Intro and first project

Hello, my name is Makenzie and I'm new to Sew Retro! I've always been interested in vintage fashion and patterns, but this is my first try. Actually, this dress was my first for a lot of things! This is the first pattern I have completed by myself (mom helped me sew in high school) and I am very proud of it. It is McCall's 5774 view B from 1961, a shirtwaist with a rounded collar and short cuffed sleeves. The fabric I used is a peach quilter's cotton with white and brown clamshells!

I deepened the hem to about 6 inches, which I think gives the skirt a little more body. I also have the sleeves rolled up in this photo, and I'm wearing a purchased belt instead of the fabric one that the pattern called for. I have more pictures (with twirling!) on my blog, The Workbasket . Thanks for looking! Happy Sewing!!

an almost finished object

Last friday I posted a pic of a McCall's pattern from the early 60's that I had started. Here it is so far: That's a close-up of the waistband at the top there. In case you wanted to see what 4 yards of fabric looks like when it's gathered into a 28" waistband!

The dress is a little big for my mannequin but I'm pretty happy with it so far. It doesn't have the same volume in the skirt as the original due to the lack of a crinoline and, right now, it's much too long (tea length). As soon as I get my zippers delivered (tomorrow?!) I can finish her up and post some final pics.

I also came across this incredible book at a local vintage store the other day:

Published in 1964 (the year I was born!)

It's full of really useful information and adorable illustrations like the one below.

It's a little "shop worn" (after 45 years, so am I!) so the lady only charged me $2 for it!

It was totally worth $2 and a long walk in the bitter cold I promise you!

Retro Fabric

I know there not real retro old style fabric but they are so cute imitations I couldn't walk past them. Besides I find the old fabric I like always costs more then I've got to spend. What do you think? There fat quarter bundles so I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet, any ideas? I put them on my blog too, with some extra info.

Simplicity 8477

Some of you might remember this dress from a post Erin did on Dress A Day back in October. I loved the sweetheart neckline, the pleated cap sleeves, the softly pleated folds of the skirt etc, bought the pattern and decided to make a winter party dress out of it. I used a red silk bought for £7/m in a tiny fabric shop in Brick Lane that was literally stacked to the rafters with bolts of fabric. I'm not sure exactly what you would call it - dupion or silk taffeta - but it has a lot of body. Unfortunately there was probably too much body for the pleats, and I had to make a fairly dramatic net petticoat (following Gertie's crinoline tutorial and adding more layers) to make the whole thing look like it was meant to stand out stiffly rather than drape softly.

Other changes: I redrafted the bodice to lower the bust darts and ended up having to make just one French dart, because I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to lower two parallel French darts. I also lowered the neckline a bit, and I self-lined the whole bodice instead of using facings. That gives it a nice finish, but the bodice yoke facing was shaped to pull the neckline in a bit above the bust - you can see in the photos below that not having that means there are some problems with gaping. It's not unwearable - I wore it to a party quite happily - but I'm seriously considering making a facing and hand stitching it to the lining and seams to try and bring the gape down. (Has anyone else ever done this? Any tips?) I inserted an invisible zip for the side fastening instead of poppers (so much safer). I was running out of time by the time I got to the hem so I machine-stitched folded ribbon over the raw edge then used fusible hem tape to secure the hem - not ideal, I know, but at least the body in the fabric means I more or less got away with it. I made a long sash instead of a belt. Oh yeah, and I accidentally cut the skirt on the crosswise grain, which definitely didn't help with the drape!

Despite the reservations I'm quite proud of this dress - it's the first time I've worked with silk, the first time I've redrafted a pattern, and I took a lot of care finishing the insides with French seams, seam binding, self-lining etc - but I definitely learned a lot of lessons for next time!

hello

Hi all, I'm Gini, and like many others who have posted here, I have been lurking about reading your posts and checking out your blogs and have now, finally, decided to take the plunge and join you.

