honestly there was nothing I could even remotely think about buying for my dad. Coming from a line of weirdos, and having a reputation of terrible gift-giving to uphold (I once gave an industrial sized vat of ketchup as a gift), power tools, jogging vests and FitBits certainly are not going to cut it.  I mean, this was legitimately on the list:

no one truly rides for free

So, here's a father's day gift guide if you, like me, were begat by hill people who have more than one Lawrence Welk themed tin tray (that I have bought him).

via BigBangBooks

Midcentury educational texts on a variety of useless subjects, like Rock Collecting, television repair or raising badgers always rank high.

via ToysNWhatnot

 I was looking on Ebay for the actual Major Matt Mason  dolls action figures, only to find out they are worth a metric s-ton, so here's a novelization instead.

via Speedstarerik

Hell, even the box on this thing looks great. 

via SoftMachines

Don't have six grand to drop on a real Minimoog? These German pillows are second best! 

via mtva2184

Smokey Bear + milk glass mug = ultimate fire prevention

via VeeJaysVintage

It's a tray, it's from the 70s, it's advertising a broadcast station in a place I've never been to- the dream.

Even this goat knows you should see this movie, and he's a goat.

If you're not into Father's Day, celebrate Brian Wilson's birthday (the 20th) this weekend and see Love & Mercy if it's in your town. DO IT. IT IS SO GOOD. Anyone who knows me knows I don't see movies in the theater, but this one is so worth the assholes who brought their small child and let him dump his drink all over.  It's release happened to coincide with me starting to really get back into this band about six months ago, it was KISMET.

typical nonsense

I was intending to write a post between yesterday and today, but wound up falling asleep early and waking up feeling terrible. So, instead, I pop in briefly to leave you a photo of Stuart Sutcliffe rocking the midriff top/leather pants look.  I'm hoping to update soon this week.

Simplicity 2154: Yeah Mr. White! Yeah Science! Top

Seeing as this is Monday, I would typically have a series of Ted Chaough/ Pete Campbell gifs, but I'm still waiting for last night's episode to load.  Please enjoy this continuation of me remembering to post stuff I made a long time ago and am just now getting around to talking about, sans Mad Men gifs.

x

Simplicity 2154

 Pattern Description: 1960s Retro Petite blouse, skirt, jacket and knit cardigan

 Pattern Sizing: 16-24

 Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes  

Were the instructions easy to follow? very

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? very easy, went together pretty fast.  

Fabric Used: cotton chemistry novelty I got on sale from Fabric Depot. No idea what the pattern name was though.  I typically am not a fan of quilting fabric for apparel on me, but this was a soft enough fabric that it worked fine. Any stiffer and it would have made this uncomfortable.  

 EDIT: I just found the selvage and it's Melissa McCulloch Designs for In the Beginning. No print name though, gargh.

EDIT: CHROMATICS PASTEL LAB EQUIPMENT. JESUS that honestly took 15 minutes of searching to find.

 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I sewed the button to the back instead of making the loop. I was just lazy.  

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes! I really love that this pattern goes up to a 24. Sometimes 22 is a little tight across my middle if I sew with standard seam allowances. I would like to make the whole suit, as the top was so simple.

Pattern Review: Simplicity 3883 Poppy Shift

Here's another from my slew of pattern reviews I've been meaning to post for months now.

3833

 

Last year, I received two cuts of Marimekko fabric as a present. I was worried about messing it up, so I ended up sitting on it until the beginning of this year.  Since they're both such bold patterns, I really had no idea what to do with them. At about the same time, I stumbled on the Rosie Wednesday blog reviews on the Simplicity 1960s reprint of this shift dress.  I'd been wanting to make a 1960s shift for a while, but was concerned that it would not be flattering at all, but the reviews came back positive for this pattern, so I decided to go with it.

 

I originally intended to make the long sleeve A version, but wasn't so sure how the broadcloth would behave as a sleeve.  Next time, I'd use a better fabric than broadcloth- so basically any other fabric. 

3833 Misses' & Miss Petite 1960's Vintage Dresses

Pattern Description: 3833 Misses' & Miss Petite 1960's Vintage Dresses

I made View D

Pattern Sizing:14-22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very simple

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

Fabric Used: cotton broadcloth and Marimekko cotton print. I received the Marimekko fabric as a present, and wanted to use it without it being overwhelming (plus I had a small amount), so I paired it with black broadcloth from Joanns.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I left out the back darts.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I made this dress specifically because I found several plus sized and larger end of the scale bloggers had made it successfully. It is very flattering, which is not always the case with 1960s shift dresses. I would definitely sew it again. It's a great basic dress that could have a lot of details added to it.

