Blue Bouquet 60s Blouse

Here's a top I made for myself using vintage fabric and a pattern from the 60s. I was intrigued by the collar/placket combo on this one, curious how it would look in real life. This is actually test #2 after making a quick muslin and adjusting the fit.  Not wanting to make a dress, I gave it a curved hem, slightly longer in the back. I'm really happy with the shape and fit, but if I make this again I'll probably slim up the sleeves near the cuffs. I think a lighter colored fabric would be better for showing off the details of this top... You can't really see it here but the lower edge of the placket is curved like the cuffs. Also, believe it or not, I added 1 1/2 inches to the sleeve length, and they're still a tad short! oh, arms.

sleeveless 60s top

here's a sleeveless top i made earlier this summer using a cute vintage pattern from the early 60s.  the pretty fabric is also vintage, harvested from some sort of housecoat/robe.  i kept the construction as neat as possible by making french seams and blind-stitching the inner collar and the armhole bindings.  the only adjustment i made was to shorten the front a tad.  i'm not sure i can do the big belt look, but i would like to try the sleeved version in a solid color (chambray?) to show off the fun pointed placket.

little black bow blouse

i'm so happy with how this new blouse turned out.  i used the same vintage 1964 pattern as my sailboat top, but made the long sleeve version this time.    i think this pretty fabric (thrifted) with it's dainty bows is a fun match for the boxy, boyish fit of this top.  also, i made flat-felled seams throughout, which is such a nice, sturdy finish that toughens up the girlish print (a bit)...





one change i made this time was to add a collar stand.  the original collar pattern piece has a built-in stand, but the collar on my sailboat top never rolled right... this is much better.





original collar pattern piece with built-in stand:



also, i divided the center back pleat into two tucks placed closer to the shoulders (using a couple of men's shirts for reference), so as not to compete with the little loop in the middle.







 possibly the best curved hem i've ever stitched:

loops + leaves hoodie

who doesn't love a hoodie?  here's one i made from an 1980s kwik sew pattern with thrifted knit fabric.  this pattern is great. the cropped length and fitted waist make for a less sloppy sweatshirt.  and the hood is a good size, too.  i opted for a loop and button front closure instead of the exposed zipper.  for this i had to draft a front facing, since the pattern didn't include one (see last photo).  the fit is great and it's quite comfy...  now i just need to find a good pair of high-waisted jeans so i can wear it.

1957 floral blouse re-make

this was my second test of a vintage 1957 blouse pattern (my first test was directly from the pattern and the fit was pretty wonky).  i made a few adjustments (added length, moved the bust dart down 3/4" and did an SBA), which helped a ton and made this second version totally wearable...  which is a bonus, since this fabric is pretty awesome...  

it was previously a vintage housecoat, not the best quality (pretty stiff and slightly polyester-y), but the crazy floral design made it worth re-making into something wearable.  i squeezed the pattern pieces onto the fabric keeping the existing front closure.  the housecoat had pearly snaps up the front which were widely spaced, luckily i had something similar to fill in the gaps.

i love the details of this pattern:  waist tucks and little rounded tabs at the front neck and sleeves...  if only i had made this earlier in the summer...  it's more of a warm-weather top.  maybe i'll have to work on a long-sleeve version.  hmmmm.

first scout top & vintage shorts

i recently made this top using the scout pattern (from grainline studio), a wonderfully basic woven tee that sews up quick.  this was actually supposed to be a test (the pretty rayon fabric was only $1.50 a yard!) but it turned out totally wearable.  with a couple of adjustments i'll be ready to make another version with the silk crepe de chine that arrived in the mail yesterday! 

i'm also wearing a pair of shorts i made last summer.  i was on a mad hunt for the perfect vintage high-waisted shorts pattern and eventually gave up.  apparently i considered these a flop, but i pulled them out the other day and can't find much wrong with them.  the fit is pretty perfect.  shaped with darts and a (mostly) hidden zipper in the back.  i think i'd better make another pair. 

   

blue armadillo blouse

i just finished sewing this blouse a couple days ago.  made from a 1966 pattern for a "beach shirt" using vintage fabric covered with cacti.

working with this pattern proved to be a bit of a challenge because the previous owner made some major changes to  some of the pieces.  the front and back were cut within the stitching line at the shoulders and armholes  and the sleeves were re-shaped quite a bit.  at first i wondered if it was even worth trying to decipher the original shapes, but i liked the overall style enough that i decided to go for it.  i'm glad i did!  i'm pretty happy with the fit and with a tiny bit of tweaking i'll definitely use this pattern again.

i wasn't sure about this funny fabric at first, but in the end the cacti and critters won me over.  it was fun choosing where to place the blue armadillos...  one ended up on the pocket and one my right wrist cuff.

yesterday we took some pictures in our new favorite alley.  i think the light and pretty pastel colors in the first shot make it look like we're in a hot southwest city, but really, it was pretty chilly.

peach point blouse

lately i have been enjoying a little "sewing for me" time almost every evening.  when sewing clothing from vintage patterns i like to go slow, imagining how someone might have made the same garment back when the pattern was first available.  instead of quickly finishing seams with my serger, i've been making french and flat-felled seams...  i've also learned a few tricks from sewing books published in the 50s and 60s.

so here's another top from a 1960s pattern in vintage fabric.  the collar on this one wins the prize.  somehow i thought it'd be trickier than a standard collar, but it was actually pretty easy.  overall i like the boxy shape, but next time i will make a few adjustments to improve the fit, including adding a couple inches to the hem.  i think this would be pretty in gingham, maybe with the collar cut on the bias?  and a couple of low side pockets?  we'll see... 













this last photo is an in-progress shot of when i was preparing to sew on the sleeves.

(if you're interested in making this top there's a copy of the pattern for sale here).