It’s been far too long since I’ve had a giveaway on my blog, so I decided what perfect time than the present to host another giveaway for you all. I’ve been finding lots of great stuff at flea markets and in various stashes of sewing items given to me by my mom, that I thought it was time I share the wealth with you all.
Since I blog about sewing as well as knitting I thought I’d put together a sewing-themed bundle and a knitting-themed bundle. The winner of the giveaway will choose which set of items they’d like to receive.
For the Sewers:
You can choose one of the following three patterns:
McCall’s 6872 dress from 1947 in a size 16 (34 bust):
OR
Anne Adams 4988 dress from the 40’s in size 14 (or 32 bust):
OR
Simplicity 4782 from the 50’s in size 12 (or 30 bust):
And no matter which pattern you choose, it will be combined with this notions set:
A very old yellow, plastic button set with buckle, some vintage grosgrain ribbon in pastel pink and some vintage baby blue seam binding.
For the Knitters:
A March edition of Stitchcraft from 1952 and one of my favorite yarns for vintage projects, Cascade Heritage Yarn: a fingering weight (aka sock weight) yarn.
The yarn is a 75% merino wool with 25% nylon, the same type of yarn I used to knit up my Caledonia Jumper. One of the best things about this yarn is that its machine washable.
How to enter the September Giveaway:
- Leave a comment letting me know what topic you’re most interested in learning more about. It can be anything, so don’t feel limited to sewing projects only. If you can’t think of anything new you want to learn, feel free to share your fall sewing plans instead.
For additional entries into the Giveaway:
- Add my site to your RSS reader OR be a current rss-follower (let me know in the comments section).
- Post this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or on your own blog (send me a link in the comments section).
Good luck everyone! I’ll be announcing the winner in one week’s time, on Wednesday, September 14th.
Oh, I nearly forgot to add that it’s open to anyone, no matter where you live; I’m happy to ship anywhere for you guys.
What fun!
Here’s what I’m most interested to learn, although it’s probably not pertinent to everyone: I live in Chicago too, and I’m really interested to know if you have taken (or would recommend) any sewing classes in the area. Your sewing and tailoring skills seem so advanced, I’m really curious to know where you learned all these wonderful techniques! Apologies if you have covered it in older posts – I’m a fairly recent subscriber :-)
Oh my goodness…what a gorgeous, generous giveaway!!!!
Do you know what I would like to learn more about…gardening! I would love to be able to grow my own veg, but so far my attempts have been pretty poor!
And I’m always interested in learning anything about sewing. I really enjoyed reading your posts about how to match lace.
What a lovely giveaway, so many nice things to choose from!
On a craft-related note I’m interested in learning more about fairisle knitting as I’m planning to start my own vintage fairisle pattern soon. Non craft-related, I’m interested in learning more about ways to use ‘traditional’ products to clean rather than modern chemical products.
Awesome! I love a good giveaway, even if I never win, I like looking at the cool prizes, especially these! I’m mainly a sewer, so I would choose one of the top 2 patterns (they are so great!). One thing that I would like to learn how to do properly is to add lining to garments (especially in the case where the main fabric is quite see-through). I’ve done it before, but just winged it. I would like to know the “real” way (or ways) of doing this. Also, seeing the seam binding above reminds me that I would like to know how to finish my seams with seam binding or some nice bias-tape. I think it can look really cute (even if no one really sees the inside of my garments) and professional. Ok, enough blabbing. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I also follow your blog and I just thought of something else that I want to learn how to do by reading the above comments: fair-isle knitting. I have the book “Vintage baby knits” and it has a great little hat in it that contains some great fair-isle designs. I would love to try it, but I am reluctant, since I’m a little scared it would all go wrong.
I would love to see some tailoring tips and information. I recently bought a 60’s pea coat pattern from Ebay but don’t yet feel I have the appropriate skills or knowledge to tackle it. But with some advice from the wonderful sewers on the web and some reading homework I will give it a shot.
I really liked the McCall 5759 that you showed on your post yesterday. I’ve added it to my list of ‘patterns to purchase in the future’! I’d like to make it in a fun color.
Thanks so much for the giveaway. Great options and it will be a touch choice for the winner.
Also, I’ve been a RSS reader for some time.
And, because I think you’re awesome I’ve posted the giveaway on my Facebook page. Ha, and my mum (in England) has already ‘liked’ it. Yay, you’re going international.
Oh what a gorgeous giveaway!!
