Vintage Pattern Sewing Journal

Here I’m sharing my makes as I sew nearly exclusively from vintage & antique patterns (a quality repro here and there if I can’t find what I’m looking for over the years). I give notes on fit and alterations and rate patterns for ease of use.

 

Sheath Dress
• McCall’s 5055 •
c. 1959

This chic 1959 dress - the first of hopefully many - took a bit of doing, learning, and an all nighter to get done, but here it is! The mock up for (what was supposed to be my 2022 holiday dress), which is now a saga in multiple parts. Taking bets on when I’ll get to the final, click below tor read & see what the best laid plans look like.

Audrey’s Mask from
• How to Steal a Million •
c. 1966

This one didn’t come from a pattern - originally designed by couture fashion house Givenchy - I just figured out (most of) the engineering.

Bolero Jacket
• New York Pattern 1051 •
c. 1939

The pattern that I drove myself half insane adjusting / hacking to fit. The directions are hilariously sparse. Find all the hidden features I drafted into it in this post. I plan on making all the variations here at some point.

Bra & Shorts Playset
• McCall’s 7262 •
c. 1948

One of the most wearable and comfy sets ever! If you’re thinking of making this one, just know that that cover illustration is a bit of make believe and it’ll take some reworking to get it to look similar. Read my notes to find out what I adjusted and how.

Bandeau Bras
• Superior Pattern 9030 •
c. 1920s

Another pattern I heavily (heavily) hacked and adjusted for fit. I created an adjustable comfort fit system that makes it the coziest bra I’ve ever worn - never going back to modern bras. I also modified it so it can be a bandeau top. See all the versions of it here & here.

Tilt Hats
• Butterick 5685•
c. 1934

I made these hats from a repro pattern offered by The Vintage Pattern Lending Library (I highly recommend! Deirdre does an amazing job recreating patterns.) Did five different variations on it I love it so much, hah. All made from modern Kona cotton with vintage ribbons and millinery accessories. I lined a few of them with my own self drawn & designed deco fabric you can see here. There’s also two videos of me sewing the silk lining into one you can watch the first part here & the second part here.

Lounge / Beach Pyjamas
• Butterick 3554 •
c. 1930/31

The reason I decided to learn to sew - beach pyjamas (pajamas)! I created two versions, each in custom fabric I designed specifically for these - you can see both here.

Peter Pan Collar Blouse
• NY Pattern 1162 •
c. 1950s

One of my favorite makes in my own hand drawn and designed fabric, it’s such an easy pattern (though, I added complexity with bound button holes and fully bound seams) & it’s outrageously comfortable. Highly recommend!

Surplice Blouse
• McCall’s 4719 •
c. 1942

The first thing I ever sewed! Dove right in. No notes on this one, I’m afraid, but I can say that it was an insane first make. The fit issues were unreal. (I have a hunch I may have been sent the wrong size pattern - it was a repro. After having made so many other original historical patterns at this point, the amount of ease in this one was so, sooo beyond it took extraordinary efforts to tame it to fit). Learned so many lessons about adjustments that have served me well, so although I can say this was a doozy I never want to repeat, it’s helped me tackle everything else you see here. See full photo set here. Fabric is another one of my own hand drawn vintage style designs you can find here.