Name That Notion!

Friends, this weekend at the Chelsea flea market I was delighted to stumble upon a big bag full of vintage notions and a trunk stuffed with vintage cotton fabric.  As you can guess, I couldn't resist.

First, the fabric:

I just love these old cotton prints and each piece is at least 5-6 yards long, if not more, at $4 apiece.  I plan to launder them later today.



These two are my absolute favorites:





The bag of notions I bought is primarily kits to make cloth-covered buttons and buckles.  I've never done that before and am excited to try.





But there were a few things I couldn't identify, and I knew I would have to draw on your collective expertise.  I thought it might be fun to turn this into a game/contest, so I've added a few additional "mystery" items just for fun.  Wanna play?

1)  You may have seen one of these before, or something very much like it.  This one was manufactured by Dritz.



Two questions:  a) How does it work, and b) Why is the first visible number at the bottom an "8"?

2. What is this black stuff called and what purpose does it serve?



3. What is this white thingamajig and what is it for?



4. These copper colored items are also stamped "Dritz."  What are they?  (I honestly don't know so if you're persuasive, you may be able to invent something and make the rest of us believe it.)



The winner shall receive...oh, I don't know...how about either a vintage Prims "Cover-your-own" buckle, or "Cover-your-own" buttons kit?  I'll announce the winner tomorrow and I'm willing to mail it anywhere.

Ready to play?  The first person who gets all four questions right is the winner.

On your mark, get set....NAME THAT NOTION!

Good luck, everybody!

"Vogue Patterns" Winner + SHOULD I HAVE BOUGHT THIS?

Readers, I am delighted to announce the winner of the Dec 2011/Jan 2012 issue of Vogue Patterns with my vintage sewing machine article in it. 

She's a motorcycle-riding fiber artist from the Lone Star State, please put you hands together for RatherBeSewing! 

RatherBeSewing, be sure to email me (peterlappinnyc at gmail dot com) with your mailing address and I'll get the magazine off to you ASAP.  Congratulations!

In other news, friends, occasionally while trolling the sewing machine listings on eBay, I come across something that strikes me as simultaneously desirable and repellent.  I saw this lamp listed earlier in the week and I couldn't decide whether it was really cool or ugly as all get out.  In the end, I decided to let it go.

But I just discovered that it's been relisted (no one bid the first time, do you believe it?).  Anyone who's interested has until November 16 to bid!

Friends, I must ask you -- what do you think of this lamp?   Is it a must-have for any sewing fanatic, or does it have "Daily Ditch" written all over it?

I can't decide.    Maybe with a slightly larger shade....?

It's called a "sewing machine replica," but as far as I can tell, that's a real sewing machine under there.  I mean, what kind of replica would have both a bobbin winder and a feed dog drop lever?

In closing, are you the type of person who buys sewing-related kitsch: pencil sharpeners, clocks, things like that?  At MPB, we don't judge, so fess up.

Happy Friday, everybody!

MBP CONTEST: Come write my blog!

Today, friends, for the first time ever, I'm handing over the proverbial car keys, or rather, the typewriter keys -- to you.  Yes, today, YOU get to write a post here at Male Pattern Boldness!  Exciting, no?

The rules:  Using the ten photographs posted below, please discuss my latest sewing-related adventure.  Be sure to incorporate the following words:
 
eBay, UPS, fragile, nightmare, incompetence

Optional words include bubble wrap, double-box, feedback, ulcer

That's it!  I'll announce a winner on Monday and there could be a valuable prize involved.  If you need some backstory, you'll find it here. 

Ready?  Here are the ten photos:





















Can you turn these images into a story?

How, in your opinion, does this story end?  Is there a moral to the story?

I can't wait to read your responses -- I could use some cheering up, for reasons you can well imagine.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

OK....On your mark, get set, GO.

Winners & Losers!

Friends, first things first -- the winner of the vintage Forties pattern giveaway...

She's a Sagittarius and a self-described "crazy lady with lots of kids and lots of hobbies," put you hands together for Denver, Colorado's own...

LUCHA LOVELY!

Lucha Lovely, please email me (peterlappinnyc at gmail dot com) as soon as you can with your address, and I'll send this lovely pattern off to you ASAP.  Congratulations!

And now, friends, the rest of today's blog post.  You're probably wondering what I've been working on the last few days.  A picture is worth a thousand words so why blather on?  I am in a sewing crisis, with a complete re-do on the horizon.



In other news...

I am supposed to pick up my Singer 201 today from Rain -- and wouldn't you know today it's pouring.  But I have rescheduled this pick-up so many times I simply can't delay it any longer without losing the best vintage-sewing-machine-repair friend a guy could ever have.  No, this time I simply must get into my rain gear and head over to Rain's secret location.  This time I'll bring my camera.

After yesterday's eyebrow-raising eyebrow post, a great many of you are no doubt wondering how I maintain my eyebrows.  Friends, I don't.  Not only do I not pluck my eyebrows, I rarely shave, don't wash behind my ears, and generally maintain a level of personal hygiene that most would consider troubling.  

I was born with good brows.





I think men with plucked eyebrows usually look dreadful.  Adam Lambert, maybe.  If you're not a glam rocker, proceed with caution.  (I'm not talking about weeding out a few grays, I'm talking hot wax.)

Moving right along.

Readers, I must ask: what is the most number of times you have ripped out all the seams from a sewing project and started over, and still ended up with something you'd call a success?  (I'm hoping the third time's the charm -- Eek.)



I generally ask for very little other than a kind comment now and then -- though little gifts in the mail are always nice -- but today I need your good sewing thoughts.  (When I get metaphysical, you know it's bad.)

