Third and Final Apron tutorial from 1944 Farmers Bulletin

I just wanted to pop in and say that the last of the 1944 Farmers Bulletin Tutorials is up now for your viewing pleasure. This is the kneeling apron with a plastic panel to keep your knees dry while getting down and dirty. I think to update this idea, we could add some padding to make it more comfortable too.

All 3 self drafted apron patterns are located on my tutorials page.

Happy sewing all.

1930's style circular French Knickers: a 'how-to' draft & make .

This is what I spent my summer holiday doing: catching up on two personal projects I've been trying to finish for ages... lol, a proper "busman's' holiday".

I've put up a pdf here that you can download and follow to draft and sew knickers like these to your own measurements. Based on a complete circle they are a very simple construction. 

I made the sample in the photos from a metre of  silk mousseline and another pair in an apricot coloured crepe de chine. 

A very soft cotton lawn or cotton batiste could probably work well too, though I haven't tried either of those fabrics for myself. 

Whatever the fabric it does need to be soft and have a good drape on the bias or they will be very sticky-out-y. They are a very airy cut as it is!

The bra is something else I patterned and made during my at-home-hol. It's based on a 1940's bra in my collection.

Been trying to get around to doing that for ages too. Now working on a couple of size grades.

That will be a give-away in the nearish future too. 

You can read more at my blog and if you make a pair I'd really love to know :)

 

Apron tutorials from 1944 Farmers Bulletin

Hi all,

I ran across a really interesting pamplet from the USDA Farmers Bulletin dated 1944 while sorting patterns. There are some really nice old self drafted apron included and I have added them to my tutorials section of my blog. (they are free)

There is a Butchers Apron, a Berry Picking apron and a Kneeling Apon (soon to be listed.) I would love it if you would stop by and check them out. I would love to see pictures if you decide to make them.

All will reside in my tutorials section of my blog. Enjoy.

Happy Sewing!

Super Simple Dirndl Skirt - tutorial

Lying awake last night, with that familiar anxious feeling I always get as I'm approaching the end of a project and itching for the next, I very nearly got out of bed to make this Super Simple Dirndl Skirt.  But I didn't.  I made it today instead, taking up only an hour of my son's hour-and-a-half nap.  And I still had enough time left for a coffee.

To see the tutorial for this very easy and super quick Dirndl Skirt, find me at Stitch me Softly

Thanks!

Patching Jeans

Keeping on topic with make and mend 2011 I thought I'd create a mending tutorial. I often patch my jeans to get a few extra years out of them and to keep perfectly good clothing out of the landfill. Please visit my blog to download my step by step tutorial on how to patch denim jeans and make suggestions for my next tutorial!

Thanks!
Kerried Away Vintage

How To: All-In-One Window Pane Method for Bound Buttonholes

Hi Sew Retro!

I am sewing up a 1940s Simplicity skirt and finished seven bound buttonholes. You know, as an exercise in masochism.

I posted a tutorial on how to make bound buttonholes that utilize a single rectangle of fabric and do not require the exacting accuracy of some other methods.

Hope it is useful to you in achieving a classic vintage finish!

Jacki
Modern Twist

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. :)

70s inspired Kaftans with tutorial

Inspired by the Kaftans from the 1970s, I created an ivory lace kaftan blouse and an ebony kaftan. They were very easy to sew and I absolutely adored the sleeves.

I enjoyed making and wearing them so much that I even made a toddler's version for my lil princess. She called it 'The Butterfly'.

More photos and info on my blog The Sew Convert and a 1-hour tutorial for the Kaftans. Have a good week everyone:)

Bound Buttonholes: Retro AND Easy

I am working on a Red Shirtwaist Dress made from this pattern and fabric:

Literally the second thing I was to do after applying interfacing was to sew a bound buttonhole. I had never sewn one before and had never even really given them a thought, except that they looked complicated, and since the button would cover it anyway, Why Bother?

I am here to tell you that they are both EASY and FABULOUS.  Here is a picture of the front band of the dress with the buttonhole. I love the way it looks and am so happy I didn't just do a machine buttonhole.

I have posted a tutorial with pictures based on the instructions in the pattern at my blog, Modern Twist!

Jacki

chinese frog closures

Greetings Sew Retro-ers! 

A couple months I made this dress, and I tied the frog buttons to boot. I know I can't be the only one out there who finds the available closures limiting. Too big, too small, wrong color, cheap shiny look, it makes sense to learn to knot them yourself. I put together a tutorial so anyone wanting to perfectly finish their Mandarin collar, cheongsam, or qipau, can do so with out going crazy trying to figure out how to tie them. 

My mom says she had a book that explained how to tie them. Where are those books now? I searched everywhere and had difficulty finding decent instructions. I don't know how many test frogs I made before I got them sorted out, but hopefully these instructions will save others that frustration. Happy Frogging!

Retro Veiled Fascinators

In the past couple of weeks, I've been hand sewing these headband fascinators with veils. They add a nice finishing touch to a retro outfit. I have posted a tutuorial on my blog; Bobbins And Bombshells, if you'd like to make one your self!

Gertie's Dirndl Skirt, a la Nancy

Thanks to Gertie's excellent dirndl skirt tutorial, I whipped this up in 45 minutes, and still had time to customize the eBay Calvin Klein shoes I wanted to wear with it! What I love is that it's full enough that I don't feel like I need a crinoline under it. Of course, that means it makes my derriere look even bigger than it is.... but I don't care. How can you be unhappy with a skirt that has bubble print fabric, and isn't *tight* on you anywhere? For more pics, go to my blog.


Thanks for the great tutorial, Gertie! I'll be making more of these for sure!

Skirt Tutorial from Gertie

Happy Tuesday, friends! I just wanted to let you know that I've posted a tutorial for a 50's style skirt (like the one above) on my blog. No pattern required! The first part shows you how to draft your own pattern, and then the second part deals with the construction of the skirt.

Please come visit. Hope you enjoy!

Tutorial

I just posted a pockets tutorial on my blog that explains how to put side seam pockets into a garment that doesn't have them (which was one of the modifications I made in the dress I posted here yesterday).

I would appreciate feedback on the clarity of my instructions.

Thanks!

Another sundress

I have been very slow on the sewing lately, but here's finally a new garment!
I've made another sundress for my daughter, using my own tutorial (you can find it here). The dress is made from two straight pieces of fabric, only with a little shaping for the arms. It is gathered with elastic at the top. The edging around the arms continues into two ties on each shoulder. You can use bias binding, but I just used two straight double-folded strips of the dress fabric. Since it's seersucker it's flexible.
This time I didn't refashion an old garment, it's from all new material. I love the fabric, which is a Japanese import from Reprodepot. I think it's very seventies and wild and trippy. The colours aren't quite as acidic in RL.
More photos here.