Pattern: Simplicity 4637
Junior Misses’ and Misses’ One-Piece Dress, Bodice has low cut neckline and short kimono sleeves. Skirt is gathered at waist. View 1 has bias trim on neck and skirt with bows accenting left side.
Year: 1954
Fabric and notions: deep purple suiting (from the stash) I did not want to line the dress just add the facing as the pattern was drafted. Bias binding to finish the sleeve edges and a vintage metal placket zipper.
Construction details on the blog Sew Melodic.
This is one of two vintage dresses I’ve made for myself this month (the second is awaiting a belt). I had a pair of vintage spectator pumps, and really needed something to wear with them.
This was my first time using a Retro Butterick reprint. You might not be able to tell from the finished dress, but I used #5603.
I’ve been stocking up on Retro Buttericks whenever Hancock’s or JoAnn’s has a 99 cent sale. True vintage Buttericks are some of my favorites to sew with, and I’ve noticed this one cropping up a lot on PatternReview and other sewing blogs. I did add sleeves and 1,000 miles of bias trim (which I made myself… why?) as well as a hidden pocket in the non-zipper side seam. The other thing about this dress is that it’s quite a bit longer than my other vintage dresses. Anything with a full skirt I usually hem so that it hits right below the knee. But I went with a mid-calf length on this one and was quite pleased. (Of course now I am on the hunt for a tea-length petticoat to wear with it!)
I really love how this turned out! I used a fabric called ‘pimalene’ that I found for $2/yard at my local fabric store… think Kaufman Pimatex with a slight stretch. It was a wonderful fabric to sew with.. and I used notions from my stash so the whole dress was less than $10!
One more shot of the dress in action…
