Monday, February 6, 2012

Sew Grateful Week Giveaway

Sew Grateful Week

Let's start off Sew Grateful Week by thanking Debi for coming up with such a great idea! So much of my sewing is all due to other people's generosity; the week before V-Day is the perfect time to be thankful. I'll blog later this week about specific people I'm grateful to, but I want to start out the week by saying that I am so (sew) grateful for the fantastic sewing community that I've found online. Becoming more serious about my sewing and blogging coincided with moving to The City of Culver City, and while I'm making friends here, there's something special about connecting with people thousands of miles away over a common love: sewing. You guys have been so great with encouragement, fitting tips, and understanding the excitement of creating one's own wardrobe. Who else will geek out with me over fabric deals, vintage patterns, and cool notions? I've been really fortunate to not have had any snarky comments, so I'm going to continue rejoicing in the love and acceptance of my own corner of the sewing blogiverse.

I know I just hosted a giveaway not too long ago for reaching 100 followers, but I'm going to do another one. In the last few weeks, somehow another few dozen people have found my blog worth reading, which is still incredible to me. So in honor of 150+ followers, Sew Grateful Week, and the woman who originally started me sewing, I'm giving away a vintage 1971 dress pattern, Simplicity 9333, in Size 14, Bust 36. Its envelope is a little torn, but it's complete, uncut and still in factory folds.

Simplicity 9333; ©1971; Young Junior/Teens' and Misses' Midi-Dress or Blouse - (Designed for Knit Fabrics Only): The midi-dress V. 1 or blouse V. 2 & 3 with back zipper, high round neckline and set-in sleeves may be worn with self fabric tie belt or purchased belt. V. 1 & 2 with long sleeves has roll type collar. Collarless V. 3 with short sleeves has optional top-stitching.


Why a 1970s pattern, when that era seems to get very little love in the fashion world? See, it's all thanks to my mom that I'm even doing this. She taught me to use our old Singer, which has unfortunately gone to its well-deserved rest since then. She started me off with a bean bag, and twenty years later, here I am drafting my own qipao pattern! If I remember correctly, she learned to sew when she was in her teens, right around the 70s; her good friend's father was a tailor, so she learned to make her own shirts, dresses, and pants. She says she's never made a coat, though, so I guess I'll have to figure that out on my own. Anyway, since she was making her clothes in the 70s, this pattern is actually close to something she might have worn. And to be honest, I'm coming around to 70s patterns. The 80s and 90s, though, that's another story.

Giveaway Rules:
  1. Leave a comment telling me who started you off sewing, and what your first project was. 
  2. I'm going to have to make this giveaway North America only, unfortunately! This month's budget doesn't allow for overseas shipping. 
  3. Same as last time: it goes without saying, but you really should be a follower of my blog. I'll assume that you're a follower if you leave a comment. Also goes without saying, but I hope you really intend to sew up the pattern! Please don't win it just so you can turn around and sell it on Etsy or use it as kindling or make a craft project (does anyone else feel slightly horrified by this?). 
I'll close the giveaway at the end of Sew Grateful Week, on Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 11:59 PM PST. You'll need to court the spirits of random.org, and look for the winner on the following Monday. 

Just for kicks, have a picture of Walnut, pretending to be ear-less.
I swear I didn't pose him that way. Also, his belly looks incredibly fat in this picture, but it's really just furry. If you press your hand down on him, three inches is just fur.

16 comments:

  1. My mum inspired me to sew. I watched as she sewed up wonderful creations for me and my sisters. When I took my first sewing class in high school, i was pretty knowledgeable about seam finishes, etc. My mother said always said, you should be able to wear your garments inside out without anyone really noticing. Meaning the inside should be as beautifully finished inside as it is on the outside. I've been following your blog ever since reading the Anthro-inspired tie neck dress post. Love your dress better than the original. Please toss my name into the hat for this pattern. it is definitely my era.

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  2. YAY! Great giveaway! I'll be sure to capture it in my round-up post tomorrow! xoxoxo

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  3. My mom is great seamstress and made many dresses throughout my life. I've done lots of sewing but garment sewing still intimidates me but I really want to get into it. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  4. My mom taught me how to sew way back when! I think my first project was a pillow case, haha. I remember sewing little drawstring bags for birthday party favors too. Every time I stop by in a dress I've sewn, she gets excited and says, "oh! It's shades of me when I was single! This one time, I sewed...". It's fun that we have something in common like sewing, even though our tastes are so drastically different :)

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  5. Am out your catchment area but what a nice thing to give away one of your patterns. I like 70's fashion, Palazzo trousers are seventies which have just been in fashion. I love them in fashion or not.

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  6. Congratulations with the 150+ followers! I can't enter the give-away, but I wanted to congratulate you anyway :D Keep up the awesome sewing!

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  7. I'm out of the NA, and don't sew with knits, but I just had to stop by and say how cute Walnut is. If I win, can I have him instead?

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  8. Simply commenting on the post, not entering the giveaway; I just wanted to say that Walnut looks slightly like Garfield here. I want to pet him. *patpat*

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  9. I started sewing for my three daughters, and my first project was Christmas dresses for them two years ago.

    rebekahricker (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  10. I grew up watching my mother sew beautiful cocktail dresses, as well as her and my grandmother mending away weekly. It wasn't til I was older that I finally took advantage of their talent and knowledge. They both assisted me to make a retro apron! Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway! I love turtlenceck dresses!

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  11. No one in my family sews, but I took a trip to China almost two years ago and a friend took me to the fabric market and I just thought, this is amazing, I need to be able to do this. So I took a class when I got back to the states and made a tote bag, and never really looked back. So I should say, China got me started, and the internet really taught me how to sew. And of course, I'm still learning...

    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

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  12. if you don't count the 1st barbie outfit age 7 , I learned the skill quite late and pretty much self touch with classes here and there.. loads of books and blog inspirations.

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  13. My mom and aunts introduced me to sewing, mainly because I had to resize all of my uniform skirts to fit me as a kid. I'm looking forward to following you (just put you on my reader), as I can totally relate to the love for dress up and nerdery.

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  14. My mom taught me to sew, and my first project was a really awful blue plaid chambray jumper!

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  15. My mom started me on sewing. My first project was either a pillow, vest, or doll dress. Don't remember which came first.

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  16. I learned to sew when I was about 6 years old. My mom enrolled me in a kids sewing class at a local fabric store she shopped at. Our big class project was a drawstring bag and mine was red with baby Sylvester the cat all over it :)

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Thank you for taking the time to tell me your thoughts! I appreciate reading them and I try to reply to most, if not all, comments, especially when they are questions. I ask that you keep your comments polite, and if you're a spammer, don't bother because your comment will just be deleted! Also, if you're commenting on a post that's more than two weeks old, it will be moderated.