Sewing Vintage

As you can see from my sidebar, I've signed up to participate in the Vintage Pattern Sewing Pledge over at A Stitching Odyssey. This event came across my radar just as I was pawing through my drawer of vintage patterns, trying to find something for a friend. The Man and I spend the occasional weekend poking around at the flea market, or in various antique stores. Over the last few years I've accumulated a bunch of vintage patterns. Sometimes I'm sucked in by the price (fifty cents anyone?) or because I like the cover art, or because they have some design element that looks interesting. Or sometimes because they remind me of a pattern I made back in the day, before I became vintage myself. So far I've only tried out two of my many lovelies. Time to get cracking and try a few more!

I signed up to make five items in 2014. Sounds do-able, right? While my pledge was fresh in my mind I did another walk-through of my pattern drawer, looking for examples I thought I might actually be able to handle. My criteria were:

• close enough to my size that I think I can produce something wearable
• produces a garment that I think I could work into my everyday wardrobe, and/or
• has some feature that would be fun to play with, even if it ends up a little weird

I came up with the following selections:

Not 100% sure about wear-ability, but I want to see how the raglan sleeves work out. And I like the diagonal pockets.

Maybe a little too "ladies who lunch?" The lady in the back looks like a sassy dame though, doesn't she? I'm pulled in by the pleats at the neckline.

This one has a zipper up the front, which might be fun. And I like the square neck.

Probably too much volume for me with those gathers at the back, but I like the collar and a blouse is always a useful item. Plus I'd love to be a commanding presence like red-stripe lady.

I made myself a wrap top like this about 40 years ago and I remember liking it quite a lot. I'd rather have the body I had 40 years ago, but you have to work with what you've got.

Hard to see here, but this little number has a squared-off arm scythe that looks like fun. The cummerbund will probably be a problem for me though, seeing as how my body-type is "brick."

Another separate, which is probably the most practical option for me.

From the line drawing you can see this is a wrap skirt, but with buttons rather than a tie, which might be fun. Plus, pockets....

Not sure if 1989 counts as vintage, but I kind of like these pleated trousers.

If you are a counter, you'll have noticed I actually have eight patterns picked out. I'm giving myself a cushion in case something turns out to be too complicated. I did a read-through on the instructions, though, and so far I think I understand them all. More or less. Wish me luck!