Verity Vintage Studio

Turquoise 1950s Vintage Dress Find

I may have a closet full of vintage style clothes, but I hardly own any true vintage clothes. A few suits and jackets, coats, and one or two dresses is about the extent of it. It's just hard to find something that fits me and is in my price range, and is also sturdy enough that I feel comfortable wearing and washing it. As a busy mom, I can't have a lot of high maintenance clothes, which is why I usually prefer to make my own.

 

But when you're visiting a new local shop that has some antiques, and spot this beauty, realize it probably would fit, and check the price tag - and it's only $35 - what else can you do??

 

I believe it was hand made, and can appreciate the skill of the seamstress for sure. Often I don't want to spend money on something I can make myself, but this was inexpensive enough and not necessarily something I would have wanted to tackle making. 

 

I think it's linen, or a linen blend. So it wrinkles after I've been sitting on it, but has a lovely drape and weave. 

 

The neck detail and those adorable pockets are the special factor. Actually, I think the neck could be fairly easy to do if you cut and faced a square neck with a scallop and then underlaid it with a band of contrasting fabric - but scallops are not my strong point, so I'm delighted someone else did them. And who would have thought of using machine stitched buttonholes as decoration??

 

Aside from my usual trouble with the back being a trifle long waisted, it fit me very well. It has a careful darn under one arm - clearly has been well loved.

 

After wearing it for a day I need to reinforce a few seams, but otherwise it stood normal wear very well. I washed it in cold water on a delicate cycle, and dried it flat, which seemed to work just fine. 

Of course I had to pair it with ivory accessories, including a new to me 1950s hat and my favorite vintage summer heels.

 

 

So my small vintage clothing collection has expanded a little, and I'm very pleased. Oh, and I have to include a quick photo with the children since we all happened to coordinate for church.

 

I hope everyone is having a happy summer!

 

Photos by Elsie's Adventuring

Winterland 1940s Dress

It must be time for Christmas in July! Riley Blake Designs has some new holiday fabric collections out, and I knew I wanted to be part of the Winterland fabric tour even if it meant sewing with wintry fabric in the middle of summer.

 

It is not your traditional red, white, and green collection, which makes it even more fun. I love those tiny scattered snowflake dot prints. And who can resist tiny cardinals in birch trees?? There are so many pretty prints in this one, and since I also have a fat quarter bundle to play with, I'm sure more quilty projects will be forthcoming. But meanwhile I had to choose my favorite print to make a dress out of. 

Flatly photo courtesy of Riley Blake Designs.

It's been a while since I made a 1940s dress. This year I've been camped out in the 1930s and 1950s apparently. But I recently got a "new" (actually old and very tattered) pattern for a late 1940s robe, and decided to make it in dress form. 

 

The main design feature was a very large cape-like collar option, which I decided to go for since it was unusual. I second-guessed myself several times during the process of sewing and fitting, but in the end I like how it looks after all. 

 

I shortened it quite a bit to make it as a dress, aiming for more of a mid-1940s style, and even still ended up just barely squeezing the pattern pieces on the fabric I had. Those front skirt panels are HUGE. I took quite a bit of width out of them to fit them on the fabric.

 

Other than the collar, it's a pretty typical easy button-front dress. I always appreciate how easy it is to get in and out of button-front dresses rather than the typical "pretzel" method of removing vintage style dresses.

 

I do enjoy a pattern that controls a full skirt with darts at the waist. So flattering. It's one of the details I look for in patterns. 

 

After trying out several options, I went with red and white buttons, and a red belt, to pick out the tiny red dots in the print. But navy, brown, pine green, or of course white would have worked equally well.

 

I love that the print is not so Christmassy that I couldn't wear it in the fall and winter as well. I think the delicate pine branches and tiny scattered snowflakes are just so sweet.

 

I enjoy having this already in my closet, ready for when the first whispery snowfall comes.

 

1930s Easy Summer Dress

Time to catch up with another past project!

 

This was my favorite print from the Blue Stitch collection by Riley Blake Designs, so of course I had to make a dress. Quilting cotton is so perfect for summer clothes, and a confetti-like geometric dot print in my favorite color is ideal for vintage sewing. It could have worked for various eras and styles, but I settled on a new to me 1930s pattern for a princess style dress. 

 

It was one of those that is only 3 pieces plus the facing, so while it was challenging to fit on my yardage, it was fast to cut out and easy to put together. It does have some fun details though - trust the 1930s for that! The princess seam has a yoke in the front, cap sleeves cut all in one with the main pieces, and the shaping is formed by gathers and long darts - one in the back and 3 in the front. 

