Sew Retro

Summer of the Dress Re-Visited

2009-07-10T19:57:00.002-05:00

At this rate I'll have to do Decade of the Dress. I combined a couple different patterns to come up with the details that I wanted. I'm still not sure about the hemline. I am tempted to raise it a couple inches. Come on over and let me know what you think.

Dress Fail: Marian Martin 9253

2009-07-10T15:46:00.005-05:00

I am posting this as a Fail!, though not an irretrievable one, since it might still be usable to somebody else.

I won this on eBay a few months ago. The seller was a little unclear on sizing and, as you can see, the eBay camera watermark obscured the size stamp. I got most of the way through and was thinking, "Gee--that looks a little short-waisted." Actually, it looked a lot short-waisted, but I was optimistic.

Optimism lasted until I got down to the buttons and the hem, tried it on, and realized that the "natural" waistline was around my ribs. On closer inspection, it turned out to be a half-sized pattern, intended for mature but petite women. I haven't been petite since I was eleven years old (and I'm long-waisted), so it's a whole lot short.

I am keeping the pattern and plan to do a re-draft on the bodice to see if I can get it to fix my dachshund-figured self, but this particular incarnation of it will do me no good. If you are a vintage size 18 (bust 36, waist 29-ish, hips 39) but 5'2" or shorter and would be interested in trying to salvage the dress, visit my profile and drop me a line. It needs buttons, buttonholes, hemming, a belt, and some general finishing work, but it's not mangled and I was very pleased with how it was turning out right up until I discovered that the belt would be up under my chin. I can't stand to have unfinished projects lying around, and it does not deserve to be cut up for quilt scraps.

It's in a good-quality Moda quilting cotton, rust-colored and dark brown calico. More pictures of the fabric on my Flickr set.

A 'Rectangular' Skirted Dress?

2009-07-10T12:04:00.004-05:00

Just recently I've come across a number of dress patterns that have a skirt which is just 2 rectangles of fabric, sewn together & then gathered to attacht to the bodice. Has anyone made a skirt like this before? How did it turn out?

It's odd that I've been collecting patterns for a while now & never seen this method of making a skirt, then all of a sudden I seem to have about 4 of the things! I'm not sure if I like the idea or not. If anyone has pics of this kind of skirt it would be very much appreciated!!

ddd

10 things I "hate" about this dress

2009-07-09T15:23:00.012-05:00

Last year I found a cute fabric, with red and white flowers on it, in a thrift store with some other fabrics ranging from the 1950s to the 1970s. I’m not sure how old it is, but it was only 36” wide, so it’s probably pre 1970’s.

Because I really liked the print of the fabric I decided to make dress Number 4 out of it. My usual 1950s dresses wouldn’t work with this rather thin polyester (?) fabric, therefore I choose McCall 5622, which was already in my stash. I made View D, with short sleeves. Although the dress was easy to sew, the project sucked from the beginning to the end.

Wiggle Dress in Floral & Greens

2009-07-09T03:23:00.002-05:00

This is my fave pattern at the moment:

And here's some off shoots, both with vintage green material:

Some more piccies over on Veronica Darling's Crafty Adventures, but I'll be making more of this one soon. It's so easy, especially the one with sleeves.

Refashioned 1970s Thrift Store Find

2009-07-08T20:17:00.000-05:00

I found this 1970's formal in a thrift store. It had this shiny silver top and polyester plaid knit skirt and jacket. The top was too tight, and I can't imagine wearing it anywhere anyway. It was floor length. The jacket wouldn't close and was long sleeve. So I decided to modernize it a bit. I separated the top from the skirt, sewed a zipper in the back, shortened the length to just above the knee. I shortened the sleeves on the jacket, and took out the bust gathers so it would close. And voila, there you have it, a new outfit for me. Hope you like it!

This is before I released the bust gathers.

The jacket was too small. It would not close all of the way. There was a four-inch gap. So I unpicked the band at the bottom and released the bust gathers. Then I sewed the band back on. And now I am able to close it all of the way and tie it.

I cut off part of the sleeves and hemmed them to make them shorter.

This is a skirt from the 1970's that I found at a thrift store. It is floor length. I'm just not sure what to do with it yet, if anything.

This is a preview of my next post.