I am an avid crafter, mostly knitting to be honest, but a couple of years ago my sister gave me her sewing machine and I got hooked! I have a small collection of vintage patterns that I have found at various yard sales and thrift stores and from some vintage dealers on etsy. I was really afraid to cut my vintage patterns and then I read (on this site ) about swedish tracing paper which I promptly ordered and have now traced and cut two vintage patterns:

The late 50's early 60's dress in the top photo (which is almost finished!) and the 1970's Mary Quant skirt in the lower photo (just waiting for buttons on that one).

I look forward to sharing more projects with you all in the future.

You can always check out my blog too:

http://www.happykatt.com/

Weigel 1941 - an Australian Pattern

Hey everyone! I haven't posted for a while because I've been making up non vintage style dresses, but I wanted to show you this:

My friend has loaned me a bunch of her vintage patterns, and I'm making them up one at a time, and giving a short review on my Crafty Adventures Blog. This pattern is actually an Australian pattern maker from the 1800s and she lived in Melbourne!

I've changed it a little bit (mostly in the length!) but there are a couple more pictures on my blog for you. How darling are those buttons and that it's kinda coat like even though it's a dress? All my materials are totally thrifted, buttons, zipper (on the side) and material (even the thread) are second hand in some way. Yippee!

NICE! Great seeing all your creations recently! Yay!

Fellow vintage fabric lovers, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in partnership with Liberty have produced a line of limited edition cotton fabrics replicating designs from around the 1780s to 1830s. More images on my blog and on the V&A website, where the fabrics are available to pre-order. Enjoy!

'Shells'

'Rose'

'Seaweed'

Pattern Tracing, Act 1, Scene 1: The Second Grade

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid I never followed instructions, I'm pretty sure "I'm sure this will work better" was my motto. And then, as it is now, doesn't really ever work for me the way I think it will, yest I still do it.
You are correct, I made my first attempt at grading! Well, actually, step one, tracing. Apparently I need to go back to 2nd grade.

Pattern Tracing Experiment: Act 1, Scene 1
Aim: To accurately transfer a vintage pattern to a new pattern that can be altered without harming the original
Hypothesis (optional): That I am a bitchin' pattern maker and can do this in a day
Equipment: Tracing Paper, Pen, Rulers, Endless amounts of patience
Procedure:
1. Use a tracing paper that you can see through, you can scan or retrace on sturdier paper later
Inner Child: Laahame. I say use brown paper, it's A; Cheaper, and B: sturdy and you can use it to make everything off of! Two birds with one stone.
2. Trace the pattern, carefully, recording all notations on the original pattern. 
Inner child: Whaaaat! Do you know how long that is going to take! Skip it, you should do a "dry run" and not put the marking in. You can always fill it in later. Dude, I should totally write instructions, move over, give me a crayon. 
Safety/Risks: Possible alcoholism by end of session.
Results: A completely unusable pattern for regrading. (No crayons were harmed in this experiment.)
Conclusion:  In conclusion I turned my frown upside down and used it to make a muslin cut out. I'm sure my inner child was planning that all along.I vow to never make short cuts again (lie), and will be purchasing tracing paper tout de suite! I did however use it to sew a muslin of the dress, because I was really curious to see what the finished project would look like.

To see pictures and more visit my blog, Vintage Red :-)

SOS!

I've finally figured out what I want to make for my eldest daughter's First Holy Communion dress. Basically, a child's version of this folkwear pattern. I've got some amazing dupioni silk and embroidered chiffon that would knock this out of the ballpark, but I'm at a loss for the ~pattern~ to make it happen. If anyone would know where to find such an animal, the gang here would. Current Big Three patterns are of no use to me since there really isn't what I want in their current catalogs (grrrr).

New to Vintage

Hi, I've been following Sew Retro for awhile and finale have taken the plunge and started a blog.

My name is Jasmine aka Atomic Mum, I've been sewing for years, due to my mum. Fell in love with retro due to a game my hubby and I were playing, one thing lead to an other and here I am.

I live in Cairns, Australia with hubby, three children and one dog. The first vintage out fit I made was an apron, I love it, I live in it, it's my new best friend. Why we don't all wear them I don't know.

