Vintage Tuesday: Singers suck
February 18, 2010
I have two sewing machines. Both singers. One is a 70s model that I bought, going down the whole “they don’t make them like they used to” theory. Sadly both of these machines have given up the ghost this week. arrrgggh. disaster. I feel naked. And if I’m honest a bit annoyed that my vintage theory has failed me. That 70s singer has always had tension issues. Can anyone suggest or recommend a new machine? I had a fantastic Bernina when I was a teenager, that thing never missed a stitch.
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In the meantime there’s to die for vintage goodness on Flickr in this gorgeous green machine named Ozma. oooh… those curves! Perhaps my problem was going 70s vintage rather than 50s?
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Thank you all so much for the baby best wishes, the hangover is almost over, I’ve only had fries once this week!
Vintage Tuesday: 80s Wit Knits
February 9, 2010
Oh the 80s is just such a gold mine for bad fashion isn’t it? Funnily enough crafting had started to lose some of it’s cool by the 80s so there isn’t a massive craft trend that I’ve spotted so far – apart from the bedazzler which I’d kill to get a book or some pics of!
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Wit Knits is an entire book of “lively and original designs” direct from 1985, a time when I was just 10 years old and sporting more flourescent jumpers and socks than I care to admit. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a couple wearing matching knitted jumpers (or vests), my memories of the 80s were more leather jackets and electro rock, falling asleep regularly to the sound of dad’s band practicing which made the whole house vibrate. Not a witty knitted number in sight I’m afraid!
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Got any 80s crafty memories to share?
Vintage Tuesday: Mad Menesque patterns
February 2, 2010
Last weeks post, Vintage Tuesday: Mad Men Fashion, was met with such enthusiasm that I did a little extra research into vintage patterns available online. Well I can tell you that the interweb is brimming with vintage sewing patterns. While big companies like Vogue and Butterick have stunning reproduction patterns (well hello Joan Holloway) I also came across a couple of great blogs (Stylista – thanks Bridget!, Sew Retro) that led me to a world of free vintage patterns. This is by no means a definitive list but here are a few that I found…
Well hello Joan Holloway: (Butterick retro B6582)
Dear Mrs Draper: Free 1950s Daydress pattern by the V&A
Ahhh… my favourite museum in the whole world. Found via the sensational “sew retro” a gold mine of vintage freebies.
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The essential headband: Free headband tutorial
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The Jet Set: Free Vintage style bathing suit pattern
Normally I’d call it a cossie, being a Sydney girl, but this really is a bathing suit. A little gem over at Burda.
Sunday Dinner: Free Vintage Petal Apron Pattern
Vintage Tuesday: Mad Men Fashion
January 27, 2010
I’ve just finished season 2 of Mad Men. While I could go on and on about how very little has changed in the ad industry since the 60s but this post is all about the fashion. Oh my – I wanna watch that whole season all over again just for the clothes. Is it just me or was there so much more effort put into appearances in the 60s? I’m the kinda girl who has to warn hairdressers that I will never be able to achieve the “styling” that their haircuts require. I don’t wear make-up often. This used be smiled upon as going natural… sadly now I think a little spack filler and concealer would go a long way!
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Anyway, I came across this 1961 Women’s Weekly Dressmaking special with Lucille Rivers. It struck me just how much attention to detail individual figures got and how amazing the tailoring was back then. Now we just tend to wear our “size” in whatever we pick up off the rack. Back then they used to adjust patterns – this booklet details how to adjust for a “flat derrier”, “large pelvic bones” and a “high abdomen” amongst every other alteration you can imagine. Incredible.
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There is but one giggle in this Vintage Tuesday – Lucille Rivers endorses “Bri-Nylon”…
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“BRI-NYLON…. easy washing… quick drying….
no ironing… plus, of course, the glamor of
Australia’s own top-quality Nylon”
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Oh the glamor! I can’t wait for season 3!
PS: Sorry I’m a day late… can we call it fashionably late?
