Verity Vintage Studio

1930s Parasol Dress

I'm so glad to be back sewing garments again! Our sweet little son was born on June 18, and now that I feel back to normal I'm taking advantage of the long newborn naps to get some summer sewing done. A lot of these have been on my list for a long time, delayed because of the pregnancy, so I'm buzzing through them as fast as I can until the next big project comes along. 

 

This fun fabric is an adorable novelty print by Liberty Cottons in the UK. Riley Blake Designs distributed it in the USA in several colors, and I had to snag some of my favorite for a dress. (It's out of stock now, but if you want some, I still have some yardage available in my vintage sewing shop The Timely Tailor.) 

 

Because the print was so busy, I needed a pattern without a lot of details - something that most 1930s patterns often feature. So I pulled out a dress pattern that I've made twice before and knew would fit me well, without a lot of tweaking. 

 

As usual when I make a duplicate, I try to change it up a bit. This time I added rickrack points to the collar, made the neckline different with the placement of the panel, and tried a new sleeve pattern.

 

I didn't end up liking the sleeve pattern as is, but I tweaked it until I liked it. A knot of rickrack trims it, and ties in the collar edging. 

 

Since I had already made it twice, it was super quick and no-fuss to make again. I hardly had to look at the instructions.

 

Though I will wear this as a house dress, I wanted to photo it a little more formally since a lot of my accessories don't come out of the closet as much as I would like.

 

Whether you think it's beach umbrellas or Japanese parasols, I think it's the perfect summer fabric!

Christmas in June - Oh What Fun Tour with Poppie Cotton

I am very particular about the Christmas fabric I like, but I always love retro Christmas collections - and this new one by Elea Lutz for Poppie Cotton is one of my very favorites ever! I was so happy to get a chance to sew with it, even though it's currently a green and lovely June outside. 

 

(Actually, I assembled the quilt top while there was still snow on the ground, so that made it feel more Christmassy. :-)

I ended up making two projects with this beautiful fabric, and am excited to share them today on my blog tour slot!

 

I really loved the companion pattern for this collection, called Snowflake Heaven. It's so very vintage! So I decided to make a smaller throw size version out of my FQ bundle.

 

The colors are just so pretty. I always love pink and aqua mixed in with the traditional Christmas colors, and the touch of navy is such a great addition!

 

The blocks are slightly more complicated than I gravitate toward, but I really like how they look. Doing a smaller version, I was able to make each block out of a different fabric in the collection.

 

I had it quilted in a Baptist fan design to go with the vintage style. Often I find that vintage quilts are custom quilted because they are hand done, but the few times I do see an edge-to-edge design, a Baptist fan is one of them.

 

I backed it with a thrifted sheet in a classic dark green gingham which is a great choice for Christmassy backing, and bound it with another Elea Lutz fabric from a different line.

 

I'll have to store it away for now, but I can't wait to style it for this next Christmas!

 

I also went ahead and made my smaller daughter her Christmas dress. The plaid is perfectly classic, and I cut the yoke out of some of my leftover fabric. This is a 1920s or 1930s pattern and I made it once before. This time I made it with a few tweaks, and it has such a cute little smock shape.

 

It may feel strange to be sewing with Christmas fabric this time of year, but it also is nice to get ahead on my holiday sewing. She did not cooperate for modeled photos this time, but I will take more later when she wears the dress!

 

Enjoy all the other lovely projects using Oh What Fun, and keep an eye out for it arriving in quilt stores! It's soooo good - either for quilting or sewing.

Friday, June 2	http://prettybyhand.com/
Monday, June 5	http://neverlandstitches.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, June 7	http://www.abrightcorner.com/
Friday, June 9	https://bretquiltdesigns.com/
Monday, June 12	https://www.sewmariana.com/
Wednesday, June 14	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/
Friday, June 16	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com
Monday, June 19	http://www.gigisthimble.com/
Wednesday, June 21	theredfeedsack.blogspot.com
Friday June 23	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/
Monday, June 26	http://www.linenbouquet.com
Wednesday, June 28	www.cardinalcreekquilting.com
Friday June 30	Instagram: @emmas_crafternoons

 

Two Little Bunny Dresses

I finished another coordinating dress set for my two little girls last week. I had intended to do these for Easter (because bunnies!), but when the last set of dresses turned out so cute, I ended up using those instead. But these did finally get done!

