Mail Order 4566...

I am still in love with mail order patterns...so here is another one.

 

 

I made this dress especially for my trip to Bendigo, in country Victoria, to see the Grace Kelly exhibition.  The fabric is vintage, and I made the corsage on my left shoulder using vintage buttons and wire edged ribbon.  The hat is vintage also.

The mail order patterns seem so reliable to me, this one went together beautifully, and the fit is great.  The dress has a very elegant look, and I felt I could channel just a little of Grace's style.

The exhibition was beautiful - there were many gowns, accessories, and an Oscar on display.  The haute couture garments were varied, and stunning.  They demonstrated Grace's ability to remain stunningly elegant whilst staying very current in her choices.

Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga were just a few of the amazing designers on display.  Her two wedding outfits were displayed, and many garments from her movies.

Well worth the trip!

Marian Martin 9289...

Recently I have been making quite a few mail order patterns, the fit seems just right.  This dress, postmarked 1959, is fast becoming one of my faves.

I made the dress using vintage (36 inches wide) rayon from an op-shop, and modern white linen...there was not enough of the rayon to complete the garment.  I had to choose between sleeves or "self" fabric front bodice.  I also mistakenly cut two back bodices instead of one on the fold, and due to the fabric limitation I needed to be inventive...so I added a back vent in the white.

Once again, the mail order pattern was a dream to put together, my only alteration being the removal of the large front pleat, and inclusion of a side zip.  The "shirtwaist" is purely visual in this instance.  My piece of vintage rayon was so limited, I had to minimise any excess.  I also added a small kick pleat at centre back for ease of movement.

I team this dress with red patent leather belt and shoes, and feel like a million dollars!  This is one of those dresses that is really easy to put on and accessorise, but looks like I've put in way more effort than I have.

BTW - I am going on a school excursion today to the Bendigo Gallery to see an exhibition of Grace Kelly's gowns...I am so excited, and have made a new mail order dress to wear - photo to come.

My first unprinted pattern...

Over the years I have collected hundreds of vintage sewing patterns, however I have always been a little scared of those unprinted patterns...well, not anymore!

I offer you "Butterick 2964" - 1960s I think.

I used lovely spotty linen from my fave fabric store "Joy's" - my man calls it the "twister" dress...as in the board game.

I don't know why I was so worried about unprinted patterns, because this one was really easy.  I know it was an easy design, but I didn't want to make it hard for myself.

I am going to tackle more unprinted patterns as I have started collecting old "Australian Home Journal" patterns.  This dress was very comfy to wear - it was quite warm today - and I received lots of positive comments about it, which is always nice :-)

Mail Order 9140...

Happy New Year (a little delayed, I know).

I have been sewing up a storm over these holidays, and have lots of photos to take - so stay tuned.

I have taken a photo of my latest creation - a 1960s mail order pattern.

I made the straight skirt version - view A, and it is a "wiggle" dress - since it doesn't have a split or pleat I have to take really small "wiggly" steps!

The border print fabric came from an op shop, I can't remember how much it cost.  It is a loose, slubby linen type fabric.  The pattern, size 14 1/2, was very easy to put together, and both garments were completed in just a few hours.

I LOVE this outfit!!!  I love the fit of the dress so much, I am going to cut it out of heavy card and use it as my new "sloper/block".

My boyfriend thinks this is the best use of a fabric pattern I have made...

Do you like it?

1930s day dress...

I made a new 30s day dress last week, as well as a headpiece.

I self drafted the pattern based on this illustration...

 

...which I found on the www.  I used some vintage rayon from Etsy, and some black rayon from my favourite fabric store, Joys, in Geelong.  I used my basic dress block to create the pattern.  The dress has waist and bust darts in the front, and waist and shoulder darts in the back.  All of the edges, except the neck, have been finished using my overlocker's rolled hem - which seems to encourage movement in the flounces.  The neck is finished with bias binding.

The headpiece began as a plain, wide headband.  I hand sewed all the  ribbon flowers, and sewed them in place after sewing the veiling on.  I am really happy with the end result...but I quickly remembered why I don't wear headbands...because they are uncomfortable :-)

I love the dress, and think the complete outfit looks really great - I also received lots of compliments - so I guess it is a success.

The frilly jumper...

 

  I recently finished a vintage knit, using reclaimed pure angora from a jumper my mum made years ago.  The pattern is from "A Stitch in Time - volume 1" - a beautiful knitting book.

 

I also recently made some "vintage-y" trousers from Burda 4/2011 magazine...

 

The trousers were made using thrifted bright blue heavy linen fabric, which cost $6.00.  So this whole outfit is made using secondhand supplies - even the beads were thrifted.  Only my shoes were new, but marked down.  I think they look great together, this is the first time I will wear the sweater.

It just goes to show that secondhand/thrifted doesn't have to look that way!!!

Walk-away dress sew-along...

Even though I have made this dress before, I can't wait to join Edelweiss's sew-along.  I have never participated in a sew-along before.

 

This time I will use a heavier fabric, and will make the fitting adjustments...although I love the dress, I always thought mine was too blousy in the bodice.

I won a $500 sewing machine, and $100 voucher from "Spotlight" at the 2010 Melbourne International Fashion Festival because of this dress, so I have a very soft spot for it...

Twenty people in the audience at Federation Square - whose "style" the organisers liked - were picked out to walk the catwalk and explain their style.  One lady won the major prize $900 sewing machine, and the other 19 won the $500 machine...YAY!

I am so excited to make this dress again - maybe in a dressier fabric.