Tuesday, August 21, 2012

My Next Project

You know how I love the shopping online and buying vintage and handmade things. Well, Etsy really covers all my bases which is why I try so hard to stay away from it. Inevitably, every couple of months, I have a moment (aka a week where I find 8300 awesome things I must own) and it's all Etsy, all the time. 

It's a particularly fabulous resource for the home crafter. 

What I've discovered is that, if you "need" something, you can probably find it gently worn / dead stock / vintage at a very good price, especially if you're willing to do the research. I've also found the service to be incomparably professional. Often, when I email a seller to request a discount on shipping (you know how I hate mark up on that element of any purchase), he or she will offer it at cost, which can easily delete 10 bucks from the final price. Some sellers do not take returns, while others are very happy to reclaim their merchandise if it doesn't work for you. I am careful when ordering tricky-to-fit things i.e. shoes (you can get AWESOME, almost new, designer shoes for a fraction of the cost) or clothing.

The categories I have so far experimented with include: jewelry (generally vintage, sterling silver), books (so many awesome vintage books to be had. How I love these!), potions (i.e. all-natural face serum), sewing supplies and (very recently i.e. the parcels haven't arrived yet) vintage clothing and shoes. FYI, I rarely spend more than 30 bucks on any given item (including shipping) and the most I've spent on anything, by far, is $95.00. My point is that this is a place where you can have a terrific time, buy yourself something sweet and not even vaguely break the bank. FYI, you can also break the bank.

What does this have to do with the next thing I'm going to sew?

Well, I discovered this store and purchased a pattern last night:


Yes, it's one of those tape-together-for-yourself patterns, a format I don't love, but it's only got 3 pieces. I will need to add seam allowances, so I'll end up doing some extra work, however I can manage this in the evening (unlike sewing which is too energy-intensive after a day at the office).  I haven't found any reviews of this top, but I have emailed the designer to ask her what body-shape she based the sloper on, to get a sense of whether I should make the 10 or 12. As it has no sleeves to mess with the armscye fit, I suspect the 12 might work better (bust size is exactly mine). It also has side darts and darts below the bust so that I can (hopefully) easily work around my curves.

There are a few reviews online for this company, and none I can find for this top, but they're all good. However, they do indicate that the designer assumes that you know a fair bit about sewing, even with Beginner patterns. I'll keep you posted as I start making this garment.

You may wonder why I've chosen an entirely new pattern from a new-to-me pattern company though I've said I don't want to fiddle with fit. Beats me. I just can't get psyched by anything in my inventory. This top seems like a good staple that will work in 3 of the fabrics I've already got hanging around. (It calls for lining, somewhat concerningly, as I don't know if I'll need to go out and find some, or if I can just use self fabric to accomplish this task. It does raise concerns about how much fabric I have vs what I will require. Hmmm...) I appreciate the opportunity to adjust size on the basis of lots of darts. My bodice fitting project, though still in process, has taught me that my shape is best suited to a fitted woven top with vertical waist darts. I like that this pattern has already built them in. And, who doesn't love a peplum? It's kind of fancy but in an easy way. I sense the top will work well under jackets or with jeans.  As well, I'm happy to support small business, wherever I find it, so I really hope this garment works well on me. Elisa, the owner, stocks a variety of rather wearable and cute designs which intrigue me.

So, let's get the ball rolling... 

For sewists: Have you tried Salme Sewing Patterns and, if so, what do you think? How do you like the look of this pattern? Do you suppose I can use self-fabric for lining? 

And for everyone: How do you feel about online shopping? Are you an etsy-holic? What kinds of stuff are you comfortable buying sight unseen?

Let's talk!

24 comments:

  1. I've bought a lot of brooches and sewing patterns through etsy. I have lots of favorites on it.

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    1. Me too! I favourite everything! It's like buying, but free :-) (And you don't ever get the stuff.)

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  2. I've managed to not buy anything on etsy yet. mostly due to avoiding looking there because i just don't have the budget or the space!
    good luck with the new pattern

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    1. That's extremely intelligent. Never go there.

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  3. My husband bought a wooden engraved pen on there a couple of years ago. My only purchase on there was a few weeks back I bought an awesome pattern for a raglan sleeve button up blouse after seeing the one CalicoStretch had purchased (mine was the same size and everything!)

    I have, however, spent an insane amount of time on there looking at things that I wished I could purchase. Currently, I'm looking for a cute enameled belt buckle for an elastic type belt. There's plenty to choose from, but I think that's the problem! ;-)

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    1. Nice! And it's such a fun way to spend an evening. You don't have to buy anything. I star all of my faves and it's just like purchasing but you don't need to spend any money!

