Sculptural dress. Silk. Candy-apple red nails. Make them yours. January 23, 2011 12:37 66 Comments

Love this! I’m a singer living abroad, and sew both practical alterations, as well as garments from scratch. I love vintage-inspired patterns, and gowns are my favorite thing to create. I read your blog because I like being inspired by the patterns, spaces, and people you highlight.

Fab giveaway! I’m Debi from Edinburgh (or that’s where I’m living at the moment—I’m actually from the Pacific Northwest). I sew from vintage patterns over at: http://fashionsfromthepast.blogspot.com. I love your blog and I love the series you are doing as well as posting new patterns in your shop! YIPPPEEEE

This is an excellent giveaway! I am Jacki, originally from Texas but marooned in the Middle East (for now). Lately I have not been sewing but have been procrastinating sewing, and instead have been cutting things out and devising new patterns, as well as making aesthetic changes to my blog (always time consuming). I love vintage and wear it when I can, but mostly I just try to stay cool. Anyway, your blog has such a sassy voice and I just enjoy the coyness and humor. Plus, you have great patterns on offer.

I love the looks into everyone’s sewing spaces. So inspiring! Jealousy-inspiring, that is. I keep everything in a small closet and spread out on the dining table and living room to sew. I’m Amanda. I sew when the baby naps, and then try to hide all the tempting cords to pull when he is awake. What a great giveaway!

Well, this is a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for hosting! a) I like Sewing Spaces a lot (of course) and I like your writing “voice”; b) I am Abigail/A.J.A. and I keep a blog at Farmhousegarden.blogspot.com. I do wear vintage, but not in a glamorous way, although I aspire to that. I have a strange, eclectic style, but I am working on a more put together look. I do sew, constantly really. And when I’m not sewing, I am thinking about sewing.

I follow your RSS feed in my google reader account, if that counts for anything. I also follow you on twitter. I quite like your writing style, as well as vintage style in general, and thus enjoy the blog. Right now my wardrobe is largely thrift-store chic, though I hope to get a bit more vintage as time goes on and my budget lets up (thrift stores around here go back to the 80s and call it good enough).
I’m a crafter and microbiologist (though I do more of the former than the latter right now- job hunting is my job) with a great love of sewing. Through college I was a bit of a crafter-of-all trades, willing to try just about everything; now I’m reaching the point where I’d like to have a little less breadth and a little more depth, and sewing is one of the skills I hope to develop real expertise in.

Wow! What an amazing giveaway! Ok, well, where do I start? I’m Alli (Allison), a married mum of two little boys, and I live in Brisbane, Australia. I absolutely adore anything from the 1940s, as I always admired how beautiful my gran and non looked in their finest- the clothes, the hair, the makeup. I look at your blog everyday to get inspiration, tips, and to admire the beautiful patterns and clothes that you have. My husband has just bought me my very first sewing machine for Christmas, and I’m hoping to learn how to recreate the gorgeous outfits from the 40s era. I don’t currently dress in vintage, but that is my goal for this year. I’ve always been a jeans and converse kind of girl, but Im really excited about expressing (and showing) a new me. I find your blog really helpful on my journey to becoming a vintage gal. Thanks so much :)

Hi there! My favorite part of your blog is your writing! I love how you introduce patterns, and give a little story to them all. They are so much fun to read.
As for me….I’m someone who’s getting back into sewing after a long break. It’s a great hobby to have in the winter, when it’s toooooooo cold and snowy to go outside. Doesn’t sewing a beautiful dress make it seem sunny and cozy inside, even when there’s a blizzard outside?

I have a couple of vintage dresses in rotation (weather permitting) and am procrastinating the sewing of my army of dresses. I have the materials and patterns for several, but have yet to finish the first.
I very much enjoy your cheeky style of writing. My favourite posts are profiles of vintage dress patterns for specific applications (the rant about Church attire sticks in my memory).
Thanks for the give away!

Oh, please please, MEE!! That fabulous dress is even my size – obviously destiny.
I am a fairly new reader, but I love the fun way that you write. I love to sew and I love vintage style, so you combine two favorites of mine. I mostly sew currently with modern patterns, but I’m moving slowly into the vintage camp.

