Creative Accomplishments

Another pair of clovers

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:44:00 +0000

I made myself another pair of Clover pants from Colette Patterns.

It's the fourth pair I've made with this pattern and I just love it!

The NEW Maelle dress!

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:13:00 +0000

So happy to show photos of the new Maelle dress Viola, named after my grandmother.

Viola, $490

It's an early 1960s inspired dress with scooped neckline, knee-length pleated skirt and 3/4 sleeves.

Contact maelle@maelledesign.com to order

Recently I have been knitting

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Two of my latest finished vintage knitting projects!

Original. Free pattern found here!

And a striped cardigan

Original. Free pattern here!

spring coat inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:45:00 +0000

Intarsia knitting

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:52:00 +0000

I finished my 1949 riding sweater! It's warm and cozy and turned out just the way I wanted.

So... I've been knitting for over 10 years but I've always been terrified of colour work knitting. I love the look of a fair isle sweater and remember all the beautiful sweaters my grandma knitted for me as a kid (a long fuchsia Minni Mouse sweater was a favourite). Well, don't they say that you should conquer your fears? I found a simple pattern at Lion Brand (click here for the free pattern) and used a puppy pattern from Sasha Kagan's Classic Collection.

Puppies!

Messy back.

Christmas sweater

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Oh, and I made a cardigan for Christmas! In red mohair Debbie Bliss yarn using this pattern from Garnstudio.

I'm gonna knit like it's 1949

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:51:00 +0000

I've been getting back to knitting lately (mainly because monthly "stitch n' bitch" meetings with fellow Swedish knitters here in Toronto) and found an amazing book, Vintage Knitwear for Modern Knitters, by Lise-Lotte Lystryp, where she has remade vintage knitting patterns to fit a more modern figure and style. I'm a real snob when it comes to knitting books and find most patterns way too crafty looking for my taste but this book has the most genuine vintage styles I've seen. Get it for Christmas!

I'm currently working on a riding sweater from 1949.

A month later! Another version of McCalls 7444.

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:46:00 +0000

I made a version of this pattern back in December last year but wanted to try the slimmer shift skirt version. I used a deep coral polyester blend (although it looks far more orange in the photos), covered buttons for both the front and the cuffs, and a vintage lace trimming for the hem.

Knit sweater. Super easy!

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:07:00 +0000

When it comes to sweaters, I have always preferred knitting. However, the last time I went fabric shopping I fond a really nice red wool knit fabric that I just couldn't turn down and I had the perfect pattern for it.

Vogue 7272, available in my Etsy store.

I by-passed using my serger and trimmed down the seam allowance once it was stitched together. The pattern calls for a long zipper in the back but I decided to skip that part too and just use an eye-and-hook to close. All together, it took about 3 hours and no knitting can competete with that!

Clover pants

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Where to begin. First of all, those Clover pants from Colette Patterns was love at first sight!

But then came the fitting issues... To conclude: I have a weirdly shaped butt. It's bigger, wider, higher, and longer than this pattern suggest it should be. On top of it, my waist is narrow and I have a sway back. Curves in other words. I blame that one on childbirth.

After 4 (!!) muslin and a lot of pins, and some frustration I just couldn't take it anymore. Thankfully, I live next door to a retired couturier (how lucky am I?!) and she, of course, pinpointed the issues I had in about 2 seconds. Crotch length! Crotch circumfence! I had been taking in and shortening things, while what I should have done was to take things out and make the crotch longer.

At the end of it, I have now a great, perfectly fitted, pants pattern that I'll be using until my butt grows bigger.

Surprise gift from a friend

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:54:00 +0000

This morning while at my day job, a friend popped by with a small bag stuffed with beautiful, never worn vintage silk stockings. They are soft, sheer and incredibly strong for being so thin. I have never been a garter belt kinda gal but I guess that will have to change!

Fall coat.

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:51:00 +0000

Yes, I made myself another coat. Apparently, the row of coats in my closet are not enough. This one in a black and brown wool, with a big round collar and welt pockets.

Simplicity 5103 from 1964.

My version.

I put one snap button on the inside of the collar to keep it in place.

Thick insulating lining for that cold downtown wind.

Yes! Welt pockets!

And it was all created on my new sewing machine, Ms. Babylock Grace.