Well, I knit and sew so in my sewing, I’d like to learn a little more about drafting and altering a basic pattern into something new and interesting. Oh and how to sew an exposed zipper! I love the look of them. And as for knitting, I’d like to try a bit more advanced lace knitting, maybe a pretty shawl. This would also let me experiment with the wonders of blocking something that really needs to be opened up! :)
Thanks for having such a lovely giveaway!
Ashley x
I’m also a follower! I use my google reader I think to follow you :) Hmm, that came out more stalkerish than I meant it to! lol
Ashley x
I also posted about it on Twitter! (non of my facebook friends knit or sew! *sigh*) Here’s the link to my profile:
http://twitter.com/#!/Ashley0107
Ashley x
Oh wow, this is such a great giveaway, thanks so much!
Please can you count me in for the McCall 6872 – I keep swooning over it online, but it’s always in tiny sizes!
I’ve been a long-time follower of your blog. I’ve also tweeted about the giveaway here: http://twitter.com/#!/MarieK83. And Facebooked about it here: http://www.facebook.com/sklipikish, which you may not be able to see due to my security settings. Always happy to add you as a friend so you can double check though ;o)
Fantastic giveaway!! My favourite pattern has to be simplicity 4782, which happens to be my size. And I have just discovered your blog and started following through my RSS.
Have both sewists and knitter friends so just shared on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/suzysewingblog
i want to learn how to knit! i have a very very small handle on crocheting (granny squares & single stitches & roses, mostly), but ughhh i want to knit so i can make my own socks and slouchy caps. and i love how portable knitting is! well, crocheting too, i guess.
i have books on learning knitting, and i’ve lurked a few youtube videos but honestly i need someone to sit down with me and show me the basics. i should troll through my friends and see who is willing to take on that kind of responsibility :)
lovely! im a knitter first and for most (even though i do love to sew) and id have to say id love to learn more about short rows..ive been avoiding them for too long! thanks for the giveaway!
i subscribed to your blog through my yahoo reader
I love the size 16 pattern I’ve never done a 40’s pattern!
I’d like to get trousers and jacket tailoring down. Just so I can make a kick ass suit! They are invaluable!
I’ve been a subscriber for a while and I haven’t seen you cover fasteners (zippers, buttonholes, etc.) I’d love to see a series on what types of fasteners work best where (technique-wise) and in what materials (how that changes what you’d use). I’m VERY nervous about buttonholes, and that inhibits my sewing, so it’d be nice to see the different types and their applications, etc. That’s a great looking giveaway! My inner knitter is coveting the pattern book and yarn… :^)
I’d love to learn more about spinning – I have a drop spindle, but I’m not very good at using it.
Absolutely love the 1940s pattern! Those styles were just so elegant and classy. I’d love to have a go at making something like that. Have only just discovered your blog but think I’m really going to enjoy it! It’s in my Google Reader list now! :)
I really really want to learn how to sew proper pants for me. I sewed one pair at the beginning of my sewing career as part of a sewing course, but it was a massiv fail…as was that sewing course…
What a lovely giveaway. I love learning more about finishing techniques — I know the nuts and bolts of seam finishes, lining, etc, but I’m still find myself balking when I’m putting together a garment to figure out what where and how.
(Love! your first knitted jumper, by the way :-)
I’m just learning how to knit so I love the knitting posts! I really want to get to the point where I can knit from vintage patterns and I don’t know much about how different they are from modern vintage patterns so I’d love to hear about that.
And I’m a follower!
Hi!
What I really need to learn/improve are finishing skills with my knits. I’m working on a pattern that’s going to require some mad skills to finish up (picking up stitches to knit button bands on the fronts and neck all at one, and an i-cord bind off). I’m more than a little nervous to attempt those with my alpaca yarn that I don’t want to waste-it doesn’t like being frogged and done over. This one is part of my own challenge for the Colette Palette, so I have some motivation to get it done in time!
And I’m also subscribed in my Google reader-getting new posts like magic is fun!
What a sweet giveaway! I am really wanted to learn Ukrainian – I struggle with learning new languages, but this is near and dear to my heart. My maternal grandparents (both still alive) were born and raised in Ukraine and I would love to be able to converse with them in their home language. I still have some family living there and would love to be able to communicate with them as well. Any suggestions?