I’ve really enjoyed your recent ‘Sewing Spaces’ posts. It’s really interesting to hear more about some of my favourite bloggers.
I don’t sew vintage exclusively but I am a sucker for 50s ballgowns…

Alrighty, you know I love your blog! I love your writing style – very fun. Now this would be a great prize to win – I’m an Advance fan and this one is in my size!!!! Yes, oh yes, please enter me into the drawing. Thanks, Summerset

I love this blog for the vintage eye candy and the peak into other people’s sewing spaces.
I love vintage – I love to collect vintage patterns, stare at vintage patterns and sew with vintage patterns. Everyone should sew at least one pre-1970s pattern – the instructions themselves are worth their weight in gold!
Excellent giveaway BTW – you totally hooked me in with the fab pattern, fabric & book, but the polish was what put me over the top.

Love the sewing spaces series, love the giveaways, love the pattern spotlights. I sew mainly vintage-inspired clothing rather than actual vintage—I own exactly one genuine vintage pattern, and since it happens to be for pants I’m waiting to learn how to grade on something a little less challenging.

Great Giveaway!. I LOVE seeing all the vintage patterns you have, it’s my favorite thing on your blog. I like to sew, but its hard to find time with a toddler running so it is fun to imagine what I could do if there was more time in the day.

Eeek! I want in! Well, obvs, I love your blog and I love to look at the shop patterns – imagining which one I’ll buy first when I undertake a “true vintage” sewing experience. I think your interview series’ are fabulous. I love learning about how other home sewists do their craft.

I came to your blog when the Selfish Seamstress (who’s been too selfish to blog lately, BTW) mentioned that you were profiling her in your sewing spaces profiles. I hung around because I’ve really enjoyed that series & the rest of your blog. I used to sew eons ago & came back to it after being away for almost 20 years. I find that I’m doing more dreaming about sewing than the actual sewing itself though, thanks to work, life & a toddler. I like the vintage designs, but haven’t worked up the guts to try to sew one yet.

I love both Sew How and Sewing Spaces, Sew How in particular because I’m still a beginner and it’s good to realise that everyone was once a beginner. I sew, and I have recently stated blogging about it. I follow you on blogger.

I am a pretty new reader, but i sew, and i blog about it at farahmakesstuff.blogspot.com I have not sewed up a vintage pattern yet (I am scared!) but really want to…
I love your blog, love the interviews and love drooling over the beautiful vintage patterns.

What a fab giveaway!
a) I love the stories you write for the patterns and nosing into other people’s sewing rooms, it’s a great change to steal good ideas! So basically I like everything on this blog.
b) I wear and sew vintage, although I also do a lot of procrastination. I love to learn new sewing techniques and get very excited about nerdy information. I own too much fabric and too many patterns but can’t stop myself from buying more…I am addicted.
c) I follow on typepad and blogger!

Great stuff! I’d love to win! a)I really enjoy the features you do of other bloggers…particularly when we get to look into their sewing spaces. And all the vintage patterns, of course. b) I’m Sabrina…I sew (or try to) and while I don’t do vintage I hope to try it eventually. (Not because I don’t LOVE vintage styles…it’s more about intimidation right now). c) I’m a Twitter follower!

Me again, with my second entry. Thanks for all the fabulous give-aways. Yours are hands-down the best give-aways. I hope I’ll win one someday.

Oh! Oh! Me please! I love your blog and fantasize over the sewing spaces. I live in a wee loft, so I can’t have a permanent sewing space of my own yet, but I dream. I also dream of making fabulous vintage gowns. I’ll be entering again w/ my Typepad access. Thanks!

