Sew Grateful Week Giveaway

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.