Catching Up

Some of these photos have been in my picture folder forever, I just never seem to get around to posting them for some reason! Anyway, here is a short roundup of the last few retro projects that I've sewn...

I loved the look of this bowling shirt as soon as I saw the pattern. It was sold in the day as either a men's pattern or a woman's pattern, unfortunately I could only get my hands on the men's one but I doubt I will ever wear it done up, I see it more over a tank top with jeans, so I wasn't too worried about the shaping.

I got the iron-on name badge from Etsy, I have ironed it on since taking these photos, it was just pinned on to make sure I actually liked it in that spot. The buttons I thought were cute although they're more baseball than bowling, but they worked with the whole black and white theme.

And why not use a bit of zebra print whenever you can?!? I'm really happy with the way this shirt came out and I'm sure I'll use the pattern again in the future for different colour and pattern combinations.

If you've read any of my posts before you'll know I have a thing for vintage shirts and tops. I seem to especially gravitate towards 60's and 70's tunics for some reason. This is another one that was originally released as either a men's or women's version and I got the 'Miss' one this time around. I had a nice floral cotton in the stash which I thought would go well and this is the finished result.

I love the way this shirt came out, it's so simple and yet it's got such great style. I know I'll be getting this pattern out over and over again over the years.

Next up is some sewing for my almost 3 year old. I do love a good pair of dungarees (I've posted about my previous sewing projects of those from vintage patterns).

As vintage patterns only come in one size for kids and mine had outgrown the last pattern I used I was happy to find this one on Mom's Patterns. I omitted the snaps around the crotch as I'm not a fan of that look, and really how much harder is it to take dungarees off a toddler than it is a pair of trousers?

The fabric and applique were in my stash and the buttons came out of my Great Aunt's knitting bag a week before I decided to use this pattern! The denim is medium weight so not too stiff for running around and throwing yourself on the floor in and I did the facings with some men's shirting I had to hand.

I adore the way that these came out and as he's now grown into them I have a second pair cut out in some babycord which I will try and remember to post when they're done.

Finally a modern reprint of a vintage pattern, this one is from Simplicity 4047. I apologise in advance for the creases in it, I had taken it away with me before I could get a photo and didn't bother ironing it before I did take one...

This fabric had been in my stash for a few years, it's a shirting cotton with synthetic ric rac type stuff on it. I really love the way this pattern uses all different methods of shaping in one garment, there are tucks and darts along with curved seams, you just don't get that nowadays which is a pity as it looks so good.

I was especially proud of my pattern matching on the back, normally I just chop out the pieces and don't worry about it too much but it does look good when you take that little bit of extra time (I will admit I had to sew it twice as the first time I managed to miss every bit of matching by about half an inch!).

So, that's what I've been up to with my retro sewing in the last few months. Along with the dungarees I also have a dress from the 70's cut out which I hope to get to one day soon.

More of my sewing, retro or not, can be found on my blog finally waking up.

Happy sewing!

Anna

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!

Long-weekend + bad weather = new fancy lady clothes

I had this fabric in my stash for a couple years, having bought it at a thrift store, and never knew what to do with it. Then I was going through all my patterns (which have started to spill out all over the floor of my bedroom) and decided that it would make a perfect dress based on the Simplicity 4047 shirt.
For this one, I started in my usual size, but tapered to a size smaller at the waist and then flared it back out again. This way, I almost have an hourglass silhouette, without any of the crazy 1940s/1950s girdle problems.
In addition to lengthening the bottom pattern pieces for the skirt, I also lengthened and widened the neck line. (I would have been considered a bad influence in the '50s, I'm sure.)

The skirt is also from the same pattern set and is also from fabric I thrifted years ago. I think the only reason I was able to hold onto fabric this beautiful for so long is that it was longer than it was wide and I really wanted to keep the scalloped lace edges. If the piece of fabric had been any bigger, I'm sure it would have been sewn up into something ages ago.
When I bought the lace, it was already underlined with a very soft cotton. Rather than change the lining, I kept the original fabrics together, hand sewing them together before cutting out the pieces. In assembling the skirt, I sewed through both layers, so the darts are practically invisible from the right side.
I also altered this patter slightly. To accommodate the size of the piece of fabric I was working with, the skirt is actually an inch or two shorter than specified (there's that bad influence again). I also added a waist band in a matching champagne/gold satin. The closure, an invisible zipper and a mother of pearl button for the waist band, are in the back seam. There is also a really beautiful little pleat in the back seam (I which I wish I could take credit for it, but it was in the pattern).

Now all I want to is wear lady clothes, heels and drink cocktails.

Here you can see the scalloped edge more clearly.

The black shirt

With one week to go, I undertook the February/March project: a black cotton shirt - perfect for spring, if it ever arrives in Montreal. The pattern is Simplicity 4047, and the fabric is just a regular cotton: thick enough to have a little bit of body, but cool enough to wear on a sunny day.
Lately, I've been really drawn to styles like this. My waist is a pattern-size larger than my hips and bust, so the nipped in waist is perfect for giving me some extra curves. I think it will look best with a narrow pencil skirt, with glasses and pearls (for a librarian-chic look) or with rolled up dark-rinse jeans and a chiffon scarf (for a more Rebel Without a Cause feel).
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although I could have tapered in the waist a little more since I'm not going to make the sash for it. The next time I use this pattern (for a shirt dress in a red cotton with tiny white polka dots) I think I'll taper it in at least one, maybe two sizes for the waist and I'll lower the neck line an inch or so.

This pattern set is quickly becoming a go-to for me. In addition to the shirt dress (for which I'll just lengthen and full-out the bottom pieces), I'll be making the pencil skirt. I'm going to muslin it tonight, so hopefully I'll have another finished project before the end of this challenge.
Yay for new spring clothes! Now if only it would stop snowing...