 

This makes it very easy to adjust for size or waist length, as I can just deepen the darts or make them more shallow. 

 

It was supposed to have a side zipper, as the buttons go just to the waist, but I made it loose enough that I could slip it over my head and just belt the extra in. Another time I will cut the button overlap a little longer so it reaches to the hips, and make it a better fit at the waist. 

 

I wanted an easy to wear, cool summer dress that would work for a house dress or could be dressed up a bit. I had to tweak the fit of this one a bit after initially trying it on, but in the end I was happy with it. And I just adore the color and print of this quilting cotton! It is also available in a few others color ways as well. 

 

The bodice was intended to button all the way up, but just was too close to my throat for comfort, so I unbuttoned the top button and folded it down to make a little collar. Another time I will do this again, or just cut the square neck a little larger if I want a square neck.

And of course I loved the chance to use these large round vintage buttons from my stash. On such a simple dress, they really add a design punch.

 

But I also like that the dress pattern is not your usual princess dress pattern. I have plans for another version sometime in the future. 

 

Meanwhile during this sustained record-high heat wave here, I am grateful for cool cotton dresses like this one.

Christmas in June: Reversible Placemats with Poppie Cotton

When I got the chance to play with a little of Poppie Cotton's upcoming Christmas line, Snuggle Up Buttercup, of course I jumped at the chance. I mean - little retro pink pickups! How can you not??

 

I have been so busy this month and juggling so many deadlines, that I had to figure out something relatively quick and easy to make for my blog feature when it came my turn for the Snuggle Up Buttercup tour. A reversible placemat set was the answer!

 

I use a lot of placemats for everyday use, on their own or on top of a table cloth where the children sit. It is so much easier to toss a placemat in the wash than change a tablecloth due to one spill. And I have a lot of lovely floral ones, but as I discovered last Christmas, nothing suitable for the holidays. I was happy to change that.

 

I picked out 4 my favorite prints from the fabric line and used them for the solid side, then divided the measurement in 3rds, added a half inch for seam allowance, and cut out 3 strips to piece together for the remaining side. I used exactly 8 fat quarters, since the leftovers after cutting the strips were just enough for binding.

 

To finish it, I used some smaller pieces of leftover batting and did some big stitch quilting using size 10 crochet cotton in several coordinating colors. Big stitch quilting both quilts and adds a decorative element - plus it looks great on both sides so it works well for a reversible project like this.

 

Instantly I have all these different looks for my table. I made 4 placemats, but I actually have 8 options here. I can use all the pieced side...

 

...all the solid side, or alternate them! Each one gives a different look to a table setting, yet they all coordinate.

 

The exact same placemat on one side...

 

...and on the other. 

 

I like how simple these are and quick to make - truly beginner friendly. And the large strips mean that the fabric really shines, rather than being cut up into small blocks. So it's ideal for showcasing your favorite prints!

 

Of course, the binding still has a "right side" and a "wrong side", but I make sure to hand stitch the binding invisibly using tiny stitches, so it's as unobtrusive as possible. 

 

So that's it for my fun holiday project right as summer is ramping up its heat! Make sure to check out the other lovely creations during the project tour for this adorable fabric line.

 

Friday, June 18	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 21	http://www.linenbouquet.com
Wednesday, June 23	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/
Friday, June 25	https://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
Monday, June 28	http://prettybyhand.com/
Wednesday, June 30	http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/
Friday, July 2	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/

 

 

1950s Spring Sunday Dress

I'm still playing catchup with past projects. Here is one I made a little while ago - another long-hoarded 1950s pattern that finally sees the light of day!

 

I had originally hoped to make an entire dress out of the aqua sprig print from the lovely Faith Hope & Love line by Riley Blake Designs (the same line I got my Easter dress fabric from), but there wasn't enough of it. Instead of just switching to make a blouse with the limited yardage, I decided to combine two prints and make a dress.

 

My default would have been to use the lighter fabric for the blouse and the darker for the skirt, but I decided that to avoid being boring, I'd step out of my default and switch things around. And I love it! It looks just like a blouse and skirt, but you don't have to worry about the blouse getting untucked.

 

Plus this means both that the aqua is next to my face (a better color for me) and also I don't need to wear layers on the top. I wore two half slips since the skirt was so light, but that's quite doable for spring. 

 

Originally I cut the bodice waist insert piece out of the skirt fabric, but once I tried it on, that did not look good at all. So I unpicked some seams and cut a new piece out of the aqua fabric. Much better! 