Pattern Review: Simplicity 1325, Sari Jacket

I finally got my ass in gear and took photos of the things I've made in the last few months, but  despite the sunny day and high temperature (ew), my room was very dark. Garg!

1325

 

1325 Misses' Pants, Jumper or Tunic, Jacket & Top

Pattern Description: Misses' separates includes a knit crew neck top with long sleeves, a flared jumper dress or tunic with plunging v neck, pants and open front long sleeve jacket with ribbon detail.

I made the jacket.

Pattern Sizing: 14-22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Yes. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Pattern went together very easily. The shoulders came out a bit boxier than I would have liked, but does not detract from the finished look.

Fabric Used: A long "sari"-like skirt I found at a thrift store for a quarter! The sleeves are made from the skirt's lining, as I didn't have enough of the main fabric. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I left off the ribbon detailing and the back darts due to fabric restrictions.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would sew it again, with the correct amount of fabric and add in the back darts.  I plan on making the jumper at some point was well. Easy enough for beginners.

...-

At my size and level of broke-assed-ness, it can be really hard to find vintage pieces, especially anything prior to the 1980s.  Locally, the market is completely over-saturated with buyers for vintage items, so it's even more hard to find really good pieces that aren't out of my price and size limits. Shopping online is a good source, but even then, it can be hard to tell when it comes to size and condition.  One category that seems easier to find for me is accessories.  I think that those people who are interested in accessories are a smaller portion of vintage fans, more likely to be more invested in vintage clothing than those who are just into the look for the trend. I don't mean to come off as condescending at all (though I realize that's kind of how it sounds)- everyday people are just more likely to buy and wear a vintage dress than a hat, or jewelry. 

That's fine with me! Accessories are typically cheaper, can be worn with vintage or modern clothes, and most importantly, are typically not sized! Let's face it, with my completely rectangular Flintstone feet, I'm never going to find vintage shoes, but hats, jewelry, bags, scarves, ect, ect, ect are something that I always see in vintage/thrift/resells shops, and are usually priced very well. 

Anyway, what I'm taking a long time to say is that  one of the things I've been collecting for a while are pins.  I like that pins are a solid way to wear vintage without feeling like you have to be dressed head to toe to get away with it (hats can feel that way sometimes).  While I've gotten quite a few over the last couple years, something I've recently become interested in are war-era Sweetheart pins.  There's a really great couple of posts over on Emily's Vintage Visions talking about them (plus her great collection!). Several months ago, I found one in an antique store, but unfortunately when I tried to put it on, it broke! I was able to fix it with some of the ol E6000, but I'm to afraid to touch and mess with it. I mean, it is 70 year old plastic. I'm not surprised that it broke.

Even though it just sits on my shelf, I still really like this one. It combines the "V" for Victory motif, with the patriotic colors, and another pin-style favorite of mine, wire names! This one was for "Evie", though the font is sort of hard to read.

The second one I just got a few days ago off Ebay. It's silver(toned?), featuring a Air Force officer's hat along with the V motif. I love that it's also personalized, in a way, showing the rank and division of military the wearer's son/brother/husband/younger lover was associated with.  This one is in much better condition, and I can actually wear it. I'm afraid these are becoming my pokemon- I'm scrounging for others everywhere I go. Gotta catch 'em all!

Season of the Interrobang

First and foremost, I feel it necessary to bring attention to Ted Chaough's swinging bachelor mustache.

That being said, how in holy hell is it April already?

I've been extremely busy this past month, yet still haven't bothered to photograph any of the things I've been making. I really want to post about them and write up reviews, but I've been doing other things like accidentally ordering "large" beverages from the coffee stand near my doctor's office (and when I say large I mean like a gallon and a half), being woken up way before the crack of dawn by my hippie commune neighbors' chickens/roosters, and actually finding some good stuff at Goodwill(?!?!?!).  This Monday, I'm going to actually take pictures of stuff. Yes. Maybe.

Anyway, if you follow me on pinterest (which if you do, I'm sorry), you may have noticed that I'm actually spending a majority of my hours knee deep in midcentury party dress patterns that I'll never find in my size. I'm going to a friend's wedding later in the summer, which I've been told will be erring on fancy, dress-code-wise, so I'm slogging through the patterns that I have to see what I can rustle up. I think I've decided on one, but I'm not totally sold on it.  Of course, I've found a ton that I'd love to make on pinterest, but alas, until I learn to grade patterns, I'm pretty much up Pete Campbell Creek*.

Via BessieandMaive

Via Sydcam123

Via CynicalGirl

via MissBettysAttic

Via Vintagecollectables2000

*I just found out Pete Campbell has the same birthday as me?!?!?! He's a fictional character but?!?!?!!

Don Draper as me, in this exact reenactment of the moment wikipedia revealed this information to me