Did I happen to say that I’m not a very skilled sewer? I am (barely) able to measure, cut or sew straight. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on the situation and with whom you speak) I am very brave and willing to try hard things. Sometimes I fool myself into thinking I can do anything.

Yesterday my dress pattern book came. It’s actually a reprint of a book written in 1932 so the patterns and instructions are authentic to the era. The book gives instructions for measuring your body and creating a pattern based on those measurements that can be adapted to create “26 Vintage 1930s fashions” (though, I’m sure in 1932 the author did not use the word “vintage” in her publication.)

Today I made my husband measure me. I stood on a   to make it easier for him, since he is significantly taller than I am (6′6″ to my 4′11″), which proved to be such a good idea that our almost two year-old decided she wanted to be measured as well and kept trying to push me off the stool so she could climb on and be measured.

I learned something in that experience (other than the obvious: do not attempt to do anything that requires your full attention span with small children in proximity). I learned that my body measurements are not exactly the average body measurements in 1932. And I learned that my body measurements are not exactly what I thought they were. (*Note to self: scale back on the brownies and get up early tomorrow to exercise.)

Tonight, after I put the kids to bed, I decided to start drafting my patterns. Good call. It was a much better decision than my first idea – do it tomorrow morning while the kids are awake. I found a good audio book to listen to while I worked, only to discover that drafting a pattern required 110% of my brain. Good thing it wasn’t a book I was too excited to hear. And good thing I have a selection of quilting rulers in different sizes and shapes. I needed three.

The only thing I didn’t consider until I finished the bodice was that it would probably have been more accurate to use a skinny mechanical pencil rather than my #2 pencil that wouldn’t hold a point. (*Note to self: track down the dozen mechanical pencils that are lost in my house before I attempt any further pattern making.) And better lighting would have been a bonus too. My husband is crazy about these energy saving bulbs. I’m about as crazy about them as I am about eye strain. I’ll more than likely realize tomorrow morning that brown paper +  pencil + dim lighting = probably not the best decision.

I finished the patterns for the bodice and sleeve and half the skirt pattern. (I’d have finished it but I don’t want to go down to the dark, scary basement to find the tape to put my pieces together.) I now have to peruse this book and decide which of the 26 vintage patterns I want to make. There are too many choices: bodices, skirts, sleeves, collars and capes. Oh my! I just hope I have enough fabric for what I choose. I think I’m going to make a mock-up out of junk material before I get too brave (stupid?) and try it out on my nice ($2/yard) floral fabric. That way I can make any adjustments before I try it for real.

Okay…I’m off to put the dining room back in order and to hide my pattern pieces so no one mistakes the papers I’ve spent hours marking for their own, new color pages! Wish me luck this whole dress making process!