Living A Vintage Life: Sew Retro

"Sew Retro is a community of ladies and gents who adore vintage patterns, vintage fabric, and vintage style. We love sharing our vintage and retro projects for inspiration and encouragement with vintage sewing fanatics worldwide."
While Sew Retro's 'about' page certainly describes what this wonderful blog is about, you can't truly understand Sew Retro without experiencing it yourself. You will find they don't just show off vintage patterns, fabrics and projects but they give voice to the passionate folks who breathe fresh life into the objects of their passion. Buttons and petticoats, bridesmaid and baby dresses, fantastic finds and frustrating flubs all find their way onto Sew Retro's pages. Sew Retro's down-to-earth voice embraces sewing vintageophiles of all skill levels.

I appreciate A.J.A.'s honesty when she posted her experience creating a tea-length gown from vintage Simplicity 5343, Mommy and Me Formal Dresses : "There was nothing to fear except crazy fabric that could barely be pressed and frayed to fuzz, and a pattern with dart tucks straight out of h-e-double-hockey-sticks."

 

Katherine's story of Little Bo Peep brought a childhood nursery rhyme to life, complete with scratchy hay, 1947 Frigidaire and homemade toilet bowl cleanser.

Projects range from repurposed duds to evening wear and the blog is dotted with delightful old patterns, illustrations and charming goodies like this prettily primitive spool rack.

Sew Retro takes vintage sewing supplies out of boxes, drawers and closets and brings them into the daylight for all to use and enjoy! Pull up a hot mug of tea and spend the afternoon with Sew Retro and be inspired to not just collect but to live vintage!

American Patriotism: Vintage Style!

While patriotism should never be considered 'in fashion' or 'out of fashion', wars, poor economic times and natural catastrophes all have a way of bringing out the patriot in all of us. The United States has plenty of all three, sending flag sales skyrocketing and the search for flag-related goods, new and vintage into an almost frenzied state.

For more on U.S. Flag etiquette, go to the U.S. Flag website.

I love pinning on a little rhinestone flag and waving my standard next to the next guy, but being a purist, I cringe outwardly when I see people wiping their BBQ grease onto napkins emblazoned with the American flag or wearing items made with cut up flags. The Vintage Reader offers this gorgeous vintage booklet, How To Respect And Display The Flag, published by the U.S. Marines Corps. If you want one of those sparkling rhinestone flag lapel pins like Grandma and Grandpa used to wear: True Colors For You offers a dainty one, and so does Jen's Closet.

Want to dine in patriotic style? Vintage Pyrex, which is growing in collectible popularity, offers patriotic-themed patterns, like this Early American bake-serve-store set in Violet Q's shop. If you're creative muse is feeling patriotic, check out this colorful collection of realistic patriotic buttons from The Vintage Recycler or this vintage Americana upholstery fabric from The Happy Hoarder.
Search for more vintage patriotic goods from the Etsy Vintage Team: Americana, United States, Flag, American, Red White and Blue, or Patriotic.

Happy Independence Day!

Welcome New Members: TPB Vintage, Vintage Way, Lady Jane Designs, and Personal Pursuits

Deep blue plastic buttons

If you're a button fanatic like me, you'll love the selection at TPB Vintage--bakelite, celluloid, glass, plastics, mother of pearl, vegetable ivory, they've got it all. The shop is based in Rockford, Illinois, where Kari (TPB's owner) loves to hit the antique shops and flea markets. She sells button jewelry in The Paper Button shop and offers her glorious leftovers in TPB, along with a smattering of other vintage items.

Butterfly brooch by Gerrys

Chock full of fabulous vintage jewelry, Vintage Way is based in Sonoma, California, and owned and operated by a wonderful blind woman, Jennifer K. O'Hara. The shop has a variety of other vintage goodies but really excels in the jewelry department--this butterfly brooch by Gerrys was one of my favorites.

Cotton blue clover dress

Lady Jane Designs, based in Brooklyn, offers a combination of handmade bags and vintage clothing (including this stunning 1950s day dress). The owner, a long-time wearer and lover of vintage, offers many items from her personal collection, and the quality shows.

1980s blue taffeta gown

For still more wonderful vintage clothing, visit Personal Pursuits, which offers an eclectic mix of clothing from the 1920s to the 1980s. The shop has blazers, tops, and suits, but specializes in dresses, including some fantastic items for that special party.