60's Shift and Jacket Simplicity 6936

I have a wedding to go to and made this especially.

The fabric is an amazing two tone bluey purple which literally shimmers and shines in the light, the camera couldn't pick it up, it has turquoise motifs and metallic gold embroidery throughout.

It's the first time I've made something from an original vintage pattern and I'm amazed at the fit!

The jacket was from a 60's style pattern which came free with Prima magazine and the dress was from this pattern:

Bright Pink 50's Outfit

Here are some pictures of my most recently finished retro item.

I used the above pattern for the bodice of the outfit. No particular view... just the various elements that I liked for the outfit.

The skirt was just a basic pencil... two straight panels with darts to fit the waist, with a side zipper.

The fabric was actually an old sheet. It had a natural white trim along the hem, so I took advantage of that and used it as the hem of the skirt. I used seam binding for the trim along the neck and sleeves, and put some along the bodice hem as well to make the distinction between top and bottom.

My only irritation with this outfit is, that though it is a two-piece, the color is so odd and unique that I can't find anything else to go with it. I was thinking I could wear just the skirt with another top, or vice versa, but I can't find anything to match (well, except white, of course).

Vintage Apron Pattern

For Mother's Day, I made this apron up for my mom. The pattern was given to me by my grandmother, who found it amongst her stored stuff. You can see that a mouse has chewed on the priceless heirloom a bit. When Grandma gave me the pattern, my mom strongly hinted she'd like one, so here I am (for once) obliging her wishes.

It was my first time to sew with an unprinted pattern, and it wasn't as hard as I'd feared, although sometimes the notches and little holes in the pattern didn't line up like they were supposed to, and the instructions were very...sparse.

I followed the pattern except I cut a few inches off of the straps to make it (hopefully) fit my mom better, who is both shorter and a little heavier than I am, but not quite the "large" that the pattern is sized for.

I also did not follow the pattern instructions regarding the bias tape that finishes the edges, because they called for hand-sewing the bias tape. Not in your wildest dreams am I hand-sewing that much bias tape on. I did make the bias tape myself, out of the black and white gingham, since I wasn't going to make a special 20-mile trip just to buy bias tape. I wish it showed up better. Gingham bias tape is really cute!

I also just finished a baby quilt (not remotely vintage) for my new nephew , and pictures are here on my blog if you are interested. Just scroll through the apron stuff.

My introduction

Greetings from Melbourne, Australia!

I'm Angela. I've just signed up. I started sewing about 6 months ago and am loving it. I've took a beginners course at CAE and then a few project classes at Thread Den.

I've worked up the confidence to do some pieces on my own now.

I've made a few dresses and have been on the hunt for vintage fabric.

Here's a 1950s style dress I made with Vogue Pattern V8184




Here's a dress I made using fabric cut out of an extra large shirt dress. I love the pattern and the colour. I used a modern pattern though Simplicity 3778



I'm going to be giving Butterick B4790 a shot next.



I am going to make it in black and white like on the packet. I'm a bit worried the whole thing will look grey and black after I wash it though.

I'm yet to give an actual vintage pattern a try, but it's on my things to do list :)

I have my own blog here: MOO I MADE IT

My Introduction

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved to dress up. I'd spend hours skipping around the house in my 'Dorothy dress,' with my little stuffed Toto inside my little basket. When I was older, little bits and pieces of thrift store items mixed and matched didn't quite cut it for a costume. I wanted something customized, something carefully crafted, something perfectly exquisite.

So my mother taught me how to sew, and I began creating all sorts of Edwardian era outfits. I was in love with the grace and elegance of the Edwardian era, and frankly didn't give a hoot about retro fashions. Too new, too modern, not interesting enough.

Ah, the follies of youth! I was straightened out as I reached my mid-teens. By the time I was seventeen I was absolutely and totally addicted to retro fashion. I still love the Edwardian era, but vintage is the fashion love of my life. What was it that rescued me from my contempt of vintage, and turned me so completely around that now I find myself hooked on it?

A movie called High Society, and a woman called Grace Kelly. When she came sweeping into the room in that full-skirted blue dress, with the sheer overlay and darling little striped collar, I realized that 50's fashion was beautiful, elegant, flowing, feminine, and, true to the lovely actress' name, graceful. She's still my fashion inspiration, for while I love other retro decades, the 50's will always be my favorite.

Yes, so now I dance along the vintage trail, scouring antique shops for old hats and gloves, for patterns, for beautiful old coats. I break my heart over Ebay auctions, and bid sad farewells to the hats and patterns I hoped to have. I exult when at Lanetz Living or other vintage pattern sites I find an old favorite, just in my size, and not yet claimed.