 

More cute prints from Poppie Cotton's Poppie's Patchwork Club fabric line, perfect for little girl dresses. I made the 4 year old size from a 1940s pattern. I really like the inset belt and the square neck.

 

This color of green is such a good color for my little redhead!

 

A touch of vintage rickrack ties in the pink accent fabric.

 

It was a fairly basic shape, so it didn't take long to put together once I buckled down and started it.

 

My 1 year old dress used a 1930s pattern, and I really like it!

 

She didn't cooperate very well for photos, but it does have super cute pointed yoke and pleat details on the front.

 

It is loose enough to pop over her head without a waist opening, and cinches a bit with a sash. I made it a tad long for her so she can wear it all summer.

 

I opted for ruffles instead of sleeves, and used a long-hoarded card of vintage pink bunny buttons that were the PERFECT match. Rather than fuss with buttonholes with that shape of button, I closed the back with snaps and sewed the buttons on top. Much easier to fasten a wiggly toddler in a dress with snaps, and the buttons cover the snap stitches – double win!

 

This pattern has several sleeve options and different looks depending on how you use fabric in the yoke. So I want to make it again while she will still fit in it. Meanwhile this one is a fun warm-weather addition!

 

One of the fun things about having little girls is that I get to play with fabric that is too juvenile for myself. It's enjoyable to make up this cute little bunny fabric into something that they love.

 

1930s Adjustable House Dress in Blue

It's that time again...to break out the maternity friendly patterns! We are being surprised by a small son this summer, so for the next few months any sewing that I do for myself will have that exciting event in mind.

 

This time I was intrigued by a 1930s coat pattern. It's waistless, and belted in to fit at the waist. I didn't want to tackle a coat any time soon, but I thought it might work as a house dress instead if done unlined in cotton - and I know from experience that I do wear this sort of dress after pregnancy too. So I pulled out some busy 1930s repro cotton from Connecting Threads and gave it a try. 

 

I added white piping to outline the front closure, which is the only dress detail and might otherwise get lost in the print. Definitely the right choice.

 

It was fairly easy and fast to make, even with the adaptations I needed to make a dress out of a coat pattern. The raglan sleeves are very comfortable!

 

I opted for buttons the whole way down the front, and also like that choice. 

 

Shown here with a baby bump, it should work well for the nursing-friendly fluctuating postpartum sizes as well. I'm not sure that I will fit in it for all 9 months, as it is still a narrower dress, but it certainly is much more comfortable than most of my other recently outgrown house dresses - yet without looking obviously "maternity".

 

This is the first garment I've made since early January, since I've been on a sustained wintertime quilting binge. But I enjoyed making a dress again, and have a few more planned for myself and my girls especially as we approach Easter!

 

2022 Dressmaking Recap

Now that all my 2022 projects have been blogged about, it's time to do my yearly round-up of the garments I made this past year. I like to do this each year to see everything in one place, and evaluate what I made. 

   

 

1950s teal dress, 1940s Christmas dress

 

I made a number of new patterns, as usual...this one I made twice in a row!

1950s Easter dress, gray cherry house dress version

 

I think perhaps this year I was more diverse with color choices than ever before. Of course I still like blue, but for once my sewing for the year is NOT predominately blue! :-) For one thing, I rediscovered purple. (And incidentally, sewed two of my favorite pieces. The purple house dress gets worn pretty constantly.)

1950s daisy dress 

 late 1930s purple dress

 

I made a fair amount of separates this year, including a couple of mix-and-match outfits, which was one of my sewing goals for 2022. Both these two outfits were looooong on my sewing inspiration list from vintage photos, and I'm happy to finally make them a reality this past year.

