Harlow's jammies deliver Christmas in December or July . . . April 25, 2012 17:34

or even earlier. In fact, I ask, why not April? Who wants to wait until the last month of the year for these satiny beauties? I don't. It's probably a

little late to stitch these up for the Did You Make That? Pyjama Party. But you can recline on your sofa, dripping class and oozing sex appeal, long after the party's over. Absolutely.

And, yes — you were wondering, weren't you? — this magnificent pattern is available at The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. And we merrily ship abroad for less than the USPS postal fees.

I'm off to a Pyjama Party! April 24, 2012 02:04 1 Comment

My very first sew-along! I'm excited. I am. When I first read about this fabulous onine event sponsored by Karen of Did You Make That?, I thought, "Mmmmm, I can do that. I can. I can. I can." But I wanted a vintage pattern. So. I looked through my patterns, and I chose McCall 6310. I plan to wear these as lounging PJs. The short version. Something to replace my yoga pants for at-home gear. Much cuter than stretchy yoga pants, I think.

Today, I made the muslin. I used a rather skimpy fabric, so I won't be modeling the muslin. It seems to fit. I'll wait for my sewing teacher's approval before I cut the fashion fabric, though. And the instruction sheet seemed confusing, so I just stitched it up as I thought best. It worked. I think.

And, yep, this is for sale at The Blue Gardenia in a Bust 32 or 36, if you want to make your very own pair. I think these will be perfect for hot weather. I do.

If you want to learn more about this fun and easy sew-along, trip over and check out the details!

The book closet: Chandler's stylish, colorful descriptions April 18, 2012 01:29 1 Comment

As you doubtless recall, dear readers, I am besotted with the writing of Raymond Chandler. He knew how to turn a phrase. Asolutely. He described women — and their clothes — like nobody's business. His descriptions were nonpareil, IMHO.

Here's one I came across yesterday while rereading — yet again — The High Window, published in 1946:

A long-limbed languorous type of showgirl blond lay at her ease in one of the chairs, with her feet raised on a padded rest and a tall misted glass at her elbow, near a silver ice bucket and a Scotch bottle. She looked at us lazily as we came over the grass. From thirty feet away, she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away, she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away. Her mouth was too wide, her eyes were too blue, her makeup was too vivid, the thin arch of her eyebrows was almost too fantastic in its curve and spread, and the mascara was so thick on her eyelashes that they looked like miniature iron railings.

She wore white duck slacks, blue and white open-toed sandals over bare feet and crimson lake toenails, a white silk blouse and a necklace of green stones that that were not square cut emeralds. Her hair was as artificial as a night club lobby.

So. You get the picture. You do. So loud. So clear. What do you think?

Wanna know what I think? Of course you do. You do, right? Otherwise, I might have to reach for the Puffs. You don't want that. Do you?

I think this showgirl blond might have been wearing McCall 5319 — such marvelous slacks — copyright 1943. She might have topped them with McCall 5910, copyright 1944, View B. And for the shoes, may I suggest this terrific pair of shoes from Remix? (Santa, baby, remember these at Christmas. Please. I'll be a very good girl. I promise.)

And, of course, these ever-so-stylish vintage patterns can be yours. They can. Just click over to The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And we happily ship abroad — Global Priority or Global Express, your choice — for a fee, generally even less than the USPO charges us. Are we special? Well, yes. Yes, we are.)

Don't miss a chance to make your own VoNBBS satin sheath. April 17, 2012 01:38

The sheath dress is my favorite pattern from Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing. It merits my most beloved clothing adjectives: Sexy. Sleek. Sophisticated. And I am happy to say that we have another Vogue 7101 at The Blue Gardenia .

If you're a fan of Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing (and is there a living, breathing sewista who isn't?) you doubtless admired her version of this dress. Isn't she lovely? Isn't the sheath beautiful? Yes. And yes. Absolutely.

So. Don't tarry. Don't delay. Let those well-manicured fingers rush over to The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (We happily ship abroad, of course, although there is a fee, less than the postal service charges us. You may choose Global Priority or Global Express. We love them both. We do.) And we take American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Paypal and Visa.Anything to make you happy, dears. Anything. Almost.

I could get used to this: Another blog award. Yippee! April 12, 2012 00:56 3 Comments

I am one happy woman. Dee of Seams Sustainable nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. Isn't that peachy? I think so. Dee, I thank you. I do.

Of course, there are rules that accompany this honor. I must:

1. Display the Versatile Blogger logo. (Piece of cake!)

2. Say thank you to the blogger who presented me with this lovely award. (Of course! I had good home training.)

3. Link to the lovely Dee's site, since she selected moi for this nifty award. (Always good to know someone is reading my posts!)

