I don't know about you, but I've been using a lot of pdf patterns lately. I'm a big fan of how affordable and instant they are, yet no one can deny that they can be a total pain to assemble. The step that I hate the most is trimming the sides so you can line up the pages before sticking them together. So in an act of unparalleled laziness, I decided to invest in an unlikely sewing gadget...a rotary paper trimmer!


You guys, why didn't I think of this before?!? I bought a cheap rotary paper trimmer online as an experiment and it has already significantly cut down the time it takes me to assemble pdfs, especially because it can trim up to 10 sheets of paper at once!

Am I behind the times here...have you all been using rotary paper trimmers for yonks? What's your favourite unlikely sewing gadget?

*****

As an aside, I decided to close my Vintage Shirt Dress giveaway at midday today, so you can still take advantage of the 20% discount (use MARIE20VSD at the Sew Over It checkout by midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 10 June) if you didn't win!

The lucky winner of  the giveaway is Ruth at Nightingale & Dolittle! HUGE congratulations Ruth, I'll be emailing you shortly for your postal address :o)
Tuesday, June 09, 2015

Happy #FabricFriday friends! Got any fun weekend plans? I'm off to London after work to catch up with my uni girls and I'm particularly excited about the glorious weather in store.

Today's fabric from my stash is cheap as anything (both in cost and quality), costing me just 2 Euros a metre from a poky fabric shop in Cyprus. It feels like polycotton and would definitely need lining to feel nicer against my skin. 

Despite this, I just couldn't resist the cool print. I love the black background against the other vibrant colours and the zebra border-print is to die for! I can visualise this as an edgy summer dress of sorts...maybe even a Dixie DIY Bonnell Dress. 



I have 4 metres of this fabric and it's 112cm wide. What do you think I should make?
Friday, June 05, 2015

Eeeeep! Have you seen? Sew Over It have just launched the Vintage Shirt Dress pattern (based on this popular dressmaking class) and I was lucky enough to test it! They're also kindly offering my readers a giveaway and discount, which you can find details of at the end of this post.

The Vintage Shirt Dress has buttons down to the hem and other adorable features include a notched collar, dropped and softly gathered shoulder seams, sleeves with cuffs, and a pleated skirt. I opted for the sleeveless version as I was desperate for a cute dress that I can layer up or down. And that's exactly what I ended up with!




First, let's take a minute to admire the Mediterranean Tile print viscose which Sew Over It kindly supplied me with. Isn't it gorgeous?!? Sadly, it seems to have sold out, but I guarantee you'll fall in love with many other of their awesome fabric prints.



Although I love my fabric choice and how comfy this dress is, it was tricky to get photos that showed off all the sweet design details...but trust me when I say they're lovely! My accidental pattern matching of the collar and front bodice means it's a little camouflaged, as are the skirt pleats. Using a less drapey fabric would guarantee a beautifully crisp finish. 


I didn't quite nail pattern matching on the bodice, but I'm pretty pleased with how my skirt matches up!



To help my viscose waistline keep its shape, I added a cotton-tape waist stay. This prevents it from going all loose and baggy after a few hours of wear.

Although the pattern and instructions may well have changed a little since I tested them, they were both a joy to work with. The pattern is well thought out and drafted, while the instructions are clear and easy to follow. If a shirt dress with a vintage twist if your thing, then I can't recommend this pattern enough!


Now, about that giveaway and discount! 

GIVEAWAY: I have a Vintage Shirt Dress pattern with one lucky reader's name on it - to enter the giveaway leave a comment including your email address below by midday (GMT) on Tuesday 9 June.

DISCOUNT: Sew Over It are also offering a 20% discount on the pattern using code MARIE20VSD at the checkout. This too is valid until midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 10 June.
Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Wow, you've been such busy #vintagepledge bees this month and even I managed to finish my 1920s Kimono Robe! Tomorrow I'll be handing over to my accomplice, Kestrel Makes, to tell you what exciting things we have planned for June, but for now here's a fun May roundup!