Well I like when you do giveaways like this on your blog – that’s a ridiculously georgeous pattern! I sew quite a bit and I’m trying to work more vintage pieces into my everyday wardrobe. I don’t follow you on typepad but I’ve got you in my google reader!

oooh fancy stuff!!! what a gorgeous pattern!
honestly, i don’t think there is much about this blog that i don’t love. my favorite part, though, is lurking everyone’s sewing spaces :)
who am i? hrm i’m not really sure how to answer that… i’m 25 and i hail from nashville. i sew and i buy expensive fabric and i trade sewing projects for amazing vintage duds (talk about a dream bartering situation!). i collect obsolete electronics (mostly computers, ooh computers) and i ride my bicycle a lot. i wear vintage slips out in public and idgaf if they are technically underwear, they are pretty and lacy and i am ok with it.

I particularly like the Sewing Spaces feature! I’ve started following several blogs that you brought to my attention that way.
I’m relatively new at sewing, and a new mom (5 months today!), which means I don’t have a lot of time to sew these days.
I’ve never sewn with vintage patterns, but I do love the look of those dresses, so it’s something I’d love to try.
And I follow you on Typepad.

What I love about this blog, the sewing spaces sneak peeks, Channeling Catherine, and Denise, I LOVE the way you write.
I am a wearer and a sewer of vintage with an obsession with fashion history and lingerie.

I love this blog as I love sewing, patterns and fashion!
I am Pavlina! I wear and sew vintage! I am pretty proflific, though I don’t blog much.
I have the blog’s rss feed, I use Google reader, feedly and Newsrob on my mobile device.
I would love to win this, but I am getting that book regardless!

I’ve been reading your blog (following your RSS feed on my GoogleReader) for about 6 months now, but I really enjoy your new “Sew How?” posts because I’ve only been sewing for about a year. I do enjoy vintage patterns, so this giveaway sounds like a great opportunity!

I love vintage styling and I love to sew and that’s what drew me here! I also do love your reviews of other people’s spaces, it’s so interesting to see.
I’m 23, rabid lover of things from the 1940s to the 1960s (with a love of the tackiness of the 70s, too). I do sew, though I haven’t been carving as much time out for it recently as I’d like to. I’m really interested in international politics, especially those relating to developing countries. I may be addicted to times gone by, but I also love all the technology of the modern age. I wish I could dress vintagely fantastically every day, but it can be a lot of work for someone as lazy as me!

I am Beth from San Francisco, and arrived at your blog from The Straight Grain, and will definitely be back!
I like the style of your blog, and your sense of humor. I enjoy the focus on some great vintage patterns. The sewing spaces is enlightening.
As for sewing, it is deeply ingrained in who I am, I started when I was around 8. Have always been the girl who sews. And I like it that way. so much that now I do it full time and am sneaking up on making a living this way.
I covet that book as well as all the other goodies in your giveaway.
As for making/wearing vintage, I used to say no, but this past year have been tempted by all the lovely pattern choices. And then I found a undiscovered gem at an estate sale which I recently blogged about.
http://sunnygalstudio.blogspot.com/2011/01/vintage-treasure-where-you-least-expect.html
So the allure of vintage is enticing me to make more.
thanks for doing this giveaway, great fun.

I love how accessible your blog is. Your blog is fun and educational. I love reading about everyone’s sewing spaces.
I love vintage, but can’t seem to afford much as a graduate student. I get my vintage fix from sewing thrifted vintage patterns with thrifted fabric (lots of old bedsheets and tablecloths).

I really enjoy your fantastic giveaways. Drooling, in fact, over the lovely fabric/pattern/goodies combos right now.
I teach my kids at home and generally manage things for my family. I adore the look of the late 40’s and early 50’s fashion and have accumulated a little vintage pattern collection. I’ve made a few things, but reeeally wish I could just sew sew sew all day long and have an entire closet of lovely things. For the time being, I spend most of my sewing time patching jeans’ knees and other menial mending chores.

