My 23 year old daughter wants this dress: http://jpeterman.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_1732_A_c_E_8_A_seq_E_1
I can make it, but not without a pattern and I can’t find a pattern that’s close enough. I had one of these dresses growing up, but honestly don’t remeber whether it was bought or made. (My mother made quite a few of my clothes and, after Jr. High School, so did I.) Does anyone here have any suggestions as to what pattern I can use? I’m good at sewing with a pattern, but not good at all at “winging it.”
I’ve looked at all of the sites listed the other day under “vintage patterns” and couldn’t find anything.
Thanks,
Pat
Edited 2/27/2007 7:42 pm ET by patglenn
Replies
Hey Pat I am hearing you loud and clear!! I am great with a pattern but not so with winging it as of yet...This could be a thought to you.. Use a few different patterns that you can incorporate together..Like the bodice see about a long sleeve blouse that is similar and check out the flowing skirts that are out there I know I have seen some with the button down center...Then mesh them together...Take the description of the dress (which by the way is very beautiful) and blend them that way...if they are darted here and there then add the darts to your pattern if they don't have them..Use the similarities of the different pattern pieces as your "winging template" Put it together like a puzzle...of course out of muslin!! What do you think about that...I know other ladies might even have some pattern #'s of top of there head..Oh yeah and Under a thread titled "Victor Costa Pattern #" CherryPops had some great links to some very vintage patterns have you seen that thread already? I hoped I started the help out right for youBlondie
Edited 2/27/2007 8:48 pm ET by blondie2sew
Blondie, thanks for the namedrop, have a look above you might find something that interests you on this site also.
Please let me know if the link does not work.
Miss CherryP
Thanks to all of you who gave me suggestions. I'll keep trying. Thanks, too, for another vintage site. I haven't gone through the whole site, yet, but I will. So far, I'm finding that the parts of the sites that deal with the '50s are most likely to have what I'm looking for. As I told my daughter when she showed me the dress, I had one like that, which means it had to be made in either the late '50s or early '60s, when I was in my teens.
Incidentally, my aunt, my mother's sister, was my sewing teacher in Junior High School. I think I drove her nuts!
Pat
Can't wait to hear great news that you found the pattern!!Let us know your progress...Did you have a certain color and type of material in mind for this wonderful dress?Blondie
It is a wonderful dress, isn't it? Right now, all I can think of is a soft cotton or blend and Valerie will have to pick the color. (see my earlier message)
Sounds yummy!! Just don't think too much sometimes that can be our challenge within!!Blondie
Blondie, I have to address your statement first. I believe that 'thinking too much' mars my ability to go forward with my garment construction, particularly, the first step of fitting, or making a muslin (ugh). Sometimes I too think that 'faithfully' going to this forum is another of my ways to 'put off' getting into making a garment. One might call it an addiction and procrastination!
Now, I will sign up to get notices on the garment as it progresses and is finally made. I just love that style dress, and always have. Please be more clear on which pattern(s) it is that you decided to use to make this classic, comfortable dress. By the way I had a fifth grade teacher (in the '50's) who wore this style dress and she looked great in it and was not a very tall person. Also, I had a substitute teacher that wore this style dress. Both of the teachers wore ballerina flats with the dresses.
Hi WandaJThanks for your comments however I am not the one making the dress..The very first post is by Patgleen.If you read all the way up to the top she is getting suggestions and possible patterns and such for help Blondie
Hi Pat,
I too love vintage . Blondie makes sense. It is possible for you to use other pattern pieces to make up this dress for your daughter.
However, If you want to purchase an original vintage pattern have a look at
http://www.tias.com/stores/cupid/ scroll down till you read (in the table, right column) vintage sewing patterns 1940's .
Type or copy and paste this number into the search bar: P4643J23
Takes you to Simplicity Pattern 4643.
It is a skirt with blouse pattern, which you can marry up on your grid layout. What i noticed about this pattern is: It has the buttons full length, The collar is very similar, which if you need to widen you can, also the sleves Cuffs. Just lengthen the sleeves to 3/4. This is a circle skirt, adjust circle circumference to suit your fullness.
Not prying into measurements but if you find this pattern unsuitable these are the pattern pieces i would be looking for.
Hope you find what you need.
If the link does not work let me know.
:) CherryP
What a darling dress! I have McCall's 3254 which is a shirt dress but the skirt would have to be changed. I think Vogue V8315 is very similar but is a wrap dress. Hope this helps. Good luck in your search. Mary
Take a look at McCalls pattern M4769 ; looks close to me. You will probably want to make changes to the skirt to get more "swoosh" and make the tie belt wider.
