The Gift of Make Believe

When I was a little girl, one of the best gifts I received for Hanukkah was a pair of high heels and a little purse. They weren't real high heels; they had elastic straps that would keep them on my feet as I tried to walk with them. With my little purse on my arm and my heels on I would sashay around the house like a grown woman (or so I thought). The money spent on the gift wasn't important, the gift of make believe was.
Costumes are so often left to Halloween yet a cape (Simplicity 0701 and Simplicity 0702) are easy to sew and fun to wear gift.

Simplicity 0701...Batman or a beauty queen...

Simplicity 0702. Little Red Riding Hood or a wizard...there's magic in a cape.

Simplicity 0700. A fancy dress and a little girl is a princess....an easy to sew vest and hood and someone becomes a knight.

Simplicity 0695. A little girl in a tutu is a ballerina twirling and dancing, the living room her stage.

Simplicity 0703

Ahoy, matey! Easy to sew shirts, vests, and pants and watch out, Pirates!

Sew Quick Holiday Gifts

The holidays are quickly approaching and the rush is on to create something meaningful for loved ones. Here's a few ideas that can help get the creative juices flowing.....fast.

Simplicity 1735 Misses' Cape and purse...Misses and Child's Hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves.
Yes, those oh-so-popular fingerless gloves. The pattern has the gloves in 3 sizes, even a size for the forever texting teen. Sew them in fleece or a soft knit. They'll work up quick.

McCall's 7311. Who doesn't love a Teddy? Don't like fake fur? No problem. How about a soft, luscious flannel or a minky knit? Maybe an old shirt  beautiful colors to honor someone who passed.  Precious memories.

Simplicity 2198 A cute animal pillow for a little one! My daughter had a favorite pillow when she was little. It was a big floor pillow that when she was tired I'd find her there, comfy and cozy.  No nap time fussing.

Vogue 9073...Little ornaments to sew and dress up a gift...or give as a gift. Maybe the little thing needed for a co-worker. 

McCall's 0012 Quick Picks...things to make and give. This pattern even includes a doggie bed and neckties. Sew up fast and give them out. 

McCall''s P389 Bunch of Bunnies...including an angel bunny and Santa bunny!

Post by Eileen Patterson....aka GoofingOff

Turning Heads...Strut Your Stuff

I'm sort of a mousy kind of person. I don't like to draw a lot of attention to myself, just sort of happy being an observer (long time self confidence problem). I love watching people who create an entrance, who are confident enough to pull off anything....or almost anything, with a dramatic flair. So....I went to a conference a while back and sometime through, in walks a woman wearing a dark red cape. She sort of stopped the show without saying a word and without the apologies I would have been making. So envious....not evil envious just wish I had the confidence to do that envious. She later told me it was the cape that did it. When she puts it on she becomes a bit taller, holds her head higher, and looks wonderful....and she did.
Sort of like when I was a clown...I could have fun and act silly with the makeup and the hair...I was another me. Well, sort of like that.

Butterick 3361 in Extra Large

Simplicity 3940 This pattern includes a caplet for Mom, a coat for the young miss, and a matching coat for the fur baby. Talk about turning heads!

Simplicity 9029 Ok, not a cape but dramatic just the same, especially with the detachable fur collar. Imagine going to a Christmas party or the ballet wrapped in this!

New Listings in GoofingOff: Capes, Cape Collars, and Flower Girls

Every have one of those nights where you just can’t sleep? Well, that was me last night. Tossing and turning without a bit of feeling tired, then it hit me. My friend came back from Costa Rica with the most wonderful coffee to share….and share we did, at 5 PM. Not a good time for me to drink coffee if I plan to fall asleep before 1 AM. The time change was enough to mess up my sleep habits (why do we change the clocks? Anyone?) but the caffeine keeps me charged for hours. So….after tossing and turning I surrendered to the coffee and listed patterns. Here they are:

Simplicity 9223 from 1994. One size. Talk about a dramatic entrance!

Simplicity 7128 from 1975 in size 6-8 bust 30.5-31.5 inches. So cute. It is designed for Stretch Knits. Love the cape collar. The evening length dress has a nice flow to it, elegant but comfy. Could show off some curves…..

New Look 6357 from the early 1990’s. Lots of ruffles and lace in sizes 4-10.

 

McCall’s 2528 Misses’ and Men’s Poncho. One size. From 1970.  OK, not a cape or a flower girl dress. I had to include this one, though. I love it! 

Well, at least I did something constructive with my time.

Use the coupon code BLOGGIN to get 15% off your purchase in the GoofingOff Etsy shop. I’ve added new fabrics to the shop so stop by.

Peace, Love, and Happy Stitching!

Ralph Lauren, Dramatic Capes, Fanciful Felines, Asian Styling, and Soft Trucks

New pattern listings in the GoofingOff Sewing Supplies shop.

Evening gown with halter neckline, Ralph Lauren designer

Add a touch of drama with these gorgeous capes.

Fanciful Cats, Pricilla and Percival, McCall’s 4531.

Soft trucks for the little ones.

Design your own Asian style outfit with Simplicity 9868.

I also listed some extra wide bias tape and hand-made pincushions. The pincushions were made by moi (didn’t know I could speak French, did ya?). I cut the bias tape, too. I like my bias tape a little wider than I can find in the stores. I figure there’s a few folks out there that feel the same.

 

 

Happy Stitching! Keep those seams straight!

Post by Miss Eileen aka GoofingOff

MissEileen vintage
Goofingoff Etsy Judaic fabrics, sewing patterns
GoofingOff Artfire Sewing patterns, plus size patterns
Metal Woods N Water unusual stuff and metal work

Medieval Dress and Cape, Tenderheart Bear, Barbie Wedding Dress Rockabilly Halter Dress Featured Patterns

Butterick 4377 Misses' Medieval Dress and Cape Size 6-12

 

Crochet PDF Pattern Barbie Doll Wedding Gown

Vintage Sewing Pattern Simplicity 4249 Misses' Halter Dress Size 16 Bust 34 Inches

Sale 30% Off Vintage Sewing Pattern Butterick 6227 Tenderheart Bear Care Bear Plushie

The Dressy Overcoat

I'd like to think this has happened to all of us but I know for certain it's happened to me. I spend lots of time making a special outfit, getting accessories that work just right, getting my hair in place, only to reach for a coat that doesn't go with the look. Forgot all about the coat. Talk about a flub up. I keep a coat for fancy occasions now but having something a bit dressy for kids is so much harder. Just when you think it is all put together you realize they no longer fit in their coat and the one they wear to and from school just don't get it. 

Here's a cute cape with capelet and hat that would go well with a dress, just right for those special occasions coming up around holiday time.

Butterick 3041, size 7-10. This pattern includes the cute hat or can be made with the hood. The cape pattern only has 4 pieces which means it would sew up fast.

Happy sewing and always take time for a little goofing off!
post by Eileen Patterson of GoofingOff,  MissEileen, and MetalWoodsnWater.