Hello everybody!!
Here in northern France the spring is almost there.
And also it is still very (too much!) cold, I had a sudden will to make me a “paradisiac island dress” !
I used a 1950s pattern from “New style” for the top, and a retro high waisted skirt pattern to make my perfect Waikiki summer dress!
If you want to read and see more about this project, feel free to come and visit my blog! 
http://wildchildsophie.wordpress.com/
Thanks for reading!
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This is my first post, but I have been a longtime lurker.
This is a 1950 blouse pattern I made out of some turquoise polycotton, if I make it again it will be with something with more drape in it.
it went together quite easy, the only adjustment I made was to take half and inch out of the length.
more, not a lot on my blog blog
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I’m (mostly) happy with how this dress project turned out. I had just enough fabric from a friend to squeak it out, and it’s still not totally done (it’s missing a hook and eye and one dang button), but I’m pretty pleased.
The main problem I had was that once I’d gotten the whole dress together, nothing I did would convince the collar to look like the pattern picture! I ended up folding it over and tacking it down instead, and I can see now that I need to tack it down a little further, because it got pretty rumpled in the test wearing. I’d really like to make the view with the front scallop detail once the weather warms up a bit… at least that one has a straightforward neckline.
More pictures and babbling on my blog. And, uh, if anyone sees another green heart button like these, let me know, will you? I’ve only got six, and I need seven.
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I am not sure whether to call this a mod dress or not. I am not terribly familiar with the fashion terminology of the 60′s so I’ll refrain from attaching any labels lest they be incorrect.
Anyhow, this is a 1968 pattern that I bought as part of a lot in 2009. I immediately fell in in love with the scallops and the color of the green dress but for a sting of reasons didn’t get around to working on it until last July. The muslin went well and revealed that the only adjustments I truly needed were shortening the length and adding some width to the sleeves. Yay for big upper arms! Not. I also removed some of the ease from the sleeve cap because it was unruly. I cut the fashion fabric….last July…. and didn’t pick the project up again until a couple of weeks ago. Seven months sat the cut pieces somewhere in my sewing room. Seven months.
I really love the dress. I love the scalloped edge and I do love the lime green, even if it is a bit obnoxious. Now I need to learn a hair do to go with it. There’s a ton more blurb on my bog.
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here we are and finished in all it’s splendour is my blummin gorgeous 60s blouse a la Joan Harris (nee Holloway).
Having never made a blouse before I wasn’t entirely sure what material to go for. I decided on a trusty poly-cotton which meant the drape would be a bit stiffer than the one shown in the picture but I did want the collar to be a little stiffer, and as I wasn’t sure how this would all play out I thought not splashing the cash on fancy fabric would be the best option.
I went about cutting the pattern, fabric and interfacing out and I was quite happily thinking “less pieces, less work than a dress”. Ah, the young sewing fool inside me.
At the end of the first day I’d made the bodice and the collar. It dawned on my when I finished that I’d absolutely breezed the collar this time, I think I’ve been so caught up in worrying about the set in sleeves that I appear to have somehow mastered collars without thinking about it. Pretty good eh?!
Now, I made a little list of goals at the beginning of the year (some have totally fallen by the wayside already) and one of these was to master set in sleeves by the end of 2014. So when I went into this part of making the blouse I did so with a new determination that I would not simply settle for “that’ll do” and I would set these sleeves in over and over until I got them perfect.
Plenty of people gave me advice (thank you everyone for all of your helpful tips and guidance) but I really owe massive thanks to Clare at www.sewdixielou.com for spurring me on when I was halfway through ripping the sleeves out for the second time (and on the verge of having a little cry) who simply said “I never use gathered way hate it. I do it by hand gently easing larger fabric pinning every 1/2″. Then when happy pin in between pins then baste by hand. Remove pins check how it looks then machine”.
Now, this may strike you as odd (but probably goes a long way to explaining more than bit about me) but I never considered for a moment that I should use any other method than gathering.
It’s what everyone had shown me; books, sewing tutorials online, pattern instructions. All gathering. It’s a rule right?
Wrong. I am learning more and more that sewing is about finding what works for you and just because people say you should do it this way, it doesn’t mean you have to do it this way.
In the end I went for a bit of both, I gathered a little and then pinned and pinned. I sewed from the inside of the sleeve ; calmly, slowly, gently and smoothed as I went. Et Voilà! A perfectly set in sleeve!
So overjoyed was I that I ran about the house and told Tim he should come and look, at which point he did and we embraced and then I did my little happy dance (literally). Then I proceeded to set the other in, with no problem at all and then made Tim come back every five minutes to look at my beautiful set in sleeves on my fantastic blouse.
Needless to say, it wore a bit thin (for him- certainly not for me) after the 50th time, saying that though he was very chuffed for me.
