dress in progress

My plan is to finish my 60's dress this upcoming weekend. I still have some adjustments to make, but apart from that it's just lacking sleeves and a proper hemline. I received lots of help with pinning it to fit by my boyfriend, which impressed me enormously; he's not much for sewing or knitting or anything and sometimes have a hard time grasping the basics of it (mostly due to lack of interest, I suppose), but I think he's also quite eager to see this dress finished, so he didn't mind lending a hand. Or two, in this case.

I realised that I need to take off about and inch and a half over the shoulders to achieve a better fit, but I don't think it will cause any major problems, so I'm not worried about that. I've already been commissioned by two of my friends to make dresses for them, and if I have anything to say about it, there will definitely be a retro style to both of them!

Anyway, here are some photos of what the dress looks like now and how it should fit.

Present state of dress:

How it should fit:

June/July Vote

Bumped to remind everyone to vote!

There have been some amazing projects from the April/May theme, thanks so much everyone for sharing your sewing and being so inspiring!

So, it's now time for the vote for our June/July projects, here are the options:

The June/July Theme Should Be
	A little summer somethin'.
	Solid color fabric in a retro design.
	Project from the 60's.
	A type of garment you've never sewn before (i.e. if you've never made a dress/shirt/skirt give it a go etc).
Free polls from Pollhost.com

ps Please read it as given that if your seasons aren't the ones mentioned in the vote that you're free to amend the theme to fit whichever season you are having, I always forget to say that!

Anna

Drafts File

I don't know if this is my place or not, but I had to delete about three drafts that were created from the auto save function on blogger. I took a look at the drafts for the blog, and there are about nine of them, dating back to November 10, 2006. So, if you haven't seen one of your posts, or if you type slowly like I do and want to see if blogger made another copy of one of your posts, go to edit posts and look at drafts, and see if any of yours are there that you would like published or deleted.

Thank You and More Questions

Thank you all for the boost in confidence and the kick in the seat of the pants. I've finished a pillow, and gotten a bit more confidence about sewing with my machine. You can see the pillow on my blog, but since it isn't vintage or retro, I won't post a picture here.

I picked up a petticoat pattern, so I could have one to put under my retro skirts and dresses, but it took a while to find one. I was hoping to find other lingerie and undergarment patterns, but didn't really. What are your recommendations and where do you find undergarment patterns?

Also, how necessary is it to preshrink 100% cotton fabric, if you are sewing it with 100% cotton thread?

First post

Hello, and thank you for allowing me to play dress-ups with you all here on SewRetro. I love seeing all your projects and think you are all very clever and fabulous.


I have long been drawn to vintage clothes, especially those from the 1950s when women were shaped like women, with curves top and bottom, and waists in the right place. That happens to be how I'm shaped and I've very much of the philosophy that one should dress to suit yourself regardless of what happens to be in fashion at present, so I leave the smock, sack and shift dresses to those who have the frame to make it work!


I've made my own clothes on and off for years but have recently become quite gung-ho about it. I'm also much taller than average and making my own allows me to add extra centimetres to sleeves and torsos and hems - most clothes, whether new or vintage, aren't long enough for me.


I've been hunting for old patterns for some months now. Two problems - one is that they are often very expensive and especially so when I have to order them from overseas. Second is that I think my size happens to be one of the most common so they all get snapped up! I'm hoping that through Sew Retro I'll meet some people who are happy to swap and loan patterns - reciprocally, of course - allowing us to share the retro good cheer! I'm a pedantic pattern-tracer who hates to cut them which leaves them in good shape for someone else to use. So any 36" bust folks out there with a pattern stash they'd like to share, let me know - I'm in Melbourne, Australia. Perhaps we could all set up a pattern swap system through this blog? A flickr pool or somesuch? Thoughts for the future.


Enough blather from me - have a look at my blog at livebird.blogdrive.com for bits and pieces, including a jacket-in-progress with this sensational 50s cotton lining:

Happy Newbie Here!

Hello! My name is Missy and I adore vintage anything...especially sewing patterns and fabric. I have an extensive collection of childrens patterns which I use most often. Here is a great wrap dress I recently finished. It is a current pattern but I made it a little retro with some mini blue ric rac.

This site is such an inspiration and I love seeing all the neato creations.

Hello Sew Retro!

Hi Everyone,
This site is so inspiring. My name is Suzy and I have a pile of old patterns I've found in thrift stores over the years. I'd like to make them all! First up will be this Hostess Outfit, with the skirt done in the gold lamé paisley brocade, another thrift store score!
Check out my website for more cool retro junk store finds: luckyfindgazette.com.

Finished Housecoat

I decided to take the plunge and show a picture of the finished item. I got a little happy enlarging the sleeves, they didn't need to be that big.

