13 Reasons to Get Out the Sewing Machine: New Children's Patterns at GoofingOff Sewing

Need a reason to get the sewing machine out? How about 13 reasons? 13 great children's sewing patterns at GoofingOff Sewing. Something for the little ones all the way to the Oh-so-cool teens. 

McCall's 8812 Infants' Lined Tops and Panties UNCUT

The criss-cross style and button shoulder straps makes this outfit so cute. One pattern with 8 looks.

Simplicity 7984 Boys and Girls Hats....12 styles...Partially cut COMPLETE

What's summer without a hat? Keep the sun off and look cute, too! Maybe make a few in the same color for the little guy's (or gal's) crew...great party idea. 

Butterick 4385 Girls Dresses in size 7-14 COMPLETE

Lovely enough for a summer wedding with a little jacket to keep the chill off the shoulders. 

Simplicity 8881 Junior Teen Dress, Pants, and Scarf. Size 7/8 bust 29 inch COMPLETE

Oh, so retro for the teen....cute dress with bell bottoms pants!

McCall's 3850 Boys' and Girls' Robes and Pajamas Size 7/8 COMPLETE

New jimmies or robe for gift-giving? Maybe a sleep shirt and shorts in some cute, funny fabric. 

McCall's 4164 Boys' Shirts Size 3-6 UNCUT 

So Joe Cool, especially in little guy sizes...Makes the look all that much cuter.

McCall's 4291 Boys' and Girls' Pajamas and Nightgowns Size 8  COMPLETE

More jimmies and nightgowns...Great gift idea.

McCall's 9051 Infants' Pinless Diaper, Diaper Cover, and Wrap Shirt UNCUT

These would be a wonderful shower gift. Use the appliqué or fussy cut a cute pic from fabric and make something unique and ecologically sound. One less diaper for the landfill...or a cute diaper cover for a trip out of the house. 

McCall's 8870 Toddlers' Costumes Cow, Flower, Clown, Witch, Dinosaur, Bear, and Bat in size  1-2-3 UNCUT

Now, you know I had to have a costume pattern in here...Of course I do. This one is for toddlers....I love tots in costumes...They are so cute! And they know it.

Stretch & Sew 970 Children's Jacket Size 8-14 UNCUT

Retro preppy look from the 1960's.

The Children's Corner "Libby" Girls' Jumper/Sundress Size 1-8 UNCUT

Adorable jumper pattern from The Children's Corner. Use contrasting fabric for the sash for a different look. 

McCall's 4963 Girls' Tops, Gown, Shorts, Pants, and Blanket Size 3-6 UNCUT

 Oh, something to use all that fleece....Blankets and jammies!

Indigo Junction Bear Essentials Girls' Jumpers with Bear Appliqué and Bear Backpack Size 2-8 UNCUT

OK, not just a cute jumper with a bear but a bear backpack, too. Sew cute!

OK, 13 reasons. I had 14 but it sold before I could publish this post. Sometimes that happens. Anyway, remember to use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get your 15% discount exclusive to blog readers. 

Sew On!

Post by Eileen......who is Goofing Off!

Mid Week Rummage: YSL Pantsuit for the City

I found an old issue of Life magazine with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward on the cover (Life, October 18, 1968). Unfortunately, some lovely young person wrote over most of the magazine...like on the cool ads. Beware when the kids are quiet....Anyway, I started looking through the mag anyway and came upon this:

"the chiffon see-through with the ostrich fluff around the hips (left) is St.Laurent's and the pants variation is by Galitzine. New York stores selling copies of the St. Laurent report that most buyers also choose the optional underpinnings. Galitzine usually sells hers with a bra to private customer."

Yves Saint Laurent showed his fall line and part of it was see through. I remember seeing something about it in the paper,  a see-through blouse, and didn't even want to approach my mom about that one. The heading was "See Through Break Through" and told about the launch of the transparent shirt and the topless bathing suit by Galitzine in 1964. While both had a lot of attention, nobody really bought into it, at least not in the US. In '68, YSL decided to try again. I still don't think it worked.....however, he did bring pantsuits to the city. 

Top photo: "Betty Saint (left) from his Paris salon, wears his wide-legged outfit and Faye Dunaway his jacketed black wool. Faye also bought a see-through dress---without the underpinnings.......Some restaurants are still in a quandary about whether or not to permit pants, but Miss Stutz for one says, 'I would rather change restaurants than change my clothes."

This was big.....real big. Before that it just wasn't acceptable to wear anything but a dress or skirt in the office or at school. It's hard to imagine when women in pants was not accepted. 

"At an unusual appearance at a New York fashion show, St.Laurent happily receives the applause of models who are all wearing his pantsuits.".....none in see-throughs...

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff

Cocktails, Anyone? Cocktail Dress Patterns at GoofingOff Sewing

What is it about a  cocktail dress that makes a woman feel sexy? Is it the silky fabric that clings in the right places....that turns a walk into an event to observe...the little extra wriggle in the walk?  That's the go to dress for date night or a friend's wedding. From the LBD to the Lady in Red they add something special to the night...

