Free patterns from 1943

Here are three patterns from The Complete Book of Sewing from1943. Patterns are from a plain slip-on blouse, panties, and a bra. Click on the photo, then get the biggest size for greatest usefulness.

Enjoy!

10 Minute Headband

I love my hair short, but sometimes I just want to do something different with it. So this weekend, I made some headbands.

Mine are a little wider than the ones I've found in the shops, and cuter, too. I've made three, which should go with just about everything I own. I usually wear solids, so a little bit of print in the hair should liven up my wardrobe a bit.

I've made up a pattern and instructions, if anyone's interested. There are several similar ones out there, but I think mine's just as easy if not easier than others. And it only takes ten minutes. You can't beat that!

It's also a great way to use up scraps. All you need is a small amount of fabric and five and a half inches of elastic.

Pattern and instructions are here.

Hildy the Owl

Hildy the Owl says hello! She's a sweet little thing and takes less than an hour to make.

Materials

• the pattern
  
• large scrap of main body fabric
• scraps of fabric for belly and mask
• scrap of fabric for eyes
• matching and/or contrasting thread
• steam-a-seam lite or similar product
  
• stuffing

Note: pattern pieces have 1/4 inch seam allowances included.

Directions

1. Print out the pattern.
2. Cut two of the main body piece.
3. Trace the belly and mask pieces onto the Steam-a-Seam and follow the instructions to attach it to your fabric. Cut out the belly and mask pieces.
4. Trace the eyes on to the Steam-a-Seam and follow the instructions to attach it to your fabric. Cut out the eyes.
5. Peel off the backing and place belly and mask pieces in place (see photo for placement). Iron onto fabric.
6. Place eyes onto mask (see photo for placement) and iron into place.
7. If desired, decoratively sew the mask, belly, and eyes. You can use the machine, embroider, use a simple running stitch, satin stitch or anything you can come up with.
8. With wrong sides together, sew main body pieces together, leaving a 3 inch gap on the bottom for stuffing. Remember that it's a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
   
9. Trim ear points so they'll be nice and pointy when you turn them.
10. Turn right side out. Use a chopstick or similar to turn ears.
11. Turn under seam allowance on stuffing gap and iron flat.
    
12. Stuff, using chopstick or similar to stuff ears.
13. Using a ladder stitch, sew stuffing gap together.

Enjoy your owl!

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Technorati tags: crafts

Crochet pattern: Baby Mary Janes and three flowers

I've got a crochet pattern I've finally gotten around to writing up: Mary Jane booties for your favorite baby, along with one - two - three flowers for trimming - the Mary Janes or anything else.

This is a super easy pattern to crochet - a pair takes less than two hours. The toes are a tiny bit tricky, since you have to decrease double and triple crochets, but that's the hardest part. I've also inclued three different versions of the top row (picot - pictured, shells, and a plain single crochet) so you can mix and match for your own personal look.

Please note: these patterns have not been tested, though I've made three pair of Mary Janes from the pattern. Let me know if you find any problems.

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Technorati tags: crochet

"Lacy top"

I'm not sure I'd call this "lacy," but with a few alterations - like taking off the collar - this pattern from 1976 still works for today.

Maybe add a little shaping, too. And it's made with thread - not my favorite thing to work with - but I bet you could use a sportweight or DK yarn and just use fewer "lace" panels to get a very similar top.

Miss the cacti from the same magazine? Check them out here.

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Technorati tags: crochet, clothing

Do you crave cacti?

Like cacti, but hate the pointy bits? Crochet one!

Or two, actually.

In a 1976 knit and crochet magazine that I found at Half Price Books, there is not one, but two - count them two - patterns for crocheted cacti. Cat apparently not included.

Look for a couple other patterns from the mag to appear in this space soon. They're clothing patterns that have actually stood the test of time!

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Technorati tags: crochet, cacti