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  4. I think that style will look GREAT on you. Talk of avoiding the FBA makes me nervous, but then what do I know about fitting busts? ;)

    I generally avoid etsy... although my boss sells chain mail on it. ;) Someday when I have money, though...

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    1. Thank you! I'm hoping it's going to be good, but I'm nervous at this point, esp. since the sweater I just finished did not work out as planned and the fit is crap.

      How many people can say their boss sells chain mail on Etsy?! :-)

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  5. I love etsy. I've even managed to steer my husband there when he was in the mood to buy my something (most recently a mid century pearl/rhinestone necklace) I also love your top pattern. It reminds me somewhat of the one on the cover of the August Burdastyle magazine, but with a cute detail with that keyhole front. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

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    1. Now that's smart!

      The top is similar to the one on Burda, a couple of others have pointed it out. I guess the style must be making a come-back.

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  6. I love Etsy for children's PDF patterns. I have a shopping basket full - just need more time/money! I daren't start looking at vintage patterns...it's just tooooooo dangerous.

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    1. Definitely stay away from the vintage patterns. :-) (Then there will be more for me.)

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  7. I think that blouse will look awesome on you! I haven't tried any of their patterns yet so can't comment on how they sew up. Self fabric for lining could work but obv it depends what fabric you're using?

    I have bought from etsy before and I LOVE shopping online. Can't deal very well with crowded shopping centres which have much less choice than the world wide web :)

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    1. Thanks Suzy! I think the lining will work. I guess it's all about the experimentation...

      I too love shopping online. I used to love shopping in stores (which I still enjoy) but online with a glass of wine is terrific.

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  8. I love Etsy, but I've been really spoiled by my local flea market so I rarely buy anything vintage unless its from there... the mark-ups everywhere else can get really insane.

    I will buy clothing & fabric online, but I'm picky about vintage shoes. I've bought a few pair & had to return them because they had dry-rot :( Plus those always fit weird anyway - I guess ladies had narrower feet back in the day.

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    1. OK, a local flea market is an excellent resource.

      And I've bought a couple of pairs of vintage shoes online in the past (and a number of pairs at vintage shops, where I had the benefit of trying them on first). The online experience is tricky, I totally agree. But you know I buy bras online too - so I'm a bit crazy when it comes to what I'll chance.

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  9. Hmm, I've mostly avoided Etsy because so much of it is crafty things that I know I could make myself if I really wanted to. I have bought a few pieces of jewelry that were outside my skill set and was happy with them all.

    I haven't bought any patterns, but look forward to seeing your experiment! Peplum tops are so in right now and this one has great style.

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    1. So much of it is vintage! You can't make that :-)

      I'm looking forward to seeing how this experiment plays out too. I hope it will be successful. I'm in the mood for a sewing success.

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  10. In answer to your question: I don't love a peplum! I think I'm the only one out there though, LOL!

    I'm very interested to hear about how this pattern works for you, as the few reviews I've read haven't been great. I've been drawn to a few of the designs, but have held off buying them because of it.

    I love Etsy. I've purchased several vintage jewelry pieces, and have also added a few scarves to my collection of vintage Vera Neumann, as well as lots of spinning fiber.

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    1. Does it remind you of Dynasty and the 80s?

      I have to agree that the instructions are not fab on the Salme pattern (at least in the abstract). And I wonder how you found the bad reviews and I found the good ones.

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  11. That pattern looks very promising!!!! Super cute! It oozes possibilities and the thought of 3 pattern pieces makes it all the more tempting.

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    1. I know! 3 pieces - how hard can it be (she says naively)? :-)

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  12. I think peplums are so lovely. I don't really think they work on my body shape though so I probably won't be going there (they require a slim fitting bottom half, and I don't like things that cling to my thighs..). But yay, I can live vicariously through you!
    It's such a pretty pattern. I'm looking forward to your discoveries with it :)

    I don't like online shopping for clothes because I don't trust things to fit (and returns are a huge hassle). But mainly, most shipping rates to New Zealand are really expensive :(
    I also have a problem with Etsy because they claim to be all about handmade/vintage, but they have tonnes and tonnes of resellers of mass produced items (and these people pretend their goods are handmade too). It's pretty bad, and Etsy don't do anything about it because they make money from it. Sigh, world, why you gotta be so corrupt?

    Oops I wrote a lot!
    Umm as for self-lining, I would think it would depend on your fabric choice!

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    1. It's true, they're not the best shape for those who are proportionately wide in the derriere - although you could probably alter it to fit you in the right spot.

      You are right about Etsy being about much more than handmade and vintage, though I just ignore that part.

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