Sewing a 1960s A-Line Dress: Butterick 5155

It's been a little quiet on the sewing front, but I finally finished a project that was started a year ago.  I have needed a bit of sewing therapy in between revising for my viva exam, which is fast approaching.  

The pattern is Butterick 5155 from 1969.  The short a-line dress has three necklines and three sleeve variations to choose from. I chose view B's scoop neckline with view A's flared sleeves.  The fabric I chose was a vintage bed sheet with a lovely daffodil print, bought for £2. This dress was meant to be a 'toile', with a view to using nicer fabric if I liked how it turned out.

Branching Out

It felt like summer on the day these photos were taken last Saturday.   The usual misty morning steadily gave way to glorious sunshine. Across the nation, people organised impromptu barbecues and made the potentially rash decision to head out without a jacket on.

My husband fancied a trip to the seaside, so we hopped in the car and headed to Porthcawl, a Welsh seaside town that is a mere twenty something miles from us.  It was lovely and warm, and we enjoyed the first ice-cream of the year as we strolled along the promenade.  Blissful!  We then called into a nature reserve on the way home that we'd never been to before.  There is a large pond with groves of these twisty trees at the water's edge.  It would be a great location for a 'tree nymph' photoshoot, with something suitably ethereal.  Instead, I was dressed more appropriately for climbing trees in this casual look.

Pink Frills: Coco Dress by Tilly and the Buttons With Ruffle Sleeves

I had a feeling-sorry-for-myself post lined up about a sewing wall that I hit a few months ago.  It started with my attempt at making the skirt of doom, followed by the top of torment.  But I no longer want to hit 'publish' on that sad episode of my sewing learning curve.  I try and keep the blog a positive space.

So, here I am, back from the sewing pit of despair with the successful tale of a pink dress!
I really love all the pink that's been on trend this year, and wanted to incorporate some more into my wardrobe.  I also like the ruffle sleeve trend, so decided to make a dress incorporating both pink and ruffles - with a vintage air, of course.

I used my 'Coco' pattern from Tilly and the Buttons as my base, which is fairly '60s in style.  Last time I used the pattern I made a top, but the pattern includes a dress version too.  I omitted the funnel neck, and then had to work out how to make ruffle sleeves.

Vintage Sewing: 90s' Camisole

I have wanted to make a simple camisole top for a while.  I had some pretty floral jersey in my stash that was in two very small pieces, so a cami top was probably the largest item I could make with it.  This pattern is from 1997.  I can't quite believe that the 1990s are considered vintage now, but the pattern is indeed 20 years old.  Look how pleased the cover model is with her camisole!  I think she looks like she should be in an episode of 'Friends'.

Vintage Sewing: Clemence Skirt from Love at First Stitch

I borrowed the Love at First Stitch book by Tilly Walnes from the library, and have been working my way through the retro projects included.  My first project from the book was the Margot pyjama bottoms.  This time I decided to tackle the 'Clemence' skirt.  It's a simple style, with a full, gathered skirt, and fitted waistband.  I envisaged mine as a sort of mid-century house-skirt, with large patch pockets to pop things in.

There isn't a pattern included in the book, rather there are instructions for you to draft your own pattern.  I've already self-drafted a wrap top and a few other items, so I wasn't too phased by this.  I was however, dreading the inevitable zip insertion.  And the gathering.  And the waistband.  Well, you've got to throw yourself in the deep-end sometimes to learn faster!

Vintage sewing: Coco by Tilly and the Buttons

I have finally made something really wearable!  Hurrah!  Allow me to present the 'Coco', a 1960s' style top, from Tilly and the Buttons.

Vintage Sewing: New Look Maudella 6523

This week I have a home-sewn garment that isn't very pretty.  I chose version 3 of New Look Maudella pattern 6523, a simple short sleeve top.  '80s tastic!  Let me admit, it wasn't a great pattern to start with.  Coupled with a poor fabric choice, this is one for the learning pile.  I can't help but feel that the finished top looks a bit like hospital 'scrubs'?!  The fabric is a cotton sateen, and it's not only too stiff for the style, but it's a fabric I would probably never wear.  I only bought it as it was part of a bag of remnants for sale.

Quilting Workshop at The Little Stitchery

My renewed interest in dressmaking has led to a curiosity about other forms of sewing, so when I had the chance to attend a free workshop on quilting I signed up straight away.  The workshop was being held in The Little Stitchery, in Ystradynglais in the next valley over from where I live.  The Neath valley is very scenic, so I enjoyed a Sunday morning drive there.  It was the most glorious glowing Autumn day.

Sewing Update: My First Circle Skirt!

Welcome back to my sewing corner!  It's funny how blogging about sewing becomes a motivator to sew.  So, I have another finished project to share today: a circle skirt.  Let me preface this by saying it's a practice circle skirt that I'm not intending to wear.

 

Excuse the poor lighting again and the messy background, this is real life!

The fabric I used for this skirt is a particularly nasty synthetic type, with a few flaws.  But, it has served me well in helping me learn what not to do when I come to making a skirt in my nice fabric.

Vintage Sewing Update

I've been a bit quiet about the home-sewing challenge, because I have to confess I haven't done much!

I did try and make an off-the-shoulder top before we went on holiday, back at the end of August, after Vix's post about this easy to make style using this tutorial.  I didn't finish it on time so I didn't get to wear it.  I have to admit it was a real struggle.  I don't think I read the instructions properly, and my ruffle was far too tight.  I had to insert two panels at the shoulders.  I also chose a sheer fabric, which meant I basically had to make the top twice, to include a lining.  I don't think it's particularly flattering, so it's one for the 'learned a lot' pile (along with those tiny, tiny shorts...).  I might try and make another one in the future, but I will have to be more careful with my fabric choice and even more careful with the measuring and reading of instructions.

This Month In Sewing

I have quietly been doing a few sewing projects over the past few weeks, on my steep learning curve of self-taught dressmaking.  Firstly, I turned a dress past its best into a peplum top.  It looks good over a pencil skirt, belted, and I've also worn it over black cropped trousers.  It's not as faded in real life as it looks in the photo below, so I'm hoping to get a little more wear out of it before it gets consigned to being a duster.

The Sorbetto Top Pattern by Colette

Ta da!  My first home-sewn top is made from the 'Sorbetto' tank top pattern from Colette Patterns.  It's available as a free download from their website, and I thought that the promises of "quick to make" and "no closures to sew" sounded ideal for a novice dressmaker like myself.  Look at how pleased I am with myself.

Misadventures in Vintage Sewing

I recently had an urge to do some sewing, and particularly wanted to return to trying to make my own clothes.  I first attempted this years ago.  I made two skirts (badly) and then promptly gave up because the logistics of it were too hard in a shared house with a tiny kitchen table and me being in the box room.  One of the perks of my husband and I having our own place now is a lovely large dining room table, with plenty of space for me to spread out my creative projects.  If it's not finished by the end of the day, I can just close the door and don't have to worry about clearing it up.  It's much easier to pick up then when I next have the time.

A practice circle skirt under construction!

Win A Singer Sewing Machine!

This is a super competition with a real vintage element that I am sure you will all appreciate. Do you have any family photos of couples married in the 1930s-1950s period?  If so, you could be in with a chance of winning a Singer sewing machine among other fantastic prizes in this competition hosted by author Kate Thompson, over at her Facebook page here.  A little while ago I reviewed her book, 'Secrets of the Singer Girls', set in a sewing factory in London's East End during WWII.  Kate is currently researching a follow-up book in the same era, and wants to see as many vintage wedding photos as possible!

Photo credit: Walter on Flickr (Creative Commons)