Self-drafted shirtdress

A few weeks back I drafted a shirt dress pattern. This weekend I made myself a day dress with said pattern from a crazy Elvis print cotton. What better way to get you out of the winter funk than to make spring dresses?

Please visit my blog, Creative Accomplishments for more picture.

Vintage Shirt ReStyle

Not sure if this counts in Sew Retro terms? But I was so pleased with the outcome I wanted to share! It's a vintage shirt restyled in a preppy retro style?? I picked up this pale denim shirt dress, for £1 at a charity shop. It looked so shapeless when I tried it on, that it's been shoved in my "to sew" pile for nearly a year. (I kid you not!). But I really loved the light coloured denim and it's so lovely and soft. I knew I wanted to do something with it, just not what.

I didn't want to post the whole thing on here as it's quite a long "how to" post. So if you want to read more it's over on my blog. :)

Butterick 5919

I was watching the episode 'Sleeping Murder' in the latest TV series interpreting Agatha Christie's classic stories about Miss Marple, when I knew I just had to make a dress similar to this one:



So I found this pattern on eBay for a mere 99 cents:



And made this:



For more pictures and details about scalloped pockets, please visit my blog :)

Butterick 6710

I've been feeling quite autumnal lately, so here's my first project for fall. First, the pattern:



Here's my interpretation:



Please visit my blog for more pictures and thoughts :)

What are YOU wearing to the Fifties Fair?

Remember the loud frock made from 1970s curtains? Here's another version. I made the collar taller and squarer for a more 50s shape and found a great yellow and grey polka dot voile for more era-appropriateness. But it's still a 1970s pattern. I hope someone spots the 1970s shape of the sleeve caps and has conniptions.

My only regret is the underlining isn't a bit heavier weight. I do feel particularly cunning for putting the buttons over the grey dots. Perfect match.

So, what are YOU wearing to the Fifties Fair? Or, what WOULD you wear if you were going?

More at Make It 'Til You Fake It.

Fabric recommendation

I desperately want to make something out of this fabric - maybe a shirtdress like this.( teach typography and just love it!

Can anyone recommend the fabric weight that would work best (quilting, sateen or lawn?)- I usually buy by touch and like something with a bit of substance, not too drapey for my curves, not too silky and easy to sew.

Also thinking of cutting on the bias for a slight chevron look - pointing down on top and up on bottom. Perhaps it would be too busy.

Any opinions?

A 40's Shirtdress

Hi everyone! I have posted two of the three versions of this dress here on Sew Retro before:

You may remember one of these, Version 2, which was my entry for the Pattern Review vintage pattern contest:

This time around I made Version 1 in a 50's vintage rayon I bought from Vintage Fabric Addict on ebay. It was a steal - I think $15 for about 3m. And here it is!

I think Version 2 suits me a little better, but I do love shirtdresses.

If you'd like to see a few more pics, and my Version 3 dress, please do pop over to my blog!

It's curtains for you

A friend of mine was de-stashing and she gave me mountains of old curtains in a splendid 1970s floral. So I made a shirtdress from 1967 pattern Style 1542 and I reckon it's a corker! The heavier-weight cotton twill and awesome 3/4 circle skirt is fantastically swingy. Hooray for benevolent friends!

I think I'm going to cheat and make it up again in a 1950s fabric, soften the collar a little, and wear it to the Fifties Fair. You think I'll get away with it? Or will I be set upon by militant vintage types?

Drop in and say hi at Make It 'Til You Fake It.

Chocolate Dot Shirtdress: Advance 5937

I'm thrilled to share my first project on Sew Retro! I just finished Advance 5937, a simple notch-collar shirtdress in a lovely chocolate dot cotton-rayon blend. There's no date on the pattern but judging by the style (and pattern price) I'd say it's from the late 40's - early 50's.

Here's the original pattern photo:


And here's my finished dress:

More on my blog here - thanks for stopping by!
Tasia

UPDATED: the link should work now. Thanks lsaspacey for letting me know!!

1956 pattern giveaway!

Check it out: I've got a 1956 shirtdress pattern from Simplicity that I'm giving away on my blog!

Stop on by and get into the fun by answering the question: What is your favorite vintage clothing era?

New Member Hello

Hi Everyone-

Love the blog and all of your work! I'm Trena, I love to sew, and my personal style is "retro fantasy." I sew A LOT (haven't bought any retail clothes for several years). I don't sew too many vintage patterns, but maybe finally joining Sew Retro will encourage me to do more.

My sewing blog is here.

One of my vintage projects is McCall 6788, from 1947. I bought both of the fabrics (the outer and the contrast inner fabric for the cape sleeve and the facing) on my trip to Tokyo. You can read more about this project on the blog.



I have another, more recent project that I will post soon.

Modern shirtwaister dress

I'm a massive fan of shirtwaister dresses, but unfortunately I look terrible in a shirt. So I made a version in the spirit of the shirtwaister that (hopefully) suits me better. The stripes on the collar were supposed to go in the opposite direction... so I'm a little annoyed about that, but other than that, I love it!

More photos on my blog.

Advance 2709

Sorry I haven't been sewing! There's been lots of work going on at home, hence why I have only just finished hemming and photographing my newest creation, Advance 2709.

I love this pattern! Its set-in, diagonal pockets. Its six-gored skirt. The fact that it has a provision for just a shirt-waist dress as well as the full shirt dress. (I only had four buttons, so I went for the shirt-waist. Also, I hate making button holes but love shirt-waists, so... that's also a reason.)

I can't say I love this pattern enough! Read more over at The Year 2050!

Two-tone Tuckshop (or Canteen Cowgirl?)

Hey folks! It's been a while since I posted, but great to see so many new members.

This is my latest. I can't decide whether it's Two-tone Tuckshop or Canteen Cowgirl (for the non-Aussie readers, a tuckshop is a food kiosk in a school) but either way, I love it. Yeee-haw!

Few changes from pattern - longer in torso, wider in skirt, didn't bind the buttonholes (of course I didn't! Sheesh!) and I took it in a whole lot at the waist.

Now, who wants a lamington?