Here's a few dress patterns to make that special cocktail dress.

Vogue 1895 by Designers Tom and Linda Platt. Note the sweetheart neckline. 

Simplicity 8841 with fitted bodice and spaghetti straps from Jessica McClintock

Vogue 8149 Strapless with fitted bodice....

Butterick 5541 Draped dress with a sleek, sexy silhouette.

Butterick 3514 Sleek silhouette with a slit to show "just a little bit." 

McCall's 5770 from the early 1960's with fitted bodice and flared skirt. 

Advance 8728 from the 1950's. The trapeze dress, first designed by Yves  St. Laurent (who else?). Fitted at the shoulders, widening at the hips. Proper cocktail length somewhere around the knees.

Do I have one in my closet? Really? At least one, in black, close fitting to wear on special occasions....of course.

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff.
Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get a 15% discount from the GoofingOff Sewing shop...exclusive to blog readers. 

Patti Page's Magic Dress

Patti Page's Magic Dress Designed by Joseph Fretwell III early 1960's

One of the benefits of selling patterns is the things that come with them. People who sew are a little bit pack rat. They save newspaper clippings, magazine articles, swatches of fabric, and old patterns that struck their fancy. One woman called her mom a "Wanna-do." "She wanted to do lots of things but never had the time so she kept the stuff...just in case she found the time" she said. 

In one of the Wanna do's pattern boxes I found an magazine clipping from "This Week", a magazine that arrived on Sunday mornings with the newspaper. This clipping was about Patti Page's Magic Dress. Patti Page was a popular singing star (How Much is That Doggy in the Window) and had her own TV show on ABC in 1960-1962. The dress was designed by Joseph Fretwell III, her designer (he went on to do costume design for the Exorcist and the French Connection). The dress was described as "Anywhere---Anytime Dress. According to Joan Rattner, Mr. Fretwell "came up with the idea of the basic dress with added parts.......you'll welcome this interesting way to look different as well as pretty from morning to late evening with only one dress."

The Dress that has everything.

Part No. 1: The dress is a "slim, flattering sheath with a scooped neck and slim belt." One is advised to "make it in a firm fabric with contrasting textured trim. 

"Part No. 2: A luxuriously full overskirt, belted over the dress and open down the front. "

"Part No.3: A matching easy-fitting jacket finished off with a shaped band just short of the hip bone."

"Part No.4: A filmy trapeze worn over the dress for evening. Made very full, its light chiffon folds are belted in front."

The pattern cost $1.50 and was available through the magazine using the "coupon on page 14 .....that makes you eligible for entering a $1000 teen-age sewing contest. 

Anywhere---Anytime dress

Alas, the coupon is long gone and the dates were carefully cut from the clipping. Despite this, it is still a treasure to enjoy. 

Don't forget to use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get 15% off your purchase from GoofingOff Sewing

at Etsy. The code is exclusive to blog readers so feel special....because you are. 

Love always....Here's to sewing straight seams and irons that stay smooth.

Post by Eileen Patterson....who is GoofingOff.

Summer of '66: Five for Summer

While trying to organize (a forever project) I found this in a magazine from 1966. Cute sun hat, oh-so-elegant turban for those bad hair days, and sleeveless, casual dresses for summer. 

Enjoy!
Remember to use the coupon code BLOGGIN during check out to get 15% off your purchase from GoofingOff Sewing. 

New Listings at GoofingOff Sewing

Summer's here and it's hot outside....sometimes a little too hot to go out and play. What's the alternative? Sit on the couch and eat bon bons? Not likely. I like to create and sewing is one of my favorite pastimes. Here's a few new listings in the GoofingOff Sewing shop for summer fun. 

Vogue's Basic Dress Pattern 1774 Size 14, Bust 34 inches COMPLETE This honey is from the late 1960's. 

Vogue 8428 Misses' Jacket, skirt, and pants in size 8-10-12. UNCUT  So late 80's, early 90's. 

Butterick 5390 "Fast & Easy" in size Lrg-Xlg-XXL, bust 38-48 inches UNCUT Love, love, love the peasant top look. 

McCall's 4865 Misses' Pullover Tops and Poncho. COMPLETE All sizes. Cut to largest size. Includes embroidery transfer How cute is this?

Simplicity 7003 Misses' Shawls from 1975 UNCUT I love a shawl, especially in the summer. Maybe a prayer shawl in some inspirational fabric?

Simplicity 7852 Maternity Tops in size 12-14, Bust 34-36 inches COMPLETE it also includes a pattern for a baby bib How cute! 

Vogue's Basic Design  1198 Dress and Jacket Size 14, Bust 36 inches COMPLETE The basic dress and jacket from the 1970's. 

New Look 6272 Misses' Dress, Top, Slim Pants, and Kimono with belt in size 8-18, bust 30-40 inches UNCUT Love the dress....SALE Priced!

Post by Eileen Patterson.....who is GoofingOff!
Remember to use the coupon code BLOGGIN for the 15% discount...exclusive to blog readers.
Stay cool, use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and keep those seams straight!