Vintage Tuesday: The Moncho
January 19, 2010
I have dubbed this little gem The Moncho. Much like ManFlu (see ManFlu youtube video here) the poncho has a devastating effect on any male it comes into contact with. I found this little gem in an op-shop in Woodend, Country Victoria on the weekend. Oh how I wish this photo was in colour – I like to imagine that the yarn is a mustard yellow. The whole patten book is shot with these two guys playing pool and I can only imagine that they were told it would be a laugh – a few beers in a pub and a couple of photos. I have serious doubts that this man was warned he would have to don a poncho. What do you think was going through his mind as that shot was taken?
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Now I promise that not all Vintage Tuesdays will be from the seventies – I also found a fabulous fifties Womens Weekly dressmaking supplement that I might share next week. But truly that poncho was just too good to wait.
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Got a great vintage crafting pic to share? Email it to me and I’ll feature it - claire [!at] craftschmaft {dot} com
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Is it just me or is it hot in this vintage?
June 13, 2009
Another gem from my ridiculous vintage craft library. This one features a belted jacket with side vents which, of course, are absolutely essential during “hello sailor” moments. *sigh* perhaps I was simply born after my time.
Look at you and your poodle too!
June 5, 2009
I have always had a strange obsession with Vintage. For some reason I’m drawn to anything pre-1980… I’m like a moth to the flame of retro. On an op-shop trip this week I found myself looking at books and discovered an entire craft section. Yep, you read that right… there were vintage craft books and patterns from the sixties just begging to be taken home.
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I was pondering what my excuse to my husband would be for filling our tiny flat with yet more crafty pieces when it struck me… I’m going to start a vintage craft library. Someday I’m going to have a house big enough to have a creative space and to dedicate a wall to vintage craft books and patterns. It’s quite the lofty dream but I’m sticking to it.
So in light of this I’m going to start sharing my vintage finds on the blog. First one is a 1961 Villawood Autumn-Winter handknits pattern book. I LOVE the photography. I can’t knit to save myself but if anyone is interested in making the dress and matching poodle coat drop post a comment and I’ll send you the pattern.
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Oh.. and BTW… my library dream also includes me lounging in a garden while my husband freshens up my drink and my son plays like an angel in a toy car.
The renaissance of English jelly.
April 23, 2009
That is probably one of my more bizarre blog titles. There’s a company in London called Bompas and Parr who create bespoke Jelly moulds. They write that English Jelly is enjoying a renaissance across the country thanks to the slow food movement and molecular gastronomers (blimey say that 10 times fast!). Apparently the victorians used jelly as centrepieces – I’ve always used it as a vehicle for vodka myself but there you go. I love that all the old school things are staging a comeback. Spectacular imagery.
Found via Wee Birdy – an Aussie blogger in London.
Retro-fying my blog.
March 26, 2009
I’ve been having a play with new a new blog theme this afternoon – it was time for a change from my ultra-minimalist blog style. This one is a little bit retro and a lot clearer I think. Anyway we’ll see how it goes.
I’ve become obsessed with a 1960s font called Pastilli Roman – mostly used in magazines. It doesn’t exist in a digitised format so I’ve been looking for similar fonts… I’m not quite sure where my obsession with retro comes from but I’m drawn to it in graphic and interior design as well as crafting at the moment. Here’s the font and my favourite vintage stash…
A little vintage inspiration…
April 8, 2008
I’m loving the vintage crockery that seems to be all over the net at the moment. The folksy patterns and colours scream 70s and remind me of cake making afternoons and visiting my nan when I was little.
White elephant are having a massive vintage pyrex sale over at etsy (courtesy of print & pattern), Skinny laMinx has gorgeous new tea towel designs from vintage mugs and Rosehip are doing wonderful prints on notebooks and cards.
Hello. My name is Claire. I have a sock toy addiction. It began two years ago when I was pregnant and nesting. At first I dismissed it. I hadn't sewn in years. "Craft Schmaft" I said. Well it seems this crafty thing is here to stay. This blog brings you the delights of making sock softies, fabric finds and crafty inspiration from round the interweb.
