Hats and polka dots

Working on a set of prints at Spoonflower, partly for a pal, partly to replace the polka dot dress I love.

As part of the Pattern Review Pattern Stash contest, I've been doinking around with Vogue 7464, hat B. AKA, Satan's Little Hat. The instructions stink. 

http://fortieswardrobe.blogspot.com/2011/08/illustrated-guide-for-making-vintage.html

That's where you want to go if you want to make this one. She figured it out, but I have to say the results are still marvelously underwhelming. I used crap felt and a scrap of loved cotton to work it out for myself.

And then I had to try it in cotton with a contrast just for grins.  It's four smallish pieces and about an hour or two once you've got proper instruction (see link above). And even though I never finished the buckram for the cap, it was a fun afternoon.

Noooo, I'm not wearing it. Or the other one. But I learned something, I have an idea for the hat I'm cooking up, and more experiments are coming.

Because this summer, I've got Ring tickets.

And raven fabric.

Pics later.

Pants to sew.

Votre Mode

I am running out of interest in stash busting or pattern following. I've got a Vionnet bug in my bonnet (always do this time of year)

The bodice is going up next. To hell with competitive sewing. I'm itchy for drapy.

At the beppa studio sale this weekend, some buttons, and a 1950's newsprint french fashion mag, Votre Mode. Ooooh! (lala to your taste)  What a treat!

I scanned only the center gatefold plus another page, but this is what summer sewing is going to look like for me.

Shirts shirts shirts! Well, dresses dresses dresses, but with shirt tops. Back sketches in blue next to their color illustrations.

Particularly this one. I'd skip the flappy pockets (tastelessly referred to in my family in the 70's as tit flaps) but I love the double L inset/piping. And a stand collar? Oooh!