The Monthly Stitch: Vintage Patterns

A few months back a few of my friends from the Wellington Sewing Bloggers Network set up a monthly sewing challenge via The Monthly Stitch, which is an ongoing sew-a-long with a new challenge each month.

I didn't quite get around to completing the August challenge, but I decided I WOULD do the September Challenge which is vintage sewing patterns.

I'm sure that many other people doing this challenge will be making patterns MUCH older than mine - I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of patterns from the 1940s and 1950s.  However, whilst I was once rather smitten with the 1950s - really these are not decades I'm crazy about in terms of style. I'm much more of a 1960s/1970s girl (ok I admit it the 1980s was pretty rad) so that's what I made.

First up the pattern is my trusty old Maudella 5619 that was gifted to me by Vix. It had been my intention to make a vintage pattern I had not made before for this challenge, but the month kind of got away from me and I figured I should just make something I was familiar with or I would not have time to  make anything at all.

I could not find any further information about Maudella 5619 online and its not dated, but I'm guessing from the style and the art on the pattern envelope its from the 1960s. I chose to make it in this GLORIOUS stretch sparkly fabric I bought at the last fabric-a-brac.

Action shot of cutting out the pattern - I use novels as pattern weights, because I'm super fancy.

I REALLY wanted to do some dress action shots for this post, because this dress looks pretty sack like if its not on an actual human body (or dress form). I planned to do this after work today as daylight savings started on Sunday. But the weather was pretty grey, dark and rainy today and when I got home it wasn't the kind of weather for outfit posts. So you all will have to cope with sack like photos for now and I'll add action shots at a later date.

Like I said - it looks sack like when its not on a body! But I was determined to do this post before September ticked over to October. 

This is the fourth time I've made this dress pattern (because I'm the kind of sewist that finds a pattern she likes and makes it over and over) and I think the construction on this dress is some of the best I've ever done so feeling pretty pleased with myself about that.

Octobers Monthly Stitch is "Dress it up for frocktober" - I think I can manage that!

Laurel Dress

So confession time - this is my second Laurel dress, the first one I made was made to my measurements on the pattern envelope but it was RIDICULOUSLY big I couldn't wear it. I sent it straight to Recycle Boutique, I couldn't be bothered mucking about and changing the whole frock - I just didn't love it that much.

This version is A LOT better - although seeing these photos I have decided next time I wear it some BRIGHT lipstick is required so the dress print doesn't was me out completely.

I still feel like the shoulders of this dress are a bit big for me - which is so weird! I kind of have the shoulders of a rugby player, so for the shoulders to be so big isn't something I'm used to. I bought this fabric earlier this year at fabric-a-brac and it was just crying out for a sixties look frock.

I am SO HAPPY to have this frock finished - it's one that's kind of been hanging about for AGES not doing much. I actually thought I hated it, but seeing these photos I do think its kind of fun - I may even make the Laurel dress again. Hope you've all been having a lovely weekend!

Wellington Bloggers Meet Up - Jaime Shift Dress

Earlier today we had another Wellington Sewing Bloggers Network Meet Up and this time I decided I would make an effort to make something new to wear to the swap. 

For Christmas this year, one of my brother's bought me the Burda Style Sewing Vintage Modern book and I decided it was time I finally made something from this book. I chose one of the easiest projects from the book, the Jaime Shift Dress and got to work.

The Jaime Shift Dress is from the 1960's section of the book and is described as "The basic shift dress is a quintessential wardrobe staple, a blank clothing canvas for your imagination" - In addition to this, it only has four pattern pieces, I like that a lot!

I think I made this dress a size too big, when I first tried it on it was pretty big on me so I took it in at the sides quite a bit. I think I will trace the pattern again in a smaller size. Also the dress is a little on the short side for me, if I make it again I will make it a few centimeters longer.

The fabric is a soft stretch that I bought from Arthur Toye Fabric and it was pretty reasonably priced at $10 per metre and I really didn't need too much fabric to make this frock.

Time for the artsy "What's on the bottom of my shoe" photo (oh there is nothing there actually).

I really do like this dress (apart from the length) and I do think I will make it again. 

I had a pretty fun time at the meet up, I got to hang out with some new people as well as those who I met last time. We also had a swap and I managed to pick up all kinds of cool stuff, which I will share with you all later. 

I hope you all had a great weekend and YAH! It is finally raining here, fingers crossed the drought has broken in the North Island.