Simplicity 5669: Cape!

My cape in a brown cashmere flannel wool is done!  

I used a blue and bronze floral lining and 3 vintage buttons. Please stop by my blog Creative Accomplishments for more pictures!

Vintage Pattern Giveaway: Simplicity 4920

Hello, Sew Retro readers!  I just wanted to share some details about a vintage pattern giveaway that I'm hosting on my blog, What's Up, Cupcake?  It's my one year blogging anniversary so I'm hosting a giveaway a week.

This week, you can win a vintage Simplicity 4920 dress pattern.  It's a size 12, bust 32.

Details about how to win this lovely pattern are on my blog, and the contest is open now through next Saturday, September 17th. 

 Also, I have another giveaway ending tomorrow, so there's still a chance to get your entry in for the gorgeous jewelry giveaway from last week!  There's still a really good chance of winning a beautiful vintage inspired ring from laurenblythedesigns.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing you over at What's Up, Cupcake? Blog!

Anniversary Dress

Hi Fellow Seamsters and Seamstresses!

I recently finished a dress from Simplicity 3463 in a thrifted fabric (maybe challis? I am still not a good fabric detective). The pattern is "Simple to Make" circa early 1960s.

Image courtesy of the Vintage Pattern Wiki

Adjustments: I made a size 16. I shortened the bodice by one inch and removed an inch at center front and center back at the neckline only, tapering to nothing at the waist.

Pattern Instructions: I did not follow them. I knew I would want to wear this dress with a pretty vintage slip, so instead of the facings, I used turned bias facings at the arms and neckline, as my fabric was a little sheer. I also did not use the pattern for the skirt pieces, which were just a few gathered rectangles. Instead I cut as large a rectangle as I could from my remaining fabric for the front and back of the skirt, and then divided the back into two rectangles. I did not have quite the amount of fabric called for, and I prefer a less full skirt, so I improvised. I gathered each of the rectangles and pinned them to the completed bodice to see how it looked. I ended up removing some fabric from the front skirt panel, as it seemed to full at first. Instead of finishing the overlapped edges at the back of the skirt, I simply cut them on the selvedge and pressed it under about an inch and a half.

Problems: The bias facing is a little stiff, and my fashion fabric puckers in a few spots where I slip stitched it, but it is generally nice in front. Also, I didn't realize when I bought this pattern that the dress closed with hook and eye closures, I assumed it tied. Sewing the hooks and eyes in the proper places was a bit of a pain, and I ended up doing each at least twice. I also added a snap at the center back about half way up to eliminate gaping. Because of these issues, the back doesn't lay perfectly, but it's probably something you fellow seamstresses and seamsters [: )] will notice and most people I encounter while wearing it will not.

What I love about it: The fabric is nice for this dress ($1.50 thrift store find!) I like the depth of the hem on the skirt. I also like the fit. I read a post by Debi of Fashions from the Past where she said she often used patterns of one brand and from one era, so she knew what adjustments she would need to make without a muslin. Brilliant! I realized I sew mostly from early 60s Simplicity patterns, and can probably make similar adjustments when I do. So, I made no muslin, instead tissue fitting based on adjustments to a previously made dress. This is probably the best finish I have acheived on a dress as of yet, and I wouldn't be embarassed at all to show someone the inside. I serged at the side seams and shoulders (where I didn't use bias) and used a nice, soft hem lace. I tried to make by hemming stitches even, and I tried to sew the closures on neatly according to the Threads instructions (at least the first time anyway!)

Inside out view....AAAAHHH! Baby hands! 

What I would do differently next time: I'd like to make some similar dresses that are a little more casual- maybe in a knit fabric. I am really a casual sort of broad, so it would make sense for me to sew everyday garments, but I end up sewing pretty stuff that I don't want to collect chicken eggs in, and I end up wearing jeans. I'd like to adjust the pattern to use the tie as a closure in place of the blasted hooks and eyes.

Well, as the title of this post would insinuate, I sewed this dress to wear out for my anniversary. I have posted more on that and the funny looks we got for being "all dressed up" over at my blog Farmhouse Garden. There are also a few more pics of my finished dress.

Thanks for all of the sewing inspiration! I love being a part of the Sew Retro community!

Simplicity 6454, 1960s Surfer Shirt

I can remember wearing these as a kid in the mid 1960s, and could not resist making up one for the hot summer days. Read more about the shirt, and why it was so popular at The Vintage Traveler.

Simplicity 3000: Cheongsam, circa 1960s

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I recently finished this cheongsam based on a 1960s pattern, Simplicity 3000. More details can be found on my blog.

