12-4-12 *Vintage Pattern Picks*

Yesterday, I showed a bunch of modern jacket/coat patterns that are on my short list to be made during the 12-4-12 Jacket Sew-a-long.  Today, I want to send out some vintage pattern love.

Aren't they all just delicious?

Oldies, But Goodies

I love patterns. I really love vintage patterns. I especially love patterns from the 50s and 60s. I think my love of patterns, all patterns, evolves from my need to create and to dream. I can't always get in front of my sewing machine, but I always have time to thumb through my pattern stash. I get an instant feeling of hope and a vision of what could be. I may never actually make a specific pattern, but I can fantasize about all the possibilities it represents. What fabric would play up the design to its best advantage? Should I add piping? Should the piping match or contrast with the main fabric? Would topstitching add a certain je ne sais quoi? Where will I find the perfect buttons? Is this the pattern from which I will create a garment that will make me taller, slimmer, prettier and more stylish? If the pattern is vintage, it only adds to the appeal for me. The 50s and 60s has always seemed like a simpler, more appealing time in history. With just the flick of my needle, I can be a go go girl, a Pink Lady, a Hollywood bombshell, June Cleaver or Agent 99. With the just the right pattern, I could be more demure, more fanciful, more mysterious, more elegant - well, just simply, more. I can spend hours in this kind of reverie and I can't imagine a better way to spend an afternoon.

Here are some of my favourites that I haven't posted before. These inspire me and ignite my imagination and passion for all the possibilities:



So, tell me folks, what do you imagine when you look through the pattern books?

I Love it When a Plan Comes Together ... I Think

Gaylen (who, by the way, has the some of the cutest pooches on the planet) asked me if I had a SWAP 2007 plan published somewhere and I realized that I had sort of roughed out some ideas as to the direction of my SWAP, however, nothing was set in stone. Well, like a diligent little SWAPper, I sat down yesterday and put together a plan (actually I have been agonizing over this for about 2 months now - sometimes my anal retentive nature gets the best of me).

I decided to do a dress SWAP this year, as have many of the other contestants. Since I have a reasonably large stash of vintage patterns, I decided to create the entire SWAP using these patterns. Also, since I have a need for a Prom dress (I chaperon Prom at the high school where I teach) and some other dressy clothing, I decided to do a vintage evening wear SWAP. I believe I will call it "Glam, Bam, Thank-you Ma'am". Now, I reserve the right to change my mind as I go along, because after all, I am a woman, but I think this plan is the plan.

I will provide all the interesting details for each piece as it is completed. In many cases, I was inspired by a great vintage garment I've seen for sale on eBay or another website. For now, here are the basics (the pattern, its description and the fabric photo):

Dress 1: Butterick 8020 (copyright date unknown) - "Scoop-necked, cap sleeved, Empire-princess dress has a swinging skirt, bowed empire band." - rust silk dupioni and copper ruffle knit


Dress 2: Butterick 9690 (copyright date unknown) - "Full skirted dress with surplice bodice, shirred shoulders and a set in cummerbund." - black poly eyelet (purchase from Timmel)


Dress 3: Vogue 4209 (copyright date 1961) - "Circular skirt joins fitted bodice at waist-line. Low front neck-line, higher in back. Short sleeves." - orange silk dupioni & beaded embroidered silk


Dress 4: Simplicity 7990 (copyright date 1968) - "The underlined dress with lined bias midriff stitched to surplice bodice and gathered skirt has back zipper." - mottled orange/brown/green satin with sequins and embroidery


Jacket 1: Simplicity 4123 (copyright date unknown) - "Lined jacket has kimono sleeves...and button and loop closing." - mottled orange/brown/green satin with sequins and embroidery


Jacket 2: Vogue 2934 (Vogue Vintage Model - Original 1950 Design) - "Lined jacket, slightly below waist, has straight front and flared back, funnel neckline and three-quarter length sleeves with deep cuffs." - black faux Persian lamb & black silk dupioni


Bottom 1: Simplicity 3881 (copyright date unknown) - "Misses' half circle skirt ... is street length." - black silk dupioni


Bottom 2: McCall's 3489 (copyright date 1955) - Ten gore skirt with darts at waist and waistband. - coffee silk dupioni


Top 1: Butterick 6886 (copyright date unknown) - "Brief, 'n scooped 'n sleeveless." - flocked lace knit


Top 2: McCall's 3489 (copyright date 1955) - High-necked, sleeveless, fitted shell OR Advance 9111 (copyright date unknown) - "Shirtwaist blouse." - coffee silk dupioni


Top 3: Simplicity 1954 (copyright date unknown) - "The "Dutch-Boy" look right out of Paris. Cropped lined jacket has bracelet length kimono sleeves, buttoned stand-away collar, shaped buttoned trim band at lower edge of back." - lightweight black wool with floral embroidery