Newbie here

Hello, my name is Bonnie and thankyou for letting me join. I have been reading this blog for a long time. I have collected quite a few retro patterns and have finally sewn a House coat using Simplicity 3027. Hopefully I'll be able to post a picture. I only have the hem to put in. You will notice the pattern is a 20 1/2 but the bust is only a 39inches!!! It was an easy pattern to sew.

I do enjoy all great sewing you gals do and the pictures of your finished items.

The Long Forgotten Halter

I cut this dress out about a million years ago and finally finished it the other day. It's not an actual vintage pattern, but it feels like it's keeping the retro dream alive. I made this one once before and luckily this version is much better. I'm improving! Yay! The weather is finally perking up around this joint, so hopefully I'll get to wear it soon...



Ever Your Villain

True ladies know...

I once read a caption in a Vogue fashion spread that said something like: "True ladies know that leopard print is a neutral." So in deference to capital 'F' Fashion, here's my version of Butterick 6582, one of the company's re-issued vintage patterns.
I couldn't remember the last time I had used a Butterick pattern, so I was a little nervous about the fit, etc. The dress turned out really well though. I didn't make any alterations except to the length, which I took up a couple of inches. I also lengthened the slit in the skirt so that I can still ride my bike in it. (True ladies know that biking in dresses is always in style.)
The fabric is a 100% polyester and was remarkably easy to handle and sew. The belt is purchased, although View C of the pattern (which has a full skirt) does have self fabric belt instructions. Overall, I'm really happy with how it looks and fits.
As you can see in the picture, I'm in the middle of cutting out another garment (an empire waist sleeveless top - unfortunately not a vintage pattern in any way). Once I get through it, I'm hoping to delve into some of the vintage dress patterns I recently bought from ebay.

More Simplicity Retro Goodness

This is another blouse from Simplicity 4047 which so many of you have made. I highly recommend it to those who haven't - its pretty simple (no buttonholes!) and has a really nice shape to it.

On a completely separate topic, does anyone have advice on what to use to line silk shantung? I just bought a lot of it to make summer suits for work. I think I read somewhere that a silk lining is best, but I'd rather a less expensive option as long as it wouldn't result in a staticy mess.

Thanks!

Simplicity 9556-Back to the 80's!

Another flashback goodie - 1980's Simplicity 9556. This was a popular Jiffy pattern, my sister even had one. Try your luck in thrift stores, eBay, etc. I used a peached knit to give my 2007 version a little bit of weight and drape, even though knits were not listed on the envelope as a suggested fabric. Simplicity's patterns were still pretty well drafted back then; I was surprised and happy to discover the shoulder stays put. (Check my blog for a photo of the pattern piece). A classic design with today's fabrics and notions (thank goodness for Steam-A-Seam 2!), creates a fun summer top.

Best regards, Peggy

Vintage knitter and sewer from Sweden

Hello everyone! I just joined Sew Retro and I must say I'm happy to have found you guys! Reading this blog is a great source of inspiration. I've always loved fashion from all eras and have started a collection of vintage sewing and knitting patterns, mainly from the 40's and 50's because that's what's mostly available here in Sweden. I haven't attempted buying anything from e-bay yet, but considering what's available there, I probably will in the future. I'm mostly interested in fashion and patterns from the 30's, 50's and early 60's but I try to collect anything from the 20s to 60s.

So far I have a couple of knitting works in progress based on vintage patterns and I'm just in the process of making my first dress from an actual vintage pattern. I have sewn a dress from a Vintage Vogue pattern before, but I don't have any photos of it, I'll make sure to take some and then I'll show it to you.

Here's a photo of the pattern I'm working with right now, it's the one on the right with short sleeves.


I like the pattern very much, and I will probably us it more times, I'd like to make the sleeveless version, too, eventually. The sizing is a bit strange, it's based on a persons height instead of circumference measurements! I ended up making the largest one, but I still had to add about two inches around the hips. Apart from that, it seems to fit perfectly and I'm very excited about finishing it so I'll have a new stylish dress to wear this upcoming summer.

/Katarina
Stockholm, Sweden

Oh, and here's a link to my blog: Knitting with Katarina

Hello!

I'm so happy to join this lovely blogging community. I love retro clothing shapes and relentlessly stalk my local thrift stores for vintage fabric and linens. I'm working on expanding my actual vintage pattern stash, and in the meantime I often use retro reprint patterns. Most recently Butterick 4790, which I think is old hat for you all!

I have fun with the contrast created by using vintage fabric to sew more contemporary shapes- like making a little summer skirt out of a 60's tablecloth from Goodwill, and a messenger bag of 70's home decor fabric from the Alameda Flea Market


Otherwise, I blog craftyhere pretty much daily. And if you're going to be at Maker Faire this weekend, please come say hi at one of my sewing workshops on Saturday or Sunday!

My next mission is to learn how to make a proper fluffy petticoat for my circle skirts, and I'm sure being here will spur me on to success. If you have a favorite pattern, please let me know. I'm so inspired by you all here at Sew Retro!