I have also been a follower of yours for some time now :)
Throw my name into the hat for the sewing sundries. While I hope to one day learn to knit, I haven’t made the effort so far. Your question asking what we’d like to learn sent me off into a long wandering day dream about how sewing bloggers (and likely many other bloggers out there, but my personal experience lies mostly with sewing bloggers) seem to really have their teaching hats on. Sew-Alongs are like classes where the final project is the finished garment. Tutorials and stories sharing little tid bits of knowledge are like lessons in disguise. I wonder if much of teaching and learning will end up online? But, then, I try to think about how I would put my work – biochemistry, let’s say – in blog form for others to learn. Hmmm… Maybe it would be really powerful if sewing bloggers found ways to pass their hands-on knowledge to the next generation? My opinion is biased, but teaching should really be as highly valued an occupation as a doctor or a lawyer. Anyway, ramble, ramble, ramble. What I’d like to learn about currently is bag making (I’ve been failing quite miserably at making cute little purses for those friends of mine who attended my bachelorette party – a year and a half ago!), and, also, beginners knitting, to bring this insanely long comment back to the beginning.
As a knitter I keep running into patterns with zippers, but haven’t seen a really good tutorial on sewing the zippers in. Especially by machine… everybody says hand-sew them. I’m no expert on the sewing machine, but I do better with one than without!
If preferences are allowed, I’d like to be in for the yarn. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I have recently picked up both sewing and knitting so I would like to learn the following:
1) joining seams while knitting sweaters
2) working sleeves while sewing
Both seem to elude me!!!
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As a sewer and a knitter anything I can learn about either skill is good ~ though perhaps some lessons on figuring out how follow vintage sewing pattern instructions/using vintage patterns in general? I have collected a few patterns and would love to have some tips on using them as I am a bit too scared to at the moment! : )
I would love to win on of those vintage patterns ~ in fact the Anne Adams dress is in my size and it’s a pattern I have been on the hunt for! I have my fingers crossed!! :D
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
bonita{at}bdotdepictions.com
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I’m in for the sewing kit; I follow you with GFC, so you are in my Google Feed Reader. : )
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
bonita{at}bdotdepictions.com
~ * ? * ~
~ * ? * ~
I tweeted about your giveaway here: http://twitter.com/#!/bdotdepictions/status/111613889459920896
{Yes, I really would like to win that Anne Adams pattern!!}
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
bonita{at}bdotdepictions.com
~ * ? * ~
I would love to win the knitting kit! I’m just learning to knit and would love to knit up a vintage sweater some day!
Fantastic giveaway. I love seeing the vintage knitting patterns – anything more you can tell us about how vintage knitting techniques and instructions might differ from the modern ones would be v. interesting…
Whoops – meant to let you know that you have been on my Blogger reader for ages and I’ve just Tweeted about the giveaway :)
Not sure how to send just a link to that one tweet but if you go here:
http://twitter.com/#!/Su_Sews_So_So
you can scroll through and find it! :)
Something I want to learn more about, which is not related to crafting at all, is home building or construction. Odd, I know, but a house down the street from us was torn down and rebuilt from scratch and seeing it go up bit by bit just fascinates me. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’ve just picked up the knitting needles for the first time since I was 10 years old and started knitting up some basic vintage patterns, so I’d love to learn more about combining sewing with knitting – like lining and sewing pockets into knits and incorporating knitted details in sewn items (e.g. knitted yoke on a dress).
As for subscribing to the RSS feed – I already was! :)
You’re so generous, dear! :) I have to admit, as much as I’m eyeing the sewing prize, the knitting one is really calling me! (Perhaps because I’m getting the itch to start knitting a few things? Yay for the weather cooling down a teeny, tiny bit! Although it’s still in the upper 80s here… lol.) I think right now one thing I’m hoping to learn is how to adjust vintage knitting patterns to suit me. I tend to “wing it”, but have been reading some articles online about how to customize knitting to my measurements, and am hoping to tackle something soon!
One of my fall crafting goals is pretty much to do just as Casey said – to adjust and knit a vintage sweater pattern.
I’ve been reading and subscribing to your blog for a while now. I really love the mix of sewing and knitting posts – and the detail you include. Thank you for a great giveaway opportunity!
thank you for hosting the giveaway! i would love Anne Adams 4988 dress pattern! the scallop detail is so lovely.
Could I be in for the knitting portion of the give away? I really really like your blog, and my great ambition in life is to learn how to sew, everything posted on that subject is informative to me. But I like your knitting posts too, vintage sweater are gorgeous but can be tricky when it comes to size.
One day I just hope I can sew. In the meantime, knitting and crochet is just as good as it gets though I really wish that there are vintage patterns that could be found in Singapore!
I’d like to win Simplicity 4782 cos I’ve been looking for an empire waisted vintage pattern for a while.
As for new skills and things I want to learn…..I guess I dont do a lot of fitting cos I’m pretty impatient. So more stuff on fitting would be cool. Though I dont want to make lots of muslins..hmm!
