1940s fashion under 40 dollars

 While browsing Pinterest yesterday I found a link to this post by Chronically Vintage, showing 1940s sewing patterns for under 40 dollars. I thought it was a great idea and decided to do my own version, for fall-winter clothes. I'm feeling a little low on fashion inspiration but looking at these beauties gives me tons of ideas. 

I love the pocket detailing on this lumberjacket dress. It would be great for work or hanging around with friends at the weekend. 20$ from Tender Lane.

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Speaking of workwear: You could outfit yourself from autumn all the way through winter and spring with this lovely pattern. Simplicity 1752, 16,81$ from 101 Sewing Patterns. 

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Want to look cute and put-together? You can't go wrong with this suit! I love the pointed lower edges, like a vest. And it's Truly Teen Style! Simplicity 1247, 6,83$ from Isabella Canada

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Butterick 3033 is a dressier suit option. I am drooling over those shoulder details! 17,49$ from Michelle and Marguerite.

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Such pretty blouses, I can imagine so many fabric possibilities here! Another flexible look, with the short-sleeved option perfect for spring and summer wear. 10$ from Pam and Amanda.

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 You're going to want to make some skirts to go with all those blouses! Simplicity 1431, 19$ from Jennie Charm.

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 I really want to make a bedjacket because my arms always get cold when I'm reading in bed. This one with tiny pockets and a hood (swoon!) is pretty much irresistable. Advance 2612 is 34,99$ from Your Pattern Shop.

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Such elegant, flattering lines on this late 40s look. Simplicity 2617, 17,25$ from Kimberley Caffe.

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You're going to want a new jacket for autumn, and isn't this a cute little number? It would be perfect for work. Vogue 5396, 27$ from Flowering Ash Vintage and free shipping within Canada! 

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Whip up some cute accessories to match your new fall looks! Comletely adorable Simplicity 4089, 19$ from Lady Queenie Quinn.

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A bomber/lumberjack/Eisenhower jacket will be perfect for all your weekend looks. This pattern is so flexible, just look at all the different styling options on the envelope. McCall 6360, 25$ from Kchoos.

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Perfectly elegant evening wear, Simplicity 1220 is a cape in three different lengths. 39,99$ from Your Pattern Shop.

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Such a pretty blouse. And imagine how fun it would be to choose the lace and do the embroidery! McCall 1458 with embroidery transfer, 16$ from Lisa Anne 1960.

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Such unique and dramatic lines on this Hollywood pattern. I love the colour-block version. Imagine going to the theatre in this, perhaps paired with the cape pattern above! Hollywood 1735, 16,78$ from Flowering Ash Vintage.

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 Are you going to a new year's party? Imagine this in a shimmery black lamé! Simplicity 2238, with its peplum and scalloped edges, has '40s style for miles. 11,25$ from 4Ever in Vogue.

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A new pair of pyjamas is always a fun and quick project. Make the long-sleeved version for now, perhaps in a nice warm flannel, and the cute tied top for spring or summer wear! Simplicity 1230, 19$ from Pattern Life Vintage.

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Now you've done all that sewing, you're bound to have some scraps! Use them to make these Scottie and terrier toys. An Economy design, 32$ from My Original Patterns

Monday. Sigh.

Sigh sigh. I have to write a paper. Like, right now. It's due tomorrow at midnight, you see.

But all I want to do is draw! And maybe embroider and look at pinterest a little. We spent three or four hours yesterday evening madly cleaning out the kitchen cupboards after seeing a moth so it definitely feels like I deserve some drawing and relaxation time in exchange for my sunday evening!

It's a pretty interesting paper though, at least I hope it will be, about diversity in children's television. I'm using the swedish childrens channel as a positive example. Swedish speakers, watch Min familj on svt play! It's a children's show, of course, but I get really excited about it, it makes me feel hopeful for the future. Really smart, articulate, happy kids showing off their families. Your heart will get all warm and fuzzy!

Okay back to writing. I have to get this done so I can do all the other things I have to do... and maybe eventually somehow scrape aside a little drawing and crafting time!

polish trick

My grandmother used to tell me that when she was a girl, in the 1940s, it was the style to leave your "half-moons", or the area by the cuticle, unpolished when doing your nails. I always thought that sounded very difficult, verging on impossible, so I didn't try it. But a few days ago I read that it was also the style in those days to remove a tiny hairsbreadth of polish from the ends of your nails by running the edge of your thumb along it. Taken together these two tricks were supposed to make your manicure last longer since the polish is prevented from peeling at the cuticle and chipping when you touch things with your nails.  I never bother painting my nails lately since I hate how quickly it looks chipped, so I had to try it. And it totally works!

