A Small Embellishment, A Big Thanks

Happy Hump Day! We're halfway through the work week.

So not much has been going on in terms of finished objects, but I've been struggling with my self-drafted pants pattern and ripping apart old refashions to try and make them wearable. But I did make something this weekend that just tickles me, a very simple knit embellishment.


A bit o' background: Debbie of Minnado's House, offered me some lace from her amazing lace stash. Of her stash, she says, "My grandpa ran a wedding and evening dress business from the 1940s until the late 1970s and these laces are from his now long-departed business."

Here's Debbie's simple cardigan embellishment that shows off how special this lace is:


Then I'd mentioned how much I've been oogling Grosgrain's black sweater/lace refashion here (click through photo to post):

So Debbie wrapped the lace around her three times, cut it, and popped it in the post to me.

But then I sat on it for months. Vintage lace? It was almost too special to use. Should I buy a black sweater like Grosgrain, or should I use something from my abundant stash? And how would I sew it on?

After wrapping it around me in all sorts of contortions, I opted to do something very simple. I took a Ralph Lauren heavy knit short-sleeve top that I'd managed to damage with several bleach stains at the crewneck. Grrr. It's a pretty color so I've held onto it. I cut off the collar:


I finished the raw edge and folded it under a half inch. Using a cream needle thread and a rust-colored bobbin thread, I sewed the lace on using a narrow zig-zag. After languishing for months in my closet, it's back and it's better:


To be honest, I tried to do more with this, like Grosgrain's, but the lace on the sleeves or at the waist felt really busy on my frame. Good news: I've got more lace to play with for other projects!

In action, work-style, paired with a hand-me-down skirt and maryjane heels. The boy is trying to convince me it looks okay tucked in. I think the trick to tucked in constitutes either 1) breasts or 2) a waist, of which I have neither.


More casual: Paired with my sweater skirt and flats.


So I'm out the door this morning with this lovely sweater on. Between this and my Jessica top, I'm discovering new ways to top it off—I've typically been restricted to t-shirts and oxfords. And I wouldn't've been able to do it without them. Thanks, ladies!

By the way, this post could also be titled, "Why I love Debbie," because I recently won her giveaway which was this Burda magazine, my first:
I love flipping through the photos and thinking of how you could easily combine patterns. I bet if I had a one-year subscription I'd pretty much be set in terms of patterns to play with for years and years. I've got my eye on this pretty dress for summer:


Fashion on the Ration tally
Money Spent: $0. Damaged knit top in refashion pile, lace from Debbie
Age of garment: Purchased second-hand for ~$5, owned for 1.5 years
Coupons Saved: 5
Total Coupons Left: 66

Happy sewing!