As requested, vintage knitting!

Here is a detail of the sleeve lace of my newly finished 50s 'Lady's Blouse'

For more pictures have a look at my Flickr


I'm very pleased with it!


Sue

xxx

Pattern PDF'ed on my blog on the Vintage Patterns it's a big file any ideas how I can get it smaller?

Advance 7956 (AKA Dancing bribery)

Yes, my Mom bribed me to dance. It was at a Lutheran youth retreat. She said she would buy me a pattern and fabric if I danced. So I did of course! (I hate dancing) Y'all will say that anyone who likes dresses should enjoy dancing. Bad me.

I found this pattern on Ebay. Yay!

I combined the two views so it would have the longer sleeves and the cool gathered side pannels. The skirt is way more than a full circle. The pattern suggests wearing many petticoats. If I had many petticoats I would wear them (if I had a party or some such craziness to go to...) How many "young adults" get invited to parties they could wear such a dress to? Oh yeah. I should go to dances. I'm home schooled. There aren't any dances to go to. Even if there were... I wouldn't want to go! Gah!

You can sorta see the side panels in the close-up.

Simplicity 3620 Dress with a bow

The Dress...

And the Bow...

So this isn't a vintage or vintage inspired pattern, but it looks very 60s to me and I love the bow in the middle of the chest. It's actually much more flattering in person because I used a slightly striped, stretchy brown mystery fabric (I thought it was jersey, but am now less sure) and the fabric does not photograph well. I've also posted a review at patternreview.com.

Good Morning!

Hello and many thanks for letting me join the party!

As yet, I've no vintage sewing started but SO much planned I was completely inspired by the 'Golden Age of Couture' exhibit, at the Victoria and Albert.

I WANT this!!!

If you can get to see it DO, I shall be a frequent visitor!

In the meantime I shall continue with my vintage knitting!

Sue

xxx

Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki

You can find the Wiki here, it's new so there's not a lot of content there yet but I'm sure it will grow!

If you're wondering what a Wiki is or how to use it etc etc etc you can find the information on it at A Dress A Day.

Anna

Greetings and Salutations

Hello all! My name is Jeanette, and I'm from Los Angeles. I have been sewing for about 4 years now, but this is my first authentic vintage pattern. It is Butterick 7329, and you can read more about it here.

I think for my "No More Buts" project, I will either tackle an unprinted pattern, or alter a wiggle dress for my full hips. Either way, I've enjoyed this blog for many months, and I look forward to being a contributor.

My first project with knit fabric!

I found this cute retro teacup fabric at Wal Mart. Although it turned out to have some issues (not printed on the grain) I made this top from it. It's not a vintage pattern (it's New Look 6160), but the fabric gives it a very retro look, to me at least.

More details can be found here on my blog.

Vogue 2859 Shirt

So I loved crybaby's shirt and it inspired me this morning when I should have been doing some descriptive statistics, but this was more fun and frustrating. errrr, I can't get the collar thing to look right and have ended up cutting it off.


This was how it looked, I just can't fingure out the whole looking like it goes under itself thing, so now this is what it looks like.

I suppose one of favorite parts of the pattern is the back anyway. Anyway suggestions to get the collar right would be seriously appreciated. This was my muslin from that wonderful $1 Golden D'or fabric they sell at Walmat :) I've some yellow challis that I want to use to make it with the actual collar detail.

vintage gown

I came across these pics while cleaning off space for my laptop. This was my first attempt at an adult size vintage pattern. It was for my little sister's homecoming dance. I had to make 3 muslins to get it right. I even found some amazing vintage costume jewelry to pull it all together. Not pictured is the bolero jacket to match. It was gorgeous!

Vintage Halloween Costume

My kids where re-using their costumes from last year, so I had a spare moment to help a friends kids who wanted to be Mother Nature. Score one for the unique costume concept. Her costume was based Mother Nature from Fantasia 2000.

She needed a basic underdress, so I made for her Butterick 4938.

A basic raglan sleeve dress. The fabric was gauzy, so it didn't come together quite as quickly as I hoped. I was able to get from buying the fabric at 11 am to a finished dress by 5 PM. I event got it down with a few days to spare before Halloween!

I love those timeless costume patterns! For another look at some vintage Halloween costumes - check out my blog! My kids costumes are over there. I didn't use vintage patterns for them.

Simplicity 2959

I have been waiting for just the right pattern to present itself for this vintage fabric. Daringly, I didn't muslin the pattern, because my muslins always turn out well, and the second time I make the pattern, well, let's just say I have a serious case of beginner's luck and I'm rarely as happy with my second attempt.
I'm glad I didn't muslin, because I'm happy with this, yay!
More photos and details on the blog.

Simplicity 3673 vintage dress re-release

Here is the dress with a crinoline.

Now, I won't be wearing the petticoat under the dress for everyday life, but I might for more fancy occasions!

I made the dress in an embroidered suede fabric.

This is my "no more buts" project. I wanted to make that dress for the vintage contest on patternreview.com, but... but but but. The dress is finally done, and I'm glad!

If you want to hear the looong story and see what alterations I brought to the pattern, click here.

Vintage Vogue Ventures

I made a top from Vogue Vintage Re-release pattern V2859. It was more difficult than i had first expected ("Oh ho, it only has four pattern pieces, it won't be that hard"). There were a couple of details that i found lacking in the instructions, like how to finish the shoulders where the back piece meets the neckline. I fumbled my way through.

I also added a peplum/yoke around the bottom as i found the finished shirt slightly too short. I will leave all the navel gazing to Britney Spears (Oh please woman, put it away!).





Anyhoo, I am pretty happy with the finished product though and will definitely make it again, maybe from a nice floppy silk.

Halloween and more . . .

My daughter Makaela, who is 12, had been hounding me to make her a cape for her winter coat this year. She got into my stash and found some red fleece, which she deemed "perfect!" for the project. So it turns out she wanted it for Halloween night, and I had to get going yesterday afternoon. I whipped this out in about 2 hours. I think the pattern, also in my stash, was actually the one I used for my high school prom dress and cape about 500 years ago (ok, maybe it was only 30).

She went as Little Red Riding Hood, obviously. But she plans to wear this as her winter coat, so we will probably add some kind of closures eventually. This fleece was so easy -- no hem, no seam finishes (although I did do a wide zigzag down the front and on a few of the seams just to finish it off). It would have been a great first project for Makaela if we hadn't been under such a time crunch . . .

--jen