Sewing outwear is considered to be a serious task that's only available to advanced seamstresses. In reality, all you need to consider is that it's a very time-consuming process that brings a brilliant result!
I’m not a big fan of layering, which makes my winter style quite simple - extremely warm coat and regular clothes underneath. I can wear an occasional cardigan, but it’s not very common. But some days it can be too cold to wear thin poplins or suitings. That’s when a proper thick wool dress is exactly what I need.
I was very excited to come across Simplicity 1590 pattern. It’s a vintage 40s reproduction, it has a collar and collarless options, peplum, waist ties, short sleeves… What else to ask for?
I’m a big fan of Butterick vintage reproduction patterns and B5209 was always on my wish list. I was avoiding it for quite a while because I really wanted to use it for something halter, weightless and made of silk. The idea of having something similar to the iconic MM’s dress from the “Seven Years Itch” was so tempting, it wasn’t allowing me to check this pattern twice and discover the second version of this design. Gathered bust, capped sleeves, full skirt….Sounds like the perfect ingredients for a nice cotton dress!
Just like sewing wovens, sewing knits can be a smooth experience or a complete disaster. In contrast to working with stable fabrics, with jersey it’s much easier to achieve a good fit thanks to forgiving qualities that it provides. Most of the problems can occur during the sewing process itself and that’s why Wendy Ward’s new book is a must-read for anyone who wants to sew stretchy garments.
Even though there are so many vintage reproduction patterns on the market, not all of them are strictly retro-style. Some of the designs have more of a classic silhouette that can be achieved with modern patterns or even basic blocks. Spotting a unique one that truly represents an era is always an exciting event that leads to a fun sewing project and a true treasure in the wardrobe. That’s exactly how I felt when I was working on my Butterick B6485.
For most of us, sewing isn’t just a way to fill our free time, but also a powerful instrument in building a nice wardrobe. Yet not every single seamstress reaches the goal of making it not just pretty, but functional too. Athina Kakou decided to help us with that by writing an e-book called “Sewing your dream wardrobe”.
