#vintagegalsmake - A Crafting Challenge for you vintage loving gals!

I've already told you that I am excited to sew some things this spring/summer. Well, as if I didn't have enough piles of patterns to choose from, I found two vintage 1940's patterns and couldn't resist. I mean, really, how could you not leap on these like a chicken on a June bug? These are originals, not reprints, and I would have been super sad to never see these again.

And then I might have a gotten a tiny bit of fabric...  
I wrote that in a whisper, because it's really just shameful. If you remember when I was making my Dottie Angel dress HERE I said that if I was ever killed in a strange and unusual way, it would be from my attic caving in under the weight of hidden fabric and smothering me. What a way to go! ;) Honestly, I didn't get much. I took cloth that I already had and got some bits to coordinate with them. And then I got a teeny bit of others... Anyhoo! 

I intend to start this sewing thing gently. I want to take this gorgeous quilt square I found for a dollar and sew a "frame" for it so I can use it as a centerpiece on my kitchen table. Baby steps, people!

Suffice to say I have patterns; I have fabric; I have thread, rickrack, buttons, laces... All I lack is the will. I can't ever seem to make myself take that first terrifying cut. I have literally sat with a pattern and fabric in my lap for over an hour and admired it. But did it get pinned and cut? Hey- quit rushing me! 

Next I want to make a housedress for the farm, just to get back into the swing of sewing clothing. This is a pattern I have made several times before. It's just been years since the last time...

I had seen on Pinterest and some blog sites how there were often vintage sewing contests. There was often a theme, such as make a 50's dress, or crochet 40's pattern. But, of course, when I went looking for one to join, they were all from years past. I was sad, then belligerent. By golly, I thought, I will start my own. And that will surely galvanize me to commitment! But how exactly does one do such a thing? There were lots of hashtags (I have yet to understand what they do. I am so old that the symbol either means a number or a pound to me.) and lots of communal facebook boards, etc. No clue about any of that. 

This fabric is my choice for the topmost pattern. I just can't decide whether it should be gingham skirt and sleeves with a blue rose bodice, or the other way around...

So, here is my proposition, Dear Reader. We will start the first week of April and go through the 15th of June. I thought to open the contest on April the 1st, but I thought it was a bit much to pledge to start sewing on All Fool's Day:). We will being today, and continue to June 15th. At that time I would love to make a post showing all the things that we ladies have completed! I will also figure out the logistics of getting your photos as time goes on...

This may end up in the second 1940's pattern. I'd use the floral ditsy print for the main body, then either the red or the blue for cuffs and collar. The picture doesn't show a pocket, but I am dying to use the quilt star my Great-Granny made as a decoration. And of course rickrack and sweet buttons!

 If you would like to participate, leave a comment below stating what it is that you intend on making. It can be multiple things if you are feeling brave. I am open to all type of handicrafts, but they should have a vintage feel to them. This could be  sewing a piece of vintage style clothing, doing crosstitch (I'm looking at you StitchThrifty!), crochet, knitting, embroidery, quilting. Maybe this will help to galvanize you to actually begin, or perhaps finish, that project you have been dreaming of.

I have had this reproduction pattern for several years and never found the right fabric. I recently went to Hobby Lobby and Joann's and didn't see any that I liked. Then I went to a thrift store and found this fabric in a basket. Not only is it the perfect fabric and print for this 40's dress, but the amount of fabric is exactly how much I needed!!

 If you post pictures of your progress, or finished item, on social media, use the hashtag #vintagegalsmake. I am going to figure out how that works if it kills me (a great probability). This is not a contest to see who is best at any of these things. It is to create, encourage, and share. But I can't do this without having a prize! At the end of our time I will choose my favorite handmade item and send out a prize. So when you comment below, if your comment will show up as anonymous, please leave a name or nickname so I can recognize you as we go along.

This is another reproduction pattern I had for a while. But the fabric I've had for at least ten years ;) Then I saw a 1930's dress on Pinterest that was in almost this exact fabric- Eureka! And I just so happen to have vintage trim, and a buttons and buckle set from that time period. However, this will definitely be the last dress I sew. It is a slippery, hard to sew fabric, and a trickier pattern. But while we're dreaming...

So, what do you say, darlin', shall we encourage each other to be creative and make the things we are only dreaming of ? If you are game to follow along with me, comment below with your name and plans, and let's get to making!