Feeling so CapeAble

I've been itching to make a cape for the mild California fall weather and had seen some vintage designs that inspired me to check there first.  I went on the hunt for a cape pattern and stumbled upon Simplicity 5359.  The pattern includes two cape options (one with a collar, one without) and a wiggle dress.  I love the dress too, so I've put that aside for a future project. 

I made this out of a brown wool with a tan, satin interior lining.  The pattern was only a few pieces that were already cut out, so one tedious step omitted from the start!  More details and pictures are on my blog: What's Up, Cupcake?

Fall Transition Dress

The pattern is the same one I used for the Vintage Introduction Dress, my new go-to sewing pattern.  My first intention was to make the long sleeve version with the ruffles, but after noticing how lightweight the fabric was I decided to alter to a 3/4 length. Still, the long sleeve version is definitely on my to-do list!

For more info, please visit my blog refurl sewing.  Have a great day everyone!

My 1950s Coral Rose Dress - Another Authentic Walkaway Dress!

Hello Ladies!

After I discovered how to alter Butterick's Retro Walkaway dress pattern (4790), I had so much fun wearing the resulting dress that looked just like the 1952 pattern cover!  If you have ever had disappointing results from this pattern, I wrote an article on how to adjust the pattern here.  The first version I sewed was from an orange faille fabric, but this time around I decided to use a crisp cotton print from Maywood Fabrics' "Roses" collection. 

As you can see, I added a vinyl belt around the waist to help cinch everything in more, and I also used a corset and crinoline skirt for that classy 1950s silhouette.  Over the belt I tied a grosgrain ribbon sash, and I almost think that this way the dress looks more 1960 than 1952! 

Along with the outfit are vintage white gloves that I found at an estate sale earlier this year.  I believe they would have been worn in the 1940s, but they are in near-perfect condition! 

I absolutely love wearing this summery vintage dress, with the big swishy skirt and the fitted bodice!  Back in the 50s it was almost as if they were dressing up for a party every day!  I'm not sure how often I will find an excuse to wear this dress, but I sure have had a fun time sewing it!  And since I had well over 100 pictures taken of my walkaway dress, I've shared more photos here. 

If anyone would be interested in doing a walkway dress sew along, please leave a comment after my blog post to let me know.  While most reviews of this pattern online are negative, it need not be the case any longer since it's so simple to alter the pattern to the original style! 

Happy sewing!

Katrina
www.edelweisspatterns.com/blog

Vintage Sewing Notions...

I've had a lot of luck with vintage sewing notions recently. (Although not all of these buttons are vintage, alot are).  I had a good pick through the button box and haberdshery drawer at my local charity shop...

These cards of mending yarn really set me thinking about how little we can be bothered with the seemingly insignificant little things these days...

Look how fine that nylon is...

It got me thinking, rather wistfully, (sentimental saddo that I am!) about the time and effort that people used to spend on things that today we would not deem worth our time...

I picked up this whole tin of bias binding and hemming tape for £2 including the lovely old tin, along with various notions and bits of vintage lace trim that someone had saved to reuse. All wrapped up in neat little bundles...

I always find there's something incredibly evocative about finding another dressmaker's stash. It's a totally personal thing. As if you can see the person right there in the lace and pins...

http://portialawrie.blogspot.com/

Vintage Fashion Illustration Eye-Candy

I found this awesome book at my school library and thought the Sew Retro crowd would enjoy:

I have a short review and more pictures of the contents on my blog.  I really do love this book and it is great inspiration!

70s floral dress reconstruction and new vintage patterns

Hello all! I just wanted to share some of my recent blog posts.

I reconstructed this floral dress from the 70s. You can read more about it here.


I also wanted to show and tell some of the vintage patterns I acquired recently, like this one:
The page below appears to have been a part of a mail order catalog from the 40s.


See more of the patterns and catalog pages here, if you'd like. The pages are a great addition to my inspiration book! :)

Vintage Wool Coat

Anyone interested in voting for my vintage wool coat?

Vintage 70s Jumpsuit

My vintage sewing pattern is from 1971, an era which has been hailed as the golden age of jumpsuits. I used Simplicity 9677 and made the jumpsuit with a fabric from ikea. It is completed with slight modifications and an interesting twist in the back. I still can't get over how puffy the gathered sleeves are! More photos and info on The Sew Convert.