And I'm constantly impressed and inspired by all the beautiful creations at this blog here. I'm so glad to be part of the fun, and I hope that I can add a little inspiration, too.

So concludes my introduction; but I'd like to share one of my vintage sewing creations before I go.

The pattern was McCalls 4086, a sweet and lovely summer dress. I just love working with this pattern... it's just my size, so I don't have to worry about getting it fit properly, it's very, very easy to put together, and it's a lovely style. As I was using it for a Christmas dress, I modified it just slightly by adding sleeves, which was simple to do. I just cut back some of the excess on the shoulders that form the cap sleeves, and added a basic long sleeve.

The most difficult part was the buttonholes, as I hadn't figured out how to do them on machine when I made this dress. They had to be done by hand, and for me at least, that's a lengthy process. So I sometimes call this dress 'The Great Escape dress.' Those three buttons and buttonholes took me the three hours of the film, and I can't look at one without thinking of the other.

Butterick 3357 -- Pocket Skirt!

I've finally gotten around to not just finishing something, but taking pictures of it too. I bought this pattern from Lanetz Living a few months ago:



The waistband is supposed to be made from elasticized grosgrain ribbon, according to the instructions. But I couldn't find any of that (I'd never heard of it before!) so improvised with elasticized belting. It's not too stretchy, but stretchy enough. It's sort of stretched out and settled on my hips now.



I love the pockets and the piecework. This would be fun to try with stripes and create chevrons.



I cut out and sewed the longer version, thinking the short one would be way too short for work. But after the elastic settled on my hips the longer one was way too long. I chopped it off to the shorter length and did a narrow hem so it's now the perfect knee length.

I made this as a wearable muslin with a cotton from Repro Depot. I'd like to make it again with some tamer, conservative, office-wear fabrics. I may adjust the waist to using a zipper instead of the elastic though. Finding that elastic is difficult.

(Larger photos on my flickr page.)

Adding and Inviting

I'm doing my usual catch-up of inviting those who've emailed and adding those who've posted intros. If you've joined and not introduced yourself yet please do so sooner rather than later so we all know who's here!

I'm moving on Saturday and will be offline for a little while but I will be back before I next need to do a catch-up and clear up the admin for the blog.

Thanks to everyone for posting and making this place such a great inspiration!

Anna

Vintage Butterick 3738 dress

I made the long sleeved version of this lovely dress in a navy blue wool, which I think would be dated around 1966 or so.

The only modifications I made were to shorten the long sleeves to three quarter length and hem the sleeves with a narrow band, use an invisible zip and made a lining for the dress. The dress is a little roomy because I added extra to the seam allowances to allow for my measurments against the pattern measurements, totally forgetting how much ease these vintage patterns have! However I quite like it how it is. This was such a quick and simple dress to make, I may make another perhaps with a contrasting front panel or some piping along the seams to make the front panel stand out more.

More details and photos at my blog. Thanks for reading!

Simplicity 3786

This is not a retro pattern but is a repoduction of one. The fabric is from Wal-Mart, 2.47 a yd.

Vintage Pattern Sale

I really enjoy reading and submitting pictures of my projects to this blog. It's so fun to see how all the patterns make up and to find other people who appreciate vintage styles.

To get to my point: I have an Etsy shop where I have crafts and vintage patterns. I'm trying to clear the vintage patterns out, though, and have started a new shop dedicated to vintage patterns and a few supplies. To hasten the clearing, I'd like to offer a special sale for readers of the Sew Retro blog.

All of the vintage patterns in my Butterfly Blue shop are Buy One, Get One Half Off. When you check out, put "Sew Retro BOGO" in the comments to seller section and do not pay immediately through Paypal. I will send you a revised invoice through Paypal with the appropriately adjusted amount. The half off pattern must be of equal or lesser value. The half off applies only to the purchase price, not shipping, although I will weigh the items and charge only actual postage in the revised invoice, which may be lower than the combined postage listed on Etsy.

A second option, for those of you who like surprises and living dangerously, is Buy One, get a FREE surprise pattern (in the same measurements as the pattern bought, unless requested otherwise). The free pattern will most likely be from the 1960's or 1970's (no 1980's, I promise), and will be from my large stash of patterns that I have not listed on Etsy yet. I will go through to make sure all the pieces are present. Put "Sew Retro Free Surprise" in the Notes to Seller at checkout, and pay as usual. If you have a particular hankering for a vintage bathrobe/housecoat pattern, put that in the "Notes to Seller" as well, because I have quite a supply of those in a range of sizes.

Hope this post isn't breaking any Sew Retro rules. I do usually try to keep blatant promotion of my shop out of my posts here.

This sale is good for as long as I have any patterns in my Butterfly Blue shop.