Getting my sewing mojo back

I'm tired of not sewing!

Last autumn, I had so much going on with knitting projects that I sewed very little. And then came the house buying, and the moving, and, well, my sewing machine has been pretty lonely. I kept saying I'd start sewing again once I got my basement craft area going, but that hasn't really happened yet. It's been bothering me that I haven't sewn in months, especially since I had hoped last year I'd really step up my sewing pace. Well, there's always next year... err, of course we're 4 months into that. ;) I finally decided I'll just set myself up to sew wherever I can until I have my dedicated space.

The first step was to find my last vintage sewing project in process. I started this back in September. It's view 3 from Simplicity 4608, though short-sleeved.

Let me tell you, if you've never picked up a sewing project that you started months ago, it is hard. I haven't even started back in on it, but it's pretty intimidating. I have no notes on this, only where I left off. The tucks are complete, as are the French seams for the shoulder front and back.

And sorry, it may be awhile before I get lighting figured out for basement photos! Our house is proving to not have very good natural light for photos and I need to do some research to work around that. Otherwise outfit photos in winter will be outside standing in the snow, ha ha.

Here's the back view. This fits very poorly around the neck of my dress form, but rest assured when draped on my own body it's fine. (I probably need to adjust the dials a bit.) The back horizontal shoulder seam was gathered, too. I recall I tested out the French seams with gathers and this fabric before doing it on my pattern pieces as I didn't think it would work out, but it did and I'm quite pleased.

(Of course, it looks a lot better ironed, but this was fresh out of the bag I had it stored in.)

Along with the sleeve and collar pieces cut out and pinned to their respective pattern pieces, that's it. I have no notes. I have no idea what I was planning to use as interfacing for the collar pieces. I don't have any white silk organza (why do I keep forgetting to order this!), so I suspect I was planning to use another layer of the fashion fabric since it's quite lightweight, or perhaps sew-in interfacing. I remember now that I still hadn't decided how to finish the inside of the sleeve cap and I was nervous about finishing the collar with such a sheer fabric. I guess I need to just dive back in! Although that's a bit easier said than done when you're already a rather timid sewist.

To try and get my sewing mojo going again, I also opened up my packed sewing patterns box. This is how my vintage patterns have lived since we started packing at the end of December. Lots fit in here, but it did really show me that my pattern stash is woefully small. No wonder I always look through and have a hard time deciding what I'd like to sew!

Isn't it fun when you get to unpack something of yours that you really, really like? It was kind of like Christmas. There were patterns I'd only recently bought before packing, so I didn't even remember I had them. What fun!

I had a helper, too. I swear you can't open a box in our house without Dinah diving in.

So here's a little sewing inspiration for you, from a few vintage patterns.

I really like this blouse pattern, it's very simple. (Did you catch the great shaped waistband on the skirt on the right, too?) I could see making view 2 in any number of solids, or using the collar-less view 1 to show off great prints. While the pattern didn't say, I'm thinking this needs something very lightweight and drapey, like a cotton lawn, or perhaps rayon? I think the only closure is one button at the back of the neck.

How about the dress below? I wouldn't wear the collar up, but isn't it smashing? I love the sleeves, too, and the piping accent on the solid version. If only I could find more light cottons in prints like that floral... oh, how I wish I could browse in a vintage sewing shop!

And last but not least, a blouse pattern that was new to my collection when it got packed. I just love all the views of this Hollywood pattern! Which is your favorite?

If you've gone through periods where you haven't done any sewing or your projects aren't working out for you, how have you been able to get your sewing mojo back?? I really need to step up my sewing!