Hello! My name's Elisabeth and I'm a beginner at sewing. I've made some clothes for myself from vintage patterns over the last couple of years, and I have several more projects in the works. My favorite vintage era is the 1950s. I simply adore those full skirts and the feminine elegance of the whole look! I also like the 30s and 40s. My next projects will be Christmas presents for my family, but after that I want to launch into a 1950s weskit pattern that I've wanted to try ever since I got it.
Thanks for letting me join - I'll be sharing my already-completed projects soon!
Up To Date
I'm now up to date again with adding people to the list and sending invites.
If you joined in the last batch of invites I sent out could you please make sure you've posted your introduction, with the number of posts we're getting now it can take me some some to find all the intros and figure out who everyone is! If you're not now on the list of sewers and you have posted an intro please point me to the date you posted it so I can add you.
Also, if you're intending to post under an alias could you let me know who you are as that also can take some time hunting down the email address then the email that was sent when you requested to join so I can figure out who you are and can post your link!
And one final admin thing, when you've posted to the blog could you do a quick check on Blogger to make sure it's not saved every draft when the autosave kicks in please? I've been through and deleted pages of them and it would be helpful if you could all delete your own extra posts from whenever Blogger decides to burp!
Thanks as always to everyone for all the wonderful posts we've been having, it's lovely to see so many finished items and hear all the stories of how they were made. I'm just finishing up my stacks of sewing that 'need' to be done and them I'm back on the vintage pattern sewing so hopefully I'll have something to show soon!
Anna
If you joined in the last batch of invites I sent out could you please make sure you've posted your introduction, with the number of posts we're getting now it can take me some some to find all the intros and figure out who everyone is! If you're not now on the list of sewers and you have posted an intro please point me to the date you posted it so I can add you.
Also, if you're intending to post under an alias could you let me know who you are as that also can take some time hunting down the email address then the email that was sent when you requested to join so I can figure out who you are and can post your link!
And one final admin thing, when you've posted to the blog could you do a quick check on Blogger to make sure it's not saved every draft when the autosave kicks in please? I've been through and deleted pages of them and it would be helpful if you could all delete your own extra posts from whenever Blogger decides to burp!
Thanks as always to everyone for all the wonderful posts we've been having, it's lovely to see so many finished items and hear all the stories of how they were made. I'm just finishing up my stacks of sewing that 'need' to be done and them I'm back on the vintage pattern sewing so hopefully I'll have something to show soon!
Anna
Hi Everyone!
I am another happy lurker who decided to join the party.
As far as sewing goes my main era of addiction is the 70's. Then by way of extension the 40's since the 70's revisited the 40's styles a lot.
I also love costume jewelery from the 50's - 70's.
I am a certified crafting addict and get myself into all sorts of other creative stuff. It keeps me sane(?). While it is certainly not less expensive than therapy, it is a whole lot more fun.
Hmm. Guess I had better finish up that 70's jacket that has been hangin' with the UFOs for too long:
Go Sew Retro!
As far as sewing goes my main era of addiction is the 70's. Then by way of extension the 40's since the 70's revisited the 40's styles a lot.
I also love costume jewelery from the 50's - 70's.
I am a certified crafting addict and get myself into all sorts of other creative stuff. It keeps me sane(?). While it is certainly not less expensive than therapy, it is a whole lot more fun.
Hmm. Guess I had better finish up that 70's jacket that has been hangin' with the UFOs for too long:
Go Sew Retro!
Saga of woe. A dress disaster.
Today's saga begins with this 1954 Australian Home Journal pattern I borrowed from Moggy's formidable collection of all things ancient and patterny. The jaunty red striped version caught my eye and I thusly invested in metreage of a vaguely striped thing to replicate it. I don't know what I was thinking because I really don't like the fabric I bought. First obstacle.So I made a muslin, which looked nothing like the pic above, so I redrafted the bodice. Twice. That neat little straight line under the model's bust? That, no matter how much adjusting and resewing I did, does not lie straight. It did an ugly upturned U-shape that was most unimpressive. So I abandoned plan A and launched into the other version pictured because I could use some of the bits I had already cut.