Vtg Simplicity 2757 ~ the Bicycle Dress

I just finished this sweet little bicycle print cotton sundress.

I used this amazing vintage Simplicity:

More details over at my blog!

New poster and a new dress

Greetings from Minneapolis! I've been a long-time fan of the blog and everyone's talented work. I've finished my first sewing project using a vintage pattern and wanted to share.

The pattern is Simplicity 7120, and I'm thrilled with how well it turned out. I do plan to work on my photography skills a bit, though. Also, I should mention the print is a little wild for me, but once summer kicks in here I think it should be a pretty fun dress to wear.

I blog here: http://craftylunchbreak.blogspot.com/

A tale of three dresses

I finished a few dresses from vintage or repro patterns recently and thought I'd share them here.

1939 Eva Dress' reproduction of McCall's 9906

More info and photos here

1969 Simplicity 8278

More info and photos here

1965 Simplicity 6327 (Bodice only)

More info and photos here

Have a blessed week!

The 1966 Turnabout Dress

Happy New Year! It is very hot here in Melbourne, Australia at present, and I needed some airy frocks to keep myself cool while pregnant. I'm about 6 months pregnant now, so keeping cool is getting more and more difficult. I recently watched Rosemary's Baby again, and desperately wanted a tent dress, so I decided to sew 'The Turnabout Dress':

I used a checked Japanese cotton and finished with a lovely cool summer dress:

I love this dress. My blog has more pictures and details about my first time using a hong kong seam finish. Hope you're all having lovely holidays!

Pillbox Hat Present

You'll have to forgive me- I didn't do my hair or pose for a proper photo, but here is the pillbox hat I made from Simplicity 4178. It is red silk (reclaimed from a skirt), and the trim around the bottom is vintage and from my late grandmother's stash. I made this as a Christmas gift for a family member who will be attending a formal party in January. As I was getting ready to leave the house the other day in this frigid weather we have had lately, I realized that I do not have anything but fleece hats. Well, now the recipient has a more formal hat to go with her get up, which she has not chosen yet.

The hat is finished with lining and a grosgrain ribbon. I also attached a "Merry Christmas" tag

The hat was really pretty easy to sew, although you have to be careful because 4178 is a one size pattern. I thought the hat seemed a bit small for my head, but I have a pretty big head, to be honest. Also, it depends on whether you favor the large pillbox styles or the small style that is simply perched upon the head. I favor anything that makes my head look a bit smaller, however, the recipient does not have a big head like I do, so I think it will be a very good fit. I would like to make this pattern again for myself, but I will probably increase the hat size a bit. 

My other project that I have been working on is a button down blouse from the sixties, and I am almost done. My problem is that my machine makes a pretty lousy buttonhole (could be operator error, but I have practiced a lot), and I can't bring myself to chew up the front of the blouse with it. I would like to get an auto/one step buttonholer to use with my machine, which is a newish, basic model Brother. Can I attach a Singer buttonholer? I also have a Singer 66 I could use- are the green case buttonholers for use with straight stitch? I see tons of vintage buttonholers on eBay, but I am scared that I will buy the wrong thing, as I have already done that once. Do any of you have any tips or recommendations? Thanks in advance for your help!

More Vintage Maternity Sewing

Recently Cedar posted her gorgeous vintage maternity smock and pants here on Sew Retro. It was stunning, and I felt very inspired, as I'm about 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and have just begun to sew up some vintage maternity clothing. Here is Simplicity 2554, from the 50's or 60's:

I'm wearing it with leggings here to go out for breakfast, but I also made the skirt from this 60's pattern to wear to work:

Vintage maternity patterns are so cute - and there is such a limited range of modern patterns for maternity, unless you have great pattern alteration skills, which I don't.

Visit my blog if you'd like to see more pics of these projects, and the rest of my maternity sewing!

Early 1960s dress and bolero - Simplicity 2550

I made this dress a few years ago and wanted to share it with you all. It's an early sixties pattern I found somewhere ( I don't remember where); Simplicity 2550.

I've also made the full skirted version, although I don't wear it as often.

There's more information about this dress on my blog.












I've also gotten a bit farther on that lace sweater. Almost finished with the back!

Simplicity 4079

Here is my pattern:

Here is my dress:
I got kind of fixated on the pattern illustration, in case you can't tell. I also got to use some awesome vintage buttons I had stuffed in my sewing table, so that was great. They might be my favorite part of the outfit. I made the belt too, but that's not vintage.

Thanks for looking!

