Vintage Pattern #4

You may remember that I pledged to make five vintage patterns from my stash this year. By my fuzzy accounting, this is number 4. It's Simplicity 3937 from 1961 (or thereabouts). It isn't one of the original suspects that I listed in my pledge post, but, hey, flexibility is good.

I found this pattern in an antique store in Grass Valley. At $2.00, the price was right, and I was attracted by the square neck blouse. I'm a sucker for a square neck.

Cute square neck blouse

I'll call this version a wearable muslin. If I make it again (and I might - see above about being a sucker for a square neck) I'll pinch out about an inch in the front neckline. If I'm not extra careful with my posture I have a bit of gaping there. Plus it would bring the straps in a bit in the front, giving me better bra-strap coverage.

Front view, standing straight with shoulders back

I used some cotton that I got probably 10 years ago.  I'm sure it's grateful to finally be made into something so it can enjoy the occasional day outside the fabric closet.

The pattern is a Misses size 14. The bust is a 34, which is close to me, but the waist is 26. As if. I lowered the bust darts about an inch, and I waited until the end to decide about putting in the waist darts. I did add them per the pattern in the back, and maybe half what the pattern called for in the front, and I think the fit worked out OK. 

Back view, with 5 buttons disappearing into the print

You can't see them in the photo, but the blouse is closed with five buttons running down the back. I thought having the buttons in the back was a cute design feature while in the planning and construction stages of the project. I had a few minutes of concern after I finished. It looked like I'd created a top that would require me to hire a lady's maid to dress and undress me. As it turns out, I can wriggle in and out with the top 3 buttons closed, and I'm still flexible enough to do up the bottom 2 buttons while I'm wearing the dang thing. Note to self: sign up for that yoga class.

So four down and one to go. I have my eye on a sleeveless dress pattern I found at an antique mall in Salina, Kansas.

My review is on PatternReview.com here!

A Notion to Sew

We saw a bunch of fabulous scenery and even more fabulous family on our trip through the mid-West, and we also visited a goodly number of antique stores.

6 20-inch zippers for $1.50

While antiquing, I always keep my eye open for patterns and notions. Vintage is always a happy find, but I also love turning up contemporary items for a great price.

I got 3 big bags of seam binding and lace for a buck a piece

Buttons in colors I'm liable to use, plus enough lace to trim the neckline of something or other

 And here are the patterns:

Now I'm itching to sew, but my machine is in the shop for a going-over. I could tell it was taking a nose dive when I was finishing up my pre-vacation sewing and sure enough, Doc Stitch's tells me I have burrs on my needle plate and a big wad of thread gumming up my innards. I should be back in business by tomorrow, thank goodness. I have my June Make a Garment a Month project eagerly waiting in my sewing nook.