I had dreamed of a perfect sailor top for years and finally made one from the very charming Butterick 7444 last week. I chose a dark grey cotton for the main parts and a lighter grey for the detachable collar and also used three very cute (and purely decorative) metal buttons. I am absolutely delighted about this easy and very well fitting pattern and already made new plans to use it again in a lightweight silk fabric.
See a few more pictures on my blog.
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As promised, I’ve written a detailed tutorial on how to make your very own bow belt on my blog like the one I made for my striped dress.
Bow belts are so easy to make and can add that pretty little detail to any outfit to finish it off. They are also great for using those scraps of left over fabric you have that you aren’t quite sure what to do with.
If any of you make one, I’d love to see them!
xx
Jen
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Hello, family of retro sewers! Long time reader; first time post. I’m Linda and I’m so happy to be here!
I’ve been sewing since I was 11 years old. (I’m from the era of Home Ec classes.) I sew as an outlet for my creativity, but sewing originally started as a way to make clothes for my tall and slender frame. As a child of the 60s and a teen of the 70s in Southern California, I was influenced by hippie styles and also Victoriana. One of my favorite things to sew back in high school was clothing made from colorful, block printed bedspreads from India.
My stash
After selling off much of my previous, vintage fabric stash, I collected several vintage Indian cotton pieces as well as vintage patterns over the past year or two to start getting my sewing mojo back. That mojo had been lost by the demise of my beloved 1978 Kenmore sewing machine that finally gave up the ghost after 30 years of sewing together. To replace the machine, I bought an expensive new machine (hated it), sold it, bought and sewed on several vintage Singers (201 & 221 Featherweight… awesome!), then found a near mint, vintage 1972 Kenmore in case for $17.50 at the Salvation Army ….. and the angels sang! After a good oiling, it was game on! Guess I’ll always be a Kenny girl!
This top is a simple tunic made from Simplicity 5828. As I am 5’10″, I lengthened it about 3 inches. The nature of the block print pattern of the fabric itself necessitates a bit of pre-planning as far as the laying out of the patten pieces. I turned the sleeve pattern diagonally on the corners of the bedspread to get the “handkerchief” sleeves. You’ll note that the pointed part of the sleeve is not under my arm but on top of it; just a different little twist. I made French seams for stability and allowed the finished edges of the fabric to serve as my hems.
The piece came together quickly and beautifully the second time. Say what? Yes, this veteran seamstress had to re-cut the top out all over again as the fabric started to disintegrate before my eyes under the machine’s feed! Why? There was some fading to part of the the fabric but I decided to just go with it to create a funky, aged look to my garment. BUT, fading had created rot and I got the funk alright. It appears that sunlight combined with Indian dye has a particularly devastating effect on cotton. Lesson learned when using fabric of this type was to avoid fabric with any sun fading. Luckly, there is none of that left in my stash.
I’m looking forward to making more tops from this pattern as well as sharing with you some of the pieces that I’ve made from the other patterns shown. Of course, I’m also looking forward to seeing what the rest of you Seventies Sewers are up to!
To read more about my inspiration for this piece, feel free to take a peek at my vintage blog at: http://mseccentricartsvintage.blogspot.com/
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Are there any new sew alongs or sewing challenges (vintage/retro related)? I always find out about them when they are near the closing date.. 
Thanks!
[EDITED TO ADD: Audrey I hope you don't mind me jumping into your post like this, but I think you've hit on a common problem - I'm always missing sewalongs because I only hear about them when they're wrapping up. If any of our contributors/readers are hosting a sewalong or sewing challenge with a specifically retro or vintage theme, don't hesitate to drop me a line at katherine [at] wesewretro.com to let me know when you launch it and I’ll do what I can to get the word out.
- Katherine]
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I decided to double up on to-do tasks and stitch up my very first version of Colette’s new Laurel for JuliaBobbin’s 2nd Mad Men Challenge. I was inspired my Megan Draper’s colorful, modern prints (as were some other challenge participants!) and lucky for me I had the perfect stretch cotton in my tub already!
I had a great run of luck on this project, because I did not make a muslin for this pattern, but I think it fits rather nicely! The shift style and the gathered sleeve cuffs, paired with my wild paisley print, make this retro dress very late 60s, dont you think?
More on my blog, here.
xoxo
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This morning I finished Vogue 8767, a 30s reproduction pattern, and I wanted to share the result with you!
I was really in need of a new spring dress, and I think this dress is perfect. I love the jabot, belt and puffed sleeves!
The construction of this dress went so smoothly, I even got a bit scared 
I didn’t make any alterations to the pattern and this time I didn’t make a muslin.
The dress has a lapped hand picked zipper in the sideseam.
I did practice hand picked zippers during sewing course last year, but didn’t do the real thing until now!
It always feels good if you master a new sewing skill and when a project goes so well!
There’s more on my blog :)
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This dress was a challenge as I needed to stay true to me but also be somewhat risque. Therefore the completely lined bodice and unlined skirt. Some changes were made as I had to modify parts to put all the pieces together. I wish I had made the hostess apron but it was my grandmother’s and she made it.
The basis of the pattern was Simplicity 3823.
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Love not being in black
Invited for the chairman of the board’s dinner. Had about 3 weeks to find a dress. Decided to go retro. Loved my dress. Almost everyone else was wearing formal black but I loved my print and the dress. Amazing to dance in.
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For Julia Bobbin’s Mad Men Challenge I sewed up this Elisalex dress in a canvas like woven fabric I bought from Mood. While the fabric and pattern are not vintage, I think that the combination of the two gives a look that Megan Draper would possibly wear during this season of Mad Men. Paired with my Elladolce earrings I almost feel like Megan 
I think this dress holds the record for the most time I have spent on a garment. I traced the pattern, sewed a muslin, retraced the pattern (went down a size from the original muslin, did a FBA, went in an additional size at the shoulders), made another muslin, and then got started on the final dress. While the fit is still not perfect (will it ever be?) I am still pretty happy that I corrected the initial problems with the baggy shoulders, tight bust, and baggy front. Doing a FBA made such a huge difference, but man, it was NOT fun making the changes for a princess seam bodice. Thank you to those of you that helped me with my fit issues!
For more photos please check out the post on my blog.
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This is my first time actually sewing a vintage pattern and my first time posting! I started this skirt in the summer before college started up, but I got sidetracked by my 1000-miles-away-from-home school. But I finally finished it, and lookee here, it fits Julia’s Mad Men Challenge!
I used a 1957 Simplicity pattern in some super-fine, vintage brown corduroy, and I’m really happy with how it came out. More info on my blog here.
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