DIY Hostess Gifts - Quick and Easy Coasters

Are struggling to find an appropriate gift within your budget for someone special? Or perhaps you are determined to have your holiday gifts handmade to convey how much you care about that special someone? With a few 5" x 5" squares of fabric you can mix and match your way to making these awesome little mug mats.

They can be dignified and uniform or mismatched and whimsical. Either way, with very little sewing, these can be whipped up in an hour or two. Tied with a bow or tucked into a gift bag with coffee beans or tea, they make a thoughtful hostess gift that's a bit more creative than the usual bottle of wine. 

With leftover scraps, simply follow this ever so easy tutorial from SoChick! The Blog. 

We found the tutorial for these Boxy Bags from SoChick! featured in our last DIY Gifts to Make post.

Boxy Bags - Quick DIY Spa Bags for Guys or Gals

Gifts made from your hands are the best and will be the most cherished of gifts. These easy to sew toiletries bags make the perfect spa bag for her or shaving bag for him. 

They make great use of fabric scraps or remnants with brightly colored contrast zippers and tabs for variety. Pretty floral patterns for the girl's bags and rugged camo or denim fabric for the boys.

This year I had 35 on my list so the assembly line was employed to make quick work of the job. I filled the Spa bags with my hand crocheted wash cloths, scented soaps, bath salts an aromatherapy candle and herb tea bags. The guys bags were filled with shaving stuff and hand knit wool socks. The possibilities are limitless. 
 

And so easy to wrap! Just tie a ribbon around the bag and you are good to go!

Find the tutorial to make these wonderful little bags at SoChick blog. Her visual tutorial is so easy to follow you will be a pro after the first try.

Ding Dong School

When I was a wee tot the tv programs that I watched the most were those that had real kids in them. Romper Room was both fun and educational. Miss Dorothy was the teacher/mom and real life lessons were taught in her tv classroom. Romper Room first aired in 1953. Of course, I watched it much later since I was not born until 1957. But I remember "Miss Dorothy", the first Romper Room hostess.

Romper Room Archives kptv

My husband is a few years older than me and was too "mature" to appreciate Romper Room when it aired. He remembers Ding Dong School with Miss Frances.

Ding Dong School

Miss Frances also spoke to the television audience which was mainly preschool children. She taught children how to do simple tasks around the house to help themselves and to help mom. Ding Dong School aired from 1952 until 1965 when it was cancelled and replaced with The Price is Right. Watch this early 1950's episode.

Woman's Home Companion Magazine published this 1954 interview with Miss Frances by Anna W. M. Wolf on "How to Play with Your Children".

Woman's Home Companion September 1954 pp 60 - 61

While counting pattern pieces for my CynicalGirl shop on Etsy, I came across this sweet pattern, McCall's 1921. "Child's Self-Help Apron. A Ding Dong School Pattern Approved by Miss Frances".

McCall's 1921

This McCall's pattern was printed in 1954. It was developed for use by parents and children with the aid of America's most popular television teacher - Frances Horwich.  The easy to sew apron dress is a wrap with button tabs in the front, big patch pockets with appliques, finished with a simple bias tape trim around all the edges. Easy to sew and easy to dress yourself. My copy was well loved and probably made over and over and in fragile condition so I have recreated it as a pdf to share. This pattern is in a size 2, breast 21. Pages print as 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper. Download HERE.

Resources to Share - Sew Grateful Week

Sew Grateful Week - My Happy Sewing Place

Growing up in a large family, sharing was one of the first rules to maintain civility in our home. I still love to share. I share recipes, ideas and resources. This blog is all about sharing resources and ideas for sewing. Please visit the left bar for oodles of vintage sewing booklets. Find vintage pattern catalogs HERE. And odd little patterns I have found over the years HERE. And don't forget the ever so important tutorial on altering a pattern HERE. All are downloadable for free. I add more when time allows so bookmark me and pop in now and again.

Costume and Party Aprons

1950's Birthday Party

Baby boomers in the 1950s had no shortage of sources for homemaking ideas. This generation of American suburbanites ditched the old and ushered in the new. And a flourishing time it was. The middle class was healthy and head of the consumer class. Television brought products and new ideas right into our living rooms urging us to buy, buy, buy. And so we did.

With more income and leisure time, it was easier to lavish attention on our children. Consider the Birthday Party. This photo looks like my house with other people's kids. I am certain we had that very same Pin The Tail on the Donkey game. Didn't everybody?

McCall's Needlework and Crafts Volume 6 1955

As parties became more popular they also became more structured. These 1955 party apron patterns from the McCall's Needlework and Crafts Annual Volume 6, offer a whimsical approach to party attire. And they are take home mementos from a fun party.

Down load the instructions HERE to make these 6 cute party aprons for your child's retro birthday party. Find more Children's patterns at my shop on Etsy.

Fast and Easy Gift Ideas from Wrights

Wrights, founded in 1897, sold pre-measured lengths of trim wound around little cardboard rectangles in flat little packages making distribution possible to even the most remote department, dime and dry goods stores. These ingenious packages are the same trims we buy today. 

