WeSewRetro.com – Vintage Patterns – Vintage Fabric

Intro and 1950s shorts

By Nat on June 8, 2018

Hi Everyone! I’m Natalie and I live in the UK, I’ve been learning to sew for just over a year now. I’ve been an avid reader of this blog for some months and have found this to be truly inspiring to give using vintage patterns a go. I’m so glad to share my first project using a vintage pattern, hopefully the first of many projects.

I fell in love with McCall’s 4022 shorts pattern from 1957. It just looks so Audrey Hepburn. And for a quid at the local charity shop was an absolute bargain. I wasn’t originally planning to make them up but I’m glad I did, these fit so much better than ready to wear and weren’t as difficult as I imagined. I made the shorts up to wear for a walking holiday as the weather has turned surprisingly really warm here.

I only made some basic adjustments to the pattern. Luckily this was the correct hip measurement, but the waist needed to be enlarged, and a section removed from the back and front to shorten the crotch. Though if I make them again, I plan to remove even more from the crotch length in the front. On the whole, I’m really happy with the way these turned out and they are super comfy, as well as being wearably retro; though it’s a bit strange only having a pocket on the left side!

I feel my shorts did end up looking like the pattern envelop and I love the buttoned tabs on the sides. I plan to make this up again in a blue denim – I think they would be versatile.

Nat x

6 Comments

Vintage Sewing

1964 Winter Sheath Dress

By SeamRacer on May 18, 2018

This dress was made by me earlier this year, when temperatures were below freezing! The outside of the dress is a cozy, lofty, nubby wool blend bouclé, and the inside is fully lined in a soft 100% cotton (in a sweet pink color) for softness against my skin. With this fabric combo, my dress is as warm as being wrapped in a blanket but it looks so stylish for being such a simple design.

I really think my pattern, Butterick 3296 from 1964, must have been designed with Audrey Hepburn from the movie “Charades” in mind because the dress and pillbox hat is just her style. This gave me an excuse to wear a vintage 60’s hat from my collection, as well as vintage 60’s jewelry from my Grandmother!

To see and read more about this sewing project, please visit my blog’s page for it here!

2 Comments

1950s | Blouses | Pattern Drafting | Skirts | Vintage Sewing

My new spring outfit

By SabineMichaela on May 7, 2018

Hello everyone,

since it is so quiet here, I decided to write a short post about my new favourite outfit for spring. The whole look started with the idea of an green outfit inspired by Karlotta Pink’s latest fabric collection. The colour of the print is quite difficult to describe, but it was very important for me that the colour of the skirt would make the colour of the blouse shine.

The pattern of the blouse is self-constructed, because I had fallen in love with a no longer available Simplicity Schnitt 1624. A very similar pattern was reissued by Simplicity, but due to my last experience I became a bit cautious with regard to fit. It should be a figure-hugging blouse and not a nightgown.

The Blouse

For this reason I set about reconstructing the pattern myself. That sounds a lot more awesome than it was. Since I prefer to adapt existing models out of pure laziness rather than develop a pattern myself, I am not particularly experienced at it. The drafting was quite easy and there were only little to adjust – for more information on drafting the blouse check out my blogpost here.

The Fabric Desaster

I wanted to use a lime green satin for the skirt, because it is always available at my regular fabric shop. They didn’t have the fabric at the time, but it was supposed to arrive soon. No luck. (They still don’t have it.) Then I went on a fabric shopping trip to Zurich and I was sure I’d find something. But: Nothing.

A little annoyed and under time pressure, due to to a sewing blogger meeting, I ordered 5 different green fabrics. I didn’t want “okay”, I wanted perfect (at that time I was really obsessed with the right material for the skirt). And in the package were even three possible fabrics. I then decided for the most harmonious combination with the kiwi green cotton-linen blend.

In the end everything did go as planned. The blouse was a fast sew and the skirt did go together easy too.

If you wish to see more pictures and read the whole background story (there were more drama than mentioned in the text), you can hop over to our blog PeterSilie&Co or directly to the longer blogpost.

Till next time,

Sabine

12 Comments

1960s

There’s no place like home

By rvdzik on April 1, 2018

Dear WeSewRetro Readers,

today I want to show you my newly made housecoat. It’s a type of garment that fell out of favour in modern world, which I think is a real pity. I feel that we should dress up especially at home, because it’s the place we share with the loved ones, which are far more important than random people on the street.

The fabric chosen for this project had to be both warm, comfortable and feminine; fortunately, I have found some soft, boiled grey wool fused with black lace. I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the cuffs and skirt opening by cutting them on the fabric border, as there isn’t any lace. All of the seam allowances were overcasted by hand and then stitched down to the main pieces; I also strengthened the armscye, the waist, the hem and the collar seam allowances with cotton bias binding. The housecoat was to close by a tie-belt, but to make it more secure and put together I added 3 black snaps.

For more photos and details, I invite you to my blog, rvdzik.blogspot.com 🙂

3 Comments

1930s | Blouses | Skirts

1930’s Green & Peach Ensemble

By Jennifer Serr on March 19, 2018

Have you ever come across the perfect fabric that goes with another fabric you’ve been waiting to do something with? Well, this darling plaid came into my life and I just had a to make a new outfit around it. It’s a synthetic charmeuse, which is not a regular go-to for me. I much prefer silk.

However, when I saw this plaid which was printed on the diagonal, it really screamed 1930’s blouse, right at me! AND it matched perfectly with a beautiful green wool that’s been waiting to be made into something for quite some time.

The emerald green of the wool is one of my favorite colors and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make this skirt, for which I had a pattern waiting in the wings. I’ve used this pattern twice before, once recently using a wool tweed and made slightly shorter. It’s the Vintage Pattern Lending Library – 1936 Ladies Skirt – #T1047 – re-sized to fit my body measurements.

I used the re-issue of Simplicity 8247, to make my blouse. Using Version C, I shortened the dress at the hip line to create the blouse. It worked out very well.

For more photos and information about my hat and bag, visit my BLOG.

Until Next Time, Happy Sewing!

Jennifer

Butterick “New Deltor” 1919

By Erika Iris on February 18, 2018

Hi! This is my first post, but I’ve spent much time pouring through all your fantastic projects! My name is Erika and I live in Chicago.

I bought this vintage pattern a few months ago and dusted off my aunt’s sewing machine.. I wish I could say, it came together easily, but it was more like three months of grueling effort.

But now that its done I might throw out all my other clothes. I love it.

I also loved working from the true original, crumbling pattern. And making the muslin copy with tailor’s tacs.. The typography is even amazing.

Thanks for looking.

May all your seams be french xo

Erika

3 Comments

1940s | Dresses | Vintage Sewing

1940s Vogue 8811 (For the hot Australian summer)

By ShowgirlBoring on January 27, 2018

This is my second Vogue 8811. Made from a beautiful navy blue based Japanese cotton lawn.

Western Sydney has had weeks of over 40ºC and this dress is perfect. High jewel neckline and kimono sleeves to protect from the sun, and a lovely tea length to stop behind-the-knee sunburn.

The only seriously mod was to omit the sleeve facings, I did a narrow hem instead.

Swing by my blog to for more details and images!

2 Comments