BUT. Foiled. FRUMP-OIR.
I felt like such a Mildred in this but it did teach me something - set-in sleeves, on me, are most frump-making. I pulled the darts in to sassify, I played with different sleeve lengths but ick, it just sucked. Like I'd just been been removed from a polygamous compound in the desert.
BUT. Foiled. FRUMP-OIR.
I felt like such a Mildred in this but it did teach me something - set-in sleeves, on me, are most frump-making. I pulled the darts in to sassify, I played with different sleeve lengths but ick, it just sucked. Like I'd just been been removed from a polygamous compound in the desert.
Then I picked up this wee pattern:
I'm really getting into the 70s patterns at the moment. Some of them are just so simple and sassy.But my ill-luck continued. I cut out a piece, then accidentally cut another piece out of it. Ooops. Then had to do some wily patching up (see bodice below). Sewed bits on backwards. Tore another piece. Ran out of purple thread. More patching. I swear, this was the most acursed sewing saga ever. I blame the fabric.
Anyhoo, here's the nearly-done result. Those pockets are just pinned on because frankly, I still think the fabric is a world of BLAH, and am tempted not to invest another moment on the thing. I'm giving the frock one last chance at redemption if the good burghers of Sew Retro think it's worth it. But be harsh. If you think it's a dud, lemme know and I'll chuck every scrap of this purple stripe into a bag and donate to some quilty type. Or burn it. And start over with something I actually like.
The Maternity Muu Muu....NOT
I found this dress pattern in the maternity section at Lanetz Living. That's probably why it was there long enough for me to debate for weeks to buy it. I'm not sure many modern women want to knowingly make a muu-muu to wear when they're pregnant. However, since I wasn't in the "family way" I thought McCall's 6712's belted version was adorable. The fact that it had a self-fabric belt and pockets just made it ideal.
Worn with cheap but lovely 50's-style jacket from Forever 21.
As soon as I saw this Denyse Schmidt "Katie Jump Rope" fabric I knew it was the one. Now, why it took me an entire year to make this dress though, is a mystery. But it is now done and just in time to catch the dwindling summer days of 2008. In addition, if I find the right knitted cardigan it could possibly stretch into fall.
For more construction details, see my blog post here.
Please excuse the blurry full-length photo.
Bangin' Butterfly Blouse
I knew there was a reason I love fashion from the 30's and 40's! The garment cuts are so flattering! This simple wrap blouse (that I know is hard to see due to the fabric pattern) is another pattern from Decades of Style pattern company. The 1930's Butterfly Blouse and it will be made again and again! I can't believe this is only 3 (pattern) pieces! I did not follow the recommended fabrics and paid the frustration price. In future I will use drapey fabrics that can hold a crease. Like silk or rayon. I used a 100% polyester that has great weight and drape but was difficult to work with and required a lot of pinning to hold it in place while I sewed it. I actually almost melted a hole in it with my iron trying to get some semblance of a crease to happen! I started this a couple weeks ago and finished it September 22, 2008.
The Ol' College Try
I have been reluctant to call in the guard to fix my Singer, and instead got out the manual to see if I was missing something. Yeah, I'm missing the professional repair manual. :)
Searching online turned up a handful of refurbished 5160s, but no Inner Sanctum knowledge that would unlock the door to the innards of my machine.
Butterick 4790 is still in pieces, my Halloween costume still needs fitting and hemming, and I still need to suck it up and call a shop. Cry, cry, cry.
Searching online turned up a handful of refurbished 5160s, but no Inner Sanctum knowledge that would unlock the door to the innards of my machine.
Butterick 4790 is still in pieces, my Halloween costume still needs fitting and hemming, and I still need to suck it up and call a shop. Cry, cry, cry.
The Simple Skirt....
This was MUCH easier than the dress. And it fits like a glove. A beautiful, constricting, turn your fingers blue kind of glove.