4. Give the Versatile Blogger Award to fifteen other most excellent bloggers. (Cutting fifteen out of the herd is tough. There are so many wonderful and informative blogs.)

5. Share seven things about myself. Ugh. I'm not so fond of this one.

So. Drum roll, please. These are the blogs I've selected, in no particular order, as they say on DWTS:

K-Line

Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing

It's a Sewing Life

Narcoleptic in a Cupboard

The Long and Winding Bobbin

Frabjous Couture

As I Said

Struggle Sews a Straight Seam

Retired in Alaska

The Mahogany Stylist

I Wanna Frock and Roll All Night

Now, for the boring part. I've asked alter ego Jinx Marlowe to ask me questions to make this a bit less tedious for you. Probably a futile effort.

Jinx: Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Denise: I do. Watching The Young and The Restless and reading Emilie Loring novels.

Jinx: And your favorite movies are . . .

Double Indemnity, Chinatown and Out of the Past.

Jinx: When will you show your readers the dress you just finished?

Denise: When I conquer my laziness and put on makeup. You're not nagging, are you?

Jinx: Oh, please. Stop being hypersensitive. Favorite quote?

Denise: Mmmm . . . difficult. There are so many that I love. I'll share my favorite quote today. It's from Raymond Chandler, and it is about his wife, Cissy: "For thirty years, ten months and four days, she was the light of my life, my whole ambition. Anything else I did was just the fire to warm her hands at. That is all there is to say."

Jinx: Man crush?

Denise: Stephen Colbert.

His Bertness: (Oops, he's interrupted! Must have been the mention of Colbert. He's moved Jinx aside, and he's asking questions.) How can you be humble?

Denise: It's difficult. But I manage.

His Bertness: When you itch, is it better to scratch or delay gratification and hope for an improved situation?

Denise: Count to ten, then scratch.

Jinx: Bert, go to bed. I'm asking the questions. What are you working on now, Denise?

Denise: This isn't twenty questions. It's seven. Enough! My readers' eyelids are already drooping.

Again, Dee, I thank you. You're keen. You are. And, readers, check out these blogs. There will be tests!

Will you channel Jean? Lauren? Ava? A waitress in a donut shop? April 9, 2012 01:29 1 Comment

Exquisite patterns this week, my lovelies. So fabulous that His Bertness said he's tempted to cross-dress! So fabulous, in fact, that I am going to let them speak for themselves. Absolutely. (Some I've not come across before — and considering how long I've been a pattern fan, that says much.) A few of my favorites among the more than sixty patterns just added:

Butterick 7175 Negligees Bust 36 Complete Circa 1930s $130

Advance American Designer 8292 Dresses Designed by Lotte Bust 36 Complete; skirt trimmed, extensions present $45

And, yes, you can buy these beauties — and so many more — at The Blue Gardenia. To make it easier for our regulars, we place new additions at the beginning of each category. Anything to make spending money faster and smoother for you! We take Amex, Discover, Mastercard, Paypal and Visa. We gladly ship abroad. Do not — I repeat — do not let these beauties get away. Make me happy. Make my little canine pals happy. (They love their treats! They love lots of them! Really.) And make yourself happy, too. Do.

I'm blushing. I've lost my virginity. I got a blog award. April 6, 2012 01:05

Did I mention joy Thursday morning over my completed dress? I did. (Pictures to come. Later.)

And I feel it again. Now. Because sweet and fashionable Ellen of It's a Sewing Life nominated li'l ole me for a Liebster Award. I am so pleased. I am. Truly. The Liebster Award is bestowed to bloggers with fewer than 200 supporters (that would, alas, be me) to encourage and support us. Ellen, I thank you. I do!

There are rules, though:

1. I must thank the person who nominated me on my blog. (Done! And so very easy!)

2. Link to that fabulous writer's blog. (I did!)

3. Exhibit the badge on my blog. (Done.)

4. Nominate five other blogs for this lovely honor. (A cinch!)

5. Leave a comment on recipient blogs to let those lucky bloggers know they've got a Liebster. (Oh, sure. Time-consuming effort for my lazy self but worth the calories expended. Absolutely.)

So. After much consideration — there are so many terrific blogs out there with less than 200 followers — I nominate the following:

Do yourself a favor, beloved readers, and check these out. You won't regret it. Promise.

And, Ellen, again, I thank you. An enthusiastic clap of the hands to you.

