Resizing a Vintage Pattern - Butterick 8083

As part of my goal to sew a vintage pattern a month, this dress was chosen.

  

(This is a image of the pattern I pulled from the web.)

I got this pattern from the owner of the store that I purchased my Bernina from (She knows I LOVE me some vintage patterns!).  I immediately fell in love with the back neck line. The copy I received was for a 34 bust, so I needed to increase it to a 36 bust. I use the process that I learned months ago, from the link in the side margins.

This meant I had to add 1" to both front and back.  I split this to approximately 3/8" and added them in 3 locations.  Below is a picture of the altered front and back bodice pieces: 

I've got instructions for Vintage Pattern Alterations methods linked to my "pinterest" account here:

Vintage Pattern Sewing.  I did the same alteration to the front midriff piece.  

Here is the finished dress.

Sorry for the blurry pictures, my husband is trying to learn to take the photos; He's used to an Smart Phone; but hasn't mastered my Nikon.

Pattern Review:

Pattern Description: Butterick 8083, View A

Pattern Sizing: Size 14/ bust 34, Altered up to a bust 36

Did it look like the photo/drawing on pattern once you were done sewing? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes at least for me, I am used to sewing vintage patterns.  So someone that is not familiar with the instructions in a vintage pattern might have some difficulty.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the look and feel of this pattern; specifically the scoop neckline in the back and the full skirt.

Fabric Used:  A cotton border print that I found at MetroTextiles in New York

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 
 -- upsized pattern to a 36" bust
 -- changed skirt bottom to a gathered skirt, because I wanted to make use of the border print
    The fullness of the skirt was based on the width of the lower part of the original skirt pattern
-- I underlined the entire dress, since my fabric was light weight.
-- Added grossgrain ribbon under the zipper (I've pinched myself one time to many zipping fitted bodices!).

Would you sew it again?
Yes, now that I have this sized correctly I will be making a version with short sleeves and the straight skirt out of a light weight wool.

Happy Sewing . . .

McCall 6713, the Re-do

As I said in my previous post, I fell in love with McCall 6713:
McCall 6713 - Mock Wrap Dress

This time I made it from a fabric from my stash (Sorry I can't recall where I got it from).  But this time I had plenty of fabric to do both sides of the mock wrap.

I think I may have to do this one more time with the full skirt.

Happy Sewing . . .

Vintage Pattern Revisited . . . (Simplicity 5185)

Back in January I modified a vintage Simplicity turtleneck top into a knee length dress.

At that time I mentioned that I was going to use some cable knit that I had purchased from Mood fabrics into a maxi dress.

Well I finally got around to doing it (just never got around to posting it).  I wore it to church on Sunday because it was a little cool.  So this was comfortable and warm.  To see the original review go to: Vintage Simplicity 5185

McCall 6713, The Mock Wrap

I've been sewing, just haven't been sewing.  Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be catching up on my posting.

So here is McCall 6713:

I chose to make view D with the sleeves, shortened to 3/4 length.

I also chose to underline the dress with some knit tricot that I bought months ago by the bolt from Fabric.com when it was 50% off.  So of course I bought an two bolts one in black and in ivory.

Last year my husband and I went to LA, and of course I made a stop at Michael Levin's  by the Pound store, and found this amazing fabric to make the dress from:

 

Since this was from the bargain bin, I had to work with what I had, so there wasn't quite enough for

me to to two layers to the mock-wrap piece, so I used some of the black tricot for the backside of the mock-wrap.

So here is the final dress: 

Pattern Review:

Pattern Description:  McCall 6713, View D

Pattern Sizing: Size 14/ bust 36

Did it look like the photo/drawing on pattern once you were done sewing: Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? 

  I love this pattern, and the fit is awesome.

Fabric Used:  tricot for underlining from Fabric.com, spandex knit from Michael Levine's Loft

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 

  -- One thing I did do was add some tricot fusible interfacing around the neckline, to keep if from 

       stretching when the underlining was sewn around the neckline and front opening.

  -- Also added width in the hip area to accommodate my hips/rear.

  -- Added 6 inches to length.

  

  -- Did back layer of mock wrap piece in black tricot (ran out of fabric).

Would you sew it again?   YES!, I've already done so, and will be posting it to blog.

Happy Sewing . . . .

A Style-Arc Pattern for Free - Ann's T-Top

Hi all,

Don't know what you have planned for a Saturday; but I plan to sew for a bit, go to the local Wa-Shonaji quilt show at the Blair Caldwell Library in Denver, and then prepare for the classes that I am teaching this fall.

As I was organizing my sewing strategy yesterday, I am across a free pattern offer from Style-Arc and Gorgeous fabrics.  It's the Ann's T-Top:

 

Style-Arc/Gorgeous Fabric Free Ann's T-Top 

I've been wanting to try one of the patterns since I've heard several online sewing buddies give Style-Arc patterns good reviews.  The pattern only takes 1 yard of fabric.  The 

price is that I signup for the emails.

I'm not sure how long it will be available, but I've already. I requested a 10; but they also send you additional patterns for 1 size above and below the one you requested!

Well off I go to sew.

Happy Sewing . . . .

 

Vogue Fall 2014 V9201 - The vintage version

As I looked at te new Vogue lineup for Fall 2014.  I found this pattern:  

I immediately decided that I wanted a copy of this pattern.  However, as I perused my Vintage Pattern stash.  I came across this mail order pattern.

It looks a lot like the Vogue pattern above.  The key difference between the two is that the Vogue version is more fitted. The plus side is that the vintage version will be easier to make.   I'm thinking that I'll have to add this to my vintage sewing list.

What's the saying, "Everything Old is New Again!!"

Happy Sewing . . . ..

Vintage Sewing Pledge 2014

Just recently I cam across the Vintage Sewing Pledge (badge is in my side menu). The pledge is to make at least 5 sewing patterns in 2014.  I'm a little late joining; but don't think I'll have a problem meeting the pledge.

The blog is written by Marie at "A Stitch Odyssey". 

The patterns that I am considering making and already have the fabric allotted for: 

Vogue 794 (which has recently be reprinted by Vogue; I got my hands on this little beauty a couple of years ago):

The other pattern I'm looking at is Vogue 1194.  I finally found a artificial black fur (that looks real!) to put on the end of the scarf.  And as natural, I have an overstock of wool in my stash to use for it.

 

 

Another pattern that I have fabric for is Vogue 7190:

 

Add caption

 

 

Finally, I'm also hoping to get to this Advance 9522: 

 

 

 

Wish me luck and I'll let you know how it goes!

 

Happy Sewing . . . . .