I have enjoyed the view into the creative sewing spaces of others; it is always inspiring to see how other people approach their sewing. I enjoy it when you feature a new pattern; I would love to see more additions to your vintage pattern selection so I could shop more. I do enjoy sewing with vintage patterns as well as vintage-inspired contemporary patterns particularly if it is a coat or a suit jacket. While I have been a reader of your blog, I have not become a subscriber yet, but I will today! Thank you for the inspiration! Linda

a) I like the vintage feel of your blog. I am a beginning sewist and look for inspiration everywhere. b) I’m Hell’s Belle! I do wear vintage, but hardly ever dresses as I am quite tall and the waists always hit me right below my girls, so my goal in learning to sew is to (eventually) tailor my own garments. c) I am a follower of this blog using Typepad for Facebook (not sure if that counts)

Hi – I’m Beth, and I follow your blog via Google Reader. I’m a hobby seamstress and I love vintage wear, though I rarely get around to making anything from an honest-to-goodness vintage pattern. I like the blog, though the interviews are a smidge repetitive. I always like to see what other seamstresses make, though, so it’s always worth reading. The giveaways are always exciting too, of course.
Cheers!
Beth

Wow. What an amazing prize!
I follow your RSS via my Yahoo page, sadly, not Typepad.
I love the stories inspired by the patterns. And I love the sewing spaces, seeing how others do things. And I love that not all the sewistas you interview are not perfect size 10s!
I do sew, and I do wear vintage and vintage recreations- although some of my vintage recreations are Victorian and Edwardian, not just 40s and 50s. I also do a lot of embellishment- embroidery, beading, crazy quilting, art quilting so not all my sewing is garments.

I like fantasizing about the vintage patterns I see here. I also enjoy the sewing spaces.
I sew quite a bit, although not as much vintage as I would maybe like to. My goal/resolution for 2010 is to not buy any clothes, either make them or get by with what I already have (which is more than enough).

I love the vintage patterns in this blog. I’m Rachelle from Christchurch, New Zealand with 2 boys and 2 kittens. I knit, spin and sew and love vintage styles. I have a stash for all my hobbies.
I follow you on Google Reader

I love your blog! Especially the pictures of lovely vintage designs. I’m fairly new to sewing and I’m working on expanding my repertoire (and wardrobe) via my own reproductions. I would LOVE to make this Advance dress in blue and white for Easter. I already have the perfect hat to go with it.

One of the things I love about your blog is that you spotlight other brilliant bloggers and seamstress to share their experiences via interviews and by showing us their sewing spaces. And you write fantastically well.
My name is Suzy and I started sewing June last year after becoming frustrated I couldn’t find clothing I wanted for artistic photoshops (photography is my other hobby). I loved it from day one and now just want to sew, sew, sew. I’m not afraid to try a difficult project and don’t let my beginner status be in the way of attempting something advanced. Saying that I have not yet tackled a vintage pattern, though I have acquired a few. I have sewn vintage inspired though. And last, but not least, what a brilliant giveaway!

HI Denise,
I do follow your blog and love reading your sewing spaces blogs. I love to see what other people are doing. I have rediscovered sewing in the past 18months and have sewn a couple of great 50’s dresses, with plans to do more – I love the girly feel they have. Good luck with the blogging year ahead. I look forward to more great inspiration.

I’m Erin… I’m a near-30’s engineer who started sewing to have something to fill my free time. I started with purses and decided I should start making something more useful with my sewing. I just started sewing my first skirt this weekend.
I love your sewing spaces features of different bloggers and their likes/dislikes. Since I’m just getting started, I’m still trying to learn what everything means. I just discovered your blog, but it’s already added to my Google Reader!

a) I like the unique voice of your entries.
b) I am a college freshman. I wear some vintage—mostly just hand-me-downs from my mother and aunts—and I love to sew (well, when I get around to it). I have a few dozen vintage patterns and way too much fabric (though not much large amounts). I share a 31-year-old Singer with my mother.
c) I follow you on Google Reader, but because this is so DELICIOUS, I got a TypePad account. Just for you. I also follow you on Twitter now.
muchdeepmeaning(at)gmail(dot)com

I love ogling all of your vintage patterns. I also enjoy gathering ideas from how others organize their sewing spaces.
I am fairly new to sewing, and all of my projects to date have been from vintage patterns, with one exception. That project also became my one and only wadder!