  

1950s gingham 3-piece

 

     

1930s dress and jacket set

 

I made a couple of pinafore aprons for the first time. The yellow one was a shop sample for my new vintage-dressmaking-supply shop The Timely Tailor, and I love how it turned out!

   

1940s pinafore mother-daughter duo 

shop sample for this kit

 

Another color that is less common for me, which appeared more than once this year in my wardrobe, is brown. 

1940s 2-piece, 1940s print house dress

 

And to my surprise, also a little pink!

1940s pink dress

1950s polka dot blouse

 

I used some long-stashed patterns out of my collection, as well as a few new arrivals...just sewing what I wanted to. A few of them didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but there are also some definite successes and favorites added to my closet - including these two remakes of patterns I had first sewn many years ago.

early '50s tiered dress, 1940s house dress

 

Most projects were fairly straightforward. Once in a while I had a troublesome one, or ran into complications I hadn't foreseen, like the novelty 1950s skirt. But it still turned out well in the end, thankfully! I didn't do as many details as last year...just a little top stitching and adding lace occasionally, but I did try several new techniques, like decorative cutouts and lace-and-bead appliqué.

1950s novelty skirt, late '50s leaf dress

 

No formal gowns this year...and I think not quite as much variation in silhouette as I sometimes achieve. But I also have found what I like to wear in this stage of my life, so that influences my pattern choices as well. Also I think every piece I sewed this year was made with cotton...mostly modern, a few vintage pieces. No wool or rayon this year at all. But it's fun to see the variety that just plain old quilting cotton can still create.

1950s blouse with vintage fabric 

1940s novelty jacket blouse

 

Of course, I made a few baby dresses this year as well, for my small daughters.

 

I am glad to be able to craft my own wardrobe. Even when something doesn't turn out right, it's still a good chance to learn and build my skills for the future. And it's always a satisfying feeling to turn a flat piece of fabric with so much possibility, into something stylish and wearable. That burn to create is what keeps me pretty constantly sewing, whether it's garments or quilts. 

1930s green dress, 1950s dotted dress

 

Final count for the year...

3 1930s outfits

9 1940s

11 1950s

and 4 baby/girl dresses.

1930s separates

 

Thanks for following along on my vintage sewing adventures! I'm looking forward to what 2023 will bring.

~Kristen

1930s Separates with Treasured Threads for Poppie Cotton

 

I have one more 2022 make to show you...this one I made for Thanksgiving but had to wait to share it until today, which is my day on the Treasured Threads blog tour!

 

I selected a few vintage appropriate prints from Poppie Cotton's new fabric line Treasured Threads and made up a 1930s pattern that has been long on my list. I love separates, since I can mix and match with other things, so it was high time.

 

The skirt was simple, despite the unusual yoke detail. I made it easier by simply sewing down the front opening since it needed a side zipper anyway.

 

This floral print is just the cutest 1930s style and perfect for a blouse. This one has my favorite detail - shoulder tucks!

 

I love how these two fabrics together give a fall-ish vibe.

 

It was a comfortable yet dressy outfit to wear on Thanksgiving Day.

 

As usual, this quilting cotton washed and sewed up beautifully. Thank you so much, Poppie Cotton!

 

Don't forget to follow along with all the other lovely makers on this blog tour!

Monday, January 9	http://www.gigisthimble.com/	Amber Johnson
Wednesday, January 11	pinkdesertblossoms.shop	Leah Sande
Thursday, January 12	@jenfinquilts	Jen Williams
Friday January 13	http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/	Debbie Homick
Monday, January 16	JessicaDayon.blogspot.com	Jessica Dayon
Wednesday, January 18	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/	Melissa Corry
Friday, January 20	aniva_rose	Aniva Willoughby
Monday, January 23	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/	Lisa Garlic
Tuesday, January 24	Website: http://blueribbondesigns.com	Belinda Karls-Nace
Wednesday, January 25	https://verityvintagestudio.typepad.com/my-blog/	Kristin Clay
Monday January 30	http://www.abrightcorner.com/	Andy Knowlton

 

 

 

Late '30s Purple House Dress with Basin Feedsacks

My darker cotton house dresses were in constant rotation this summer, so I wanted to make a few more. I had this length of 1930s repro cotton from Riley Blake Design's recent line Basin Feedsacks, so after a little debate, I settled on doing a second version of one of my most loved everyday dresses. I wear the blue one so constantly it is faded by now and probably going to wear out in the near future.

