bits and bobbins

groovy lamps at my doctor’s office, and an amazing 1970s print that lives on one of the walls at the greenwich library’s main branch. i want to steal it.

shown here sportin’ a denim jumper i whipped up friday/saturday, from some new denim and a vintage simplicity pattern (circa 70s). this pattern to be exact (simplicity 5021):

sometimes people ask me where i get my inspiration from…
my best answer?
musty old patterns like this one. i especially love those that hail from the 1970s and 80s. those two versions on the right of the above pattern are so killer; i’d wear the outfits shown in a heartbeat.

because i’m curious: does anyone know if there’s a site for reviewing old sewing patterns, kind of like patternreview.com but something that’s for older patterns/out of date patterns and the crazy people who like to sew them (aka, people like yours truly)?

my final take? this particular pattern would probably be more suitable for a gal with a mile long torso and minimal boobage (like the drawings, haha!) (aka not me!), but i like it anyway.

been obsessing over aprons/pinafores/jumpers/overalls lately, esp. in denims or colored denims. another permutation of my workwear love, rearing it’s head, surely. i’ve been scouring etsy and ebay for old, interesting apron/apron jumper/overalls patterns like mad over the past couple months. have been amassing quite a little collection of said patterns.

other pertinent info:

-black and white striped tee: ralph lauren. thrifted in chicago
-apron: see above
-black and white polka dot leggings: uniqlo
-black shorty cowboy boots: frye
-brass fulani earrings: beads of paradise in manhattan
-goldtone cloud ring: adelineaffre.com

catching up again…there’s a lot going on personally and with family and we’ve been pretty overwhelmed.

anyway…

seen here getting ready to go get brunch, and then groceries, etc, back on the 7th.

i just finished this sweater, it’s the “swing pullover/bell sleeve turtleneck sweater” from knit simple’s fall 2010 issue (ravelry link). i’ve been crazy obsessed with garter stitch for a while. and the color yellow. so i pretty much did this one exactly as shown on the cover/in the mag.

this was a ridiculously fun and easy knit, but their instructions for finishing the neck area (in my opinion) are incomplete in the pattern as written. wrote them. unsurprisingly, got no reply. finished it my own way. whatever.

i’m calling it my “ronald mc big bird sweater”. that said i love it so. might make it in say, gray someday. it’s crazy cozy and comfortable but does weigh half a squillion pounds.

other deets:

-yellow thermal long sleeve tee: old navy, thrifted
-vintage levi’s 501’s: etsy
-red resin ring: dinosaur designs
-striped bag: from a vendor at the BAM africa festival summer 2010.
-red patent ankle boots: nordstrom’s rack in chicago
-acid yellow hat: crocheted by moi
-red acrylic earrings: UO
-crocheted scrumble pin: made in a freeform crochet class linda p. and i took years ago.
-star pin: thrifted in SF

on miss p.:

-hat: handknit by her great aunt patty (thought i lost it when she was around 6-7 months, found it in an old purse yesterday and almost cried!)
-red plaid windbreaker: polarn o. pyret
-pleated jeans: baby gap
-moto boots: target