Next up were buttonholes and buttons, which I forgot to buy. I finally located some small-ish ones and add them to the cuffs and the front of the blouse with a pop stud opening at the top (which is covered when the collar is done up) and here we are, the finished article.
I have refrained from modelling this as I really want to get the skirt made in March so that I can wear both together, just like Joanie.
I really feel like I’ve made sewing skills progress with this blouse.
If you’d like to read more or check out other things I’ve made, please visit my blog www.staceystitch.com
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I made this beret as a part of The Historical Sew Fortnightly 2014 and this is the first challenge I have completed. It is a wool beret in pink/rust tartan and the pattern is The Three Hour Beret, a reproduction pattern from New Vintage Lady, dating from the early 1940’s. I have wanted to do this beret for some time and as I’m also making a reversible coat with the pink/rust tartan, I thought a matching beret would look nice with it. The pattern was a little quirky and it was great fun to sew it. Unfortunately when padded and worn straight it looked absolutely awful on me. So I removed the padding and tilted it instead and it looked much better, if not exactly as intended. For another face shape I am sure it will
look smashing as it was intended.
Here are a few versions made by New Vintage Lady.
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I made this dress from a rather large shift dress. It’s a self drafted bodice with retro styling paired with Gertie’s Pencil skirt from her book.
The fabric is satin backed crepe. It’s a lovely dress to wear and feels silky smooth.
Bodice detail
More details over on my blog – ragbagsandgladrags
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The second skirt in my Pendleton quartet is another plaid number. This one is fairly plain as well, with some simple alterations made to change the look up a bit. I widened the waistband and added suspenders. I’ve always really liked the look of the suspender skirt (whether from the 1910s or the 1950s or anywhere in between), and have intended to make myself one for a long time now. I thought it would be a nice silhouette with this plaid also, simple enough to showcase the pattern, but not so overly simplified as to be boring. This piece of wool had just a few moth holes that needed repair, so I set myself to work at re-weaving again. This is a much finer weave than the previous fabric, so it required a little more precision, but it really wasn’t too bad. I have to admit, I think I’m actually getting a little hooked on it. It’s just the kind of insanely meticulous work I find fun and relaxing (’cause maybe I’m a little nuts).
After pulling threads from a scrap of the plaid, I set to work reweaving the two holes in the skirt front, and then the two in the suspender pieces.
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| Doing this made me feel a little bit like the woman who made Chanel’s braided trim for decades (although not old, French, and incredibly skilled). |
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| You can see the first hole mid-repair just to the right of the pin. |
The skirt turned out pretty well, and I had just enough left of the fabric to make a matching hat (because every outfit should have a matching hat, right?). Anyway, I used the Wearing History Sporty Toppers pattern, view 1. I was working with scraps, so the plaid doesn’t match perfectly on top, but it doesn’t bother me too much since there is so much seaming to break it up in the first place. I used a slightly narrower ribbon than called for in the pattern, but I like how it looks.
To complete my sort of “golf-course” couture look, I managed to finally finish one of my biggest UFOs; this brown wool suit jacket. I started this suit about three years ago, finished the skirt, got about half way through the jacket and then put it on the back burner and left it there to stew. It feels really good to finally have it finished and out of the project pile. It’s far from perfect, but finished it all I was really aiming for at this point, so I’m happy with it. I don’t have all the pattern details in front of me, but I’ll try and dig them up. I’m pretty sure it’s a McCall’s pattern, and it’s from the 50s, but I’m not sure the exact year and can’t remember the number. Anyway, here’s the ensemble all put together and ready for a stroll across the fairway. (Both pieces need a little touch up with the iron).
So, that’s that. Now on to other projects in the queue. I’ve still got two of the wool skirts to put together, and then numerous other summery projects to start, but I’ve got an Edwardian event to go to in early May that I also have to make some stuff for, and that will probably take precedence. Hope everyone has had a good week!
-Evie
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Hello fellow vintage sewing enthusiasts! I have been a long time stalker of this page, and I love to see the beautiful creations you all make! I have been sewing using vintage sewing patterns for about 8 years and still have a tendency to get impatient and sloppy (whoops). I also tend to get obsessed when Ihave a project in mind. That being said, I have a couple questions I’ve been thinking way too hard about and would really like to hear some opinions!
I like to make separates for more versatility, and I am preparing to make a nice full fluffy skirt with a halter top for a night out. My dilemma is, do I make a gathered skirt! or a skirt with small box pleats? Will small box pleats give the same type of fluffiness as gathers? I HATE gathering, but I’ll do it if I have to …..
The other thing I am wondering is if I can make a tiered skirt from a softer fabric and get some of the desired volume rather than an itchy petticoat/crinoline. I’ll be dancing and probably pretty sweaty, so I’d like to avoid a stiff crinoline. And I hate making them haha. Anybody have any advice on one vs the other? It might seem like a silly post, but I have a baby, so not much time for sewing anymore. I need to have everything fully planned before I execute!
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