This picture was taken days after I painted my nails, the manicure lasted through daily showers (always a culprit in my nail chipping), dish doing, tub scrubbing, lots and lots of typing and who knows what else, with only one touch up. After a week I took it off for another colour. I'm so impressed how this works! The chips are barely existent and way less noticeable and I think my nails look longer too.

It's not at all hard to leave the half-moon unpainted, just paint three strokes, one in the middle, then one on each side that starts a little further down. It's easier to get the shape smooth on
the second coat, and it takes a little practise to get them all even.

Allotment in Autumn

I spent the afternoon in my allotment. I'm trying winter sowing this year - the idea is that you sow seeds of certain plants before winter comes. They overwinter in the soil and come up just as soon as they can in spring. It certainly works with weeds! Hopefully I'll get a good result and an early harvest. I'm trying carrots, spinach and onions.

There was still a little bit waiting to be picked, too. Lots of calendula that could care less about the frosts we've had, some mint and borage flowers for Hoppy, and a good bunch of swiss chard. I almost didn't plant chard this year, but I really wanted to try the variety 'Bright Lights' - it looks so pretty in photographs! - so I made room. What a good decision that was! I've been picking it all summer, it keeps growing back, and it takes more than a couple of frosts to kill it. I think it can even stay in good shape all winter under insulating snow.

Hoppy loves to run off with a leaf of chard and snack on it in a corner. We like it steamed, sauteed with garlic and especially creamed.

Creamed swiss chard with mashed potatoes

Ingredients
1 bunch swiss chard
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
up to 1 cup milk (optional)
salt + pepper

Wash the chard thoroughly, steam it in the water that clings to the leaves plus about 1/2 cup. Drain and save the cooking liquid. Let chard cool.

Meanwhile, make a white sauce: melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir the flour into the butter with a whisk so that it gets the texture of wet sand. Keep whisking and let the butter and flour cook for couple of minutes - this gets the floury taste out. Whisk in the cooking liquid from the chard gradually to make a smooth sauce. If sauce is too thick, add milk until desired consistency is reached


. It will continue to thicken somewhat as it cooks. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

By now the chard should be cool enough to handle. If not, rinse with cold water. Squeeze firmly to remove residual cooking moisture and rinse water. Squeeze it down into a little bundle. Chop. Add to white sauce and heat through.

Serve with mashed potatoes. I like to make a 'nest' of mashed potatoes on the plate with creamed chard in the middle. Serve with flaked salt.

keeping clean

I'm studying a one-year journalist master, so by June I will theoretically be employable. The last two weeks we've had a radio sub-course and it's been fun, but exhausting. I spend a lot of time at our college radio station anyway, but these last two weeks have all had nine or ten hour days - or longer. Lots of fun and I'm really happy with my assignments but I've barely been home. I get so sad when I'm away from home, and don't have enough time to play with Hoppy, my rabbit, or sew, or keep the apartment tidy.

I finished the last assignment quite early today, went to trumpet practice and was home by 6:30 but I haven't managed to convince myself to do anything. The kitchen's a mess. There are dishes in the living room and a half-finished dress all over the dining room table. But I can't be bothered tonight, I'm simply too exhausted! Tonight is a night for watching the Simpsons, taking a bath and putting all that boring stuff off for one more day.

Christmas is coming! ... really!

The grocery store is already filling up with Christmas things: chocolate boxes, gingerbread in a million forms, julmust (spicy Christmas soda pop), but I'm makng myself wait until November before I can start even thinking about such things. It's hard to wait! Especially for all the Christmas magazines, those are my favourite.

Strange hobbies

I tend to go through phases - sometimes really long ones - where I just can't bring myself to buy clothes. I love clothes, I love looking at magazines and online and in catalogues and in second hand stores and on etsy and pinterest and - well you get the picture! I like looking in stores too, but even if I find something I like I usually end up thinking "meh, I'd rather sew a dress myself", at least right now.

It's not always less expensive to sew my own, but on the other hand I can be choosier about fabric. And I really do enjoy the process of sewing, choosing a pattern and fabric, cutting it out, fixing all the little details. I suppose I just like spending the time sewing, and have a few things slowly, rather than have lots of clothes quickly.

But time! Boy does it take time. Especially the last few weeks, my school schedule has been really demanding. I started a dress, the perfect fall dress, ages ago, by the time I finish it'll be winter! Today, for example, I sewed and hemmed the sleeves but now I think I have to cut out new ones and start over because I don't like how the plaid matches, or rather doesn't match.

Oh well, it'll be great when I finally finish!