You can visit me at Sewing With Trudy.

Patterns I won from Mom's Patterns for Sew Retro's Drawing

2009-07-07T23:56:00.003-05:00

These are the patterns I chose from Mom's Patterns for the Random Drawing Contest that I won hosted by Sew Retro. They are Vogue 7719, the year, I don't know; Simplicity 8887, 1970 and Simplicity 5345, 1972. The reason I chose these particular ones is because they are classic designs that will never go out of style. They each have a similar design but with different interesting features. Vogue 7719 has a faux wrap top, a square neckline and princess lines. Simplicity 8887 has princess lines and a scoop neckline with different sleeve options: long, short and sleeveless. Simplicity 5345 has a low bias roll collar, pintucking on the bodice and princess lines.

Thank you, Sew Retro, for hosting this contest. I was so surprised to find out I had won, but very excited.

You can visit me at Sewing With Trudy.

Vogue 2962

2009-07-07T22:46:00.001-05:00

Last one for a while, I promise!

Another of my older dresses, Vogue 2962, is one of my favorites. A challenge that definitely paid off.

From The Year 2050

For more on the 5+ yards of skirt and a close up of the back buttons, check it all out over at The Year 2050.

Butterick 4513

2009-07-06T21:53:00.002-05:00

Another of Butterick's retro reprints, and this time from 1957, it's Butterick 4513! This was one of my first sewing projects after getting back into sewing, probably actually the second one after Vogue 2267.

From The Year 2050

Despite my unfounded hatred of elastic, I like this dress. For more and how to make that matching purse, head over to The Year 2050.

Butterick 4919

2009-07-06T21:25:00.001-05:00

This continues a short series of projects I've had finished for a while but am only just getting around to blogging. (I've actually only just finished fixing the hem, which was an atrocity of shortening and not properly measuring. If you're going to shorten always measure and then measure again!!)

From The Year 2050

This is Butterick 4919, one of the recent "retro reprints" that Butterick was doing. Originally from 1952, it's been redone for modern sizing and such. Read more about it at The Year 2050.

Sixties Inspired Skirt + Vintage Fabric = Marvelous

2009-07-06T19:53:00.002-05:00

I made my first Burda Fashion Magazine skirt. Granted it isn't a vintage pattern, but the design is Sixties inspired which caught my attention. It screamed "vintage fabric." So, I went through my stash, grabbed a kitchy, vintage cotton twill and went to love. I love this skirt.
If you want to read more about it or see more pictures, stop by any time.

On safari!

2009-07-06T14:03:00.003-05:00

I have been on a sewing rampage! I have a month off between the end of teaching summer school and the new year beginning, so I am using my free time to sew.

I busted out McCalls 5926 in a couple of hours, including a hand sewn hem, and tacking down facings.

(the one on the left)

I made it with zebra print quilter's cotton. (I don't love quilter's cotton, but jo-anns is the only option and the selection is pitiful.) It is a smaller print and in dark grey and beige, so very neutral.

This is a dress for work, and I think it is super cute. I was afraid it would look sausagey, since it is a 10, and I am not in high school and no longer have a 24" waist. I would say it has about 2 inches of ease, and it fits nicely.

More details here!

Home Made Dress Form

2009-07-05T06:14:00.002-05:00

I wake up & have these crazy ideas, this morning it was 'I'm going to make me a dressform'. So I did.Read all about the fun on my blog!

xdollydaydreamx

Vogue American Designers 2533

2009-07-04T13:43:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the triple post. My bf was out of town, so I had no one to help me with my "photoshoot." Plus, my house is way too cluttered and messy for self-timers!

I picked this pattern up at an estate sale. I made it in a slinky fabric, when the pattern suggested something crisp. This is why it ended up in the Pile of Shame for about two years. It still has some gaping issues, and the pockets seams look atrocious ( my bf thought it was a zipper!! omg!). Ha, whatever, I could wear it out at night for drinks, some place nice and dim....

More on my blog mollysews Also, pictures of my awesome vintage sewing machine as well!

Simplicity 3490

2009-07-04T13:36:00.003-05:00

This is a sundress from 1951. Here you can see a picture of the cover that isn't falling apart.

My fabric, a quilter's cotton from Jo-Anns.

