Tool Tuesday - Pattern Notcher

 

I've decided to feature one of my favorite tools each Tuesday.  We'll see if I can sustain this EVERY week - I may run out of tools and have to cut back to monthly posts . . . but let's give it a try! :)

So one of my most favorite tools that I use EVERY SINGLE time I cut out patterns, and a tool I can't believe I went YEARS without even knowing about, is the Pattern Notcher!  If you don't already have one of these - trust me - GET ONE! 

This handy (and cheap!) little tool is a life saver and keeps you from having to awkwardly angle your scissors to try to cut out that little triangle notch on the patterns.  It works just like a hole punch: slide your notcher over the pattern and/or fabric and squeeze!  Clip!  That simple.

I'll be honest for a long time I actually didn't even cut in the notches because to me they were a pain in the butt.  I know, it's not THAT hard to cut a notch with scissors, but it was just enough "extra" that I didn't want to do it.  Since I found these pattern notchers, I've become a notch zealot and I just love putting the notches in my fabric.

There's not a lot more I can say about this tool other than I LOVE IT! (In case you didn't pick up on that yet. ;)  I'll post a few links below where you can pick one up and a great video explaining how to use them.  

• Buy from WAWAK
• Buy from Amazon
• The Pattern Notcher YouTube Video

Let me know what you think and if you already have one and use it - do you love it too?

With love,

Rebecca

January Patterns Preview

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah (or other celebrated holiday) and got to spend time with friends and family or by yourself recharging. As the New Year approaches I thought I’d take a minute to give you a little preview of my January pattern offerings.

I’m excited to be able to offer multiple patterns again from which you can choose! I already have the New York 284 (Bust 32) ready and will be putting it up on my Etsy this week.  As a bonus with this pattern you’ll get the custom Claire McCardell option (Bust 34/waist 33) with it as well - just send me an email after purchasing and ask for it!

Before January is out I’ll plan to have the Butterick 1873 (Bust 34), Hollywood 1659 (Bust 30), and Simplicity 7088 (Bust 34) done and ready for you to pick from.

As always, Patreon members get to pick one pattern from all FOUR of these options to receive for FREE!!

 

I hope you like the idea of having options to pick from. I hope to keep this up going forward. As always, let me know what patterns you’d like to have copied so I can add them to my queue.

With Love, 

Rebecca

BeespokeVintage Merch

I’m excited to announce that I now have 

BeespokeVintage Merch available!

Show your love and support, and carry your vintage hauls in style. This tote is extra large and heavy duty cotton canvas. You’re going to love it!🥰

Get yours today from my Website Shop or Etsy.

Do you or someone you know LOVE BeespokeVintage? Want a really cool way to show your love for my little business? PLUS have an awesome way to carry around your pattern, vintage and book hauls! THIS IS IT!

Sturdy cotton canvas with black straps and bottom accent. in an generous size and gusseted bottom to make carrying all your stuff that much easier.

NOTE: You are purchasing ONLY the bag. accessories, patterns, etc are not included.

Podcast Episode 5: Christmas Besties

Well here it is folks!

The first ever BeespokeVintage

Christmas Podcast! 

This is the image on my family Santa Cookie tray.
It was the tray we used in my family growing up and
my mom bequeathed it to me so now my kids use it too

 I'm joined in this podcast by my small business bestie Beth Kuhar-Miller of One Sweet Thread and we're getting personal! Join us as we talk about our Christmas decorating traditions, favorite Christmas cookies, books, movies and memories from childhood and adulthood. Beth shares a childhood gift she always wanted and never got from Santa. We talk about when we first discovered Santa wasn't real (or is he . . . ?) And don't miss all the celebrities I accidentally (and repeatedly) diss - honestly, I am the WORST with remembering names.

You'll find out what Christmas books and movies we love! And which songs we hate and hope we never hear again. But you'll have to listen to the very end to hear which Christmas song I play to close out the podcast.

Beth and I hope you find some things to love and laugh about in this podcast and have a wonderful holiday, whatever traditions you celebrate!

With love!

Rebecca

Places/Things Referenced:

Easy Bake Oven

Barbie Dream House

My Baby Beth Doll

Terry's Chocolate Oranges

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

 

Storyland Christmas Tree Farm

 

Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort 

Christmas Books:

Rebecca - Mr. Willouby's Christmas Tree

Rebecca - The Sweet Smell of Christmas

Rebecca - Baking Day at Grandma's

Beth - Llama Llama Christmas

Christmas Movies

Rebecca - It's a Wonderful Life

Beth - White Christmas

Books We're Reading

Beth - James Herriod - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Rebecca - Nothing

Shows/Movies We're Watching:

Rebecca - Miss Scarlet and the Duke

Rebecca - Yellowstone - 1883

Rebecca - Yellowstone - 1923

Beth - HBO Max Ghosts - British Version

Christmas Songs We Hate

Beth - Wham - Last Christmas

Rebecca - Adam Sandler Hanukkah Song

Apologies to the Famous People I Accidentally Dissed

Harrison Ford

Adam Sandler

"Beth on Yellowstone" (Kelly Reilly)

Podcast Episode 4: Sewing Across Generations

My Grandmother Mickie working on a Baby Quilt

I have been working diligently on the November (now December) podcast: Sewing Across Generations and I think I am nearly ready to post it! This one was a tricky one because I interviewed my Mom since her mother (pictured throughout) sewed voraciously and was who taught me how to sew, and because then I became a seamstress. As you can probably imagine, interviewing your own mother can be a tricky endeavor . . . There are so many side stories and emotions and past experiences to navigate.

We ended up with an HOUR AND 45 MINUTES of audio! Whew! So what I've been working on these past several weeks is editing it down (got it down to 45 minutes and trying to create a beautiful encapsulation of my mother's memory of being a child of a sewist and then a mother of a sewist. I've also sprinkled in a few stories about sewing for my own children and the importance of having a shared skill and collective tradition like sewing to pass from generation to generation.

Here's the LINK to the podcast.

I hope you all really enjoy it! As always feel free to share it with others you think might enjoy it.

As a BONUS for Patreon members only, I will also be sharing the UNCUT podcast recording so you can get the extra stories and the funny interaction between me and my mom as we fall down rabbit holes and try to get back on track.

---

Links to shows and books mentioned in the podcast:

• See How they Run
• A Private Affair
• Daylight by David Baldacci (the book I couldn't remember the title of)
• Miss Scarlet and the Duke by Masterpiece
• Life Force by Tony Robbins
• One Sweet Thread (Mid-Podcast Ad)

Bonus Photos:

MY GRANDMOTHER MICKIE IN SOME OF THE DRESSES SHE MADE

Grammy Mickie in High School 1940s   

Grampa Wilcid and Grammy Mickie 1940s

My Mom, Grammy Mickie, Uncle Bobby 1950s 

My Mom in the Red/Grey Checked Dress 6th Grade

My Mom in the Red/Grey Checked Dress 6th Grade
     

PATTERNS REFERENCED IN PODCAST

Butterick 9563 - Pattern used for Pink Gingham Dress

Butterick 9563 Back

Butterick 9130 - Pattern used for
Red and Grey Plaid Dress

Butterick 9130 Back

Mail Order Pattern of my GREAT-Grandmother's 1950s

OTHER PHOTOS

My mother and me (wearing a dress my grandmother made)

My First Civil War Dress - age 12

Me with all 3 kids - Civil War Living History, Sully Plantation, VA

With Vintage Friends WWII D-Day Event, Conneaut, OH
(One Sweet Thread, Me, Sarah, Liz, The Glambassador)

Recent Make of Eleanor Powell Dress