We Can Do It!

I have been wanting to make this pattern for a long time! There are certain patterns that I have that I can’t wait to make! I decided to make myself these Rosie The Riveter inspired overalls to wear to the Eagle Field Fly in. You might be thinking that you saw my outfit and it wasn’t overalls, and you’re right! I had many mishaps along the way getting them made. So, get ready for a sewing tale of that is full of trials and tribulations, American history, and my own family history. I give you, the Rosie The Riveter Overalls!

Quick history lesson first. Rosie The Riveter was part of the United States propaganda during WWII, to encourage women to join the work force. With so many men fighting in the war, there weren’t very many left to work in the factories that manufactured vital war time equipment. Women went to work in factories building ships, planes, tanks, and all sorts of equipment.

Here are two different versions of Rosie. One is by Norman Rockwell which was featured on cover of “The Saturday Evening Post”, and the other is the most recognized version of Rosie.

Women answered the call to work, and it was the beginning of women working outside of the home in a more broad variety of jobs. Yes, women were teachers, nurses, seamstresses, and secretaries, but WWII put women in jobs that they had never before thought they could be in. So you see, Rosie is a very early icon of women’s empowerment and equality in the workplace.

I had to have her overalls!

The problem with this pattern was the sizing. The bodice is very fitted, and the bottoms are very loose with wide legs. I started working with the size that I thought would work. This would be the beginning of my first failed attempt.

There were tons of pattern pieces to this garment, 14 to be exact.

I got them cut out and started the tedious job of overall assembly. Marking the darts.

There were darts on the front and the back of the pants.

Sewing the pockets together, and then on in the correct place.

There was also a lot of hand stitching to do to sew the facings down.

Here I am assembling the facing onto the front bodice of the overalls. You can see my patchwork interfacing. I try to use all of my scraps, especially since I have so many projects going all of the time.

I got them all assembled and what I had suspected proved to be true, they were too small for me! I was so frustrated! I finished the little bit of sewing that I had to do on them, and boxed them up. I sent them off to Georgia to see if they would fit one of Mia’s friends.

I then had to change gears and make an entirely different outfit to wear to the Eagle Field Fly In. (See previous blog post “Eagle Field Fly In; Part One) I wouldn’t have time to make another set of overalls for myself.

Mia then called me with the bad news. The overalls didn’t fit any of her friends either! I told her to just send them back to California, and I would figure it out.

The overalls sat around for a while, and I asked my niece Khloe if she liked them, and if she would like to try them on. Khloe lives a little over an hour away from me, so I had to wait until I saw her next. When I did finally see her, she tried on the overalls and they fit! I was so happy! I told her I would get to work on a new pair for myself, and we would go somewhere special for an elaborate photo shoot when they were done!

I got to work for the second time on the overalls.

Laying out all 14 pieces all over again.

I was glad that all of these little pieces fit on this piece of scrap and that the pattern pieces could all run with the grain of the fabric.

Those darts again.

Pinning on the pocket.

Sewing the straps together, then turning them right side out.

Getting ready to attach the bodice to the pants.

A very intricate waist band.

Then it was time to pick buttons. I already knew which ones I wanted to use for this particular sew. I’ve mentioned before that I inherited Grandma Doris’ button tins. There are many of them but what I’ve discovered is that some of the buttons belonged to Grandpa Bert’s mother, Sophrona. I can tell Sophrona’s buttons from Grandma Doris’ because hers are much, much older. They are antique metal buttons, the type you would find down the back of a Victorian era dress. There are also hand carved shell buttons that were popular long before the invention of plastic. All of these really old buttons are tied together with string or thread. She worked as a seamstress, so it would make sense that she would have her sewing supplies very organized.

Grandma Doris’ buttons, while old, are from the late 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s, and so on. Grandma Doris also didn’t tie hers together with string. Not that she wasn’t an organized person, but she had four kids, was a stay at home mom who gardened, farmed, made their clothes, and had dinner on the table every night. I’m sure that she didn’t’ have time to fuss over buttons. I’m glad she didn’t tie them, because I have this clue to differentiate between button owners!

In one of the tins with the tied buttons, and the old metal Victorian era buttons, I found these. A quick internet search proved my theory about them. I figured since they were tied, in with the “Sophrona” buttons, and aged so, that they must be from one of my Great Grandfather’s WWI uniforms. I was right!

The Art Metal Works Co, from Newark, New Jersey were the manufacturer of military buttons during WWI. Here is a picture of the markings on the back of the buttons, and the buttons tied together as I found them in the tin.

Another indicator that they are from WWI, and not WWII is shown in the picture below. I have buttons from WWII, they don’t belong to any family member of mine, but were found in an old button jar that my neighbor bought at a yard sale, and gave to me. Everyone is so supportive of my hobby.

The WWI button is made of copper and is incredibly tarnished. The flower above the eagles head is smaller, and the banners are smaller in size as well. The internet says that a WWI button is worth about $30 each, a WWII button is worth about $10 each. I would never sell them, but keep an eye out for old button jars at yard sales, you might find a little piece of history.

I decided to make use of these buttons and put them on my overalls. After all, my Great Grandma saved them to be used again! Yes, I know, I’m putting WWI buttons on a WWII era outfit, but so what! I can sew a tribute to my family however I chose. That’s the great thing about making your own garments, you can personalize them however you want!