I like everything about this blog! I sew, but I procrastinate. I wear vintage and new-made-from-vintage-patterns. I have two little girls and I stay home with them, which doesn’t leave me much time for sewing. I live in Northern California. I’m a homebody, but I’d love to go everywhere. I’m a Typepad and Twitter follower. :)

Hi, I’m Deb and I live in sunny (and currently very WET) Brisbane, Australia. a) I love your blog for the drool and noteworthy inspiring vintage patterns and the stories that go with them, they give me good inspriation.
b) I wear and sew anything and everything but I really love different collars, yokes and sleeve details and the odd ruffle – can be vintage, contemporary or way out there modern. I procrastinate more than I would like to, mainly driven by the fact that I have two small boys who do not like me to be behind a gate doing anything they can’t participate in and at two and three, that is not safe for them or me. I am obsessesed with all things sewing and am a member of the Australian Sewing Guild which I love, I learn so much from all the other ladies.
c) I am now following your blog and twitter :-)
Have my fingers crossed!

I’m always up for a giveaway. I’m Tia and I do sew a little. I’m a newby and a terrible procrastinator. My daughter and I collect vintage patterns and we spend a great deal of time drooling over your patterns. We really loved the featured sewing spaces.
I love vintage fashions and have since I was about 12 years old. That’s when I got my first pair of Cat eyeglasses which weren’t considered cool in the 80s but were always cool to me.

I’m Rebecca and I love the patterns you sell. I’m a fashion design student and would like to design vintage inspired clothing :)
The pattern is just my size! Please enter me in your contest.

your giveaways are always so amazing! I love reading your blog because it’s so amusing – you must have a vivid imagination to come up with your stories behind all your gorgeous patterns.
I wear vintage, I sew vintage as well as other styles, I certainly procastinate (I’m writing this at work instead of doing my job right now!) but sadly I don’t have time these days to twiddle my thumbs now I have a naughty two year old to keep an eye on…

Nice giveaway! I love to see the sewing spaces interviews. I do like vintage patterns and have a few in que to make before summer. Sewing is my favorite hobby, but i do some DIY projects too.

OOH! It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve been here but guess it’s my lucky day to stumble upon your giveaway! :)
The one reason I follow your blog was because of your sewing space articles. I love seeing what everyone does with their sewing rooms!
As to who I am…I’ve been living in good old MN since I immigrated here in the early 90’s with my family. Currently a student, part time brookstone worker, and trying to find the time to sew. I’m a HUGE fan of historical dramas. My favorite is North&South it totally beat Pride&Prejudice! After I saw this drama, John Thornton has become my new Mr. Darcy! Those smoldering eyes! Swoon I am also a huge historical romance reader which my family makes fun of me for sometimes because I come from a very traditional Asian family.

I just hit follow with my blogger account.

my favorites are when you spotlight a specific pattern and the sewing spaces.
I’m Tam and I only have one vintage reproduction and I do ware it every once in a while, but I love how classy and clean vintage looks so I’m trying to move my wardrobe in that direction. I’ve sewn for years now but only sirusly for the past 4 years, so I put together a blog so that I can share the fun.
I follow your blog via my rss software, and I found out about it from a post from gertie.
I would like to sew with a real vintage pattern rather than the re-issues that I have now so I would be a lot of fun if I won.

My favorite thing about this blog is that is has a definite Voice. Browsing through my reader, I immediately know which blog your entries belong to without looking at the titles.
As for me, I wear fake vintage which I sew myself, when I get around to it, which is rarely.
Alas, I follow you in my Google reader and don’t tweet, so I don’t get the fancy schmancy extra entries.

I am Kelly…That is a beautiful pattern.. Love it… I love collecting vintage patterns… and sewing. I have been sewing on and off since I was 11 or so.. I have quite a few vintage pieces I wear on a regular basis and vintage jewelry I wear every day.
Your series on sewing spaces was brilliant.. I really enjoyed reading it.. Thanks.

