So last year I decided that it was about god damn time I sorted my sewing skills out and I had a few classes to re-jig the old noggin. Turns out I could not remember a thing so it was defintely the beginners classes for me. I am getting better and I try and make something every week or so. Practise makes perfect. Apparently.
My dream would be to make a dress from scratch...so far I have made cushions, aprons and a peg bag. I am a long way off my dream of becoming a dressmaker.
My weak skills however have not stopped me eyeing all the vintage patterns in every thrift store in the South of England. I recently purchased the one pictured above for £2.00 in Lewes. I love the fifties and this pattern looks like the perfect little prom dress for a summers day walking with my chap along the countryside. No?
The great thing about these colourful pattern packages is that even if you are not using them, they look great on your walls or mantleplace due to the fabulous illustrations and logos.
Have any of you been successful in using one of these vintage patterns? I would love to hear any success stories as all I have are tales of fabric horror and wonky stitching. Is there light at the end of my sewing tunnel?
Of course there is! Make one, then another. I use vintage patterns all the time and as long as the sizings are ok, they are brilliant to make. Take your time and don't be too hard on yourself is my best advice. Oh and enjoy yourself!
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Nice pattern! I've been making stuff from vintage patterns for a long time, I wouldn't say I'm accomplished but I can make something look pretty good.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of points to remember, always get the right type of material for what you're making, something that doesn't just look good but hangs nicely! When you're making 50's things, they are meant to fit not be baggy, so you may need to alter the pattern too to fit you, I know I do, that's the point of making your own clothes they can fit exactly!
And the most important thing of all, even machine stitching can be taken apart, I do it all the time, make a mistake need to take it apart and start again, there's no shame in that, I know professional dressmakers that still make mistakes during making something and the end result is beautiful! Just try not to make mistake when cutting out, sadly that can't be fixed!
But mostly, ENJOY and BE PROUD when you wear your new home made dress!!!
What a heavenly pattern! I love your idea of using the envelopes as decoration while they aren't in use. It also helps you remember which patterns you already have if you're on a hoarding spree! ;)
ReplyDeleteI've sewn with 2 vintage patterns and have several more in my to do stash. First, I always copy the pattern pieces onto tracing paper. The originals are usually very fragile and tear easily. You have to be very diligent and make sure all the markings get transferred, too.
It's not difficult to sew with a vintage pattern at all, but they often assume the sewer has knowledge of certain techniques and so these aren't explained in the instructions. Whenever I come across something I don't know how to do, I research the technique in one of my sewing books or online. It's usually quite easy to find instructions for vintage sewing techniques.
Oh one more thing - if the patterns you buy don't match your body measurements the pattern has to be graded (made smaller or larger) to fit you. I've never tried it, but there are a bunch of terrific tutorials online that explain how to do it.
Best of luck in your sewing endeavors! I can't wait to see this dress made up! :D
I whole heartedly agree with the other comments. Don't be defeated before you start. Good correct weight fabric and attention to all measurements (by that I mean that the 1950s woman was a different shape to most of us especially round the waist) and you're half way there. persevere you will do it!
ReplyDeletei love that purple polkadot frock!
ReplyDeleteyou'll definately be able to sew a dress from scratch! i was working on my portfolio a while back, and before then, i barely used a sewing machine! but since you've got the skills in sewing, it should be a piece of cake!
i can't wait to see the finished product!!
xx
a.
amandalee-x.blogspot.com
Sewing with vintage patterns is only intimidating until you dive in and do it. If you're nervous, get yourself a vintage sewing book (the Simplicity Sewing Book has been made for decades and is fairly awesome) to refer to if you get stuck.
ReplyDeleteRemember that there is a tendency for vintage to be a little slimmer in the arm so making a muslin or tissue-fitting will help out while you're getting started.
Good luck! : )
i love sewing! i deconstruct my old clothes and make new patters. practice does make perfect. i a box full of vintage patterns! love love it! make new patterns from scratch is what i'm learning in my sewing class.
ReplyDeleteWOW! You guys have made me feel like making this could indeed be as easy as baking a cake. I will keep posting my progress and hopefully the finished article soon. Thank you for advice, tips and recommendations, I really appreciate it and I need all the help I can get xx
ReplyDeleteBuy a old copy of McCalls Sewing if you can get it, or equally Vogue Sewing (from Amazon) is my best advice. I actually learnt dressmaking from scratch from this, starting when age 7 in the 1960s and was making nearly all my clothes whilst at secondary school. I went on years later to study fashion design and textiles, which I now lecture in. There's no shortcuts, if you want to do it, just read, try it out and re-do until its right! If you want to do it you'll learn and its wonderful to really "get" something and have that skill at your fingertips. We all cut out wrong pieces, put the sleeves in wrong way round, etc to begin with, thats normal, just persevere. Good luck and enjoy it most of all. I'm now using my collection of fabrics for textile art, which have become "vintage" with time, I suppose I have too, but still love fashion and sewing.
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