When those designers in 1947 said 30 inch waist, they meant it. And they meant for you to cinch that waist in a tight fitting girdle (Spanx high waisted power panties, in 2008) so you could zip the zipper and close those hooks and eyes! Holy Moly!
I have a crinoline coming in the mail to wear under it.
I love it.
Sometimes the pain is worth it.
Here is the pattern: Advance 4759
Summer of the (maternity) dress
I absolutely love the idea of a 'summer of the dress' a-thon being promoted by Livebird and her fantastic dresses posted on this blog previously, plus the glorious ones that moo I made it is coming up with too. And not forgetting the gorgeous ones made by Melynda which started this whole concept.
So here's my contribution: a 1972 McCalls pattern that features a maternity dress, tunic, pants AND frilly bloomers! Oh my, I think I'll give those bloomers a miss, but the dress and tunic length certainly caught my eye.But as with all patterns that only feature a drawing on the envelope and not a photo it is deceiving - this dress turned out ginormous and I am currently in the process of taking it in a bit at the side seams and adding darts to the rear to give a bit more shape. I may be 6 months pregnant but there's no need to be walking around in a six person tent! I also ditched the puffy sleeves because they looked a bit silly.
I made it in a black and white small check cotton/poly fabric, but didn't line it since the fabric is thick enough to avoid embarrassing see through issues and I'm expecting my internal thermostat to start to increase that most preggo ladies experience.
And here is the dress in its huge form, ie made following the pattern:
And here is the dress in its huge form, ie made following the pattern:
More details over at my blog if you'd care to join me.
Butterick Walk-Away-And-Don't-Look-Back
After buying the pattern (and fabric) for the Butterick 4790 "Walk-Away" dress back in 2006, I finally started to sew it this past weekend. Ironed and cut the pattern, ironed and cut the fabric, chalked my marks, pinned my tucks, fired up the Singer... and got nowhere. More details are here, at my "real" blog.
Style 1815, 1978-style
Neat little 70s shirtdress I finished this evening.
The fabric is a super cheap and nasty cotton print but it was only $2 a metre... I think it was perhaps a sample, or printed in sections to be made into garments, because the pattern cut out every 80cm or so. Thusly the band on the bottom to make it long enough. But lo, switch the pattern direction and it looks like a feature. Wily.
See that frock second from the right? That's exactly what my primary school uniform looked like. Perhaps I'll whip one up when I feel like regressing to age 6 and go swing on some monkey bars.
UPDATE:
This frock makes me part of the International Sewing Conspiracy... it's in the International Wear A Dress Day flickr group. Erin's extended it to a whole week so get frocking and flickring, folks!
A pattern from 1939.....
You know when a dress darn near breaks you? This was one of those.
I am not sure if it was the crepe fabric or the fact that I'd never done topstiching (or taken the time to trace a pattern and do a muslin beforehand) but it was definitely the most effort I have put into a project in a long while---and I can't look at it without seeing what I did wrong here and there and shaking my head. Oh well! Perfection is overrated anway!
:)
AND it is officially stitched together....it ain't comin' apart now.
All it needs is hemming and a belt!
It's Simplicity 3264
Hail to thee, Miss Mayberry.
I find inspiration in the weirdest places. For instance, this dress is inspired by a dress some extra was wearing in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. A black and white episode, no less.I used the top half of a vintage shift pattern that I have used and altered about a million times. The skirt is just a big rectangle, gathered at the waist.The fabric is a vintage Waverly print.
You could call this a summery dress, but it has hints of fall oranges and greens in it, so I hope to wear it throughout the cold months with a brown cardigan. Maybe to pop down to the diner to meet Thelma Lou and the gang.
Little Girl's Coat
Because I'm insane, I made this little coat to donate to our church's coat drive. Usually, I just buy coats from secondhand stores and garage sales, and I have a few of those, too. But I have a few new sewing resolutions, one of which is "Use up my stash" and another of which is "Sew for others", and this fits right in with those goals.
