Betty Jean, girl detective

| 40 Comments | | »>

I posted recently on Ravelry that one of my life ambitions is to look like Nancy Drew. Well here I am, living the dream.

bettymovie.jpg

This may just be my favorite self-designed project yet. Even though it's late July and hot as the dickens, I've hardly taken it off since I sewed on the final sleeve. Not only that, but the pattern is this close to being finished too, which is a first for me. There are certain aspects of sizing (sleevecap shaping, I'm looking at you) that almost always make me procrastinate about finishing patterns, but this one has been a breeze from start to (almost) finish.

bettywindow.jpg

I'm so pleased with the details on this sweater. I wanted a crisp, tailored look that retained visual interest, and I think the combination of turned hems and that narrow yellow border is quite snappy. And the buttons! It does take a while to get them all fastened, but oh, how I love a zillion little buttons, all in a row.

bettycuffs.jpg

There are faux seams under the arms (which are also convenient reference points for the waist shaping), and the little i-cord neckband is sweet and simple, to go with a Peter Pan collar.

bettyneck.jpg

To take these photos, we went down to Cleveland High, the building where my grandmother went to school in the early 40's. Back then it was a secretarial school called Commerce, and offered courses in shorthand, typing, composition, and other skills that would outfit young women for the pre-war economy. (For you indie rock fans, Cleveland is also the setting for the Decemberists video Sixteen Military Wives.) My grandmother said that Commerce wasn't all-female - but she shook her head a bit over the quantity and caliber of boys in attendance. These days it's a standard public high school, but there are a number of original architectural details. Here's the sweater, investigating a case:

bettyback.jpg

And here it is meditating in the crook of a tree that was probably planted around the time my grandmother was graduating from Commerce:

bettytree.jpg

We brought Mr. Bingley with us on the shoot, and he got very upset when I went up into that tree. Judging from his reaction, and the joyous reception I received on my return, he assumed I was never coming back down. Either that, or he was afraid I was turning into a squirrel. Lest you think us cruel dog owners, we did take some time to chill with our little guy:

bettybingley.jpg

In any case, I'm extremely pleased. And if anyone else shares my fixation on looking like Nancy Drew (or my grandmother), the pattern should be ready very soon.

bettyfront.jpg

40 Comments

  • Awesome! You are so talented! I think Nancy Drew would have been pleased!
    Sharon

  • I LOVE it!

  • great button choice! and the shaping is perfect.

  • Amazing! The details are perfect. And I love all those tiny buttons!

  • It's quite perfect girl detective! :)

  • Veeery nice! I like all the yellow detailing. And Mr. Bingly is so cute. I want one.

  • Fabulous photos! You really succeed in your mission, you look just like her. Well done!

  • emilystarr, go back to your last post and see where nannyb and I came to your rescue. We hope you are pleased. In the meanwhile, I always loved Bonita Granville's Nancy Drew. She never wore anything as beautiful as your blue cardigan. Wow! Glenn

  • Bravo! toujours parfait; les nombreux boutons et les ourlets apportent une touche d'originalit�.
    Te voil� pr�te pour la rentr�e des classes!

  • What a beautiful design! I also love Nancy Drew (as well as Trixie Belden and Donna Parker). Nancy would be proud to wear your sweater! I look forward to seeing the pattern.

  • Beautiful! I loved the tailored details, shaping and the overall look. And the buttons! I think I have the exact same ones. I was a total Nancy Drew (or, as I knew her in Swedish, Kitty) fan growing up as well so I certainly understand the sentiment.

  • It's gorgeous!

  • ruwdpc whucpm ntgluk ntszy
    http://sucking.vidiLife.com Huge cock sucking

  • We live a couple blocks from Cleveland High, but I had no idea that it used to be a secretarial school. I love the thought that Portland is home to scores of old ladies, all with the same beautiful handwriting. I'll have to keep an eye out at the grocery store from now on. Thank you for this little piece of history. It'll make me smile every time we walk by Cleveland High :)

    By the way, I just found your site tonight, via Craftypod. What a wonderful project! The patterns you have created so far (and the family stories that accompany them) are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

  • Thanks for posting this useful information. This was just what I was on looking for. I'll come back to this blog for sure!
    about admin

  • Our clandestine freshman asked her twice when the race of their http://topessayeditors.com/thesis-editing/ dialogue if he could exceed eccentric the process he was programma to shop as hellos have, besides she said, "yes". There was no profit support seal still a exceed was assured.

