Sew Something Vintage

Finally, I started and finished something, all in the space of 3 weeks (I know, that’s not exactly speedy, especially as I have had oodles of free time due to the gammy ankle, but c’mon, years of inaction and laziness can’t be overcome instantly…). I wore it today for an outing to Llantwit Major beach as the weather here is glorious, though the pics were taken in my far less picturesque back garden!

It was a straightforward project, I didn’t make a toile and it fits pretty well, though a smidgeon tight on the bust.  I interlined the thin fabric with white lining fabric to make it less see through.  In the past, I would normally leave seams raw, or at best pink them but I flat felled the seams by hand.  By hand!  I did a lot of hand sewing and although at times my mind was screaming with the tedium, I found it bearable and feeling mildly smug afterwards almost makes it worth it.

I made bound buttonholes, as I don’t have a buttonhole foot for my new machine and couldn’t be arsed to get out my old one, and I forgot how simple they are to make, other than getting the lips even. This was made more awkward by my using bias squares I think, which were advised by a 70s sewing book - unless the bias is a design feature, if using stripes for example, then I think straight grain would behave more.  I added a belt too.  Buttons and buckle are vintage from my stash and the pretty, flocked cotton was given to me by a friend’s mum.  The lining was from a charity shop for around 50p, so cost was practically zero.

I am more than halfway through making a dress, as I tend to have several things on the go at once, so if something is going awry, I can switch focus. 

My next project will be a 1970s pattern I won from the lovely Miss W’s giveaway, of The Creative Miss W, as I wrote that if I won, I would make it next!