WeSewRetro.com – Vintage Patterns – Vintage Fabric

Re-Creating My Grandmother’s Dress – Gatsby 2018

By Jennifer Serr on October 5, 2018

Every year the Art Deco Society of California puts on the The Gatsby Summer Afternoon. This Gatsby Event is the highlight of my year, as far as vintage events go, and this year was no exception. The weather was perfect (high 70 degrees and breezy), the picnics were exquisite and the company eclectic and entertaining.

For this year’s ensemble, I chose to replicate a look that my grandmother wore (see photo above) in one of her modeling photos. I’ve admired this dress for years and have not quite had the nerve to re-create it until now. That front neck detail with the capelet and ruching really had me flummoxed.

When I mentioned, on Instagram that this was my plan, Deirdre from Vintage Pattern Lending Library suggested I use one of her patterns to start and then she sent it to me! How lucky am I? Thank you Deirdre! The pattern was a perfect jumping off point and it really took the pressure off to have a pattern to start from.

I’m pretty pleased with the overall look, considering, in the end, I only had about a week to pull it off. I completed the ensemble with me-made purse, hat and jewelry. There are a few changes I would make, given the time and inclination (neckline wider and capelet longer in the back). Overall, though, I’m pretty happy with the whole look.

To read the complete post, see pattern adaptations and more pictures from the event, please visit my blog.

Thanks and Happy Sewing!

xo – Jennifer

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1970s | Blouses | Skirts | Vintage Sewing

Autumnal Green (Simplicity 5204, Simplicity 7880 and Simplicity 8611)

By Mrs Rat on September 24, 2018

My most recent outfit is all homemade out of 1970s sewing patterns: the skirt (Simplicity 7880) and blouse (Simplicity 8611) both in a size 8, and the vest (Simplicity 5204) in a teen-sized 11/12. If you want to see more photos and read more details about my sewing process and thrifted accessories, please visit the blog that I share with my sewing husband: Mr and Mrs Rat.

1920’s Style Blue Velvet Evening Coat

By Jennifer Serr on

I wore this Blue Velvet Coat to the Miss Fisher Convention this year in Portland, Oregon. In this photo shoot (Thanks Mom!) I paired the jacket with a true vintage 1920’s silk lace and chiffon dress, along with some rhinestone / crystal accessories and coordinating shoes and bag.I think it all works together quite nicely.

When making this Coat, I really wanted a long attached neck scarf like Phryne Fisher (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) wears on many of her coats. As I was cutting out this silk velvet, I really had to squeeze every inch of what I had. So, that meant that I had to piece the scarf. It left a seam on one side in the front that I really didn’t like and the naps were different. This was a dilemma at a late hour. Luckily, I had two beaded appliques that worked perfectly. I bought 3 of them, and glad I did.

I’m really pleased with how the side gusset turned out. At first, they seemed a little small, but after inserting them in the side, they give the coat, just enough swing. Also, there was not enough fabric to make them any bigger, so I certainly can’t complain.

The Patterns I Used – Both from Vintage Pattern Girl on Etsy – 1929 Ladies Straight-Line Coat – Reproduction Sewing Pattern #Z2545 & 1934 Ladies Dress With Coat – Reproduction Sewing Pattern #T1418

For the complete blog post and to see HOW I did the pattern adaptations, please visit my Blog.

Until Next Time – Happy Sewing!

Jennifer

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Vintage Sewing

Retro Kids

By Heapha on September 18, 2018

There really isn’t anything cuter than a baby rocking a vintage style. For all my friends who are having children, I have gotten into the habit of giving them handmade clothing for their showers. Here are a couple I have completed.

Made from quilters cotton at about $25AUD/m this dress and panties took almost the whole meter but I think has a really pretty vintage look. I love nappy covers. Generally I could use less fabric on a pattern like this but the striping ment that I had to lay peices in a certain direction. The ribbon used was left over from a previous project.

This little beach set turned out amazingly. I love the bright cheerfulness of it. The fabric is just a Spotlight cotton spot and the buttons are also spotlight. I lined the whole thing in cotton lawn to seal and finish off all the edges. The hat is a basic tulip hat trimmed with the same button and a small piece of cross grain ribbon that I already had in my stash.

