Butterick 5903 - 1979 flashback!

The fashion pundits usually say that if you wore it once, you shouldn't wear it again. Perhaps I can scoot under that rule -- I made the View B dress (far right) in May and October, 1979. Now, 28 years later, I've made the shorter version View C (center) to wear as a belted tunic top. What I liked then and what I liked now were the cut-on, half circle sleeves and the gathered neckline. It's really a classic style that resurfaces above the fashion waters for a reason!

P.S. I wasn't sure if 1979 could be considered "Retro." But in Texas, if your car or truck is 25+ years old, you can get the "Classic" designated license plate! Classic style, classic pattern!

Best regards, Peggy

Mix Well with Great Skirts!

Hi Everyone . . . I usually don't do this, but I wanted to tip everyone off to a great pattern that I just listed on eBay. Too small a size for me, so I am passing it along. If you wear lots of skirts as I do, this is just one FAB blouse (I think). You can check it out at my listing. By the way if anyone out there has this pattern in a size 18 or 20 for sale, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

If You're Going to Wear 50's Fashions . . . .

You need a petticoat (or 2 or 3)! Here's my most recent vintage creation, a petticoat from Vogue, Special Design, #4010 which includes a petticoat:

Here's what a petticoat can do for you:

My vintage Advance dress without petticoat:

Now, with petticoat:
I made the petticoat a little differently from the pattern instructions. I've used china silk underlined with silk organza for the yoke - no scratchy net, thank you! I've also faced the hem closest to the skin and the center back seam with satin ribbon for wearing comfort. The pattern indicates that two bottom ruffles should be cut out, layered together and sew on as one. I tried that and didn't like the result, so I took them apart, made one ginormous ruffle out of the pieces and attached that! The result was exactly what I was looking for!

For more details on construction and interesting comments from those who actually wore petticoats in the 50's and 60's check out my blog! Scroll down for the posts from the beginning of the week for so you don't miss all the petticoat posts.

Help Me Get Over My Fear of My Sewing Machine

Hello everyone! I've been reading this group and being inspired by all of your work. Since joining the group over six months ago, I've sewn exactly one thing on my sewing machine. I am terrified by it! I don't know what to do when things mess up.

I have a problem where the bobbin thread sometimes bunches up like crazy in one spot on the fabric and doesn't hook up with the top thread. Sometimes it goes away when you snip out the bits of thread, and sometimes it seems like it resolves itself over time. I don't know what makes it happen or how to make it stop.

That's the first part. The second part is just that I'm not familiar enough with sewing machines, and am afraid of cutting the fabric wrong and ruining everything. Please reassure me.

I have been looking for basic adult sewing and garment construction classes, and I can't take any of the ones that are offered in the next month and a half, so I'm waiting to see what the summer schedule is like. Until then, I have several patterns and some ideas to remake clothes we have into things for our children, but I can't bring myself to start them.

What I really need is a sewing buddy. Is there anyone in this group from the Puget Sound area?

Thank you all for listening.

Hello Everyone--New Here

I've been sewing for about 30 years, but just started working with retro patterns because I wanted the challenge. I also love the vintage fashions from the 20's and the 50's. They have so much more style than clothing today.

Its been great to see the examples of dresses you've made using the vintage patterns. I've just started sewing with these patterns, and am looking forward to getting advice and inspiration from you all who've been doing it for a while.

My first attempt is a Polynesian pattern from the early 60's. I just started but will post as soon as I get it finished.

Have a great week.
Kelly

Thank God It's Spring

Here's my "Thank God It's Spring" sundress. Nothing quite says "Spring" to me like a lovely white eyelet.

I didn't actually use the pattern pictured here. It was for sale at So Vintage Patterns for $35, but rather than purchase it I drafted a similar pattern with Pattern Master Software. When I drafted the pattern, I miscalculated the ease so I added to strips of grossgrain ribbon along the back which makes for an interesting and functional detail.