I was going to be short three buttons. I needed two for the back straps and one for the side. I picked these three shell buttons that were tied with string and in, what I consider to be, the Sophrona collection.

Let’s talk about these buttons a little more first, and their original owner.

The United States entered WWI April 6, 1917. Two months later my Great Grandfather, James Bert Johnson was signing his Registration Card under the Selective Service Act.

There were three registrations during WWI, the first being on June 5, 1917, which is when this document is signed. All men between the ages of 21 and 31 had to sign up, he was 30 at the time.

He was sent to Camp Lewis, in Washington for boot camp. Camp Lewis was later renamed Fort Lewis. My Uncle Jimmy has this picture of Camp Lewis, which is dated September 18, 1917. It is old and weathered, but an amazing piece of family history.

Here are the zoomed in sections.

Here’s my Great-Grandfather, James Bert Johnson, in uniform. Could these be the buttons I have in my possession? Possibly, there are six on the jacket front, and I only have six. I’ll never really know for sure.

He was stationed in France and was part of the E Company 115th Engineers. In this photo he’s sitting in the middle.

My dad, Byron, says that he was so little when his grandfather passed away, that he didn’t really have an opportunity to hear his stories, or ask him questions. He did however know of one story that Grandpa Bert told him about James Bert’s military service.

He had gotten leave and went to town, and when he returned to the barracks, it was almost completely empty. While he was away, almost everyone had contracted the Spanish flu. There were only two other people left in his barracks, and no higher ranking staff members to tell them what to do.

A couple of things stand out to me about this story. First, if he had not have gone to town, he might have gotten sick too, and we might not be here today! It’s also incredibly interesting to me that his future wife, Sophrona, was at that time losing her first husband to the Spanish flu! After the war they would met, marry, and have my Grandpa.

My dad also said that during the war he was a muleskinner. A muleskinner drove supplies, and ammunition to the front lines. They had to keep the mules in line and going under incredibly intense situations. It makes sense that this would be his job during the war. He was very familiar with teams of mules, as they used them to harvest grain. Here he is, far right I believe, on top of a grain harvester.

Luckily for all of us, he survived WWI. He’s pictured far left.

He was sent home from France after the war. He set sail for Boston June 19, 1919. From Boston then back to little Dos Palos, California.

My dad says that he had sinus issues for the rest of his life as a result of his exposure to mustard gas during the war.

In a historic turn of events for not only James Bert, but for the world, another world war broke out. He once again had to register for the draft! His age at this time was 55, which would make the year of this document 1942.

I’ve used this picture before, but it perfectly reflects this moment in my family’s history. James Bert on the left in his uniform, having had to sign up for the draft again. Sophrona in the middle, and Grandpa Bert in his Army uniform having recently been drafted himself! I can’t imagine how they must have felt!

I wanted to honor his memory. I wanted to honor his service. I wanted to honor his buttons. If they could only talk what would they say?

A special outfit needed a special place for a photo shoot.

We were off to Richmond, California to the Rosie The Riveter display at the Home Front National Historical Park.

I went for a more traditional “Rosie” look, while Khloe chose a younger version, since she is younger! HA!

Trying to be photogenic. Khloe nailed it.

A bandanna tying lesson, in case you’re interested.

The museum was full of interesting history.

No one looked at us funny, I think they thought we worked there!

Giving our best “We Can Do It!” attitude.

Fixing my bandana while Khloe hangs out with the guys in line for a job.

What have I been saying all this time? Exactly what this propaganda poster is saying!

And check out those buttons!

Khloe, resting on the job.

The building is an actual ship building facility that was used during WWII.

It is located right at the Richmond harbor. They would build ships, and send them into the ocean as they were finished.

Hopscotch break!

She’s a natural!

Learning to rivet.

More propaganda. It all sounds like things we should be doing today. Carpooling, growing your own food, walking places when you can, conserving, and recycling. Hmm…food for thought.

There were too many good pictures to chose from!

Happy and serious, but her overalls look amazing!

“Do the job HE left behind”, isn’t that the truth! HA!

By the welding display. I didn’t try my hand at it, I’ll stick to sewing.

Khloe wasn’t ready to try welding either!

The average pay for a shipyard employee. Us waiting to get paid, HA! This picture shows the details of the back of the overalls.

YES! Plant a garden! I had a little one this summer and it was amazing! Next year it will be even bigger!

Joking around during our shoot.

Standing by the harbor, the Bay Bridge is behind me to the left.

The quote says it all.

Some favorites in black and white for a vintage look!

Although this project had a rocky start, it was so fun to do! To pay tribute to the women who stepped up and into the workforce, paving the way for us all was empowering for me.

To share the experience with my niece was the silver lining in my sewing mishaps cloud! I’ll be forever grateful that I messed up and made her my twin for the day. I’m glad I got to share this adventure with her.

To wear the buttons that my Great Grandfather wore is the biggest honor of all. Was he brave while he wore them? Was he afraid while he wore them? Was his life in danger while he wore them? Did he dream about his future while he wore them? Probably all of that and more. I’ll wear them and think of him, and his bravery.

I hope that some of him has been passed down to me, and in more ways than just buttons.

As for me, onto the next!