Monday, December 30, 2013

Building a 60s Wardrobe

The bulk of my sewing since I began has been patterns from the 1930s and 1940s. The 1930s will always be my favourite fashion decade, but I'm increasingly expanding my wardrobe to include 1960s and even some (SHOCK) 1970s cute little dresses to my wardrobe. I went through a small 60s phase a few years ago. Two dresses came from it. Sadly, I sold the patterns:

Pattern was dated 1970.

So that was my brief attempt at 60s patterns. I gave up because they are NOTHING like 1930s patterns. 1960s patterns are like a hybrid between old patterns and modern patterns. I think I had difficulty with the printed pattern pieces and the weird instructions. I know this sounds ass-backwards, but I much prefer blank 1930s patterns with the most basic of directions ("Sew A to B matching vvv and ending at o").

But here I am making a new dress from a pattern ca. 1970. You can see it in my last update. Here are some of my 60s/70s patterns in my personal collection I'd like to make:

Dated 1965

Dated 1967

Dated 1969

Probably going to do that 1969 one next ;) But I'm sure patterns aren't all you want to see! The entire decade of the 1960s as depicted in Sears catalogs:

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

And there you have what your average working/middle class American would have worn in that decade. My dad seems to be right -- he was born in 1941 and tells me "the 50s lasted from after WW2 ended all the way up until when JFK got shot in 1963!" 1964 there seems to be a fashion shift toward youth. Then another big shift toward youth in 1967.

Maybe by my next update I will have finished my ca. 1970 dress :)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The Most Beautiful Patterns in my Personal Collection

I am an admitted pattern hoarder! I have so many I doubt I will ever make them all up in my lifetime, but I am trying one at a time. These days, I sew for quality, not quantity, and I promised myself I would not start a new one until the one I'm working on is finished.

That said, here are some of the most beautiful patterns I own. I'm talking aesthetics here -- not fit or anything. Here we go:

Vintage Pattern Lending Library 2830. Art Deco in dress form!

1936. I loved this pattern artwork so much I made the exact same dress and also have her tattooed on me.

Circa 1935. Never made this one, but it's oh-so-gorgeous.

1937. The center one. That collar!!!

Vintage Vogue 1938 reissue. I think too many of VV's patterns have been lackluster (and way too many 50s full skirts!), but this one is frilly and lovely!

Circa 1940. I love the seams!

1949. I LOVE this long skirt! My friend Emily got this one for me for my birthday.

Circa 1970. Making this one right now. I'm calling it my "Match Game Dress" lol.

And the most beautiful pattern of all the ones I own has to be this one:

Circa 1934. LOOK AT IT!!!!

I finally scanned every pattern I own and uploaded them to albums on Facebook. I divided them up by decades. Have a peak:

1920s Patterns

1930s Patterns

1940s Patterns

1950s Patterns

1960s and 1970s Patterns

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

1920s Fashion Sourcebook

I finally acquired all three volumes; 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. I LOVE THEM. They are enormously thick and are full of pictures and artwork covering all aspects of fashion throughout the entire decades! Let's start with a sneak peak at 1920s:

This book is thick -- 575 pages! All the books begin with a little bit of history about the era and then the rest is pure photographic heaven with captions! The 1920s edition covers all aspects of fashion from 1920 to 1929. Mostly drawn fashion plates because they were preferred during this era to real models, but the book does have photographs of film stars and real models showing the latest 1920s fashions. Just a few examples:

Each book contains LOADS of photos of daywear, outerwear, gowns, accessories, hats, swimwear, sportswear, children's wear, wedding wear, shoes, everything! Daywear taking up the bulk of the books!

I will continue with the 1930s and 1940s at a later time. Meanwhile, 1920s is recommended!

Monday, December 2, 2013

1940s Spirit

A few weeks ago I wore a real 1940s vintage dress out for a night. I had bought the dress a month prior at a store called Hinesite Vintage and hadn't worn it yet. When I put it on and then had my hair and makeup done I felt like I didn't belong in 2013. Lol. I know I sound redic, but we had on the "90s alternative" music channel while getting ready and "Everything Zen" just sounded weird to my ears for that moment. I do believe in energies and that dress was giving off some serious 40s energy! Lol. I never had the feeling before. I haven't worn the dress since. It's only for special occasions. I only just began buying real vintage dresses, too.

Here's the dress:

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Sewing Roundup

Decades of Style #3004 1930s Shaped Seam Skirt:

I sewed it on the 32" waist line and it came out much too large! Sew down a size if you buy this one. It can be worn down on my hips, but it makes for and awkward bagginess. It also gives it 30s length because I did accidentally cut the hem a tad too short! Ooops! Overall, love the skirt and love the look of it. As Decades of Style suggests, a solid colour material is much better so the seam is visible. I'm just on a checks kick!

Butterick 5895:

I made the top only. Sewed it on the 38" bust line (I'm a 39" bust!) and it's HUGE. It's supposed to have a bit of bagginess to it, but there is just so much room in modern patterns that I never got the hang of them. I disliked this pattern because I'm used to real vintage -- where you cut out shapeless squares and then it's up to you to shape them and put them together. This pattern had everything put together for you (as in, the collar and tie was on the blouse front piece) and I found it confusing and difficult. The end result is alright I have not made the jeans yet.

Hollywood 1322 dated 1937:

Why of course this one is my favourite! Sewing it was wonderful. All the dots and clips matched up perfectly. The fit truly is 38 bust and 41 hips! One of my very favourite dresses. Vintage patterns are the best!

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