I NEED to learn to crochet better – I can only do, what I call, single crochet, that’s straight lines back and forth.
I’d like to win the knitting giveaway. What I’d like to learn about is steeking. I love knitting in the round, so it would be great to be able to convert a flat knitting pattern into the round using a steek. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
I would like to see some knitting tutorials because I would like to learn to knit and you seem to be very good at it. Maybe not the easiest knitting things (it might be a bore to anyone who already knits and can be found easily on youtybe) but maybe other things.
I would love to win McCall’s 6872. And I follow you in my google reader :-)
Love this giveaway! I am coveting those buttons and belts!
How do you make clothes that are just ahead of trend-or is that important at all to you?
Is it possible to combine eras for your figure? Say, a forties bodice and higher-cut neck with a fifties flared skirt. Does it look silly? How do yo ucorrect a muslin? We make them first but if they are wonky, then what??!!
Thanks for your comment Lisa! I love all of your questions, too; I could make an entire blog post out of each of your individual questions! :)
What a great giveaway! I’m interested in the knitting one (I’ve been wanting to try out Heritage and I adore vintage knitting patterns) because it’s getting chillier and autumn always puts me in the mood for knitting!
As for questions, I’m fairly new-ish to sewing, and I heartily second Lisa’s question about muslins… I make them for most garments, but other than seeing if I should go up/down a size or stay the same, I’m not really sure what to do with them! (All the full bust/small bust/high waist adjustments kind of baffle me… I can kind of see how to make them, but it’s hard to know when if that makes sense?) And while I’m comfortable adjusting anything in knitting and frankensteining bits of patterns together, I’m a total scaredy-cat about doing the same for sewing. (Maybe because once you cut, that’s it? Whereas I’m happy to rip out and re-knit things many times over!)
Wow what a hard choice to make! Trying to start sewing all my clothes. It has been a slow start, but inspired by all these blogs. Would love to win the McCall’s pattern!
What a nice giveaway! First I would like to learn how to make welt pockets. I’m sure I could do it, but its intimidating! Second, my favorite pattern is the Anne Adams pattern. I have a weakness for flutter sleeves and scallops.
Wow! What a wonderful giveaway! Very generous of you. :)
I would *love* to learn more about lining. Particularly lining a jacket or coat. I’m not sure I am ready to tackle a lined coat without some visual tutorials. Can’t seem to find any of those.
I love the stitch and knit options, I like to sew but I don’t seem to get to it. Love knitting in fall though!
I’m dreaming to win the Simplicity pattern 4782 from the 50?s!!!
Nice giveaway! I just subscribed on Google Reader.
As far as what I’d like to learn…Craft related: I want to learn to knit. I can’t believe I haven’t done this yet! Non-Craft related: I would love to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. I think it would be neat. :)
Non sewing related learning quest: cake. I seem to fail at making cake every single time. When they say one hour, my cakes are always still raw from the inside.
Sewing related, gathering. I know how it’s done, but it just always fails (it’s like cakes). So I avoid every bit of gathering. And you’ve been on my feed for a while : ).
Ooh, I LOVE Simplicity 4782… What a great dress/jacket combo!
What I’d like to learn more about? Well I’ve got this acoustic guitar sitting here staring at me accusingly, so I’d better learn how to play it!
I’ve subscribed to your blog via RSS, and I’ve posted about this giveaway on my Twitterfeed: http://twitter.com/DummyDressmaker
Great give away. I have never knitted from a vintage pattern, I would like to know if there are things I need know that are different then modern patterns.
Can you guess my vote would be for learning more about seams? LOL
What a great giveaway!!
I absolutely adore the Anne Adams pattern! There are so many things I’d like to learn how to do, it’s hard to narrow it down. I would really love to learn how to do tambour bead embroidery. I would love to know more couture techniques like that and I have an outfit I’d like to make some beaded appliques for.
ohhh the knittin’, the knittin’!
oxo
I just started following you on my RSS reader! I am a sewer, but would like to find out how to start with knitting. It just looks so complicated!
Such lovely patterns! my vote would be more sewing, I never get tired of seeing different approaches and techniques, every one does things a little bit differently!
And I do follow you in Reader, I just never have time to comment — anywhere, not just here. I admit I treat Reader as my personal sewing magazine!
Lovely giveaway, I would like to learn about blackwork and embroidery as I don’t know much about it. I love you 4988 pattern, so unique.
Wow! I love the Adams pattern!
I love to learn more about crocheting but it seems I get confused when reading the instructions and can’t get the gauge right!
I am following u on my Google Reader! Thank you
I think I might be out of time!
