Meet Betty

by Joanna

Meet Betty. I found her at a neighborhood yard sale this week. Although she was in need of some intense tlc, I just had to have her. I figured I might be able to cut off her cover, deconstruct it, and build a new one. Imagine my delight when I took a look at her backside and saw that she unzips!

 

The cover was terribly water stained and just plain yucky. Eww.

I unzipped Betty and decided it was time for a soak. First, I machine washed the cover in cold water on a gentle cycle. Then, I made a soak solution for her out of this Vintage Textile Soak.

This is a solution I found at a local quilt shop about 10 years ago, and it is amazing. I have used it on lace, linens, and even some redwork quilt blocks my grandmother stitched over 80 years ago. It is amazing stuff.

While Betty soaked overnight in the textile bath, I began working on the knit cotton undercloth which covers the neck and arms. It had seen better days!

After removing the undercloth, I cut the seams and used it to draft a new one out of a cast off t-shirt. I left Betty out in the back yard all weekend for some fresh air and sunshine.

I was tickled to see that Betty is a dress form created by the Singer Sewing Company. I have been trying to guess when she was made, I am thinking the late 50's or early 60's?

 The textile soak worked wonders for Betty's complexion! After spending a long sunny Sunday on the clothesline, she looked as good as new!

Here she is, all fixed up! The height of the metal stand is adjustable, and she looks simply fabulous. She's a 38-30-40, a real womanly shape. I love that about her.

I hope she is looking for work, because I hope to hire her to model for me from time to time... what a find! 

(Happy Mother's Day to me!)