At one Civil War event last year I pinned my dress shields into my navy bodice. Well, the safety pins that are attached to the shields were very dull. They really liked to snag my fabrics.
As I was unpacking my camp things, I pulled out my tomato pin cushion. I never use it anymore as a pin cushion but the little strawberry attached to it is why it’s still around.
That little strawberry is essential in your sewing room. It is filled with little beads that will sharpen your pins and needles and safety pins too. When you encounter pins that get caught on your fabrics as you try to push them through, stab your strawberry several times to make them sharp again.
Caution: DO NOT use this for sharpening machine needles. Simply replace those needles. Use the strawberry only for straight pins, safety pins and hand sewing needles.
Speaking of pincushions… Couldn’t understand why my needles, stored in a pincushion, still rusted. Turns out that a pin cushion has to be stuffed with unwashed wool. Unwashed wool has loads of lanolin and will keep your pins and needles nice and shiny and rust free. for ever. (It’s a bit of a challenge to pick out the burrs and sticks before you stuff it inside the cushion. I used a couple dog brushes to ‘card’ the wool.)
Oh, interesting!
Rayon was the first man-made material in the late Victorian period. Wood pulp was combined with chemicals to make a strong, breathable and durable fabric.
I love it and is not difficult to sew with. However, it *can be* troublesome to cut as it moves and drapes so well. Use a large cutting surface where the fabric won’t drape off the edge. Use pattern weights too.
Rayon is a perfect fabric for the 1940s as is a cotton/linen blend or even linen/rayon blend – all of which can be found in good fabric stores.
For your pattern, a lightweight wool would also work. Line it in a light cotton for comfort.
I am going to be sewing a 1940s shirt dress, and was hoping you could give me some pointers. Here’s the pattern I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190495102520&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123#ht_4560wt_902 but I don’t know what material to use so it drapes nicely. I’ve heard Rayon is difficult to sew with for a beginner, but I’m clueless as to whether lightweight wool would be too heavy for this type of dress. I really want it to be a dark green. Any ideas for fabric selection?