Favourite vintage McCalls pattern

Lately I've become a little bit obsessed with this McCalls pattern from 1958. It is a very simple, easy to make pencil dress. 

It consists of three main pieces; the front, which is cut on the fold, and the back, which is in 2 pieces. Then there are the straps and the facings (Joy! It's not lined! Or rather, the pattern seems to call for lining AND facing... complete waste of time in my mind)

Just going off track for a second, I absolutely hate lining things. It's like making two of something but ending up with only one. I don't mind lining coats; you're supposed to see it then, so you can make it pretty and part of the garment. But lining a dress? I mean, maybe a winter dress, so it's warmer. Otherwise, No.

Anyway back to this amazing dress. I've made a few now, so rather than bore the pants off anyone who still reads this blog by ranting about it over and over again, I've decided to show off everything at once.

First up: Blue florals.

This first attempt is not quite right. It looks nice and the fabric is very pretty, but I didn't get the sizing right. The pattern is a size 16, and it's not too far off a modern size 12 as far as I can tell. I took in the seams and altered the darts a little, but it's still a little loose, especially around the bust. 

I suppose I could fix it, now that I've made a few and I know what I'm doing, but, meh... I don't really want to. It's wearable.

Second attempt: School plaid.

Yes, this looks like school uniform fabric. However, it does not look like MY school uniform, so it's ok. As you can see, I got the sizing and alterations right this time.

Then I made this dress pattern version, which I have a feeling I've already posted up here before. Just in case I haven't, here it is (possibly again).

I'm not wild about this version. The fabric is nice but it feels too busy. I feel like it doesn't do the pattern justice.

Final and most recent version: Barbie pink.

I looooove this one. The fabric is stiffly stretchy (is stiffly a word? It looks weird but I'm not being asked to spell-check it) and really comfy. The top edge around the bust is really firm, so I can't take any deep breaths when I'm wearing it. There must be too much stitching up there for it to stretch properly, or maybe I just didn't allow the fabric to stretch when I was sewing it.

 

I will probably make more of these dresses. 

 

Headscarves!

This was supposed to be a post about a pair of wide-leg jeans I'm making, but the zip just broke and now I Hate Them. So here are some headscarves instead.

I really like this look but I didn't just want a rectangle or triangle of fabric wrapped around my head. After trying out some pleats and gathers I've settled on this design. It's a rectangle, with a centre pleat or fold, and attached tie ends. 

The pleat means there isn't a heap of fabric bunched up around the knot, which is specifically what I wanted to avoid. 

 

These photos were taken in a hot sewing room so my hair is getting more and more frizzy as these photos go on.

So far I've made a few, and I have a heap of leftover fabric to make more. I also want to make some with long tie ends, to wear more as a headband with the ties hanging down, and some in silkier fabric.

I'm thinking of selling these but I'm not sure what the interest in them would be. If anyone has any suggestions for design or fabric I would love to hear them.

Good night, shirt

Cold days and some very chilly nights are starting to hunker down in Melbourne at last. My pj/nightie drawer is rather depleted at present so I've decided to make some winter woolies. I found this soft brushed cotton in Spotlight and it just screamed "Night shirt!" at me.

A night shirt is not exactly feminine but they're comfortable and roomy, and I enjoy wearing them with bootie style slippers and imagining I look hot.

Here is the pattern I used, from 1980. I think I made view A, but I added about 10 inches to the hem.

 

I even made the proper sleeves and all, but I left the buttons off them. I like to push my sleeves up and feel trapped if they won't go higher than my wrists. And if they get wet it's very annoying.

I placed the bust pocket lower down at the hip for easy tissue storage and wot not. I forgot to cut the button tab as long as the shirt, so instead I sewed the shirt closed at the bottom of the tab. This worked out well as now I won't have to worry about it flapping open at inopportune moments.

And where do I sleep, anyway?

Why, right here.

This is my little sleeping friend. He is a bit bigger than a cat and fits nicely into my arm. He was a present from Jay not long after we met.

Here is my bedside table, with its slightly dusty Tiffany-style lamp and various odds and ends.

Wall art, special post cards and birthday cards, and my entire flower brooch collection.

Hankies on top of books to stop them getting dusty.

Note my artistic photographing techniques too.

Jewellery dish overflowing with pendants, rings, brooches, chains and miscellaneous bits and pieces

My not tested-on-animals skin care range, neatly hidden behind a home made birthday card for my 30th last year from Jay.

(And my fringe... see that red hair piece? That's what I wear every day because my old little short fringe is STILL growing out)

 The ever growing to-be-read pile of books

And some fragrance choices (which are probably tested on animals...hrmm...)

Night night.

x

 

Three (or six) skirts, with purple

Er, so two weeks ago I started making 4 pencil skirts at once, thinking I had the makings of an excellent human production line and would finish the stupid things all in one day.

Here is what I learned.

Making multiple versions of an item is very boring. Especially when they're lined. It's like making eight items but only ending up with four (yes, I actually lined something. On purpose).

So here are 3 of the 4 skirts, the 4th one not having made it past the cutting-out stage.

These are all made from leftovers of other dresses and skirts I've made over the years.  This purple skirt is made from the remains of this dress.

I don't know what I originally bought this for, but I think it was another skirt. Since I don't own anything in this fabric I'm assuming the first skirt was a failure.

The 3rd skirt was to be red tartan. 

Moving right along to the 4th skirt, this fabric is... 70's? 60's? Who can tell me? It's printed, and soft like brushed flannel. 

I couldn't decide if the purple shoes or blue boots suited it better.

I can't get enough of glittery nails lately. It's like having 10 little drag queens dancing on my fingers.

Details: Purple shoes - Modcloth

Blue boots - Naturalizer clearance sale

Rings - cheap retail

Necklace - Christmas gift

Jumper - op-shopped

By the way, I don't like the colour purple or anything.

x