STtDC - Project 1, the Dirndl

Heya all,

As part of my foray into the Sewing Through the Decade Challenge, my first project was the pleated waist dirndl skirt with a border print (i'm looking at the mid-late 50s).

Here's the design:

Here is mine (no petticoats), with added pocket. Pocket = love.

And a version in plaid taffeta

These skirts are amazingly easy to sew, and I love swishing around in them so much! Really recommend making one if you've been thinking about it. Onto the next project challenge... the blouse!

xx Bex xx

First Skirt of the Year!

I have decided that 2011 is going to be a skirt heavy sewing year.  Butterick 5882 is my first skirt of 2011:  It is from the early 1950s

I just finished up this skirt in a navy cotton blend.  It is lined using the same skirt pattern and the zipper installed by hand.  For more details, take a look at my blog!

  

Picture not as good
as the skirt is.

The skirt is fantastic.  I love how the insets create a box pleat effect so easily.

I wore this outfit yesterday, and received many compliments.  Most importantly, no one thought I had made this skirt!  It interests me that the highest compliment I can receive does not recognize that I made something myself rather than bought it.  I was very happy with how the skirt wore.

The blouse is vintage

Butterick 7956, circa 1956

I've been meaning for the last 8 years to make this outfit, and i'm getting there slowly.

This is really just a wearable muslin of the skirt, but it looks really cute on! The skirt has front and back inverted pleats for fullness (which IMHO I think is more flattering for a bigger girl).

The fabric was $1 a meter, and its pink with red cherries. I added a pocket with ric-rac trim too, cos who doesnt need pockets? I can't wait to wear it soon (its nearly summer down here in Australia).

More on my blog...

50s Style Full Skirt

I love how quick and easy 50s style gathered skirts are to make. I whipped this one up in a few hours. The fabric is a vintage floral cotton. It has about two and a half metres of fabric gathered onto a waistband with a zip closure. You can read more about it on my blog.