Learning to sew: Waist stay. Check. Hem. Check. Joy. Check. April 5, 2012 05:21

My watercolor floral dress is finished! Need I say that I am so excited? Of course I needn't. Because you know that I am all aglow.

I used Tasia's excellent tutorial to insert my waist stay. Mine does not look as neat, alas.

But I am ever so pleased with my hem. I did it by hand. What do you think?

Several readers wanted to know where I got my fabric. Well. I am delighted to share that info: Richard Brooks in Dallas. A fabulous fabric store. I got this piece many years ago. (Don't make me count!)

Learning to sew: How a hand-picked side zipper should look! March 23, 2012 01:18 8 Comments

At least, in my ever-so-humble opinion. This was done by my former dressmaker in Houston. It's a Vogue Special Design from 1947, complete
with huge handmade shoulder pads. (I have lost about 20 pounds since this dress was made back in the '90s. Hence, the less than perfect fit.) This is also an excellent illustration of pattern pieces and the pattern illustration not quite matching. The drawing showed a pencil skirt; the pattern pieces were A-line. My dressmaker pointed this out to me before she cut the fabric, and I told her to go with the line drawing. I'm not sure that was the correct decision. But. I love the dress anyway.

Back to my original subject, the one I touted in the headline: Didn't she do a terrific job on the zipper? You can barely see her stitches. Look closely. One day . . . Of course, this is a side-lapped zipper. Mine is a centered one.

(And, yup, that's Atchison's rear end.)

Shameless plug: Free your inner Grace Kelly in a '57 McCall gown. March 22, 2012 11:58

I love patterns. I love patterns. I love patterns! I do. I do. I do. And to illustrate that affection, we've added nearly 60 vintage patterns to The Blue Gardenia. A few of my favorites:

McCall 3466: The spring gala. It's coming up and soon. She must have something new to wear. Something sassy. Something sexy. But something that is elegant. Something with Grace Kelly classicism and flair. She'll choose this one. Its removable panels make it quite special. And those same panels make it versatile. She'll make it up in peony. Satin. It will wow her. And even better, it will wow him. Perfection.

Vogue 8924: She's looking for something easy to make. A project that will boost her confidence in her sewing skills.And Vogue promises that this simple yet sophisicated number isn't just easy, it's very easy. Isn't that wonderful? It absolutely is. She'll use that teal linen she bought last month when she was longing for sunny weather. Oh, she is looking forward to making this one. She is!

Vogue Couturier Design 2497: Winter. Winter. Winter. Will it never skedaddle? The calendar says this one is history. The 20-degree temp says something else entirely. And what it says is "brrrr!" And how. To make these last frigid days bearable, she's stitching up this magnificent Galitzine-designed cape. She is taken with its asymmetry. Charmed by its sleek silhouette. In three words: She adores it. Indeed.

The details: Cape, Skirt and Blouse Designed by Galitzine Bust 36 Complete Circa 1970s $55

And, yup, you can buy each and every one of these lovelies — and more — at The Blue Gardenia. And to make it easier for our loyals, we place new additions at the beginning of each category. Anything to make spending money faster and smoother for you! We take Amex, Discover, Mastercard, Paypal and Visa. We gladly ship abroad. Do not — I repeat — do not let these beauties get away. Make me happy. Make my little canine pals happy. (They love their treats! And lots of them! Really.) And make yourself happy, too. Do.

Learning to sew: My hand-picked centered side zipper. March 20, 2012 15:04 8 Comments

And here it is, in all its puckered, flawed glory. I'm not really sure why it does that. Perhaps I stretched the fabric? Perhaps I pulled the thread too vigorously as I sewed?

Also, you'll notice the zipper gaps a bit in some places. And then there's the top of the zipper. Pass those Puffs, please. I worked hard on this zipper. Hours and hours. I won't cry. It is, after all, my first side zipper. At least it opens and shuts with no problems.

Should I rip it out? Or try to improve next time? Do, please, share any tips to make this — and my next side zipper — look more professional. I beg you.

Why let sleeping dogs lie? Because they are so cute. Absolutely. March 19, 2012 16:30 2 Comments

Oh. Oh. Oh. He's so full of cutitude! I adore my little Atchison. Yes, he does shed. A lot. Look closely: You'll see dog hair on His Bertness's slacks. You will. Won't even have to use your magnifying glass. Still. Atchison is worth it. So very. Yes indeed.

And, yes, I have been sewing. I have. Pics to come. Later.

You'll take home the trophy in this 1930s frock. Absolutely. March 7, 2012 00:40

Ahhhhhh, golf. You know nothing about it. Really. But. Nonetheless, you have a golf date this Sunday afternoon. You aren't worried, though. You'll look smashing on the court. Or is it course? Your idea of exercise is the treadmill, accompanied by a good book. However, you do know there are some sort of little club thingies.

