MPB First-Ever Valerie Bertinelli Pattern GIVEAWAY!

Readers, do you remember the Seventies?  I do -- vividly -- and I just know Valerie Bertinelli wore a dress like the one pictured above on One Day at a Time.  Or am I thinking of Valerie Harper?

But more about today's vintage pattern giveaway in a moment.  First, I have to share with you a strange thing that happened to me yesterday.  So I'm sitting on my sofa stitching in the facings of my bolero jacket -- you know, a normal Saturday -- when I receive a phone call from Rain.  Remember, Rain, the guy who offered to tune up my Singer 15-91 sewing machine at some unspecified future time in exchange for some yet-to-be-determined quantity of sewing guidance?

Rain tells me he's in my area with a friend who has a car, and would I like him to pick up my 15-91 now so he could work on it?  Well, sure, I said.  I mean, why not, right?

So ten minutes later he rings my doorbell -- well him and his Akita -- and five minutes after that he's walking out the door with my treasured, albeit crumbly-wired, 15-91 sewing machine.





Readers, your honest opinion:

Will I ever see this sewing machine again?  I mean, who is Rain?  The whole thing sounds a little suspicious but being the trusting person I am, I figure let's see what happens.  It's not like it's my only sewing machine and I was certainly in no hurry to rewire it myself.  Maybe Rain is a person who badly needs a sewing machine and this is the only way he can think of to get his hands on one.

And speaking of vintage sewing machines, look what I made yesterday with my Pfaff 30: a belt for Cathy's new dress using the topstitching-new-fabric-atop-old-vinyl-belt method.  This machine not only managed this with no problem whatsoever, it even stitched through double layers of vinyl to secure the buckle!  (Don't try this with your Brother LS2125.)



But now back to our giveaway:



This charming pattern dates from 1973 and is in fine vintage condition.  It's a size 12 -- 34" bust and 26 1/2" waist.  I love the sweetheart neckline and the details on the sleeves.  It would be perfect for spring in a crepe, linen, or double knit.



I also love these shoes; sadly they don't come with the pattern.



MPB followers the world over are eligible to enter and all you have to do to participate is answer one simple question:

What do you think Rain intends to do with my sewing machine and will I ever see it again?

OK, that's two questions.

You have till Monday at midnight EST to enter and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday.  Be creative! (Winner will be chosen at random of course but still.)

Thank you again for all your wonderful comments on yesterday's Approval post.  It's wonderful to hear so many different perspectives and they enrich the blog tremendously.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

P.S. Michael announces his giveaway winner on his blog today.  Can you stand it?