 

I left off the little collar this time, since it never lays flat and is a source of irritation on the blue dress. I like the plain V much better!

 

The purple fabric is more of a subtle print, so I hoped the cute little triple-dart shoulder details would show up better here than they do on the blue floral. I think that was successful. Narrow white cotton lace outlines the V yoke.

 

I also tweaked the neck fit by adding a couple of small darts in the back to pull it in, so it's definitely a better fit than the blue one.

 

Just for fun, and since this is a house dress, I decided to take the extra step of adding pockets. I echoed the white V on the shoulders with a white V on the pocket flap, and am really glad I took the extra time.

 

I have really been loving purple lately. It's the perfect September-y transitional color from summer to fall, and always makes me think of the wild asters that bloom lavender this time of year. In her books, some of L. M. Montgomery's characters called wild asters “farewell-summers”, and I just love that old-fashioned, perfectly-descriptive name.

 

The sun was bright today, so the shaded hay barn made a good backdrop. I like the contrast of gold and purple.

 

I'm really happy with this dress – the pattern and fabric combination, the fit, the color. It will be a fun splash of color in my everyday wardrobe, and no doubt will be kept as busy as the blue one.

1950s does 1930s Green & Pink Dress

My latest sewing project was a mail order pattern that I'm sure from the graphics is from the 1950s, but it looked very 1930s to me with its asymmetrical button closure and details, so I decided to pair it with a 1930s repro print from a cute vintage style new Riley Blake Designs quilting cotton line called Basin Feedsacks. 

 

The pattern is too big for me, so I knew it would need some adjusting. I took a big pinch out of the back when I cut it out, in hopes that would take care of it, and forged ahead.

The skirt came together easily and was quickly tweaked to fit me, though it took me a minute to realize that it actually doesn't open from the buttons on the skirt - it has a side zipper just like most vintage patterns, and the faux opening is all for show. 

 

I hit a snag with the bodice. I'm not sure if this particular pattern or style just wasn't a good fit for me, or if they left out a piece of the instructions, but I had to play around with the front fit for a long time - and even now you can see it's not a perfect fit, but was the best I could come up with. 

 

I substituted sleeves from a 1930s pattern, so they would have a bit more of that decade's detail. 

 

I do like the idea of adding slanted trim like this to the neckline - it was super easy (just a folded rectangle) and could be attached to a lot of other patterns, if I wish. 

 

I maybe should have called this First Draft, because I'm pretty sure I will end up reworking the bodice. I had very little fabric leftover, so I would have to recut it from what I have here, but with the overlap it shouldn't be too hard to have enough fabric for a Second Draft. I'm thinking all I would have to do is take out the sleeves and recut the front as a regular shirt front with shoulder yokes, leaving the back and skirt intact.

Or at the very least, revamp it to make a stand-alone skirt, since I am pleased with that part of it.

 

So it's still a work in progress, instead of a finished item crossed off my list - but it's good to remember that not everything I try or envision comes perfectly to fruition the first time around! (But does that inspire me to make a muslin first? No, it does not. :-) I'm put in mind of my pink dotted dress makeover that was so much more successful as its new version.

 

And anyway, this springish floral repro fabric is too good to leave as an unsatisfactory dress that won't get worn!

1930s Dress & Jacket Set

I have long admired this photos, come across on Pinterest, long ago sold on Etsy. I decided to give a try at recreating it, using. 2 shades of a new basic by Riley Blake Designs called Dapple Dot.

 

I'm always a sucker for polka dots, and this has a fun scattered dot in several sizes. Of course it was meant for quilting, but it also works well for garments.