Simplicity 6664

I've finished my first piece for my June, June, & Junie Project(TM) for Miss Friday. I used chocolate brown lightweight twill with a slight stretch (I apologize for the wrinkles!) and made the facings and peek-a-boo box pleats from Michael Miller's Bubble Blast in chocolate. All fabric was from my stash.

I added small orange flower buttons down the back instead of a zipper. Zippers can be the bane of my existence and I was in no mood to wrestle with one.

I used Simplicity 6664 and made View 3. In all my years of sewing, this is my first time using a vintage pattern. It's in immaculate condition and was so easy to work with. I can't believe it's taken me so long to 'go vintage.'


Read more about this project and more here.

Lily's intro

Hi everyone! My name is Lily and I'm from Australia. I love to make my own clothes, which is just as well as I am poverty stricken and have very expensive taste :) I love vintage clothes, but I have yet to find any that actually look any good on me, and I can't stand commercial sewing patterns, so I make my own vintage-influenced patterns. I'm too lazy to try an "authentic" vintage look (although I do adore it), so the clothes that I make tend to be fairly contemporary interpretations of vintage styles and I often use vintage fabric that I find on ebay.

I don't really have a favourite era... I love Regency dress, the Edwardian period, the 20s, 30s, 50s, 60s and some 70s... so basically everything except the Victorian era and the 40s!

This is my latest creation. More pictures on my blog, so please check it out!

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hello, everyone! I'm delighted to be a part of Sew Retro after a long time lurking. My name is Sarah Gilbert and my blog is Rhinestones and Telephones. I'm an avid thrifter, crafter, decorator, and seamstress.

I love to sew and have been sewing since I was 9 years old. My granma taught me on her hand crank Singer sewing machine. I started out making doll clothes and have branched out over the years to clothing, totes, bedding, and just about everything in between. I also have a great love of rhinestones and often add them to my creations. After all, shouldn't everyone feel sparkly? ;)

My favourite eras are the 1920s, 1940s, and 1950s. I'm a bit of a mishmash of June Cleaver, Betty Rizzo, and Velma Kelly! I love Rockabilly style, vintage prints, bold colours, and retro design. I'm looking forward to sharing what I make for my June, June, & Junie Project.

To find out more about me, my sewing, and my projects, please visit my blog.

Sarah :)

Vintage Red, a new blog!

Hello fellow retro sewing addicts!  

My name is Carisa, and I have been sewing since I was very young. I've always held a love and admiration for vintage clothing and sewing. I started reading this blog and several other vintage reproduction sites (Eva Dress and Wearing History) and decided to delve into the vintage blogging world!

My blog is called Vintage Red, and it follows my insane idea of learning to re-grade patterns to turn them into multi-size patterns, in the hopes of someday being good enough to have them for sale on my site. It’s slow going and huge learning curve but so far it has been lots of fun. Here is a little about me and a link to my site :-)

Here is my first project:

A little about me:
_________________________________

When I was 8, my grandmother and mother taught me to sew, in the hopes that learning to put something together, would stop me from dismantling everything in the house  (I mean. as if Barbie neeeeded that car or something, geesh!)

Well it worked, I haven't dismantled a doorknob in years (well I did finally learning how locks work, thus ending my need for scientific experimentation on the subject.) Since then I have dedicated my spare time to sewing, and learning as much about the craft as I can. Oh and being lazy.

So here we are, in Blogland, 20-plus years later (eek), and my new challenge is to take the vintage patterns I have (read: serious pattern collecting problem to the tune that it is quite likely they will find me dead underneath them in the next Lifetime reality show), and create multi-size patterns that everyone can use. I know far to well what it is like to squeal with excitement on viewing a beautiful vintage pattern, only to sigh loudly and curse my enchilada addiction, when I see it doesn't come in my size, or even close to my size (boo).