Wrights Trims and Laces

To encourage the use of these packaged products Wrights published patterns that used their trims. These little pamphlets were distributed at fabric stores and anywhere a notions display of Wrights trims happened to be. Others were included in the packages.

Wrights Sunburst Apron

Easy to make and economical, Wrights patterns were perfect for the 1950's homemaker. This Sunburst Apron pattern is quite sophisticated with it's dimensionality. Definitely one to make for anyone's retro apron collection.

Wrights Terry Guest Towels

These sweet little Finger-Tip Guest Towels with minimal embroidery are easily made with Wrights Bias Tape. Download the entire brochure with these and other fun Gifts and Bazaar Ideas HERE.

To find more Vintage Apron and Accessory patterns please visit my Etsy Shops, CynicalGirl and CynicalGirlAnnex.

Learning To Sew

Sewing quality garments that you will be proud of wearing takes time and patience. Finding the right fabric for the pattern you choose is no less important. There is nothing more frustrating than investing your time and resources sewing a garment only to be disappointed with the results. Often those little errors that cause the garment to pull or sag can be avoided by a little pre-cutting preparation.

DOWNLOAD HERE

This 1962 booklet published by Advance pattern company, details every aspect of your experience from finding your body type and choosing a pattern that will fit to preparing your fabric and your cut pieces. Only 20 pages in this Bishop Method of Clothing Construction booklet but it is packed. Grain lines, staystitching, directional stitching and unit construction are a few of the lessons covered. 

Success can never be guaranteed but it can weigh in your favor with some basic preparations before you begin to sew. Avoid frustration and make something you will be proud to say "I made this" with a little help from Advance patterns and the Bishop Method of Clothing Construction.

1950 Laura Wheeler Designs Mail Order Pattern Catalog with Free Handbag Pattern

Laura Wheeler was a powerhouse of Mail Order needlework patterns. Perhaps as early as the 1930's, patterns for knitting, crochet, needlework and crafts were distributed through syndicated newspaper advertisements. This 1950 pattern catalog offers patterns for 25 cents for huck towels, crochet shrugs and sweaters, fascinator hats, dolls, holiday decor and more. It even includes a pattern to make a handbag. 

1950© Laura Wheeler Designs Needlework Pattern Catalog

You can view all of the patterns in this Vintage Laura Wheeler Catalog and download it for the handbag pattern. Or you can simply download the pattern for the handbag. Either way, enjoy perusing these fabulous patterns that turn ordinary household items into cheerful and beautiful fashions and decor.

1950© Laura Wheeler Handbag Pattern - Prints on 11 x 17 paper

101 Ways to Save With Your Sewing Machine

101 Ways to Save was published by the Domestic Sewing Machine Company, established in 1861, known as the American Domestic Sewing Machine when it became available in Europe. It was a popular brand and readily available, even sold by Sears. The company was active into the 1950's when it was sold under the brand White. I was able to find quite a story about the Domestic machines at Sewalot.com. Alex Askaroff from the Sewalot site is the keeper of the best resource for researching sewing machines and the curious histories behind them. Visit to learn more.

The Domestic Sewing Machine Company

This marvelous little pattern book was published around 1955. It must have been one of the last things published under the "Domestic" name. Inside there are patterns that are easy and quick to make gifts, clothes and takes us back to the origins of "upcycling". 

101 Ways to Save with Your Sewing Machine

With quick and easy patterns to elegantly transform your wardrobe, or DIY window shades, you'll find tips that save Time, Temper and Money in this 1950's booklet. Download HERE for more fun patterns that are easy to sew and wonderful gifts to make and give.

Prims Sunburst Slippers Pattern

I have uncovered yet another pattern that originated from the Home Economics Department of the Educational Bureau of William Prym, Inc, a button and notions manufacturer (now part of Pryms and Dritz) that introduced metal blanks suitable for covering with fabric for home sewers. And just in time to make as gifts to give this Holiday. These simple to sew felt slippers feature, as all the Prims patterns did, a Cover-Your-Own-Button as the centerpiece of the Sunburst toe decoration. 

 

Prims Sunburst Slippers

Even with a regular sew-on button, these sweet slippers will be sure to please whomever they are made for. This free downloadable printed pattern prints on an 8.5" x 14" (legal) size sheet of paper and features three sizes. 

I have earlier posts with more fun Prims Patterns. 

Prims 1960s Jumpsuit Pattern

Prims Yumm-Yum Lounger and Cap for a Little Girl

Prims Precious Pets Lingerie Case

Prims Clothespin Caddy

Prims Camelot Casual

Prims Whale of a Kari-All and Toy

Prims Convertible Tote Bag

Prims Masquerade 4-in-1 Hat

Prims Cutaway Bolero

1950's Aunt Jemima Face Apron Pattern

In 1955, ads for a series of mail order "Face" or "Girl" aprons appeared in Newspapers across the US. This "Mammy" or Aunt Jemima face apron was available through Laura Wheeler and Alice Brooks pattern companies. For twenty-five cents you could have this pattern delivered directly to your door.