I made the red version, minus the horrible pockets and bolero, which is not something I would wear.

It looks a little off, due to the magnitude of my screw-ups. You can read the gritty details here, if you are so inclined.

The hem is even, its just a weird picture...I swear...

Simplicity 3673

2009-07-04T13:30:00.004-05:00

This is a reprint by Simplicity- 50's style dresses. I made the view in the middle. It came out nice in the end, but beware of "ease of fit." I think I ended up taking off 4 inches or so!

Whoops! Blinked! The shoes are totally 80's garage sale finds as well.

More info here on my blog.

Simplicity 5475

2009-07-04T12:56:00.002-05:00

A little red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July celebrations. Made with a 70's pattern. A very easy, attractive sheath pattern. It has great details which can't be seen to well in photograph--bust, french, and back darts, seams in the CF and CB, and neckline slit.
You can read more details here. Have a fun, safe weekend!

Overalls - Modified!

2009-07-04T09:53:00.003-05:00

This morning, as the weather here has been so stupidly hot hot hot, I woke up with the idea that I would make a playsuit. So I did. It took me about 3 hours alltogether, and as I have misplaced my actual playsuit pattern, I used my overalls pattern. I am so pleased with them. I haven't yet decided if I will make proper turnups or leave them as they are. I also need to move the hip buttons (massive hips = large placket & buttons in the wrong place!!).

Voila!

In the process of writing a lovely little blog post with more information!

xdollydaydreamx

Retro Fabric--Charles Parsons. what would you do?

2009-07-03T05:54:00.006-05:00

new fabric $5.

I love these colours.

New pattern! this wouldn't work with this fabric so I was wondering what everyone else would do because I don't want to make something the looks ridiculous,

and this is the hhmmm....questionable...fabric.

everyone else hates it.
I got it for .20 cents but i really like it...it's soft cotton.

yep it's a curtain.

what do you reckon?

Allison.

Pretty in pink

2009-07-02T08:47:00.008-05:00

The next dress I made was Simplicity 8467.

It’s a cute sun dress from the 1970’s with front gathers and a sweetheart neckline. I used a pink cotton seersucker fabric from my stash

I made a lot of changes for a better fit. I shortened the bodice, made more gathers and shortened the straps significantly.

I'm pretty satisfied with the result, but there are still a few wrinkles under my bust. It seems that the bodice is still to long, but I’m not sure.
Do you have any suggestions how do I get rid of these wrinkles?

Additional picture on my blog

I finally made a crinoline!

2009-07-01T23:23:00.003-05:00

Learn how to go from that (on the left) to this (on the right) with less than $10, a day and a half, and some good old fashioned bright orange netting...

Hear the tale of the crinoline (and ignore the Batman socks) over at The Year 2050!

Simplicity 8125 - Cute, if you're only standing around

2009-07-01T19:24:00.005-05:00

My first foray back into sewing after having a baby was Simplicity 8125, a very cute dress from the late 1960's. I love to look at it on my dressform, but when it comes to wearing it, it sucks. The whole thing just won't stay put! More details on my blog, Chronically Uncool.

OOP Simplicity 3875

2009-07-01T17:53:00.002-05:00

A duro. I have been saving this bright cotton lawn for the perfect dress. And I absolutely adore the shade of green in the contrast fabric. The pattern came together nicely, but be forewarned it runs b-i-g! For me, the dress has a peasant feel with the ties. It will get a lot of use this summer...now if it will only warm up!
You can visit my little olespace for more tidbits.

Tutti Fruity Top

2009-07-01T14:31:00.002-05:00

I finished this project a week ago and finally got some pictures taken!

The straps were a fiddle, but I managed to get it wearable in the end. You can read more about it on my blog here http://when-ladies-dressed.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

And The Winner Is...

2009-07-01T04:32:00.003-05:00

Trudy with her post about her lavender dress which you can read again here.

I will be sending you an email with your winning code in it, happy shopping Trudy and don't forget to show us what you get!

Thanks to everyone for entering (we had 50 entries which is wonderful), hopefully there will be more competitions in the future.

If you run a business that is compatible with the Sew Retro ethos and would like to sponsor a competition please drop me a line at sewretro at hotmail dot com.

Happy sewing everyone!

Anna