The catch you ask? The reason you will come back and that I'm blogging instead of working right now? Well, honestly, I haven't graded a pattern before, plus I'm really entertaining, I make myself laugh at least 2 times a day. So if you decide to visit me again, (I'm sure you will) you can follow along with me on this new scientific experiment (um, maybe don't mention to mom, she still has flashbacks and screams when someone says "experiment" à la turrets style. Poor UPS Guy.) I''ll be your free entertainment, on my process of learning grading, my mistakes, my triumphs, my inability to sew a single garment without sewing something in upside down or backwards at least once (I mean every friggin' time.), and a host of other useless facts about moi.

Hopefully you will enjoy it, and hopefully someday, you will be able to come to my site, and squeal with delight when you click on a fabulous vintage pattern and it does, in fact, come in your size. Until then, my sarcasm and pictures will be here for you enjoyment.

So I'll see you around then?

Hello!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Julia and I'm very pleased at last to have the courage to post here at Sew Retro, having been lurking around for a long time!

I am a fellow sewing fanatic living in the UK, and with a penchant for the styles and elegance of the 50's and 60's - think Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. Last year I learned how to cut my own patterns and have been sewing up my own designs ever since.

I have a sewing blog, "House of Marmalade" which celebrates vintage style. This is my third year of blogging and during 2010 I will be really focussing on design and pattern cutting, inspired by all the vintage patterns I have been drooling over on the internet! My latest post HERE describes my aims!

The latest project I completed (and blogged about!) was a party dress for the festive season. I like to think it had a retro feel inspired by the glamorous girls in Elvis movies! (or is it because when this pic was taken, Elvis was on the radio?!)... It is a strapless dress with an inner corsolette to keep everything in place! You can see the story of it's construction by clicking the picture.

My favourite sewing passion is corsetry. I started serious sewing by making corsets, and this love soon extended to general dress making with a particular interest in technicalities of bust fitting- I find it so impossible to find clothes that fit in this area! I have written lots of blog posts about corsetry which you can see by clicking HERE.

I also run an online shop called Sew Curvy Corsetry which sells corset kits and components! I want to share my passion with anyone who has ever fancied making a corset but isn't too sure where to start. I even have a corset kit for men!

I would love you to pop over and visit my blog where you will find lots of hints and tips along with my daily musings on life, The sewing universe, and everything ... Thanks for reading and nice to meet you!

A warm kimono jacket

I sew a nice, very warm kimono jacket, from simplicity 7271 pattern. It's also a very simple pattern. I sew the jacket in one hour! I made in black technical fabric ; the belt is in japanese fabric. This jacket is exactly what I needed in thse cold days.


Pour toutes celles qui ont envie d'un gilet doudou, d'un kimono dans lequel se blottir, je recommande la couture du patron Simplicity 7271, de 1975. Le gilet- kimono est d'une facilité appréciable pour qui a du mal à se concentrer à la fin d'une journée surchargée. Il est cousu ici en laine polaire noire, achetée sur le site internet du Marché aux tissus. La ceinture est doublée d'un tissu japonisant, déniché au magasin Modes et Travaux (Paris 8ème Arddt) un jour de déplacement.
Lathelize

I used the butterick 3208 pattern, early 1960's.
It's a quite difficult pattern and I had some difficulties to get a nice neck. Sure, it was not a so good idea to choose a striped fabric.
However, it's a very elegant top and I am very happy with it!

Pour toutes celles qui veulent se lancer dans la couture vintage, de magnifiques patrons, de toutes les tailles et de tout style, sont à vendre sur etsy.com.
Le patron qui a donné lieu à cette histoire est le butterick 3208. Il date du début des années 1960.Il est à recommander aux couturières qui ont un peu d'expérience et beaucoup d'audace, ou l'inverse. La tunique a été confectionnée dans un tissu 100% coton, rayé bronze et noir, acheté au marché du Tonkin ( Villeurbanne- 69). Pour une première fois, optez plutôt pour un tissu uni qui vous évitera le casse-tête de raccorder des rayures.
lathelize

Vintage pattern finds and a giveaway

Hi All,

I'd just like to share some great patterns I managed to dig up from the local Salvos store not too long ago - aren't they gorgeous?


I picked girl patterns due to having 2 nieces and no nephews to sew for - so I can't wait to get started. I'm hoping all the pieces are intact but either way they were a bargain - all for less than the cost of a normal modern pattern!

