About Me

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm Debi, a quirky and fun expatriate living in bonnie Scotland.  I'm a researcher by day but love to spend my free time sewing!  I started sewing at the same time that I started this blog (back in November 2009).  I am in LOVE with vintage patterns from all eras but especially the 30s, 40s and 50s. I am inspired by fashions from the past and hope to create some timely pieces for myself.


In 2013, I started one of my biggest sewing challenges to date, The 1940 McCall Project.  My goal is to collect and sew all the patterns produced by McCall in the year 1940!  I just love these patterns and am having a great time using my research skills to delve into the history of this year and this amazing pattern company!

YAY! So many exciting projects!  Thanks for coming along and sharing my journey.  I love hearing from readers, feel free to email me at: myhappysewingplace@googlemail.com

xoxoxo
Debi

23 comments

  1. I just discovered your blog and as a beginning sewer it has been exciting for me to peruse through and see all the things that I may one day be able to accomplish! I too love fashions from the past and look forward to seeing your creations!

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  2. What a fab idea. I have a collection of vintage patterns and am just taking a tentative back into dressmaking. I used to design and make a lot of my own clothes and I especially love 30's - 50's. I will be dropping in to see how you are progressing and wish you luck. I'm starting a vintage apron just to get me started again :)

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  3. Debi, I enjoy your blog sooooo much. I have several blogs I follow but I must say I look forward to yours the most. The way you talk, your enthusiasm, all your lovely pictures are just such a joy to read. I haven't made a garment in years (every since my then 4 year old daughter absolutely, point blank, refused to wear a Barney the Dinosaur jumpsuit I slaved over. She turned 22 yesterday so I have a nursed this sore point for years.) and even though I will likely never sew a vintage garment (can an 18 year old Dinosaur jumpsuit be considered "vintage"?) I just love your blog. Thanks.

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  4. Dear Debi,
    since I found your blog accidentally while I was looking for pictures about Edinburgh, I've been reading it almost regularly and enjoying it because I share your love for vintage sewing in general - and Downton Abbey in particular. Sorry for my English is not as good as I wish it to be; just wanted to express that I love your blog and think about subsribing to it.
    Have a nice week,
    Ulrike

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  5. I love your blog and admire your determination to sew all those wonderful wonderful garments. Are you sewing those just for fun or do they belong to your everyday wardrobe?

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    Replies
    1. Thank you dear! I wear almost exclusively me-made clothes now! So yes, I wear my sewing projects on a daily basis :-)

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  6. Hello, Debi!

    I’ve nominated you for a Reader Appreciation Award, and hope you will accept.

    Your blog has been so interesting and inspiration, literally & figuratively helping me in sew many ways! Absolutely adore your creations, and the references you did lately will stay with me for a long time (the alphabetical list).

    Rules, etc., are posted here.
    http://curlsnskirls.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/last-october/

    From a very grateful reader,
    D’ellis at CurlsnSkirls
    http://curlsnskirls.wordpress.com

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  7. I hope you don't mind me asking your advice regarding vintage patterns. I have won a pattern on e.bay and I don't really want to cut it if I can help it. Is there an easy way of transferring the pattern onto another material accurately? I woul be so grateful for any help you can give.
    Many thanks

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    Replies
    1. You can trace the pattern onto large paper (swedish tracing paper, medical paper, regular tracing paper, etc). That helps to preserve the vintage pattern!

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  8. Hi, just found your blog this morning. Love what you are doing. I've a small collection of 1950's crochet patterns and had the idea to make them, but so far it is just an idea.
    S xx

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  9. Hi
    You make great clothing.
    I like your blog. As an artist I like to make painting copies of vintage ads, posters and illustrations. I use oils mostly, sometimes charcoal and pencil (graphite). Thank you for sharing.
    lrbeard@yahoo.com

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  11. Hi Debi
    I enjoyed reading the account of making the Prince Charlie jacket for David.
    I have recently finished a Hussars dolman and pelisse using the mccalls civil war jacket pattern and would now like to turn my hand to a Prince Charlie jacket from scratch (converted a tailcoat to one but not 100% satisfactory).
    I have searched high and low on the web for a pattern but not found one.
    I see you have used a pattern for David's jacket, could you let me know where I could get hold of one please.
    regards
    Nick

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    1. Hi Nick, Here's a link to the Prince Charlie Jacket I used: www.folkwear.com/152.html

      Good luck!

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  12. Hei, Debi:-) I just found your blog, through an old guest post you wrote on tilly's blog. (All new to the blogosphere). And I just loved it, been looking around at your own blogs now, and I have fallen in love with it. Thanks for sharing!
    In your guest blog, you mention the a sew along, with one outfit per week. What a challenge! But what a lovely challenge - do you know if anyone is hosting the same event for 2017?
    Anyhow I'm so glad that I found your blog, and I'm looking forward to read a lot more from you.
    The best of love!
    And a happy new year!
    Herdis:-) @ www.greeneyecrafts.com

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  13. I love your blog and you!! Like you, I love sewing with vintage patterns and even at 60+ years I'm still a fashionista, using my mothers patterns from the 40's and 50's.. I look forward to following you. I have spend the last two days reading everything! I just wish I owned more vintage patterns, and they are getting harder to find! Melanie

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  15. I have several McCalls patterns that are older and large busted. I would be more than interested in swapping copies if you have anything in a 40 Bust or larger. Email is Victoria.lamb94@buc.blinn.edu

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  16. I can't tell you how pumped I am to have found your site. It's nice to see all the patterns I've been pinteresting on a real person. The drawings are so unreliable. Keep them coming!

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  17. First, look for dust, broken thread and debris between the tension discs. sewing oil

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  18. Hi ..i've just discovered your blog ..thanks to pintrest ...
    I'm from Algeria ..north africa
    And it's the first time i see this kind of art ... very beautifull
    Thank you

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  19. Hello from Australia! I hope you are still working on your goal behind the scenes as I see you haven’t posted in a while. I am a big lover of 1940’s fashion and found your blog through Pinterest.

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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