I would really love to learn a bit more about machine maintenance. I have a couple of old machines that I can keep running, but I guess I’m interested more in the real nitty gritty stuff! I quite like the idea of restoration
Thanks so much for offering the giveaway, even if I am out of time
I would really like to learn more about using vintage patterns and how to resize them. Thanks!
I follow you! Thanks for doing a give away!
I would love to hear more about sewing… like a sewing for dummies. I would like to sew more but I really haven’t made anything since high school (about 10 yrs) and would like a refresher.
shuttermom77 (at) gmail (dot) com
I would love to know more on how to focus on and complete all of the things I want to do. I don’t know how you and so many other folks get so much sewing done! Thanks for the awesome giveaway opportunity; I love the 32″ pattern’s button plackets, especially.
Hi. I am new to your blog, but will be bookmarking it. I would like to learn about sewing and/or fashion tips for the short, chubby shape (like pear shape!) If I should win, I would like the sewing bundle with any of the patterns. Thanks for hosting this give away.
What an awesome giveaway! I’ve seen a lot of people mention using bias tape in place of facings when short on fabric. I’d really like to learn more about how to do that. My non-sewing related aspirations involve wanting to write children’s books. I need to learn more about the publishing world and what it takes to be successful. Thanks for the thought-provoking question!
You’ve also been in my google reader list for awhile now!
I’m one of your current rss followers and I’ve also been a lurker for some time. I’d love the wool and the pattern in order to knit the cardigan.
I’d love to know more about how you tweak your patterns and what prompts you to pick what patterns to make and knit?
I am most interested to learn canning techniques. I can pickle just about anything at this point, but canning is a whole different story.
My fall sewing plans include a jacket, a skirt and shirt, and maybe a dress. I’ve grand designs of knitting myself a sweater as well. Knowing me, it’ll all get done just in time for spring! I’ve also got the itch to start my own blog and have been brainstorming names. I’m not certain if I just want it to be a sewing blog, or also a fashion blog. Suggestions? (Maybe that’d be a second thing I’m interested in knowing about–how you came to blogging, make time for it, decide what to post, named it, etc.).
I would love to give McCall’s 6872 a go.
I posted this give-away to my twitter account: chrome://echofon/content/user-view.xul?screen_name=tinapickles
I’m new to sewing and would love more tips on using vintage patterns. I purchased one last year and have yet to do anything with it as I’m intimidated! I love the Anne Adams pattern! Would be cute with those notions too.
Thanks.
Oh what lovely lovely patterns! Thanks for the chance to be in to win, :-)
I’d love to learn more about more advanced sewing techniques (trying to oush myself to improve my sewing skills, you see)
I would be most interested in learning more about pattern drafting! I would love to not only sew my own wardrobe but design it too! Sam xox
Hi! I love your web! I love sewing, but sudden weight gain and sudden money loss have made me realize how little I know about pattern drafting and adapting, so that’s what I’m learning.
I would love to learn more advanced sewing techniques, oh and can you learn patience anywhere???
The Anne Adams dress is super cute.
I’d like to enter for the sewing giveaway, thank you for sharing another one! My favourite of the patterns is 4872, I recently noticed I have no princess lines from that era in my pattern stash (shocking oversight!) but despite this also talked myself out of buying a very similar pattern this week (got the car insurance to pay).
My topic. Well for about a year I’ve been intending to knit and crochet but I’m still no closer to starting! I’ve just bought some books on making automata – mechanical toys – however what i am currently learning is how to take apart and rebuild/repair vintage sewing machines. So I am typing this stinking of ancient, machine lubricant gunk, and feeling slightly frustrated because I can get a plate to sit in its original position under its holding screw!
I want to learn more about sewing with velvet. I would love to win Mccalls 6872. It would be so cute in a stripe.Oh I guess I’m too late?
Hi, I live in South Africa and have so enjoyed looking at the old patterns you show. I am now almost 77 years old and have been sewing since the age of 12 so I know the “vintage” patterns and have some of them in my collection. Have often looked at them and wondered what it would be like to wear those old styles again, think I’ll try and see what reaction I get. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My knitting patterns are also “vintage”.
Regards, Margaret
Thanks so much for leaving me a comment, Margaret. How on earth did you find my little Chicago blog all the way down in South Africa? :)
How wonderful to be able to say you’ve been sewing since the age of 12. I’m a very new sewer, and I love it. I bet you’d look just lovely in your “new” vintage clothes. My mom once told me everything comes back in style, and she was right. Clothes from the 80’s are back in a big way here in the states, but I very much prefer the 40’s and 50’s fashions.