Speaking of which, I am hosting a giveaway on my blog for a pattern for children's clothing - all are welcome so please feel free to enter :)

A Bit Late

These were my winter break projects, even though I started them way back in October for the Mad Men competition but never got around to finishing! I was going for Joan Holloway, but I think my natural Peggy-ness outdoes it.

I took a waste-not, want-not attitude with the skirt - it was way too long, so instead of throwing away the bit I chopped off the bottom, I used it to make the ruffle. For patterns, I used Simplicity 3358(1960) and McCalls 5082(1959). You can read more here.

1942 Nightgown Becomes Dress

Hi everyone! I bought this pattern some time ago:

But being a relatively novice sewist I was a little apprehensive of delving into the world of 40's patterns. But, with a little more experience up my sleeve, I decided to have a go:

It was a little big on me, so I increased the seams to about 2.5cm. I still have plenty of room to pull on over my head - which is lucky, cos I have quite wide shoulders.

The pattern was an absolute dream to sew -- and the instructions were surprisingly easy. I got the fabric and lace trim while visiting my family in Queensland just after New Years. I have put some more pics on my blog if you'd like to see some more. Thanks!!

Skirt With RI

From the front, it's a classic slim skirt.

From the back, it's got a lot of great vintage detailing: inset pleat, band and bow. Make a statement when walking out the door with some RI - Rear Interest!

If you're interested, you can see more on my blog here. http://when-ladies-dressed.blogspot.com/2010/01/finished-skirt.html

Cheers,

Kellie R.

Vintage Pattern Charity Auctions

I've just listed several vintage patterns all as charity auctions. 100% of all proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders. Please bid generously and please share this so we can raise money for medical care in Haiti. Thanks!
Vintage Pattern Charity Auctions

Make and Mend for Victory!

Susannah wondered about patterns from WWII - I found this booklet at a barn sale which shows a myriad of sewing tips, from making dickies and collars to transforming an old mens suit into a ladies suit. More photos on my blog, Cultivating Home.

Where have all the patterns gone?

My most recent obsession is sewing from WW2 patterns. Along the way, I've become fascinated by learning about the severe and complicated wartime restrictions under which British seamstresses labored. I've also been gripped by a burning desire to know: where did all their patterns go?


The mystery deepens over at my blog!

a bit of this, a bit of that

I'm heading back to work in a few short weeks after having 14 months maternity leave, so I've been sewing like a madwoman lately! I've churned out quite a few projects, including several vintage pieces.

First up I made a little girls dress for my daughter's first birthday from Butterick 5521, which is a 1977 pattern. I made it from modern fabrics though (some seersucker cotton), but I don't think you'll see this style of dress in any children's store. It's a 'special occasion' dress, because that big, white collar is sure going to attract some stains I think!

Next I made a circle skirt for myself from a sturdy cotton printed in a caramel/yellow bias plaid pattern that I bought in an op shop some time ago. I used Style 1932, which is a 1970s version of a 50s style circle skirt, right down to the poodle applique. However I made a fundamental mistake with this one - I was so busy trying to match the plaid pattern at the seam lines (which I failed in anyway) that I overlooked cutting the skirt panels on the bias and as a result the skirt doesn't ripple evenly around the body. It's not too obvious from this photo, but the skirt does tend to gather at the centre and side seams and I seem to be constantly rearranging the folds. Oh well, notch that one up to experience, when a pattern says cut something on the bias it's for a reason! The white blouse is made from a Burda magazine pattern.

My most recent project is a bow tie neck blouse made from Simplicity 4676. So simple to make, yet it came out fantastically in terms of fit and finish without any alterations to the pattern. This is also made in a modern fabric, a dark red pinstripe, but there was a scrap of fabric in the envelope from the previous owner which funnily enough was a dark blue pinstripe fabric!

Sadly now my overlocker is burnt out and in need of a service so the sewing has to come to a halt for a little while. Might be a good time to clean up my sewing room! Or not.....

More deets over at my blog.