Monday 18 February 2013

Things To Make & Do - Sew For Victory - Decisions

As you may well have seen from the link in my sidebar, a couple of weeks ago I signed up to Rochelle's very exciting 1940s Sew-along! The challenge is to make a garment from either an original, repro or a 40s inspired pattern and to have it all finished and photo ready by the end of March, which should be plenty of time, even for the likes of me :)


If you want to join in then head on over to the lovely Rochelle's blog Lucky Lucille where you will find all the info and lots of 40s inspiration! If you do you will be in great company as Miss Katie and Tasha to name just a few, have both shared what they plan to make and both projects are very exciting! 

I'll be honest the reason I haven't published this post this sooner is because I have been having great trouble choosing which pattern to use. You see I have a bit of a problem...I am a big old greedy pattern hoarder.

Due to my inability to resist an eBay bargain, and my love of the recent trend for reproductions patterns (Do you want original vintage patterns in more than one size, namely my size? Yes please!) I currently have a storage crate filled with vintage patterns and I'll be honest there is no guarantee that it won't be two crates by the end of the year!

That's a heck of a lot of patterns!
All this means I am in the wonderful yet overwhelming position of having far too many options to choose from.  Here's a little peek at just some of my favorites...

Dress Patterns
Coat & Suit Patterns
Blouse Patterns
and even hat patterns


After much deliberation, I have managed to narrow it down to two patterns. Both are in or near my actual size, which will hopefully mean minimal fitting issues and both patterns are a bit more practical than my whimsical sewing tastes would usually go for - I do seem to be quietly creating a wardrobe full of cocktail dresses and with nowhere to wear them!



Maudella Pattern No. 3319- A Puff Sleeve Blouse 
I think this would be just perfect for the upcoming spring and practical enough for wearing at work. I have made a few blouses before from a wartime Economy Pattern but I am in need of many more. I would ideally like a simple white one or a dark blue one that I can embroider flowers on. Unfortunately, I have neither type of fabric in my stash and as I am still battling to reduce it (more space for patterns...naturally) I'll have look for suitable alternatives I am positive there will be something lurking in there that will do the job!



Blackmore Pattern No. 5755 - A Tea Dress With A Ruched Bodice 
I just love this pattern and I have been wanting to make it up for ages, I even think I have the perfect fabric for it in my stash, some lovely black stretch velvet (same fabric I used for my Turban) and I am hoping that by working with the stretch in the fabric I can perhaps leave out one of the two zips the pattern calls for, to make it a smoother finish and because I am a little dubious as to how good my velvet sewing skills are.

I'm still none the wiser as to which I will go with, I am going to set aside some time this evening for pattern copying and perhaps even some fabric cutting, so hopefully by then I will have made my mind up. Fingers crossed :) 


Wendy x

18 comments:

  1. Do both! Or the blouse and a skirt so you have a whole outfit to rock :)
    P.S. my pattern stash looks quite similar ;)

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    1. I am sorley tempted to do both, but I have to admit I am slow at finishing things! Your outfit looks amazing!!! xx

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  2. I really like the blouse - lovely pattern.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. Thank you Liz, it is great isn't it, just wish the instructions were a bit more...instructional! :) xx

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  3. I'm not seeing your pattern hoarding as a "problem" ;) SO happy to have you on board for Sew For Victory! Whatever you choose will be most amazing I'm sure :) Can't wait to see!

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    1. He,he, its certainly a problem I think I can handle:) xx

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  4. Oo nice pattern collection! I've been enjoying reading everyone's Sew for Victory posts and just wish I was better at dressmaking so I can join in, cack-handed beginner sums me up! I buy patterns and do nothing with them as I'm too scared of messing up/wasting the fabric. Will have to have a look through my patterns and see if I can find something I've half a hope of finishing! Love the blouse pattern, and the dress but all that ruching would give me nightmares! Jx

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    1. Thank you! Hehe, Cack-handed intermediate, is about where I sit on the sewing front, get too close to much of my stitching and you'll see the evidence :) xx

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  5. that dress is so lovely and it'd be even better in black velvet! reminds me of something Bette Davis would wear whilst being scandalous! I'd love to join in but i still havnt tried following a patter and for some reason I find the prospect of trying to do so really scary! can't wait to see your finished product! xx

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    1. Thank you Hollie! I have decided that the dress is too pretty to leave unmade any longer, so I am going with that! I will be honest if it was not for my mums help when I first started sewing, I probably would have never tried, but I promise its much easier than it looks (most of the time) xx

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  6. Beautiful!! I love collecting old patterns www.adoramehitabel.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank You! I love collecting old patterns much more than making them I must confess! xx

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  7. I love love these patterns and you're such a good dressmaker I'm looking forward to seeing what you make her! I've got some great patterns but not the skills to make them up or I'd be joining in! xxxx

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    1. Thank you my dear! I am sure with your mega artistic skills, you would have no problems! xx :)

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  8. Crikey - I've got pattern envy!!! I brought a cute 1940s girls dress pattern from Etsy to make Monkeychild a dress for a 40s do that we're going to, but I can't find the right vintage style patterned fabric to make it out of.

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    1. Argh, I know what you mean, sometimes getting the right fabric is more trouble than making the dress, good luck, I am sure she will look adorable!!! xx

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  9. Ha, I hear you on the pattern hoarding front, I'm currently giving away six on my blog in an effort to make more room (for more patterns naturally, haha!). I think either you make will look fantastic, although I'm rooting for the dress because I'd love to see what that looks like all made up. Can't wait to see what you decide, and how it looks in the end! Good luck!

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    1. Thank you! yep I opted for the dress, the instructions on the blouse are just too, minimal, for neurotic, indecisive me! xx

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