Verity Vintage Studio

Recent Event: Retro Outdoors Party

Recently my brother gave a lawn party & dance themed for three decades, from the 1940s-1960s. I wanted to share a few photos from the event, since we were lucky enough to attend.

The guests enjoyed mingling. Most folks who showed up in costume chose the 1940s or 1950s.

Myself and a dear friend chose 1940s, naturally. I wore my Easter dress - can you tell I'm in the 3rd trimester now? That skirt hides it pretty well!

 

There was much laughter and experimenting with 1940s model poses as well.

 

Aha - the military arrives!

 

There was lots of conversation and gorgeous music, chosen for a variety of dance steps and played by decade. And dancing, naturally. Dancing with Daddy is special! :-)

 

1940s sisters.

 

The evening ended with hand mixed ice cream sodas - delicious!

 

The soda making process was too fascinating for the little people.

 

Cheers! :-)

Item of the Week - Plum Heather Tam

This crocheted plum heather tam is Item of the Week in my Etsy shop, half price for one week only - slashed from $10.

Polka Dot Skirt Makeover into 1950s 2 Piece

I've already mentioned that I've been searching for elastic waist skirts lately, and began to re-appreciate tiered skirts when I found the 1940s style Mexican skirt. Lately, still thinking along those lines, I pulled a skirt out of my closet and looked at it closely - I've had it for years and rarely wear it because it's just too long for practical everyday wear. I step on it. Yet it is one of my few skirts with an elastic waist and is a lovely navy blue and white polka dot rayon fabric. Surely I could do something with that!

 

Because of its style, I immediately thought "1950s" and tried it on over my crinoline.

Some promise, but way too long. It looks more like a Civil War era skirt at this point.

 

Trimming it shorter was the obvious answer, so I pinned it up to see how it would look. I decided 6 inches needed to come off.

 

But wouldn't that look strange to have just a 6 inch piece on the bottom when the other tiers are much wider? 

The answer presented itself in the form of rickrack, which if I put a strand on each seam and one in the center of the center tier, would break it up fairly evenly and be very 1950s appropriate. More pinning ensued...

 

I measured the bottom tier and marked with tailor's chalk where the 6 inch line was (it took forever to go around that skirt) and then cut, serged, and top-stitched a narrow hem. Thankfully it was a straight edge so the hem didn't pucker for me.

It looks better already!

 

The rickrack took a while as well,  but it was simply top stitching. It just took 3 trips around the width of the skirt.

There! Already I have a much cuter and more wearable vintage style skirt, and it took just a short time to alter, compared to making a new one. No more wasting time in my closet, unworn.

 

(I think I've already mentioned that I love polka dots!)

 

But there was more. With the wide strip cut from the skirt's hem, I had some polka dot fabric on hand. I wanted a blouse that I could use the polka dots as a neck tie and narrow sleeve bands (both something that could be cut from the width I had to work with) and found exactly what I needed in view 3 of this pattern. I had made another view of it previously, so I knew it was comfortable.

 

I picked up some white linen from my stash and cut it out, making it a tad larger so it would fit me, but otherwise not changing it. It's meant to be worn tucked in so if it's a little too big later on it shouldn't be noticeable.

The only change I made was just to do plain sleeve bands instead of overlapping and buttoning them.

There's always a strange moment before sewing the side seams when a raglan sleeved blouse looks so confusing!

 

The rayon and linen behaved and pressed beautifully, the pattern was easy yet fun, and everything went together without a hitch. Also it fits, at least for now.

 

I used some perfectly matching buttons from my stash, and had exactly enough left of the skirt band after cutting out the blouse accents to make myself a nice long sash that can be worn several ways. No wasted scraps here, and it ties the look together perfectly, though a white belt would also look nice. The sash and elastic waist means it's adjustable for maternity wear as needed.

 

I haven't been able to get pictures of me wearing it yet - hopefully soon! But I'd call it a definite success as a makeover. Not only do I have a skirt I'll actually wear now, but I have a cute blouse to wear as separates (taking less time than making a whole new dress) - and worn together a lovely 2 piece set! All from the stash, and without me having to buy most of the fabric or make the skirt. I can see myself actually hunting in thrift stores for too long skirts now!

Item of the Week - Toddler Pinafore

Item of the Week in my Etsy shop is this toddler's crocheted pinafore, half price for one week only - slashed from $16.

Turquoise Version of 1950s Inspired Pullover

I haven't been able to model my new sweater yet, but it's finished! Soon after photographing the coral version and saying how I thought it could be 1950s appropriate with a few alterations, I picked up a cotton/bamboo blend yarn in a vibrant shade and set about making another one that would fit me better and be more period correct.