More pictures, and posts about my middle school sewing club here!

mad for green dress

A little bit Mad Men, a little bit like something Elizabeth Taylor might have worn in Butterfield 8, and a classic bombshell color thrown in. I’ve been in a bit of a late 50s/early 60s mood lately; mostly it’s due to all the early 60s films I’ve been watching over the course of the summer. I decided to indulge in my recent mania for late 50s/early 60s sheath dresses and make my own this past weekend! I used a sloper I drafted as the base, a green linen blend in my stash, and a whole bunch of structure techniques and hand sewn details. I adore how it came out--be sure to stop by my blog for more of the nitty-gritty sewing specifics!

So Excited to be Joining Sew Retro!

Hello All!
I have been admiring all of your work on Sew Retro for a while now, and I am very excited to start posting here along with you. My name is Abigail, and I live, sew, and tend our home in the mountains of beautiful Western North Carolina. I blog about crafting, thrifting, food, canning, sewing, and general goings on around our 13 acre farmstead at Farmhouse Garden. Here is a photo of a shirt I sewed recently for my husband's birthday gift out of a great vintage thrifted material and pattern:

Here is another photo of my husband in his shirt, holding the nicest thing I have ever made 

(and the reason that all of my sewing gets done late at night!):

I also just finished up another present:

As I am still a relatively inexperienced sewer, I have to say that ripping seams on black knit fabric sewed with black thread is not too much fun! I have posted several more photos of these projects on my blog, and I invite you to come over and take a look. 

  I have been writing on various blogs through blogger for a while, but I have only recently started to make my posts public through Farmhouse Garden (just shy I guess!) Anyone who is interested in what goes on in rural NC is very welcome (and appreciated!) to follow my blog. 

  Well, thanks for having me! I look forward to contributing to the Sew Retro community, and you have all already inspired me so much!

1960s dress

My latest dress is a blend of McCalls 9583 from 1968 and McCalls 7245 from 1963, though that wasn't my original plan!   I wrote more about my trials and tribulations here, but I am happy with the end result.   It's also the cheapest dress I've ever made!

Hi Sew Retro Comunity,

I finished my dress 60s inspiration, it´s a free version of a pattern on line, I have´n the pattern so I made a mix with the pattern photo and some little change, more photos on my blog

Just Peachy!

Hi all, I've been looking for an easy Summer dress pattern that would be nice over a bikini. I've had a few tunic style dresses and fancied making one myself. I saw quite a few vintage patterns online along these lines...

BUT these are very pricey so I used a Burda download instead and added a few bells and whistles. See more on my blog. Happy Sewing xx

A darling little newspaper pattern

My pen pal, Amanda from Adelaide, has sent me a bunch of her vintage patterns to try out before she gives them a go (she's getting married, and is way too busy to try them at the moment) and here's one that's a little bit curly but I think I got it right after a few goes:

The pattern is numbered 8168, and came in a envelope labeled (as you can see above) with the town's two local papers. Now I'm not from Adelaide, but I think the Advertiser is still the main paper, but I don't think the Chronicle is around anymore. I've never really heard of newspapers doing a 'Pattern Service' before, but how wonderful that they did! I really liked the shape of the bodice in this pattern, so took it slow and steady for my first attempt, following the instructions down to a T:

I used fabric from my stash, hence the purple band for the waist, as the stripey stuff was only just enough for the bodice and the skirt. But, I can't really see the drawing above in this real life garment? The shoulders are way too thick, and there are sleeves (those kinda forties sleeves) so maybe I didn't fold them under enough to get that scoopy shoulder/arm line? I outlined this dress in more details over at my Crafty Adventures blog.

Nevertheless, it's still cute and kinda more 80s vintage looking that maybe 1960s as the pattern describes perhaps?

Here's my next attempt:

It's shorter and resized to fit me! (More details on my blog about my resizing) And how crazy is the fabric! As always, dear Sew Retro friends, I've used all stash fabrics, but they're all from thriftiness shopping as I only buy second hand fabrics. Even the side zippers are op shopped!

Thanks for such great posts too guys, I've been reading a lot instead of making as we're relocating interstate, so sadly I'll be packing up my sewing room soon! Yay for sewing and love your vintage styles!

xoxo

Simplicity 3932

For my latest project I used this early 1960s vintage pattern, Simplicity 3932, and modern fabric. Although this pattern is for a culotte dress, I just not fond of full-blown culottes so I amended the pattern to make a skirt with a front and back pleat.

The fabric is a lineny weave rayon with a vine and leaf design embroidered on it. I got the fabric last fall at Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC when my sister-in-law and I spent a full day there. Seriously. And we could have stayed longer!

More details and photos on my blog, The Vintage Traveler.