The pattern isn't lined; I eliminated the facings and put in a lining of quilted velveteen (on the body) and quilted nylon (in the sleeves). I quilted it (by machine) myself and it took a long time. Other than that, this is a very simple pattern and it was very easy to put together,
which is why I picked it, along with the fact that it didn't call for much yardage. The red and black plaid is a wool. I only had a little over half a yard, before I felted it (does that make it boiled wool now?). Besides quilting the lining, and working with a lot of thick boiled wool and quilted layers, the challenge with this coat was utilizing the very limited yardage I had. The green velveteen sleeves aren't just a design decision. There wasn't enough plaid for the sleeves.I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, after all the trouble.
Just as a side note, I'd like to encourage everyone to give any extra used winter coats to coat drives in their area (or, as I do, buy inexpensive ones at thrift shops). Every year there are kids (and adults) who need warm coats and can't afford them.
A Simplicity and McCalls
I won this Simplicity in an auction this summer where I had no idea what I was getting. You know the kind. The seller takes a picture of the patterns in a box and may or may not give you any more information. I was excited to get some really use 50s dresses that fit me and a few seventies patterns that I've been anxious to try out. I made the v-neck shirt, but it's a bit short because I had very little fabric left and just was wanting to use it up. I think I had a yard+ left over. The only modification other than length, was adding the bow to the neckline since the shirt no longer really needed the belt. I was worried about the fit, so I also added an inch to each side and now I know I didn't need to.
I love this fabric!!
I also made this 40s-esque pattern. It's not strictly vintage or a reproduction, but the dress feels very forties with it being a shirt-dress with an a-line skirt, buttons, and shoulder yoke. Now the buttons didn't happen because I didn't havee enough that matched, but I'm happy with it anyway.
I love this fabric!!
I also made this 40s-esque pattern. It's not strictly vintage or a reproduction, but the dress feels very forties with it being a shirt-dress with an a-line skirt, buttons, and shoulder yoke. Now the buttons didn't happen because I didn't havee enough that matched, but I'm happy with it anyway.
Butterick B6582
Here's my latest creation - using a retro reissued pattern of Butterick B6582. It was pretty easy to follow and I'd recommend it.
More photos on my blog http://mooimadeit.com
Rock On
This is a little number I sewed up back in May for my trip to Vegas to see Duran Duran at the Hard Rock. I wanted something modern and fun, but still true to my vintage style.
A fitting question about the 40's......
So, gang.....
I have a really cool pattern for a six gored skirt that *says* it is my waist measurement.
BUT, when I put it on my dress dummy it was 3 inches too small. Yikes. Now did they figure it would be your waist measurement *minus* a few inches thanks to a foundation garment? Just wondering if anyone knew the answer to this as I will be working on many many vintage patterns in the near future.
Also wondering if it's okay to post these kinds of questions here, or if there is a more appropriate place to do so.
Hope you all had a fantabulous Labor Day!!
Miss Amelina
I have a really cool pattern for a six gored skirt that *says* it is my waist measurement.
BUT, when I put it on my dress dummy it was 3 inches too small. Yikes. Now did they figure it would be your waist measurement *minus* a few inches thanks to a foundation garment? Just wondering if anyone knew the answer to this as I will be working on many many vintage patterns in the near future.
Also wondering if it's okay to post these kinds of questions here, or if there is a more appropriate place to do so.
Hope you all had a fantabulous Labor Day!!
Miss Amelina
Retro-ish Pants
These are the Nichola Pants from Burdastyle. If you haven't checked out Burdastyle, do so now. Many free patterns to download and print out. It's not a vintage pattern, but reminds me a lot of the type of pants Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Detrich wore, so I'm posting them.
Should you be interested in making these pants, I reccommend reading the reviews on Patternreview.com and looking at the ones other Burdastyle members have made, as the pattern seems to run large. Also, I found by wearing them a few times that the crotch curve is a touch short. I blogged about them here.
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