You have the perfect dress. You whipped it up a couple of weeks ago, when you were oh-so-tired of winter. New York/Ladies Home Journal 1280. In butternut linen with a chocolate brown cape and covered buttons. You love this dress. Great for golf. For picnics. For church on Sunday mornings. The 1930s style is soooo elegant.

The details, if you please: New York/Ladies Home Journal 1280 Bust 29 or 35 Sleeveless Dress with Separate Cape Circa 1932-1935 Still in factory folds $53

And, yes, this lovely patterns is available at The Blue Gardenia, along with thousands of others. Thousands! The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. We also ship abroad — happily — but there is a fee, although we charge less than the postal service charges us.

Learning to sew: Last night, I cut my hair with pinking shears . . . March 6, 2012 08:16 4 Comments

Well, to be more specific, my bangs. They grow so fast.
Today I sewed. I finished my sleeves, in fact. Perfect? Oh my. No way. But. They are done. Perhaps I am being too easy on myself, too willing to wear rose-colored specs. But. I think they look OK. In fact, I think they look rather pretty. Better than many off-the-rack sleeves. Much. (I am such a fan of myself!) I somehow stretched some of the bias tape, so, alas, the joinings do not match exactly. Pass those Puffs, please.

You know, dear readers, I really like hand-sewing. The feel. The look. Any recommendations for good explanatory books about the types of stitches? Because I know so little about it. And I'd really like to learn.

Also, be peaches and share advice about my sleeves. What should I do to make my next sleeves look better?

Mission possible: Cinnamon stuns in an extraordinary LBS. March 5, 2012 00:46

Ahhhh. . . Cinnamon Carter. We should all be as cool. As capable. As smart. As beautiful. As fashionable.

Let your inner Cinnamon out. Now. Be bold. Because. No missions are impossible when you're wearing this sexy yet elegant sheath. And McCall's 6571 is a mirror image. It is. Exact.

And, of course, this red-carpet ready gown is available at The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. But you knew all that, didn't you? Of course you did. (And, yes, we do ship abroad. Absolutely. Enthusiastically. Shipping fees do apply.)

Learning to sew: Doh! March 3, 2012 11:52 4 Comments

There are moments in which I feel my mission in learning to sew is to make other fledglings feel better. This is one of those moments. My sewing teacher and I have both commented on the weird, curvy cut of the lower sleeves on this 1957 Simplicity pattern. We decided that perhaps it was a vintage element. Mmmmmm . . . you know I'm a skeptic. I am. And this issue niggled at my mind. Kept me from sleeping. (Not that this insomniac needs any help there.) I looked at the instruction sheet again, as had my instructor. Still. I could not rest. I pulled out the pattern pieces. There it was. Plain as helvetica. I should have trimmed the sleeve for my view. I'm not going to call myself a dolt. I'll let you do that. Just don't throw tomatoes. If you must throw something, make it lemon chess pie. Homemade, please.

So. I put the pattern pieces back on the sewn bodice as best I could. Then I trimmed. And measured. And trimmed again. It is close.

The question for you, dear and ever-so-knowledgeable sewists: May I sew the bias tape on the sleeves with the underarm seam closed? Originally, I sewed it on with the seam open and flat, as the instructiion sheet ordered. It might be a little more difficult this way. But. I think it will work. Am I deluding myself? Again? Do tell.

Sexy Pucci culottes. Stylish Lanvin cocktail dress and coat. Yes . . . March 2, 2012 00:58

this is a shameless plug. It is. But I know you want to know that The Blue Gardenia has just added a potpourri of patterns. (Annoying alliteration, indeed. But sometimes, I just cannot resist. And sometimes I simply refuse to resist.)

A few favorites, among the many:

Oh my. These are outstanding. So chic. So timeless. So comfy! How can you say no? Dont even think of it!

Want to practice the welt pocket techniques you learned in Gertie's latest Craftsy class? Vogue Special Design S-4689 offers that opportunity. And the collar is so dramatic. And bee-yoo-tee-ful.

Want to channel Bette Davis in a fabulous 1940s blouse? then look no further than McCall 3605. Love love love this one!

Of course, if Jean Shrimpton is your style icon, may I suggest this magnificent Lanvin-Castillo coat and cocktail frock? I see it with a French twist.

Doncha just love patterns? Doncha just love vintage style? I do. Aboslutely.