 

I made it a smaller size, and used a smaller hook below the bust area to make it a little more fitted, shortening the version so it was just hip length - a popular 1950s style.

 

For the sleeves, I looked up photos on Pinterest and found that short sleeve lengths varied from cap sleeve to elbow, but a nice short style was what I settled on, and found lots of photos to back me up in that decision. 

 

I really like the yarn choice, elegant silhouette, and the color is better for me than the coral version - also very bright and vintage-y. Now that it's hot I won't wear it so much, but hopefully this fall it will come out of the closet more often!

 

I definitely want to add more costume worthy crochet pieces to my wardrobe. Just not so much during the summer months. :-)

What do you think? Does it look 1950s-accurate?

Item of the Week - 1940s Pattern Lot

Item of the Week in my Etsy shop is this lot of 2 1940s dress patterns, half price for one week only - slashed from $11.

1950s Seersucker Blouse

In preparation for the upcoming heat this summer, I pulled some gray and white seersucker out of my stash and a new pattern for a raglan sleeved blouse.

 

I'd had this idea for maternity wear to make a blouse that I could omit the darts or take them out as the pregnancy progresses, then sew them back in afterwards to make it fit again. 

Obviously this would only work on a blouse that had an even hem and darts that begin and end above the hem, which this one did.

 

As you can see, I ended up sewing all the darts, but the fit is snug and I'll probably be taking the back darts out soon. This will make a blousier bodice which I may wear with a belt, but it should give me more room and not compromise the blouse fit.

 

This particular pattern was a size larger than I normally wear, so it had more room to start with. Too much, in fact, on the arm holes. I ended up deepening the arm seams and taking a little pleat in the top. 

 

Which actually makes the sleeves cuter, I think.

 

The seersucker is cool and comfortable and doesn't need ironed. Perfect for summer everyday wear.

 

As you can see, it would look more 1950s if I wore the skirt over top, but that will have to come later. Right now over top of the skirt is more comfortable and for everyday, I don't care if I'm not quite period accurate.

 

I was a little disappointed that the collar covered up the cute shoulder gathers so much - another time I will cut the collar down and make it narrower, I think.

 

It was easy and quick enough to put together, though like all raglan projects there is a moment when it looks like nothing so much as a confusion, and nice to have a break from set-in sleeves. 

 

I had no suitable 1950s style skirt to pair it with, unfortunately...right now only a few skirts fit me and those are modern ones with elastic in the waist. I'm on the lookout for vintage style skirts with elastic waists, though!

 

As the third trimester rapidly approaches along with summertime heat, I'm sure I'll be doing more projects like this that are necessary-to-my-wardrobe sewing, and more actual maternity patterns as I suddenly start outgrowing my closet.

Item of the Week - 1950s Vintage Sewing Dress Pattern

This 1950s vintage sewing pattern is Item of the Week in my Etsy shop, half price for one week only - slashed from $7.

 

Also, my Swing Time Tilt Hat crochet pattern pdf has finally had a long-needed facelift! Find the revamped pattern here to make your own version of a 1940s-authentic hat.

   

1940s Pink Linen Maternity Dress

My first actual maternity dress from a vintage pattern has a fitted back and tie belt, with a loose front panel. I didn't want to use special fabric, so I tried it out first in this pink and tan striped linen, which looked to me like a good house dress print and was coarse enough that I didn't mind using it as a wearable muslin for the tryout. 

 

The girdle is cut in one with the top back piece, but I had some trouble attaching it in the side seams so I ended up just seaming it together as if it had been separate pieces, and it still works. 

 

The front panel is fuller in person than on the pattern photo, and I didn't like how it looks quite as well as some other styles, but it certainly was comfortable, and I imagine will be even more comfortable later along in the pregnancy. (Just the same, I think I will try a different style next time, with the fullness in the back.)

 

Because it's so full, I had trouble hemming it evenly, because depending on how snugly it lays it will appear longer in the front. Oh, well - at least when my belly is pushing it out later on it should look even instead of too short in the front. 

 

The contrasting collar and sleeve tabs are simple but still add cute trim. I like the way they mirror each other in shape. 

 

I added a front zipper. That, along with the open waist, makes for easy on and off.

 

It was one of those projects that went together without any hitches, and was basic enough that another time it might be boring. :-)

 

I may try this pattern again in rayon, but if I do, I'll take the front panels in a bit so they aren't quite so full. But I'll be surprised if I get around to another version because I only have 3 1/2 more months to wear maternity and meanwhile I have some other patterns I want to try!