Hope this helps,
Becky
You're right! It is the closest thing I've seen so far. You're also right when you say the skirt and sash will need to be modified. But, that will be easy. I'll probably get this one and let you know how it turns out. In fact, I'll send pictures. Thanks for being so persistent.
I'd better warn you, though, it may be a while before there's any progress. Valerie will have to pick out the fabric and the color, and then buy them. All of this might take a while. Look for it sometime in late spring or early summer. Any of you who have post-adolescent children will understand.
Vogue 8021 is also similar.
True. And it has a slightly fuller skirt.
Thanks, now I have two to think about.
Pat
I just found http://www.vintagepatternsrus.com Have a look at the 1950's vintage dresses. Not exactly like yours, but close. Great fun anyway.
There are some really nice things there, but nothing that comes close enough for me to use it. Someone did find one that's close enough. The only thing I'll have to do is figure out how to put a much fuller skirt on it. I think I can do that. Oddly enough, I did run across a pattern I used to make my First Day of School outfit my junior year in high school. That was both cool and odd!
Thanks, Pat
What about Vogue Pattern V2401 in the Vintage category? http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.V2401=x&TI=20006&page=3Marcy
Since it appears as if you are in no rush to make your daughter's dress, you may want to wait on the upcoming issue of Threads Magazine for help. Following is an excerpt of an article from the Magazine's Website regarding getting to the designer look you want using a mix of patterns, techniques, etc.:
Make It DesignerSew a runway garment with a commercial patternby Deana TierneyYou see a great style on the runway or in the pages of a fashion magazine that you've just got to have. As a sewer, you know you can get the look without having to spend a fortune on the designer piece. You're inspired, you're enthused, you're ready to sew. However, most patterns on the market don't readily reflect the cutting-edge trends. Assistant editor Deana Tierney shows you how to get the look by telling you what to look for when analyzing the garment. With the essential design elements fleshed out, Deana explains how its easy to find an existing pattern and how to make adjustments to the pattern to get the look. She also discusses the importance of fabric and accessories in achieving the full designer effect.
You're right, this is not a "need" it's a "want." Because of that, I'm in no particular hurry to do it, although I have found a couple of patterns that might work. It sounds like the article will be right down my alley. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
PatG
I was unsure of which patterns you selected from your previous posts. Will you restate them?
The two best ones (given my skill level) are either Vogue 8021 or McCalls M4769. Both will need to have the skirt adjusted for fullness and a sash designed and made. But, they are both the same basic shirt dress. If you've got anything better, let me know.
PatG
Because I just love that style dress, it is so comfortable and looks nice on, I will look these patterns up. If I come across any others I will let you know. Thanks.
P.S. I forgot to mention that both pattern companies, in my area OH, have them on sale until closing tomorrow (Sat, Mar. 3rd) at $3.99 and $1.99, respectively.
What area of Ohio are you? I'm in Westerville. Is it Joanne fabrics that have the patterns on sale?
PatG
Yes, it is Joann's that has the sale flyer (on-line and in-the-USP mail) on Vogue & McCall's Patterns for yesterday and today only in the month of March.
I'm in Xenia, just E of Dayton. I used to live in Reynoldsburg & Cols., so I'm familiar with your town. In fact, I purchased my Janome 9000 from an instructor at SewNSave in Westerville!
Thanks! I know the Sew and Save, although I didn't buy my machine there.
In fact, I bought my original Elna SU from, of all places, Lazarus, back when they still had a sewing machine department. Of course, that was well over 30 years ago. As I say, back when they had both a sewing machine department and 2 fabric stores -- One in the "West Basement" and the other on the 5th floor of the downtown Lazarus.
When I was growing up it seemed like everyone sewed, at least a little. Sewing and Cooking were required courses for girls back in the 50's. And "shop" for boys. Oh, well. For what it's worth, I learned to sew on my mother's 1941 Singer Sewing machine. When I got the Elna, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It had a straight stitch that was as good as the Singer's plus it had cams for decorative stitching and a built in ZigZag stitch. Compared to today's high-end machines, it's a dinosaur, although it still has the best straight stich...but then...WOW!
Sorry about this trip down memory lane, but I just started to think about my sewing journey.
PatG
What a great dress. We should all wear one. If there is a pattern that comes really close in the upper half, increasing the fullness of the skirt is easy. Or you can draft your own pattern for the skirt portion. I would play around with a 3/4 circle skirt or a full circle skirt for the lower half. As long as you make the waistline of the skirt the same measurement as that of the bodice, your pattern will work. Keep us updated.
you can also check out my favorite vintage pattern site......
http://www.thebluegardenia.com.........
This post is archived.