Vintage Summer Sewing


By Jeannie Watt

Things are quiet on the ranch right now. They were really quiet a couple of days ago when the guy who farms the fields ran over my internet/phone cable while plowing, neatly snipping it in two. Fortunately the phone guys found the problem and repaired the cable, so I’m up and running again. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to look things up on my computer while I was writing only to have that annoying dinosaur appear with the message, “No Internet.” Argh.

This is the time of year when I start thinking about what to sew to wear to RWA Nationals. I’m a rural girl who loves to dress up, but I don’t get a lot of opportunities to do so. The cows really don’t care what I wear, you know?  

Every year, I sew at least one vintage dress to wear to the conference. This year I’m going to make this dress from 1953 in the green silk dupioni shown in the background. The skirt is lined in taffeta, so I won’t need a crinoline, although I may still wear one. I love interesting necklines, so this will be fun to make.


For the Harlequin Party, which I assume will be a black and white ball, I’m considering making this dress, which is pseudo-vintage in that the pattern is over a decade old. I’m thinking white satin with black flowers at the waist and shoulders so that it doesn't look like a wedding dress. I have no idea how that will work, but I have a black dress as a backup just in case. Personally, I think I can make it work.



This dress from 1954 is another contender for conference if I can find the right fabric.



And I’m going to experiment with making some 1940s and 1950s blouses. I find these fascinating and I think I can wear them with jeans.


So that’s where I am. It’s quiet on the ranch, I’m writing like crazy to make deadline and I’m about to embark on some sewing adventures. What’s on your summer agenda?

Comments

  1. I’m in awe of your ambitions Jeannie, and your sewing talent! These are beautiful vintage patterns. Now I’m having serious angst about the upcoming events, as I am more of a jeans/top person who hates shopping for clothes!!😨😨 But I’m also looking forward to meeting you there so I can see these outfits in real life!

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    1. I'm looking forward to meeting you, too, Janice! My mom is a jeans and top girl. She has no idea where I came from. :)

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  2. I think yikes when I see those patterns and they're considered vintage. Since I wore two of them to Rainbow Girl grand assemblies when I was in high school, I guess that makes me vintage, too. Wish I was going to make Nationals this year to see you, but it's not in my cards this year. They will look great.

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  3. I love what you're doing. Those patterns bring back my days of sewing when my now middle-aged kids were toddlers and I made clothes for myself for them. I wouldn't know what to do with a sewing machine now. I can't wait to meet you at National in NY. I'll look for the woman in the coolest clothes!

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    1. Thank you, Virginia! I loved sewing toddler clothes. I still have all the patterns. They are approaching vintage status, lol.

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  4. I love all these patterns. Imagine, a whole pattern for 25 cents. The green silk is gorgeous! The blouses are all pretty, although I can't imagine wearing one that buttons up the back. I'm not going this year, so please take some pictures for us and post them. I want to see you in these wonderful clothes.

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    1. Will do, Beth, and thank you for the blog switch. It helped immensely! I've done button back blouses back when I was more flexible. I'm curious to see what I'm capable of now.

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  5. I love these and I love to sew. A Vogue pattern for $1.00, yes it ages you. Unless you got it at a rummage sale. I love interesting necklines too. I have a vintage skirt to wear to National. I bought it since they are back in vogue (no pun intended). I sew occasionally. When fabric became so expensive, I could buy an outfit for less than making it, I gave up the practice. Every Halloween, I pull out the machine and make a costume.

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    1. I hear you about the price of fabric, Shirley. I stock up at sales and hoard. I can't wait to see your vintage skirt!

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  6. That's so fascinating. Love those vintage patterns.

    My mom used to sew everything--my grandmas, too--but she never taught me to sew. In middle school, when we had home ec classes, I wasn't able to take them because I was taking Spanish. I tried to take a class as an adult, but she only taught us to make something big and boxy and it wasn't what I needed. Forgive me for being a tiny bit envious of your skills.

    denise

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    1. Forgiven. ;) I'm learning to knit late in life. It's a challenge picking up a new thing, but I'm enjoying the process. There are a lot of online sewing communities now and I love interacting with sew-ers of all ability levels.

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  7. I love the vintage patterns! I love sewing, but it's usually a winter sport for me. Can't wait to see your completed pictures.

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  8. Those patterns look familiar...maybe because I may have made one or two of them. :-) Did you see those tiny waists? Reading your post makes me want to get my machine out and go shopping for material!

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    1. Those tiny waists never appear in the photos I take of myself in my finished garments. Huh. I think you should do some material shopping....

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  9. I love that you're able to sew these! They're beautiful!

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  10. Ooh, I love the green silk dupioni. That material is so beautiful. I dabbled in costume design for a hot minute in college and had high ambitions of sewing things for myself but never had the time (or space!) to do it. Before my first child was born, I quilted quite a bit. Nesting for me included making baby blankets. Would you post pictures of the finished product, whichever outfit you choose? I wish you much success, Jeannie!

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