Polka Dot Links: Sustainable Sewing & More!

Some favorite sewing-related links from the past few weeks:

• Susannah at Cargo Cult Craft had the stats on "Sustainability and your wardrobe" (see above image). Definitely gave me a twinge of guilt about all those muslins I've been making...
• Gertie of Blog for Better Sewing gave us a "Humble History of the House Dress"
• Melissa of Fehr Trade has been writing some great reviews of sewing magazines and books (pattern drafting! exciting!). Her post about Susan Khalje's "Bridal Couture" being a must-have made me wish I hadn't sold my copy used before it got expensive and rare. (I bought it thinking I'd make my own wedding dress, and sold it when I ended up buying one on eBay instead).
• Before her beautiful baby girl arrived, Christina of Assorted Notions showed off her last few maternity sewing projects.
• Threadbared dug up a great Sassy spread on "Dopey Fashion Poses" and got into some of the nastier aspects of "looking professional". Totally relevant to our ponytail discussion earlier this week, no?
• Cidell of Miss Celie's Pants showed off her Creamsicle Burda magazine dress.
• Peter of Male Pattern Boldness asked "Is there anything you wouldn't sew?" and wondered what the deal is with slips vs. linings.

Around the Sewing Blogosphere: Recommended Reading and More

• Gertie has sound advice on "Building a Better Sewing Library." I love most of the books she cites (especially the one above, which I purchased on her recommendation and have already put to good use) and list a few other favorites in the comments. I think I may have failed to mention I am book-obsessed--despite a recent series of purges, I have over 1,600 squeezed into my Brooklyn apartment.
• The Colette Patterns blog suggests contrast fabric dresses as a method of using up those not-quite-big-enough fabric pieces.
• The Selfish Seamstress answers questions about her amazing Jalie jeans.
• Yours truly finally joined the Sew Retro blog after years of wistful lurking and details her (um, my) hunt for non-tent-like vintage maternity patterns.