Sorbetto + Madeleine = sleep set

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Sleeping in old t-shirts and thick socks might be the most comfortable thing I know but let's face it, not very... sexy, is it? And silk lingerie does nothing for me either. So in order to be able to slip out of bed in the morning and being both decent and cute, I made myself a sleep set using free downloads from Colette Patterns.

Sorbetto top and Madeleine mini bloomers.

I found such a nice floral cotton and paired it a light blue bias tape (for the top) and light blue ribbon (for the bottom). The Madeleine bloomers are suppose to sit quite low on the hip but I decided to raise the waist so that they sit just below the belly button.

Click to download the Sorbetto top and Madeleine bloomers patterns!

Poodles!

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:05:00 +0000

My dear friend Nina gave me a beautiful vintage fabric when we spent time together in Stockholm this summer telling me it had to be used for my son. So after considering a few different patterns I decided to make him a shirt!

Vintage buttons

I used Mccall's M6226 and although I used the smallest size (3 years) it is HUGE on my son. So I will look forward to the day when the shirt finally fits him. In the meantime, it will be hanging on a hook in his room.

Me Made Blouse

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I drafted a pattern for an easy-to-sew blouse, with a peter pan style collar and short sleeves. Below version is made in a vintage rayon fabric and red vintage buttons but the next one will be in a creamy white silk with a black collar.

I plan to wear the blouse with this red woollen pencil skirt I made last October.

Cape

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:09:00 +0000

While it's still +20 degrees outside I have finished my cape in a brown cashmere flannel. I added an isolating fusible facing for those extra chilly mornings and used a blue/bronze floral lining, as well as 3 vintage plastic buttons.

Lining used on the under collar.

Vintage button.

Lining.

Autumn is getting closer

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:34:00 +0000

I made a hat for my son!

And I'm currently working on a cape for fall in a dark brown cashmere wool.

Only buttonholes and buttons remains!

Summer's accomplishments

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:24:00 +0000

A crashed computer and HOURS of pattern grading has kept me from posting anything in weeks. Sorry! I've missed the blog...

Although I haven't spend much time in front of the sewing machine in the last few weeks I have managed to finish some projects.

Re-made blouse ($3 from Goodwill!)

Knitted bolero.

My version of below pattern.

Back to business

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:09:00 +0000

My vacation is over and I'm back to my busy life. I feel energized! I'm already starting to plan my fall/winter 2011 sewing list. But before I start drafting patterns and cutting fabric I thought I would share some vacation pics.

Roadtrip, Öland.

Wall mural, Kosta Boda Glass Mill.

Bruno Mathsson's 1960s town houses, Kosta.

Fresh shrimps, Gothenburg.

1950's school poster with knitting instructions.

Vintage wedding dresses, Stockholm.

Vintage dresses, Stockholm.

Dry cleaning sign, Stockholm.

The view from my sister's apartment, Stockholm.

Ferry at the docks, Kalmar.

Rain, Copenhagen.

Pastries, Copenhagen.

Live from Gothenburg

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:28:00 +0000

Ahhhh! I have been in total vacation mode for the last few weeks. Staying away from phones and computers and enjoying the quiet Swedish country side except for a few busy days in Copenhagen and Gothenburg (Stockholm awaits next week). Thought I'd share some pictures until I'm back in Toronto in 2 weeks.

My mom gave me a Swedish vintage knitting book for my birthday. The perfect gift!

Vintage sewing patterns

Vintage fabric finds in Gothenburg.

On vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:56:00 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. A hectic schedule got in the way and I'm now on vacation in Sweden for the next 3,5 weeks. But I still packed my pattern and sewing supplies! And I will definitely go treasure hunting while I'm here!

Hopefully I'll be able to update the blog with some pictures as well ;)

Recent fabric finds and other goodies

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:04:00 +0000

Me Made June 17: white Maelle dress

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Me Made: dress from my label Maelle in white polka dot cotton

Shoes: Lime green dupioni sling backs from Nine West

Necklace: vintage, gift from my parents.

Me Made June 14

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 01:12:00 +0000

Me Made: white cotton top with hand painted stripes. Blogged about here.

White jeans: gift from my mom, 5 years ago.

Sandals: Nine West

Me Made June 8: floral 1960's dress

noreply@blogger.com (My) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:34:00 +0000

I bumped in to my son's best friend on my way to work this morning. She was taking a morning stroll with her dad and he snapped this picture of us. How cute is she?!

Me Made: floral dress made from a 1960's pattern, blogged about here

Shoes: vintage, 1960s