1950's Aunt Jemima Apron Pattern

Get this 1955 apron pattern for free.

What strikes me as curious is that the same face apron was also issued but with a fair skinned "Girl" represented in the newspaper ad. 1955 was the year Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to vacate her seat in the front of the bus in Montgomery Alabama, which was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Odd that these images, which are such blatant stereotypes, would be so available.

Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University

But the "Jim Crow Mammy" image had been in use since the 1800's as a commercial identity for selling a vast array of household goods from baking soda to coffee to dishes and linens. It was in the late 1940's when Quaker Oats enlisted their third Aunt Jemima, an image that would become a American Icon. The more recent figure of Aunt Jemima is a much altered figure from the earlier version and certainly less racist.

We may consider the images of the "Dutch Girl" less racist but still represents a stereotype image.  So how about downloading this simple "Santa Face" Apron Pattern to celebrate the holidays.

USDA Agricultural Extension Bulletins

Extension work began as early as 1785. It was developed as a means to reach out to rural America and assist with aspects of farm management and education for the isolated families. Early Farmers' Institutes were established for the dissemination of information on Agriculture, Manufacturing and Arts. Speakers traveled around the country doing demonstrations, conducting classes and handing out informational publications. Topics such as soil analysis, geological surveys and chemical inventions were brought to the countryside. Topics expanded to cover aspects of animal husbandry, pasturing, crops, fencing, manures and market fairs. These institutes would develop into the State Agricultural Colleges throughout the country as the Market Fairs would become the State Fairs.

http://thelaker.com/yesterday-history-of-the-agricultural-fair

In the early 1900's the Institutes would sometimes hold separate sessions titled "Cooking Schools" for women where nutrition and methods of food preparation were demonstrated. Women were encouraged to attend and the number of women lecturers grew. Sessions were arranged for children to participate in any number of features such as music and arts. As popularity of the programs grew so did the funding.

By 1908 Iowa, Indiana, Colorado and Nebraska and many other rural states, had women's organizations with trained instructors in home economics. Many of these women's "auxiliaries" offered prizes for girl's culinary exhibits at the farmers' institutes. They met and had annual dues to support the expenses of their meetings and workshops. At the same time the farming institutes began separate institutes to encourage farming in the younger generation. Boys were instructed in farm work while girls were instructed in home arts and personal hygiene.

1927 Vocational Tech Classes - Wisconsin

By 1916 the "Institutes" began to decline. The work they had carried out was now part of larger Agricultural Colleges. Home demonstration work among farm women was gaining in popularity while women were schooled in small scale poultry management and vegetable gardening, butter making and developing cooperatives for selling eggs and other products. It was the birth of wide spread home economics study. The colleges reached women by offering study clubs, demonstrations and printed Bulletins. 

Clothing Construction 1925 - Google Doc

This publication from 1925 details the process of instructing various techniques of pattern drafting and dress form construction throughout several states. It does not teach the art of clothing construction, rather it is the report detailing the success of the Extension program.

Though many of the original institutes no longer exist, their offspring are thriving. Home economics are in the curricula of most high schools in the US. Clubs such as 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Scouting offer kids the opportunity to experience agriculture, nature and the arts. University Agricultural Extension services still produce informational bulletins with information that ranges from home canning and turkey roasting safety to pond management, growing mushrooms and orchard management. All of these publications are government printings and are in the public domain. 

During the Depression, as part of the WPA, similar visiting lecturers were employed by the government to visit rural communities and teach skills. John Colt, my professor of painting at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, was one of these lecturers. He traveled around Wisconsin teaching rug weaving to women in small towns and rural areas. In the 40's this was one of the ways women could earn money and by the proliferation of old weaving looms stowed in old barns it was something that many women attempted.

1945 Women's Measurements USDA Publication

This 1941 publication on Women's Measurements was a product of the WPA. The entire documentation of the process of measuring and recording measurements is detailed in this publication. The standards for women's sizing would change again but the measurement guide and chart may still be of use especially for women sewing with vintage sewing patterns. 

Download the Sewing Chart HERE

I have a collection of many of the earlier bulletins which are still valuable for the detailed information contained in them. Click on any of the Vintage Sewing Booklets linked on the left or visit http://publications.usa.gov/ for current publications.



A History of Agricultural Extension Work in the United States 1785 - 1923 by Alfred Charles True published by the United States Government Printing Office - Washington 1928©
http://wiscohisto.tumblr.com/post/44669107621/sewing-class-at-milwaukee-vocational-school 
http://thelaker.com/yesterday-history-of-the-agricultural-fair

Prims Cutaway Bolero Pattern

Another wonderful Prims pattern. This one is for a Cutaway Bolero Jacket pattern using none other than the ever so versatile Cover Your Own Buttons with front or back button closing.