 

This pattern has some lovely details, especially on the bodice and around the collar. The pattern showed a few buttons to close the front, but after I tried it on, I decided they were unnecessary. The way the front overlaps it stays shut well enough with a brooch - plus that mean I didn't have to make buttonholes, which was a win!

 

The skirt is still very elegant, without either the slender silhouette or the typical 1950s super full skirt that I sometimes find oppressive to wear. I like how the pleats look, but I don't like how they add a few pounds depending on the angle. Perhaps another time I will substitute a different skirt with the bodice pattern. We'll see.

 

I'm so glad I could finally find a perfect match for this pattern that has long been on my list to make, as well as using up two smaller pieces of fabric that were not enough on their own to make a dress. I think they end up looking better together than they would have separately anyway. 

 

 

Toddler's 1930s Smock Dress

Among one of Riley Blake Designs recent fabric lines, I found another vintage-style print in a non-vintage collection called Ava Kate. It reminded me of feedsack prints. And I loved the pops of coral against the seafood background.

 

It was perfect for an everyday dress for my baby girl, especially now that summer is finally approaching. 

 

I made it from a vintage pattern - very simple pieces, with the front and back hanging gathered from a yoke. 

 

The sleeves were supposed to be gathered into a cuff, but I chose to do them butterfly style instead. 

 

When I was finished, I was not satisfied with the plain yoke and decided it needed more color. I had the idea of stitching down some lace with embroidery floss in French knots, and I love how it turned out!

 

I happened to have the exact same color of embroidery floss as the little coral flower centers, and it took just a little time to do the hand work. It looks so much better now. It's fun when plan B turns out better than plan A!

 

My little girl likes her new dress. It's easy to wear, cool and comfy for summer. Study quilting cotton means it can be washed and worn a lot. Plus it was quick to make, even with adding the lace with embroidery. I'm going to remember that technique for later. 

 

Country Style 1950s Apron with Poppie Cotton

 

It's my day on the Farmgirls Unite fabric tour!

When I made my sister an apron a while back, I liked the pattern so much I knew I'd want one for myself. So when I got the chance to use some of Poppie Cotton's Farmgirls Unite fabric, I picked a couple of my favorite prints to make a version for myself.

 

I don't usually wear this color of pink, or yellow, so it's a great choice for accessories when I get to use fabric I wouldn't otherwise wear!

 

The pattern is in sad shape. The bottom scallop piece is half gone, so it took some eyeballing to cut it out, but I think it turned out fairly well.

 

Like last time, I interfaced the scalloped waistband so it keeps its shape.

 

I love the petal shape of the pink floral part. This would also be a fun place to add some embroidery or quilting, to follow the scallops. Or maybe tiny bows at the top of each scallop.

 

I like quick projects that I can make in an hour or two from start to finish. Especially when they turn out this cute. Perfect for housework or chores in style!

 

If you like country prints and saturated colors, check out the rest of this collection by Poppie Cotton. And don't forget to visit the other stops along the tour!

Monday, May 10	http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/	Debbie Homick
Wednesday, May 12	http://prettybyhand.com/	Kristyne
Friday, May 14	www.primrosecottagequilts.com	Lindsey Weight
Monday, May 17	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com	Belinda
Wednesday, May 19	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/	LisaJo
Friday, May 21	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/myblog/	Kristen Clay
Monday, May 24	https://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/	Sherri Falls
Wednesday, May 26	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com	Dori Troutman
Friday, May 28	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/	Lisa Garlick

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1930s Starburst Blouse

This 1930s blouse pattern was one of my earliest more challenging sewing projects way back in 2014 when I had only recently started making garments. I originally made a blouse that was very sloppy and ill fitting, but I remember noticing the unique way the sleeves were set, and it was the beginning of my intrigue with patterns that had neat details. Later on I became more precise in my construction in order to do such patterns justice!

That blouse got deconstructed later on, so it was high time to make a better version.

 

This adorable print from Riley Blake Designs' recent Mod Meow collection has tiny jade starbursts all over it, and I knew it would be perfect for a blouse. It comes in several colorways, and some of the other prints from this collection are also ideal for vintage sewing, especially if you like cats! A few would be perfect for 1940s or 1950s novelty print garments, while the starbursts work for any era.

 

I flatlined the bodice of the blouse so I don't have to wear layers underneath it. It had been a long time since I made this pattern, but I remembered it as I went along, which made the construction easier.