I hope you are busy stitching away in your happy corner of the world and making something beautiful.  If not me, let it be you!

And now, back to seam ripping and re-conceptualizing.

Have a great day, everybody!

Vintage Forties Pattern Giveaway!

How long has it been since we've had a pattern giveaway, readers?  I say, too long!

As you know, I am always one to share the wealth (well, almost always), so I picked one lovely pattern from my recent vintage pattern treasure trove to share with you.

One of the most enduring and charming collar styles is the sailor collar, which can be done up in full-out "Anchors Aweigh" with trim and necktie, like Lana Turner below, or interpreted less literally, like Bette Davis in the pic up top.

Either way, it's a timeless look.

And why am I mentioning sailor collars?

The giveaway is for Superior 9613, which I'd date around 1943-44 -- definitely wartime -- and it's a beaut: intact and still with its original factory folds!



It makes either a two-piece or one-piece dress: simple, but with beautiful details.  (If you don't want to make the sailor collar, you can also make the traditional collar version, with or without welt pockets.)

This pattern is a vintage Size 12: Bust 30, Waist 26, Hip 33.

For those of you unfamiliar with Superior Patterns, Superior was the Sears Roebuck and Co. house brand, and were usually ordered through the mail.





MPB followers the world over are eligible to enter the giveaway, and all you have to do to participate is leave a comment below, saying what you like about the pattern -- nothing fancy.  Could it be any easier?

Make sure to enter before midnight EST,  Tuesday, September 6.  I'll announce the winner on Wednesday.  (Winner will be chosen at random.)

More details in the pic below (click to blow up larger).



Happy Sunday, everybody!

NEWS FLASH: We interrupt this Sew-Along...!

Men keep score.  (Am I wrong?)  So imagine my excitement this weekend when I hit 1,000 blog followers!

It's really all I've ever wanted since the beginning, and if it weren't for a certain other sewing blogger with three times as many followers as me, I could quit now and die happy.  Instead I must soldier on.  I try not to think about her but once or twice a day.  La la la, I don't see you....

This must be what Jayne Mansfield felt like. 

Or Lorna Luft.

Anyway, I could think of no better way to celebrate this big-if-not-biggest number than a pattern giveaway -- something really good.

Meet Vogue 2876!

Friends, this beautiful vintage 1943 reproduction is multi-sized for a contemporary 12-14-16 (a 34, 36, or 38" bust).  It's in perfect condition.  And it has your name on it -- well, one of you anyway.

You have until Tuesday at midnight, EST, to enter, and the winner will be chosen at random.  MPB followers all over the world are eligible.

All you have to do is, oh, I don't know -- just throw your name in.  Let's keep it simple, no poetry.

All you jeans sew-alongers get a day off today, but please don't take advantage.  I know there are flies badly in need of zippers and how do you think you're going to get those jeans on and off without one?  (We'll be covering button flies later this week, btw).

Happy Monday, everybody and -- all kidding aside -- THANK YOU!

MPB First-Ever Valerie Bertinelli Pattern GIVEAWAY!

Readers, do you remember the Seventies?  I do -- vividly -- and I just know Valerie Bertinelli wore a dress like the one pictured above on One Day at a Time.  Or am I thinking of Valerie Harper?

But more about today's vintage pattern giveaway in a moment.  First, I have to share with you a strange thing that happened to me yesterday.  So I'm sitting on my sofa stitching in the facings of my bolero jacket -- you know, a normal Saturday -- when I receive a phone call from Rain.  Remember, Rain, the guy who offered to tune up my Singer 15-91 sewing machine at some unspecified future time in exchange for some yet-to-be-determined quantity of sewing guidance?

Rain tells me he's in my area with a friend who has a car, and would I like him to pick up my 15-91 now so he could work on it?  Well, sure, I said.  I mean, why not, right?

So ten minutes later he rings my doorbell -- well him and his Akita -- and five minutes after that he's walking out the door with my treasured, albeit crumbly-wired, 15-91 sewing machine.





Readers, your honest opinion:

Will I ever see this sewing machine again?  I mean, who is Rain?  The whole thing sounds a little suspicious but being the trusting person I am, I figure let's see what happens.  It's not like it's my only sewing machine and I was certainly in no hurry to rewire it myself.  Maybe Rain is a person who badly needs a sewing machine and this is the only way he can think of to get his hands on one.

And speaking of vintage sewing machines, look what I made yesterday with my Pfaff 30: a belt for Cathy's new dress using the topstitching-new-fabric-atop-old-vinyl-belt method.  This machine not only managed this with no problem whatsoever, it even stitched through double layers of vinyl to secure the buckle!  (Don't try this with your Brother LS2125.)



But now back to our giveaway:



This charming pattern dates from 1973 and is in fine vintage condition.  It's a size 12 -- 34" bust and 26 1/2" waist.  I love the sweetheart neckline and the details on the sleeves.  It would be perfect for spring in a crepe, linen, or double knit.



I also love these shoes; sadly they don't come with the pattern.



MPB followers the world over are eligible to enter and all you have to do to participate is answer one simple question:

What do you think Rain intends to do with my sewing machine and will I ever see it again?

OK, that's two questions.

You have till Monday at midnight EST to enter and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.  Be creative! (Winner will be chosen at random of course but still.)

Thank you again for all your wonderful comments on yesterday's Approval post.  It's wonderful to hear so many different perspectives and they enrich the blog tremendously.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

P.S. Michael announces his giveaway winner on his blog today.  Can you stand it?