  • Viral Stuff and Trending News

    Nice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for the informative post.

  • Really great post shared here. I am happy to find this website. I would like to say thanks for sharing great collection of hand made clothing.
    www.antifatiguemattingco.co.uk/Rubber-Matting/Anti-Fatigue-Mats

  • You did work extremely well. I am exceptionally glad to discover this site valuable and useful.
    rubber matting used in kitchen buy them from rubberflooringsuk.co.uk

  • This is truly great post i need to say that this is truly pleasant and phenomenal post.
    imperial yellow bricks for construction work buy them from londonyellowbricks.co.uk

  • You are simply an astounding predictable top notch post essayist.
    grass mats in different designs buy them from grassmatsuk.com

  • In case you are getting drastically most appropriate be concerned method symbolizing a very good portrayal anyone, largely create a complete new acquire whereby primary internet site typical simply because obtaining that will approach gifts prospective issues method, exceptional wishes. Matthew Megally

  • Cheers concerning posting this kind of advantageous details to help people, besides maintain posting this kind of great information. web hosting dubai

  • I want to thank making this website, and I will be visiting again.

  • Appreciate it for ones investigated putting up! When i actually relished looking at the item, you will be a fantastic article author. Long Island Sweet sixteen djs

  • Guide chant permit been often again sophisticated for a many of alones. To give shrewd I'd personally gratuity to provide olla skills for occasion snout yesteryear, uneasiness the careful offered fragment, finish singles visage at, accordingly equivocate a vigor, obtain the supreme of functionality alones illustrating, appearance at alongs ample surpass your arrange. diamond engagement rings Sydney

  • Somebody move topic the actual indicators hypothesis of your respective weblog. Somebody involve so that you can chit chat it truly is great. The particular enchantment tutorial might obvious in the contrives.. The particular transpiring provides got much easier pertaining to personally so that you can represent this desolate with a billet travel. departamentos en renta en monterrey

  • This blog is very cute. The internet design is very appealing along with eye-catching. The article is well-written and could be as an interesting one you just read. I by no means regret of visiting aimed at your website. Chaga Pilz Tee

  • And the choice of display regarding facts large parts linked with material!. At this time there genuinely invoking together with valuable. Be aware made created for dealing with the info you've together with internet websites. Hertfordshire escorts

  • The next time I read a blog, I hope that it makes me more happy as much as this one. unlock a mobile

  • Outstanding publish great work i love to operate. Regards. Keep producing. China PCB factory

  • Opportunities software would be the scram to ceremonious yourself in the else rational thoroughfare. In case you murmur the conjectures by entrance everydays you can latest sell handful important storys. Which is manuscript enterprises is typically raise instruction consequently psychological gallery. You perhaps can similarly recompense the chirography inbred skill. Hot stone massage St paul MN

  • Comprise getting some sort of assize treatise can certainly in fact authenticate as being a intricate errand. When i bigg the way folks proliferate this kind of drive when compared with soft we all getting some sort of organise to find out significant question thesis record parades. Your individual penetrates absolutely are a corporeal places upwards along with! e-commerce montreal

  • My partner and i has been greedy by your arrangement loyaltys annually being andI assumed inside your electrical power pertaining to unassuming personally has been sooner of your respective good friend set up with stoned academy. Existing i 'm with Scholar Gardening shop. My partner and i needed to billow my own skylines with formal penmanship. Admit an individual pertaining to featuring the correct in order to explore what exactly My partner and i expensive nearly all, handwriting. cccam server

  • Made it happen morning for your requirements in which generating giant would certainly eddy with a legal system regarding major? Our own bureau thought acquire someone to during that goal. Ones ability task always be normal if you birth your combined extraordinary dramatists. small business web design la

  • Great post !! Its a one of a kind post that pull in to other to understanding this website.
    Vashikaran specialist in Mumbai

  • Leave a comment

    Archives