Despite basking in the glorious sunshine this weekend, I got quite a bit done on my beloved Vogue 5510, a 1960s pattern which I'm hoping will turn out well enough to wear to a wedding this July. At the risk of exposing my lack of sewing knowledge, I'm really impressed with how the bodice is put together...you sew the bodice and lining together and then turn the right side out. This eliminates  the need for facings etc. It's very clever indeed!

Anyway, as you can see the back's not quite even. This is because I'm not as small as a vintage size 14, so I'll have to cut the back piece in two (where it makes a 'V' shape) and add in a panel of fabric. This should be quite easy and at least I can take it in if I ever miraculously loose weight or add more fabric if I accidentally expand! I also think the straps need to connect to the back of the bodice a bit higher up (going by the picture on the pattern cover) so I'll have to adjust that too.

The front of the bodice fits really well, which I'm surprised at, as I thought it would be a little small. I'm also going to try an invisible side zip for the first time ever...can't be that hard can it?!?


Sunday, May 23, 2010
So I've finally finished my sheer 1940s back-buttoning blouse - view 4 from Simplicity 1906 to be precise – and I'm feeling rather pleased with myself. I was so excited to get these photos taken, that I may not have washed and ironed the blouse, but I'm sure you'll forgive me...


Refreshingly the pattern had no facings. Instead it called for bias binding to finish off all raw edges, which is definitely my new best friend, producing really neat and professional looking results. I may actually use it instead of facings for other projects in the future.

I also got to try out the one-step button-hole function on my sewing machine, which was AWESOME! I couldn't help thinking I was cheating though, so I guess I should learn how to do it by hand at some point, but it was deliciously fast!


Anyway, as one project ends, another gloriously begins. I've got big plans for my next 1960s number, Vogue 5510. I plan on making the full-skirted version in the softest cotton lawn fabric (below) and if it's good enough, I hope to wear it to a very special friend's wedding this July. Fingers crossed...


Sunday, May 16, 2010
After having successfully completed two dresses, I thought I'd make something 'easier' next and opted for a back-buttoning blouse from 1946. What I didn't realise of course, is that no garment attempted for the first time ever can actually be 'easy'! With it comes a whole new set of phrases and instructions, like  button-holes, dart tucks and bias binding...

Anyway, I seem to be making good progress and would like to share some photos. I'm making view 4 from Simplicity 1906 in a sheer and slightly stretchy cotton, which has a very subtle flower-print in orange, blue and green. I also found the cutest little green buttons!

 
I'm excited to be making something with a peter pan collar and I love how it has a forward-shoulder seam:

  
Gathered detail on the forward-shoulder seam:




And finally, I'm so proud of my dart-tucks (believe it or not it took me ages to figure out how to do them, yet they're so easy!):


Now all that's left is for me to do is trim the collar and sleeves with bias binding, make the button holes and sew the buttons on, sew the side seams and neaten the bottom and any other remaining edges.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Having completed my first ever vintage dress straight from the 1960s – Simplicity 7672 - I smugly hung it on my dressmaker's dummy and contently went to bed. Sadly, my boyfriend then came to bed and after a lot of tossing and turning he explained, “There's something really sinister about that dress. It reminds me of something an evil nanny would wear.” As you can imagine, this has put me off wearing it, in case everyone else thinks it looks sinister and in case I get possessed!

Despite the difficulties I had with this dress – mainly having to unpick the waist and zip due to the torso being too long/baggy for my body -  I am really happy with the improvement in my sewing, so once again it was a good exercise. Maybe I'll be third-time lucky and sew the perfect garment next!

Monday, April 26, 2010
Since completing my first ever dress (Simplicity 2591), I grew in confidence and decided to give something different a go. With lots of birthdays coming up, I decided to put my new skills to the test and make my friends some unique gifts. I had previously bought some amazing vintage-inspired fabric from ebay, but they were just fat quarters so I knew I needed something small to work on.

Pip Lincolne's Meet me at Mike's came to the rescue, with the cutest little pattern for a small clutch bag. Although it was quite tricky following some of the instructions, once I figured it out, I had so much fun choosing the fabrics and buttons. I'm pretty sure my friends liked them too, or else they did a good job at pretending. I'm looking to adapt the pattern to create different designs...more pictures will follow if I succeed!

Sunday, April 25, 2010
After visiting a friend's house last year, I was left mesmerised by her dressmaker's dummy, vintage patterns, hoards of fabrics and beautiful creations. Desperate to jump on the sewing band wagon, I decided to join her on a 10-week evening course. It wasn't until the 10 weeks were over that I realised just how much I enjoyed myself – despite my first endeavour being shockingly bad and still unfinished – and I signed up for another 10 weeks, with all intentions of keeping it up.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my first completed project – Simplicity 2591 in pretty green cotton floral:


The finished product is by no means perfect (in fact it's a little wonky for some reason) but as a first attempt, I'm very proud of it:


I'm especially happy with how the zip and cap sleeves worked out:

Saturday, April 24, 2010
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