The Sewing B*tch

Readers, you know I avoid vulgar language here at MPB.  Unlike some other bloggers we know and love who swear like sailors, I never use the f word, the c word, and usually avoid the b word.

Make it Reversible!

Friends, as you may recall, this green floral tropical print was my original choice for my vintage bathing suit project -- not the bikini, but rather the Advance one-piece.  Then it got bumped by the black floral print.  I thought I'd use the green print -- oh, so, Dorothy Lamour -- for my final bikini, and I had it all pressed and ready to use this morning when it just started to look so...obvious.  I wasn't feeling it.

Happiness Is a 1940's Two-Piece Swimsuit

Maybe I've watched too many Esther Williams movies.  Maybe I'm so immersed in vintage womens swimsuit patterns that I've lost perspective.

How to Sew a Wild Bikini

Readers of a certain age, do you like beach party movies?  I ask you specifically because I'm not sure anyone under forty knows what they are.

Finishing the 40's Swimsuit or "The Things I Do For My Cousin"

Readers, what could I do?

I wanted to show you my finished Advance swimsuit but my poor cousin Cathy is due to give birth any day now and hardly up to posing for cheesecake.   Consider this crabcake.

Peter's Final Knit Post!

Ta da! -- My blue knit t-shirt with contrasting neckband.

I am so done with knit jersey, friends.  At least for now.  I'm perfectly satisfied with my new t-shirts and I intend to wear them.  But the end result doesn't really merit the effort.

Vintage L.L. Bean Fashion Inspiration!

Readers, would you guess these men were dressed by designer Junya Watanabe of Comme des Garçons for the Paris Fall 2012 Mens Fashion Show?

Peter's New T-Shirt or "Down to the Knitty-Gritty"

They say the third time's the charm, which must be true, since that's how many tries it took me to attach my neckband successfully.  Oh, I'm sorry, good morning, readers!

Sewing With Knits

Before we get started, readers, I must share this latest entry in the "Who Wore It Best?" muslin competition.  Michael was insistent he get a shot, and since his mom was visiting yesterday afternoon...  Aren't they adorable? 

The Dickey - YEA or NAY?

Dickeys -- remember them?

The Robe Muslin: Who Wore It Best, Me or Mom?

I'll say this for my mother: she's game.

The Robe

Readers, do you enjoy biblical epics?  I avoid them like the plague -- a plague being one of the more repellent features of too many biblical epics, come to think of it -- as well as any movie starring Victor Mature, who made quite a few, including the The Robe, pictured above (and below).

More Bad Taste

After re-reading what I wrote yesterday about bad taste, as well as your excellent comments, I wanted to add some additional thoughts and clarifications.

The Demise of Bad Taste

So I just went to my local supermarket to buy mayonnaise.  A 15 oz. jar of Hellman's cost $5.29.  Isn't that kind of a lot?  I mean, I haven't bought mayonnaise in a while, but shouldn't this kind of thing be, like $1.29, or am I still living in 1987?

But I digress, and apologies to those who don't buy mayonnaise in the USA.

As I was flipping through my September Vogue yesterday -- I feel like I have to revisit it constantly to justify the $6 purchase -- I noticed something strange (or rather, among all the wacky fashions, another strange thing).  In among the hundreds of pages of Prada, Gucci, Tom Ford, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, etc., were ads for stores I wouldn't have expected to find in Vogue: Target, Kmart, and discounters like DSW and T.J. Maxx.

MPB Exclusive! SEPTEMBER VOGUE -- First Impressions

Friends, what can you get for $6 these days?  An iced latte and a muffin at Starbucks?  A tube of CVS-brand sunscreen, SPF 25? 

This morning I spent that much for the big, fat September Vogue (916 pages, mainly ads), and the first time I have ever purchased a contemporary women's fashion magazine in my life.  I rarely participate in big cultural moments -- parades, Super Bowls, Olympics, Oscars etc. -- but it does feel nice to do what everyone else is doing once in a while.  Well, maybe not everyone.

Things I Don't Get, Vol. 5: Stone-faced Models

Friends, tomorrow is the big day — at least according to fashion-maven/blogger Claudine, who told me so on Saturday.  August 14th is the day big, fat September Vogue hits the newsstands, and if I'm wrong I am going to feel like an idiot.

MPB Day 2012: Fashion! Fabric! Fatalities!

Readers, as a born-and-bred New Yorker, I'm not easily startled, but being within 100 yards of the fatal shooting by police of a knife-wielding maniac while en route to Mood Fabrics yesterday was certainly out of the ordinary.

Fortunately not even gunfire could dampen the spirits of our intrepid group of gregarious go-getters at yesterday's second annual MPB Day event.  What fun we had!  Nobody took a bullet and it never did rain.

Whatever Happened to Pattern Envelope Artwork?

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, and perhaps it is.  But if so, then what's an illustration worth?

MPB Day Prep!

Readers, tomorrow is MPB Day, and like so many of you, I have devoted today to prepping for the big event.  I may skip the egg white, avocado, and wheat germ facial but the ultraviolet sunlamp is a must.

Problematic Placement of Design Motifs or "No Bullseyes, Please!"

In the 1960's, a lot of people did drugs, which is the only explanation I can come up with for McCall's 8190, above.

Look, everyone loves a good border print, but some motifs don't belong "south of the border," if you get my drift.  The best comment came from a Pinterest follower (this pattern is in my Worst Women's Patterns Ever board) who dubbed this "Fruit of the Womb."

Beach Jacket Bingo!

Readers, when you go to the beach -- I mean when you're literally walking on the sand -- what are you usually wearing besides a bathing suit (assuming you're not on a nude beach, of course) --  maybe a sweatshirt or windbreaker, right?  Or just spray-on Banana Boat, SPF 60?

When Bad Instructions Happen to Good (Vintage) Patterns

Holy mother of Zeus, friends -- I nearly pulled my hair out today trying to parse the instructions of my vintage Forties swimsuit pattern, Advance 2467.  I had an easier time with Beowulf.

What is it with gay men and women's fashion?

Readers, in life, some questions are eternal.  Why are we here?  Are there dogs in heaven? Whatever happened to Deanna Durbin?

Sexy, Sexy Pattern Grading

A quick apology, readers: I misspoke.  There is nothing sexy about pattern grading.  You could do it in the nude, and there would still be nothing sexy about pattern grading.  Have you ever tried it -- either way?

Which way should stripes go?

Leave it to designer Thom Browne -- he just has to be different, doesn't he?  I need a Dramamine.

Things I Don't Get, Vol 4: The Empire Wedding Gown

Friends, you often hear it said that a woman is never more beautiful than on her wedding day.  You also hear it said that a woman is at her most radiant when she is expecting.