I recently got this more modern pattern from the 60s and thought it had interesting curved seams and edges. I’ll probably convert the gathers to pleats in the waist area. It has no instructions but hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out.
Category Archives: 1960s
The Formal Masquerade Dress: Simplicity 8155
We had a work event last week that called for “black tie formal masquerade” and I didn’t have anything to wear.
Pattern used:
Simplicity 4774.
Notes:
I made this dress in about a week, finishing at the eleventh hour at 1 am the night before the event. I made a bodice of the top and used a dirndl skirt for the bottom since I didn’t want to cut into the lace border pattern. I underlined the silver lace with flesh-colored fabric, and it turned out better than I thought.
I’m fine with a dirndl silhouette, as long as there is a belt to hide all the gathering by the waistband. I plan to make this pattern again, making some modifications to the bodice (which is a little too long) and doing the gathering by machine instead of by hand, so it’s more even.
Work in Progress: Simplicity 4744, Bodice
This is just pin-fitted for now since sewing over embroidered lace/tulle is probably irreversible. 48 hours left to finish this and counting.
Every Day Here is Halloween
Simplicity 4744: Work in Progress
Sorry Guys Who Voted for the Silver Brocade (new indie band name?), I went with the nude lace at the end. But the silver might be used for the same pattern again at some point.
Decisions, decisions
Simplicity 4774.
There’s a semi-formal (what exactly does this dress code mean for women?) work event coming up that I need to sew for. Trying to decide on whether to go for the silver textured brocade or nude lace. I have a little under two weeks to finish this. My colleague who sits next to me said something like, “Have you seen Project Runway? They finish everything in a day.” So we’ll this. This is supposed to be a masked (?) semi-formal event too so we’ll see how it goes.
Silver (it looks brown here but it is silver) textured brocade. I’ve been hoarding this fabric for over 3 years, easily.
Nude lace with silver embroidery. Closeup of hem.
Cigarette Pants, Self-Drafted
Front view, #1.
Sweater: thrifted
Pants: self-drafted, homemade
Blouse: Daffy’s, from many years ago,
Necklace: homemade
Leopard platform stilettos: thrifted
Front view, #2.
Front view, #3.
Side view.
Closeup view.
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These pants were inspired by Midge Daniels. After my pants-fitting debacle a few weeks ago, I finally decided to draft my own.
Fabric used: medium-weight cotton sateen, with 1% stretch
Construction notes: I used my skirt sloper to draft these pants. I drafted these to sit at the natural waist with no ease and used fabric with 1% stretch. I made my muslin with stretch fabric and made my final version with cotton sateen. I used an invisible zipper on the side.
Beta-testing notes: I’ve already worn these pants out and about and they’re very comfy. Will definitely make again, either in more cotton sateen or brushed wool corduroy.
Parade of Pant Muslins, Part 2
Pants drafting.
I know I said I’d use my last franken-pattern as a base, but I still didn’t have enough confidence in it to cut into my stretch good black brushed wool corduroy or my cotton sateen. I had such a hard time with Clover that I thought I would just draft my own pants.
Since I was going to be using a stretch fabric, I drafted these to my measurements with no ease. I used a white fabric with similar stretch properties as my muslin. I think this is my most successful pants muslin yet.
Front view.
Side view.
Almost back view.
Sitting view.
Edit: I actually finished these pants using cotton sateen and tested the live version yesterday and it held up pretty well. More photos to come.
Simplicity 3000, 1960s Cheongsam: The Dress With Many Technical Problems
Front view.
Side view.
Closeup view.
Closeup of frog closure.
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Pattern used: Simplicity 3000, circa 1960s
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Pattern: Simplicity 3000, circa 1960s
Pattern Sizing: Bust 35 1/2, half size. (Pointless since I had to size the bodice by using my bodice block.)
Description: 1960s cheongsam.
Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it? Yes.
Fabric: Red and gold brocade for the body.
Were the instructions easy to follow? I read the directions, then disregarded them since they didn’t make any sense to me.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like the frog closures.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? Yes!
Sizing issues: Firstly, the pattern I bought was too big for me. I had to make so many changes to the bodice that I just ended up taking my bodice block, transferring the front pieces to it and fitting it that way. I forgot to take into account the sleeves (now too big) and the collar (also too big), so I had to omit them in the end. I wish it had sleeves, but the omitted collar worked out well since the body pieces already have a high neckline. I used an invisible zipper for the center back.
New techniques learned: This was my first time doing piping. I put piping on the sleeveless seam parts and on the frog closure parts. I did not have a proper piping foot, so I was using my invisible zipper foot, which was a pain. The piped pieces would get stuck in the invisible zipper foot’s teeth. Then I found my non-invisible zipper foot and used that, and it worked out better.
Other notes: The brocade was really slippery and very hard to work with. I serged the seams whenever I had a chance to, since by touching it it would just fray.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don’t know if I need another cheongsam dress, so no. I would recommend it to others though.
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Unrelated note: My hair is finally long enough to set and look remotely vintage, but I miss my hair. Hair always grows so slowly when you’re waiting.
Simplicity 3000: Finally Finished
Smurfette (my dressform), modeling the finished product.
Closeup of the finished frog closure.
I finally finished Simplicity 3000. At some point this project stopped being enjoyable and just became a burden. I wanted to finish it just because it had some potential, but the process was far from fun. I still need to take proper photos with it.