 

I did a mishmash of 3 different patterns for this outfit, not trying an exact recreation, but rather just inspired by the overall era and look.

 

The 1930s pattern I used for the bodice had extremely scanty instructions, even for a 1930s pattern. I had to mostly figure it out on my own. As usual with early or mid-'30s styles, I have trouble with the fit, but I was super pleased with the neckline. 

 

The neck tie is built in to the front piece, and the sleeves are raglan set, I love all the interesting detail, and especially the neckline, since usually I don't wear keyhole necklines as they are too low. 

 

I added piping contrast trim on the jacket, and was pleased with how that turned out.

 

Overall I like the outfit, but it has enough issues that I probably will try again in the future at some point. But it reminded me of how much I like dress/jacket combos - two totally separate looks, and they are so versatile, especially for these transitional seasons of the year. 

2021 Vintage Sewing Recap

Time for a quick look back at my past year of sewing vintage fashion! I always like to see all my makes for a year in one place. This year held a few months of no outfit sewing at all, and other months that were quite prolific. I started collaborating with Riley Blake Designs early in the year, and later on with Poppie Cotton, so all but one of these were sewn with new fabric rather than out of my stash.

My first make of the year, which was also my first blog post featuring Riley Blake Designs fabric.

 

I didn't get a lot of new patterns this year, but this was one of them, and it promptly got made up instead of sitting for years in my stash.

 

But a lot of my projects this year used patterns that I have had for YEARS, and I am so excited they finally saw the light of day!

   

1950s two color dress; 1930s Easter dress

 

I had a few repeats this year... Here's another pattern that I have owned for a very long time, and when I made the first one I liked it so much I immediately made a second one! I can't imagine why it languished in the drawer for so long.

   

1930s floral dress; black geometric version

 

I made a lot of baby clothes this year too! It was a bit of a learning curve, so some were more successful than others, but I learned to like making the smaller dresses.

     

1950s baby dress, sailor dress

 

1930s smock dress

 

I couldn't believe the comparison of how much my baby girl grew in one year!

   

1930s baby dress, 1950s princess dress

1950s goose dress

 

This was the only thing I made all year that did not use quilting cotton! It was also my only "modern" pattern - actually a reprint of a 1930s pattern. It was one of my more difficult projects this year, and the rayon challis I used was quite lovely.

1930s rayon blouse

 

Part of the reason I didn't sew with other fabric types was that during the fall, when I usually break out the wool and suiting, I was big pregnant and only made two maternity-friendly projects from July-December.

 

1940s-does-1930s adjustable dress; 1950s adjustable pleated dress

 

I also used what probably is the oldest pattern in my collection for this baby dress. She has already outgrown it, but it's one of my favorite baby makes this year. 

 

Another one of my long-owned patterns that was a remake from a very early version in my sewing career, was this 1930s blouse pattern.

 

This 1950s apron pattern was another double make this summer. I love the scallops!

   

1950s pink apron; green version

 

As always there is plenty of blue represented! Though overall I am pleased with the color variety.

 

1950s slender sailboat dress; 1930s princess dress

 

While I may not have had much variety with fabric fiber this year, I did have a fair representation of different silhouettes. 

aqua 1950s slender dress

 

I also did some fun experimenting with dress details, which is a great way to jazz up quilting cotton. From appliqué to decorative top stitching and different kinds of trims, I like adding the special touches.

 

 

 

Of course this is only my garment sewing for the year. I also did a lot of craft sewing, including tutorials on this blog not shown in this post, and a lot of quilt designs. My sewing machine got quite a workout!

1950s pastel blouse

 

My count for 2021 is:

    8 1930s adult garments

    1 1940s    

    7 1950s

and 7 baby dresses

 

I have a lot of ideas and a long to-do list for 2022, but I also know that flexibility is key since I now have three small children and a very busy design schedule. A lot of my personal sewing I have to fit in around deadlines - but I have some exciting projects I want to get to, and it's amazing how that motivational that can be!

Hope you all are having a lovely January.

~Kristen