Hello, it's so nice to meet you.

I’m AmpersandRanch (also tiddleywink), and I started sewing back in high school. I also stopped sewing back in high school. I picked it up again about a year or so ago, and I’m still muddling my way through, but at least the few items I’ve made haven’t fallen apart yet. My most recent project was a dress for a vintage-Hollywood-themed New Year’s Eve party, which I based on the red, sequined dresses from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes:

Above: Original dress, as designed by William Travilla and worn by Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell.

My version, based on McCall’s M5519 and, um, enthusiastically altered, in that the dress had to be lengthened and the neckline slashed, but it also fit like a TENT the first time around and needed some serious taking in around the waist. And for future reference, that faux-sequined material would REALLY benefit from a lining. It’s itchy! 

I have a whole slew of vintage and vintage-repro/vintage-inspired patterns that need attention, but I get distracted by just about anything else. I’m hoping that this blog group will get/keep me inspired to be more productive with my sewing! Thanks for letting me lurk in the background for so long. It’s good to be here.