Well, I’m a 20 year old full time university student in Toronto, Canada… I’m learning to sew, and I am a professional procrastinator and thumb twiddler. I don’t pick my nose, although I do sometimes get random nose bleeds! The more you know.
I’d love to wear vintage, but vintage is trendy here so I can’t afford to so much. The solution is to eventually learn how to sew vintage, of course!
I love the sewing spaces feature, it’s neat to get an insight into how other people work and fuel their creativity.

i love your writing style, it’s so similar to how i sound in my head (but not how i sound outloud!) i am a newish sewer and i have discovered vintage in the past couple months. i’m in love with 40s fashions! that is a beautiful pattern, though there is no way i would ever fit into a 32 bust!

Wow, what a wonderful giveaway! I love your blog and read it quite often because I am a dreamer. Yes, a big, wide open eyed dreamer…I love how you introduce the vintage patterns and how you talk about them (i think that is my favourite part of your blog) makes me dream even more, of past times, of glamorous ladies, of gentelman and beautiful dresses. I am a beginner sewer (really a beginner) i only finished three garments so far and they are not pretty dresses, that is my next project…I wanted to learn because I dream that one day, I’ll be able to sew one of these beautiful dresses, yes I will, one day soon :) I am not dressing very vinatge right now but slowly I am adding pieces that reflect that era more and more…I love Ava Gardner and her style. I have a picture of her in a red gingham dress on my desktop, so lovely.
Thank you for the giveaway! (I also fallow you on twitter and typepad)

Incredible giveaway. You are just too darn generous, woman!
I love your blog, particularly the interviews with other sewists and the sneak peeks into their studios. Its great fun. I also love seeing the vintage patterns and outfits. So I guess I just like it all.
Who am I? I am La Sewist, aka, Bunny P. a lifelong driven sewist who is always looking for the next challenge. Denise was recently kind enough to showcase my sewing space. Thanks, Denise.
I sure could make great use of that black silk and the pattern is TDF! Thanks for your generous opportunity, Denise.

I love your writing – it amuses me no end.
I have sewn many vintage re-issues but am just attempting my first proper vintage pattern with the helpful group at the vintage sew along here
http://thegreatvintagesewalong.blogspot.com/
I love that you are giving away fabric with this pattern – I’d love to give it a go, it looks like my size!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Lore
x

Hi! I’m a student. My two favorite things are music and sewing, and I’m studying to be a music teacher. This is my first time here but I love the variety of posts, and I think you’re pretty funny. I just started following through Blogger!

I’m a librarian and crafter from the UK. I love to sew, knit and crochet, and dabble in various ither things. I don’t wear vintage, but aspire to create vintage inspired pieces. I love your series on sewing spaces, the vintage pattern highlights, and of course the great giveaways. Oh, and I’m a huge procrastinator when it comes to sewing. I don’t know why. Perfectionism maybe.

I’m a ballroom dancer. What could be more amazing than a dress made from that pattern on a big dance floor with lots of “In The Mood” music? Followed, of course, by the rest of the evening with the beau of my choice. Not that I would be able to make any of that lovely food, since I spend my creative time sewing. But I’d make up for that lack with the final course…me!

Is it too late to leave a comment?
I’ll try anyway!
I’m a make up artist from the UK. I did a fashion design degree but kinda abandoned my sewing for the allures of make up! I’m trying to get back to it now.
I love to wear vintage and sew vintage, and I really wish I had the time and patience to dress vintage everyday. That’s where this blog comes in! I like to browse the patterns and imagine what I might make. I’m also a massive fan of the ‘Sewing Spaces’ section, I found so many cool seeing blogs through that!
So, I would like to win the prize, I would. I really would. I’d fo that pattern proud!
Rebecca

So excited about this giveaway!
a) I love Sewing Spaces on this blog. My “sewing space” is my dining room table so I’m crazy jealous to see everyone’s space!
b) I’m 23, living in San Antonio, TX and trying to become decent at sewing. My mother is an incredible seamstress but ofcourse, when she tried to teach me to sew in junior high, I couldn’t have less interested! Now that I live far away I regret passing up that knowledge! I wear some vintage, especially slips to sleep in and I hoard vintage patterns but haven’t had the courage to sew one yet. Hopefully this will be my first!