 

It was fairly straightforward to make, for the most part. There were so many gathers, it was difficult to make them all even. There are also a lot of little pieces to this pattern, but once it started coming together it made more sense.

 

The instructions were more detailed than many 1930s patterns, but I still had to just wing it a few times.

 

Sleeve details!

 

It's meant to be worn tucked or untucked, but I prefer the untucked so that's how I styled it, along with a 1930s skirt I made ages ago and vintage brown 1930s accessories.

 

I like the touch of color the starbursts give, while it remains a true neutral that can go with a lot of coordinates. And the soft ivory is a lovely color.

 

It makes a versatile addition to my spring and summer wardrobe!

1920s Baby Dress in Pastel Plaid

I'm so excited to be joining Poppie Cotton for their project tour featuring the new line, Kaisley Rose!

 

I debated between making a quilty project or a baby dress. The quilty project is still upcoming, but for my turn on the blog lineup I just had to make a baby dress featuring my favorite plaid from this collection. 

 

A friend of my husband had sent me this pattern because she knew I would like it. It's probably the oldest one in my collection - my guess is the 1920s or possibly very early 1930s. And isn't it adorable?

 

I hadn't settled on a pattern for the plaid fabric, but after this one arrived I knew it was the perfect match. 

 

The yoke is supposed to be connected with embroidery stitches to make some lacework between the layers. I decided to simply overlap them instead. 

 

That altered the construction method somewhat, so I ended up mostly just glancing at the instructions and putting it together how it made the most sense to me. And it turned out pretty cute!

 

As you can see from the pattern illustrations, it's intended to hang straight from the yoke in a smock style. But the quilting cotton was stiff enough that it really was too shapeless, so I added an easy tie sash in the same contrast as the yoke. 

 

I love the yoke detail so much! They make the cutest tiny cap sleeves for summer. 

 

I had just barely enough fabric for this - I ended up having to shorten the hem and cut them cross-grain to fit the front and back pieces on. But even still I had a 3" hem, so it looks just fine!

 

My little girl loves her new dress and enjoyed posing in it. It's not quite warm enough yet to wear it out of the house, but it will be ideal for hot weather when it comes!

 

I love some of the other prints from this pretty collection, so you'll see more later - but for now, enjoy the lineup of lovely projects made by other bloggers using this fabric. 

 

Monday, April 12	http://prettybyhand.com/
Wednesday, April 14	www.blueberryquiltco.com
Friday, April 16	designer@blueribbondesigns.com
Monday, April 19	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/
Wednesday, April 21	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com
Friday, April 23	http://www.linenbouquet.com
Monday, April 26	https://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
Wednesday, April 28	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
Friday, April 30	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/

Mother & Daughter Duo in Spring Pastels

You may remember the lovely pastel fabric line Rose & Violet's Garden from Riley Blake Designs that I posted about a while back. I featured it in a quilted dresser scarf. But I had to get some of my favorite prints in yardage too, and here's what I did with those!

 

For my baby girl I made a 1930s dress pattern. It features the common baby fashion of the era - short, a straight front, and little details focusing on the neck and sleeve area.

 

I chose to do the yoke and sleeves in a contrasting rose toile from the fabric line. With something this small, you can easily squeeze it out of a quilting 1/4" yard cut or fat quarter. 

 

The back has most of the details, with those adorable tucks and a sash. 

 

It was a super quick make and I really love how cute she is in it. 

 

For myself, I used another color way of the same print and did a late 1940s blouse. 

 

I wanted to go very feminine to fit with the fabric style, but not too fluffy. This pattern with its tucked yoke and tiny ruffles was perfect. 

 

I made the ruffles even smaller than called for, and I think they are perfect. I used some ivory rose toile from the fabric line so it would stand out. 

 

The contrast also dresses up the sleeves since I thought they needed a bit of trimming too. 

 

Tiny pink glass buttons were the perfect finishing touch.

 

It's a tuck in style, so it slips over the head. But it still has some tucks shaping it, so it doesn't pull out as easily when I reach for something. 

(I had a hard time finding a skirt to wear with it though, so clearly I need to make some pastel skirts for spring!)

 

I love how we match without being completely matchy-matchy. And how spring-like these outfits are. They would have been my backup plan for Easter if I hadn't had time to make my Easter dress.

 

I have one more project planned with what's left of this fabric, so I'm sure you'll see it again. But it's so lovely, it's a pleasure to sew with! I usually gravitate toward bright vintage colors, but am rediscovering a love for pastels.

 

Happy spring sewing!

 

    Photos by either myself or Elsie's Adventuring.