The dress is white cotton eyelet mounted on white cotton broadcloth. I think I may adjust the straps because the dress rides a little high right now and I think that if I increased the length of the straps it would hang better.

So ... Thank God It's Spring, even though it's about 35F outside right now.

-JennyM

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hi. My name is Erin and I live in the Los Angeles area my whole life. I love to sew and I love vintage things. Why not put the two together. I just find that vintage patterns just fit me better.

I bought this pattern not to long ago and have made two dresses already from it and have a third cut out and ready to sew.

Here are the two dress. I will post the other when finnished.

Dress #1

Dress #2

thank god it's spring!

Up here in Ithaca, NY, the weather keeps teasing us. I'll leave the house one morning bundled up in jeans and sweaters, and find the day so sunny and beautiful I wish I'd worn a skirt and sandals. My thoughts turn to summer clothes, and then within a day or two it starts snowing again.

So, on the eve of another snowstorm (they're predicting a foot by morning) I present my Yay Spring! dress. I actually cut out the fabric for it during the last few warm days of fall. It's a shirt dress (Simplicity #4147) made of black cotton(?) with red buttons and red detail stitching. I used a rayon thread for the stitching; it's very shiny and really stands out. And pockets! I love the pockets. I don't think I've ever owned a dress with useful pockets.

My husband kindly modeled the dress while I took the picture. He's giving his best fashion model vacant stare. What a good sport!



I love this dress and I expect I'll make more like it. Unfortunately, while I was trying it on, my dog (the one sleeping so innocently in the photo) stole the pattern and ripped it to shreds! McCall's patterns were on sale today, so I plan to try McCall's 5378 for my next shirt dress.

Comments helped!

Thank you LadyBeGood and Summerset. Also thanks to Juliet W who sent a personal email. I have solved the issue and the skirt is almost complete.

Since the skirt does not have a side seam but side darts that serve as a side seam somewhat, the zipper has to be inserted in the left side at the open dart area. Summerset, it did require a bias strip to be used as a facing on the overlap part. That was easy enough to do. As was folding over 1/4 inch on the other leg of the side dart to sew to the right side of the zipper, with zipper facing up. I then stitched the other dart leg with bias facing attached to the left side of the zipper again with zipper facing up. This creates a lapped zipper.

It was the stitching of the bottom part of the zipper that created the unusual pucker after stitching. Using Juliet's suggestion, I removed the zipper and started over. I stitch the bottom part of the ending point of the dart up to the opened dart part, then reapplied the zipper as stated above. This helped the zipper lie flatter and the unusual fold at that part now does not pucker out.

Sorry the camera batteries are recharging and hopefully will take photos later this week to help this be more visual.

The great thing is that I appreciate the support given here as well as to my personal email.
Sewing bloggers are so talented and so helpful. Thanks again!

Need some help!

I am working on this pattern. As noted on the site and on the pattern, the side seams are not seams at all but darts. One side is the side opening and you insert a zipper here. I have inserted the zipper but the end of the zipper/dart looks a little wonky. I should have taken a photo. I can not figure out how to get this to lie flat. If anyone else here has made this skirt, could you email me so I can contact you to ask additional questions. Email is lwlamona@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your help!

Finally finished...

Butterick Retro wrap dress! I don't remember the pattern number, I think it's 4720 or 4920, but it's the one that so many better sewists than I have made. Still it came out well and I wore it for Easter and got lots of compliments.

I only made a few changes. I shortened the length from the top of the shoulders to the bust points, and I used bias tape around all of it in contrasting colors, including the hem.

Sorry the pic's not better; it's from my camera phone and not as big as I wanted it.

So this was originally for the theme of making something from a re-issued pattern, but since it's got pink flowers on it and it's short sleeved it could maybe count for thank god it's spring also, right? I live in San Francisco where it's always a bit chilly and don't make many springy things so I don't know if I'll do another anytime soon.

Another Newbie!

