What I'm Working On

I've been working on some vintage patterns lately, my creative side working. I was given a box of stuff and in it was a cut out vintage dress waiting to be stitched. I thought that would be a good place to start a sewing project since it has been awhile since I actually made something. The pattern was a 1940s sun dress and the fabric was a lovely white cotton seersucker with green and white leaf print.

This is the 1940s sun dress I finished. An Ann Adams pattern 3438.

I used snaps at the side, the pattern mentioned you could use a slider (zipper). I also had some vintage buttons on hand.

The dress comes with a detachable collar that I also made reversible. The original seamstress had cut out the collar in the same fabric so I lined it with a white print fabric I had and added the eyelet trim as shown in the pattern.

Now, with that finished, I'm working on a 1951 McCall's blouse pattern using new fabric from Wal-Mart (I love the prints there and for the price it is better than working a pattern with just muslin, I will actually have a finished garment to wear.) The fabric is an open-weave apricot with white cotton shapes. I had to enlarge the pattern, it was a vintage size 12, bust 30", to a modern size 12, bust 36". So we'll see how well my skills are and how much I remember from my year in fashion design school. Oh, and the sleeve pieces were missing from the pattern, but I found a nice sleeve pattern I liked from a 1950s dress pattern. 

McCall's 8648

McCall's 8137, using the 3/4 length sleeve.

The fabric

I have the blouse cut out, but I think I will add some fabric to the back neckline and shoulder area to allow the gathered bust line to drop down a bit, it seems to ride to high across my bust. I like the way this fabric gathers and drapes and the retro look of the fabric.

This is the back of the pattern piece laid out and re-sized. Will post photo when finished.

What is your latest or most favorite sewing project, now, or in the past or in the dreamy future?