Introductions

If you've joined up recently can you please post your introduction so we know who you are and where you're from? I have quite a few people who've joined up but I've not been able to add to the sidebar as you've not said hello yet!

You don't have to post anything fancy, just who you are, where you're from, what you like to sew and if you've got a blog you can tell us about it too.

Thanks very much!

Anna (with her Admin hat on!)

Target dress Update

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

After

I decided to re-cut one piece and I like it much better. I now have the left side of the back matched up. I did realize not to match the right side because it would look too strange since both sides are from almost the exact same section of the design.

Now on to the rest of the dress...

More spring and summer sewing

This was a very simple to make dress from the vintage pattern at left. Its the one in red, with
pleats along the front and back necklines to provide bodice fullness. It creates this lovely drapey effect in the bodice - almost Grecian, but maybe thats the classics geek in me wanting to look classical (and classy!)

The dress, which is reprodepot sundot in green, also seems to match my kitchen hutch, which is my default photo location (the morning light is better).

I hope its sundress weather for everyone else too - its been gorgeous in New York!

-notamermaid

A Sewing Project Finished

Well I wasn't going to blog this, as I have a stack of "real" vintage patterns/fabric all waiting to be sewed up, but I have gotten so many retro aimed comments about it I thought why not.

Plus it actually makes me feel like I've achieved something this month ....been so busy with exams and manically itching to sew something, it is driving me crazy! So I caved and finished this up at the weekend, its from the Simplicity "it's so easy" range, and it is ... comes together right before your eyes. It ended up a fair bit longer than I thought it would, but I like it and I think it adds to the retro-ness.

Here's to hoping with my last exam on thursday I will be sewing feverishly before I know it :D

Villain, Girl-Reporter!

Hello, all. This is girl-reporter Villain signing on...

Here is my shirt dress in deco fabric:



The sepia photo was totally unintentional, but fortuitous: I'm getting a Polly Perkins vibe from it. I used a Simplicity pattern that I have made before (this time, sans bells and whistles) and sleeves from a Butterick pattern. The dress is super comfortable and simple, but I could dress it up a touch, too. I've got the slingback pumps, but what I really need is a sharp trench coat. Anyone know a good pattern and/or place to get water resistant microfiber?

Villain, signing off... for now

Return of the Target dress

This dress is the one from last year that I wanted to make out of a tablecloth from Target. I chose the pattern (McCall's 5042) because of the amount of fabric I thought I had. However, the bodice uses princess seams in the front and back and I didn't realize how much of a problem the print would be for this design.

Here are the pinned front and back of the bodice. I think the front is fine, as there is no way the pattern would match because of the seaming. Unfortunately, the back is not as attractive.



Now, it would be possible to cut out some more pieces for the back with the amount of fabric I have left, but it would still be a gamble. What do you think, is it alright like this or should I try again? Please help me.

Double Retro...

Double Retro? thats when you use a pattern that is technically 'retro' (over 10 years old), but was also referencing a retro style in itself. I bought this Anna Sui / Vogue pattern in 1997, and it is a very sweet, 50s dress. Cap sleeves, with elastic for a bit of poufiness, pencil skirt, and, at the back... nothing!

To be honest, I didn't understand this pattern when I bought it, I just thought the back had some kind of tie-detail as the illustration was a little unclear. I love this back-less-ness now though. It is very sexy, and super-cute. The only trouble is figuring out the bra situation... because I need one! I am working with a Thread article on creating bra-type support by using bra-cups and elastic that goes around your shoulder (basically hidden under the sleeve). Untill I figure this out I can't finish the dress, as Im hoping I can hid most of the bra contraption in the lining...

FAbric is from Liberty's and my mother bought it for me BEFORE I bought the pattern... so I'm guessing it is about 15 years old itself.

This was originally going to be my Coachella dress, but now I'll settle for my summer in the city / Tennessee Williams frock instead.

Ciao

Long Time No Dress

I was feeling as though it had been forever since I made anything retro, but then I realized that the last dress I made, though it was a modern pattern, was with reproduction Art Deco fabric. That counts, right?



I am almost finished with a modern shirtdress in repro fabric from the same era. Just have to put on the buttons/buttonholes and it's ready to wear. Pix soon!

Villain

Sew what do you think?

I bought this dress pattern a while ago.

And I finished the dress also a while ago too. The problem is that I hate making button holes. I don't have an automatic buttonhole on my sewing machine. Well I finely came up with a solution. Sew the buttons on the front and use snaps to keep the dress close.
It came out pretty good. What do you think?

(The lump is the pocket)

Thank God Its Spring Jacket

I've been sewing up a storm recently, but more summer colors and styles until this jacket. Its Etsuko royal dot from reprodepot and this vintage pattern
I wore it to work with a light green linen shirt and dark denim cigarette jeans yesterday, and I'm pretty sure the sheer exuberance of it all was what got me a free smoothie at Jamba Juice!