Hello,

Just posting a brief hello and introduction. I'm Hannah, 22 from London. Only been sewing since Christmas and am teaching myself (with help from the readers digest book), but I think it's all progressing okay. Like to make sure each of my projects has a new first in it, although button holes still terrify me!

Mainly I like mid 50s to mid 70s patterns and have a growing collection of vintage patterns and fabric (to my boyfriends horror!). The last couple of things I've sewed were these:

An early 50s dress by Vogue, made out of peach-touch crepe .....



And an easy circle skirt, I actually made this pattern up as my first ever project but this fabric being a little crisper came out much much better.


So what's my "thank god it's spring" project going to be? Well it's a bit hard to think like that when we've reached summer temperatures this week, good ole weird British weather! But I definately have a few patterns I want to make up which would make a good spring item, possibly a nice A-Line 60s dress with some pink crimpoline I have .... we shall see.

Easter Dress

Better a little late than never! Isn't is such a yummy shade of chocolate Easter bunny brown? It's made from Advance 6781, an "American Designer" pattern featuring an original Judy & Jill design by Horwitz and Duberman.

The original dress had variations on the upper bodice; one had pin tucks and the other was plain. I decided that since I had four yards of the brown stripe in the stash, and this was the time to creatively use it for this dress. Instead of the pin tucks, I made tucks to bring the sections of cream stripes closer together. Along with all the pleats (48!) in the skirt, it gives an interesting effect to a potentially boring fabric.

I'm not sure if this says, "Thank God for Spring", but if you can forget about the chocolate bunnies and think of nice, rich brown earth ready for growing green things (if the snow in my yard would ever go away!), then maybe by a stretch it fits this month's theme.

For many more pictures and details, check my blog for the Easter Dress posts. They're in the category labeled "My Wardrobe".

Happy Spring,
Summerset

Intro

Hi! Been an avid sewer for 20 years, and a big interest in vintage clothing. Not much else to say at the moment, other then I'm happy to be here!

New member

Hi, I am Heather and have been a big fan of this site for quite awhile. Didn't think I really liked retro patterns until falling in love with Folkwears Rosie the Riveter overalls. I have a bunch of vintage 80's patterns and am looking for 30's and 40's patterns to make. I am starting to develop a taste for the 50's also. I have 3 daughters who are 5,3,1. I am a SAHM and military wife. We live on a farm on the edge of the Flint Hills. Hope to post a picture soon. Thanks!

Heather

Over 100 Members

I've just noticed that we now have more than 100 members! I never expected to have that many people interested in this little idea so thanks so much for joining up and being so inspiring with your sewing!

We're still getting requests to join almost every day so here's to the next 100 members joining up!

Thanks for taking part!

Anna

A Summer Top & purse

I finally set aside some time to get some sewing for myself done. So I made myself a cute purse and top for the Summer, both with vintage fabrics. The purse was made with some bright jungle print cotton and a set of vintage wooden purse handles. It was really easy, just feed the fabric thru the handles and stitch, then stitch it down the sides. The handles and the fabric came from separate stock purchases that I made for my website.
Below is the top, made from some vintage plisse, bought at a local antique shop, and a copy of a vintage pattern that I bought online. The pattern is actually for a pajama top, but I have plans to wear my top this Summer, if it ever warms up around here.



Bye for now, Carol
http://dvintage.blogspot.com

Just in time for Spring!!

Vogue 2962


Vogue 2961


Vogue 2960

An early Halloween costume?

I just saw this adorable pattern at Lanetz Living for $9.99.

Just imagine Bonnie Parker, (a la Faye) of "Bonnie and Clyde". How easy, a plastic gun and it's done.



Or how about just making this vintage-styled outfit because it's incredibly cute?!

April/May Theme

So, the theme for April and May will be:

A 'Thank God Spring's Here' outfit. Or for those of you in the other hemisphere a 'Thanks God Autumn's Here' outfit.

Happy sewing, looking forward to seeing what you all come up with, and thanks for voting!

Anna