This tuinc and pants set I think worked out really well. The splash of blue is just enough to break up the starkness of the black and white prominent in the bunny print. From memory the bunny fabric was also about $25/m and the blue cotton $10/m but the 3mth size took hardly any of that fabric to make. The top is fully lined in a cotton lawn and I use flat buttons on the back to avoid having anything stick in uncomfortably on a baby who can’t move much.

There are more details on my blog

Happy Sewing

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1960s

Simplicity 2154 For a Mini-Capsule Wardrobe

By Akram Taghavi-Burris on July 13, 2018

Review on Simplicity 2154 a vintage reproduction 1960's suit and how I managed to make the perfect spring, mini-capsule wardrobe with it.

On my make nine this year I decided to add a few vintage patterns one of which was Simplicity 2154.

I had mad this pattern years ago but didn’t feel like I had the fit right and I never got around to making the bow blouse.

Anyways, I decided that this year I would give it another go.

A Spring Look

I whipped up Simplicity 2154 at the end of April and choose to use spring colors to make the set. I was really inspired by the floral jersey I had in my stash. This fabric almost looks like upholstery fabric but it’s really soft and I thought the floral colors were perfect for spring.

I chose a coordinating solid for the blouse and the skirt. Starting with the skirt I went with a medium tan polyester fabric that had a bit of stretch to it.

The pretty bow blouse, which I was most excited to make, I used a pink cotton lawn fabric. The fabric has little white lines on it but they can only be seen up close. The lines give the pink a softer baby pink look.

Construction

While this project was pretty stright forward I did make a few changes to the overall construction.

First I found way too much room in the skirt so I ended up forgoing the side zip and added a back elastic waistband.

The Internet was filled with reviews on the bow blouse and how many found that the side zip was unnecessary. I decided to listen to the reviews and leave out the zip as well. Turns out it didn’t really need it and works perfectly as a pullover top.

The Mini-Wardrobe

In the title of this post, I mentioned a mini-wardrobe, which is exactly what I made using Simplicity 2154 as the base. As it turned out I had some leftover floral jersey from the cardigan and quite a bit of the pink cotton from the top. Using this leftover fabric I made a few more pieces that I could mix and match with the individual pieces of Simplicity 2154.

For full details about making this dress and the coordinating pieces be sure to see my full blog post at http://akramsideas.com/spring-simplicity-2154/

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1960s

Simplicity 3580 First Vintage Make of 2018

By Akram Taghavi-Burris on July 6, 2018

It feels like forever since I last posted on We Sew Retro. Mainly because I haven’t really been sewing vintage patterns the last few months.

However, while going through my UFO pile back in May I came across Simplicity 3580 a vintage shirtwaist dress from the 1960’s.

Review of yet another completed UFO project, Vintage Simplicity 3580 a 1960's shirtwaist dress with pleated skirt. — Can’t believe this has been in my UFO pile for 2 years

I started this pattern nearly two years ago now, and never quite came back around to finishing it.

At the time I’d gained some weight and we were in the middle of a move.

Completing a UFO

I was happily surprised when I pulled it out to find that the bodice fit me (yeah weightloss and healthy eating) and that the only thing left on this project was the skirt and the buttons.

Needless to say in one afternoon I managed to complete this project.

I’m so glad I came back to this dress. It is exactly the type of vintage dresses I love. I love shirtdresses of any kind, I love the drape of the sleeves I love the cuff detail and the soft pleats on the skirt.

This dress was not a planned make this spring but I’m so happy I got to it and that I’ve finally finished it. Even better is that this counts as my first Vintage Pledge make of 2018.

To read full details about this dress please be sure to check out my blog http://akramsideas.com/vintage-simplicity-3580/

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Vogue 7331 Shirt and McCall’s 4022 Jean Shorts

By Nat on

I finished my jean shorts, and a button down shirt to go with it using 1950s vintage sewing patterns; Vogue 7331 and McCall’s 4022. These are really practical and wearable, I’ve already worn the shorts a hand full of times.

My shirt is made from a swallow print navy cotton fabric with black buttons. I’m pretty happy with the way this turned out, this was my first attempt at making a shirt, the instructions for this were really basic although YouTube videos were helpful in how to construct a shirt.

These are my second pair of shorts made from McCall’s 4022 and I see making more from this pattern. I love them – the pockets are huge! They’ve really comfy in a blue denim. I also had a go at top stitching at the pockets and around the waistband – it could be neater but it really adds a pretty detail.

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