Your Makes in May


Tasha made the sweetest ever basic top using a 1950s pattern. The adorable print gives both a retro and contemporary feel.


Heather's tropical-print top (and entire outfit) just makes me want to sip cocktails on a Hawaiian beach already! 


If Erin's outfit doesn't epitomise balmy, summer days, then I don't know what does! She made both the top and skirt using Simplicity reproduction patterns. 


I think this is the ultimate face of accomplishment! Amy's vintage jacket is no doubt a winner, but her real question is whether it's emerald or teal? 



You lot have been on a surprising, yet delightful hat-making-bender this year! This month I'm in love with these two versions from Aicha and Black Tulip.


May's #VintagePledge Posts

1950s Inspiration - A Stitching Odyssey

 Stash Interview with Carol Ferarro - Kestrel Makes

 We also enjoyed a 20% discount from the We Sew Retro shop, which is valid until the end of the day...just use code PATTERNPLEDGE at the checkout!


Share Your


Kerry and I would love to add your makes to our dedicated Pinterest Board, which is proving to be an incredible source of inspiration! You can get in touch by leaving us a comment, emailing us or by using the #vintagepledge hashtag on Twitter and other social media platforms.

Thanks for making May a very enjoyable month for the Vintage Sewing Pattern Pledge!

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Happy #FabricFriday, friends! How are we all today, looking forward to the weekend? Today, I'm sharing a very interesting fabric from my stash. It's a crushed silk with a textured floral print, gifted to me by my great aunt, along with a stack of other gorgeous fabrics that belonged to her mother and date from the 1910s - 1940s!



I love how different this fabric is, but yellow's not the best colour against my complexion. I wonder if I can make and exception for this beauty though? I have 1.5m of it and it's 80cm wide, so I'm thinking something simple like the Silk Woven T-Shirt pattern from The Great British Sewing Bee Fashion With Fabric book. 


What would you make with fabric like this? Got any suggestions for me?
Friday, May 29, 2015

Morning friends, how are you? I'm going to a wedding today wearing this very dress, which I was inspired to make when Sara asked me to join her Dress Up Party! It didn't take me long to settle on Deer and Doe's Belladone Dress, because I'm a sucker for back detail and minimalist skirts that can still accommodate my junk. Truth be told, I can't believe I waited this long to whip up a Belladone...I'm delighted with the result!  



The gorgeous stretch cotton was an impulse buy from Barry's in Birmingham when I was out with stitching friends. I cut out a 36 across the neckline, armholes and back, grading to a 38 everywhere else. I always find it a bit tricky to choose a size when finished measurements aren't provided, but my choice worked out well for me, though I suspect I may have needed to grade up for a fabric with less stretch.



Predictably, my favourite part of this dress is the lovely crossover back detail. The edges are finished with bias binding, as are the neckline and armholes, lending this pattern to a whole load of fun with contrasting binding. There are so many fun Belladones out there, but I wanted to keep my version streamlined so I turned my bias binding under and topstitched.


The other thing I love about this pattern is the pleated skirt front. The two big pleats add enough volume to the A-line skirt, without adding unnecessary bulk to the waistline. For extra brownie points, there's pockets too!



Unusually, Belladone comes with a hem facing reminiscent of vintage patterns and rarely seen in contemporary patterns. The finish is fantastic, especially if you hand-pick the raw edge of the facing to the skirt, which I happily took the time to do. Given this luxurious detail, I found it slightly disappointing that the pattern doesn't come with some kind of waistline facing for a tidier finish inside. I know it's simple enough to draft your own, but that's not really the point.


I really, really wanted to add a skirt lining for layering up with tights in colder weather, but I made a silly mistake that I didn't have enough time or fabric to rectify. If you want to successfully add in a lining, then remember that the skirt front piece is shaped around the pocket facing. So you'll need to overlap the two pieces and trace in the full skirt front shape.


Overall, I give the Belladone Dress a HUGE thumbs up! It's pretty and versatile, coming together easily thanks to a clear set of instructions and diagrams. I can't wait to make it again and again, and to try give the other Deer and Doe patterns in my stash a go!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
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