Introduction: Beginning Sewer Traci @ The Bakery

How y'all doing? I am so excited actually be a posting on Sew Retro!
My name is Traci and I am a very beginning sewer...I've only sewn 3 things using a pattern and anything else I have ever done with sewing has been self taught. Did I mention that the 3 things were all the same pattern? The dress in the picture is Simplicity 2591 and it is my 2nd attempt using this pattern. I know the pattern itself is not vintage, but the material is from the late 60's/early 70's.
I love looking at everyone's creations and can't wait to share more of my own with you.
If you want to read about my adventure learning to sew, GO HERE.
I didn't really post about the 2nd dress, which you see above. I just included it in a post about wearing it to a vintage show and having my hair finger waved. If you want to read about it, GO HERE.
Finally, to see my $3.00 15 minute vintage SHEET dress, GO HERE.
Thanks for letting me share!

Hello Dolly

Hi I am a keen maker of all sorts of things, and apart from having a bit of a thing for making dinosaurs, I love all things vintage. I blog about all this and about life in general, check it out. I have been getting into making vintage clothes lately, sewn and knitted, so I thought that I would join Sew Retro for inspiration and advice!

My most recent project has been a yoke top made from a vintage dress pattern, which I originally thought was from the 1950s but now think is more 1960s. I have worn it loads actually, and am planning to either make a long version or swap it for a similar smaller pattern as this is a bit big (size 14). Anyone interested?

Weird fruit: a giveaway

A non-clothing pattern giveaway! And this is one that I think won't get as many entries as my previous giveaways. But come on over to the blog and prove me wrong!

Butterick 6020: wearable muslin

Hmmm... You know when something doesn't quite work out like you plan? That was this pattern. But that's OK. I can fix it. :)

You can read more about it on my blog.

Pattern score!

On my bonus day off this week, I stopped in at a small antique mall on a whim and scored big with inexpensive vintage patterns from the 1940s through the 1970s!

(click on any image to see a bigger version and check the flickr tags for more info!)

Not bad for an unscheduled visit on a Tuesday! They're all scanned in and in my vintage pattern library, too.

(Crossposted on my blog)

hi & hello...

My name is Lesley. I’m a brooklyn, ny based fashion blogger and photographer. My blog, The Creative Cookie, is about fashion and other inspirational things. I love writing posts about my thrift store adventures, which usually include finding items to sew with. I always try to use vintage patterns and/or fabrics when I sew. Once complete, these are my favorite garments to wear because they were created from materials that have gracefully survived throughout time. I tend to make simple dresses, skirts, and blouses, but I wish to learn more; I’m certain that seeing all of your fab work on this blog will inspire me to do so.

I’m super excited to be a part of the Sew Retro community!

Vintage Pattern, Modern Look

I just recently made a dress for myself using a redrafted 1940s pattern. (Some of the original pieces were missing, and the skirt was made fuller.) I made it in blue leopard print for a funky modern look.

For more head to my blog! http://emmadestruction.blogspot.com

A pick and a poll

My vintage pattern stash is growing and I can't figure out what to sew next. I asked my husband to help, and he at least narrowed it down for me. Now I need YOUR help!

Help my husband help me pick my next sewing pattern!

A dress for a wedding

I wore my newest version of Simplicity 3230 to a wedding today and felt so very pretty! Thanks for helping me to choose it!

You can read more on my blog.

Red, White and Blue Dress-to-Be

There's a new summer dress in the works, or rather there will be once I get this last batch of foster puppies out into new homes and then decide on a pattern! You can see the (current) contenders at shoesandpie but only you, dear SewRetro family, get to see the fabric in question. Ta-da!

Your assistance is requested

Please help, I've gone a smidge insane.

I will be attending a wedding on May 22, and I've decided to make a vintage dress for the event. But I can't choose which one!

I have it narrowed down to six patterns (one of which you see here). I've got pros and cons for each one, and I just can't decide!

Please visit my blog and take the poll (it will close sometime on Monday, May 3).

Thank you so much for your help!

Take Two

Here is another version of my vintage pattern (Simplicity 4258) I bought as a birthday gift to myself. This one is made out of rayon challis rather than the cotton of the other dress. Also, this version went much quicker and smoother than the first dress since I knew what I was doing!


There are more pictures and other ramblings on my blog. I remembered to put the link this time, yay! Have a happy day!