And, yes, these patterns are available at The Blue Gardenia, along with thousands of others. Thousands! The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. We also ship abroad — happily — but there is a fee, although we charge less than the postal service charges us.

This Simonetta design is simply irresistible. March 1, 2012 07:40

She wants a new dress for Emma's wedding next weekend. Something simple. Elegant. Versatile. Something she can wear again. And again.

It will be a simple affair. At the courthouse in Santa Fe. She'll witness the occasion. She saw the perfect pattern at The Blue Gardenia. Vogue Couturier Design 1697, circa 1960s, by Simonetta. It will be easy to make this weekend. It will be smart in cornflower blue wool crepe.

Can you resist it? Say no. And scurry over to The Blue Gardenia and make it your own.

Learning to sew: One hand-picked zipper for your perusal. February 17, 2012 10:25 9 Comments

Perhaps I shouldn't be, but I am proud of it. I am. Ever so. I did one hand-picked zipper about two decades ago. This is my second. I've done one on the machine. (Sort of. I got a lot of help from Marticia.) Is it perfect? Not even close.

I used Susan Khalje's tutorial from Threads. Most helpful.

I also stitched with vintage buttonhole twist. Pink may have looked prettier, but I liked the idea of old thread, obtained from a vintage pattern.
The inside is less than neat. Still. I don't think it looks so bad from the outside. What do you think?

She really has it all. February 12, 2012 17:57 1 Comment

Yeah. So. I'm besotted with Adele. Totally. Didn't she look amazing at the Grammys? Didn't she sound sublime? Loved the monastic lines of the Armani she wore.
Of course, there were other women there. Yeah, one or two. And though none have ensnared my musical heart like Adele, some of them stunned in the fashion department. Truly.

For instance, Katy Perry, whose music leaves me lukewarm, looked breathtaking in her Elie Saab and her blue coiffure.

Taraji P. Henson looked luscious in her Brian Rennie for Basler sparkling gown. Marvelous and unexpected color combo.

And Kelly Osbourne looked quite sophisticated and oh-so-grown up in her Tony Ward gown. Love the hair! Glam color. Sexy style.

I'm being so nice tonight. I am. (And it has nothing to do with the fact that I am eager to snuggle in bed with His Bertness and a good book. Absolutely not.)

So. What did y'all think? Any favorites?

The chic VNBBS sheath dress pattern can be yours. Want it? February 11, 2012 17:23 1 Comment

Today, such a lovely surprise came my way. It did. I found, while organizing my stash, Vogue 3385. This jaw-dropper could only have been better if this lovely sheath pattern had been in my size. Alas. My loss, your gain, etc.

Now. You know that this dress is one of the chosen patterns. One of those tony styles featured in Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing. Gertie blogged about it here. Doesn't she look gorgeous in it?

Channeling Catherine: Timeless face. Timeless coat. February 9, 2012 02:28 2 Comments

Mesmerizing beauty: Undeniable.

Creamy double-breasted coat: Timeless.

Pour La Victoire Bre Black flat, $190 at Endless.com: Elegant.

Vogue Paris Original 1675 Designed by Yves Saint Laurent, $57 at The Blue Gardenia: Time-saver.

What's your favorite way to mark your garment pieces? February 8, 2012 01:08 10 Comments

I had a hard time transferring the darts and dots from my pattern pieces to my colorful fashion fabric. I tried tailor's tacks. They came out. I guess I need practice on that particular technique.

Then I tried tracing paper. It didn't show up well. At all. (And it seems rather brutal to the fabric!)

Next, I tried a marking pencil. It didn't work very well either. Hard to apply. Not really visible.

What do you find works best?

And now for the rest of the story . . . February 6, 2012 01:47

You, dear readers and shoppers, were probably wondering why we didn't add any 1930s, 1940s, 1950s this time. Well, they are here now. Or rather, you'll find them on The Blue Gardenia website. You will.

A few of my favorites, in case you care. (And you do, don't you? Don't put my heart in the shredder. Please.)

Vogue 6937: Isn't this gorgeous? I think so. In fact, I love it. Absolutely. And the artwork, too. So 1930s.

Vogue 9830: I am gone over the two-tone version. Yes indeedy. And it's "Easy-to-Make," or so says Vogue. And I know they wouldn't lie. They wouldn't. Because. They want all of us newbie dressmakers to keep sewing.

Vogue Couturier Design 990: Talk about channeling Audrey. This elegant and beautiful dress does. Absolutely.

And, yes, there are oh-so-many more. You'll also find new in Lingerie and Accessories. So rush on over. We take all the majors — and Paypal as well. And of course we ship abroad. With pleasure.

The Blue Gardenia