Mailorder 8111 a slightly different shirt dress

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been sewing and a new shirt dress to present.

The pattern is another mailorder pattern number 8111 and I am again unsure which pattern company this is. The design is a bit unusual and not something I have made before.

 

 

I wasn't too sure about the big front button flaps as these details often look quirky in the drawing but then not that great in real life.

I made the version in the big picture but forgot the belt loop.Oh well, the belt I ended up wearing with it would have covered it up anyways. It's not the perfect belt to go with it but it's the best I could find in my collection. It's vintage from the1970s.

I also shortened the hem by about 5". Not as much as I took off on this dress but I kind of like it that length.

 

 

 

 

The skirt is a four piece skirt again. I do like how they drape but I'm still not a fan of the center seam. I also could have done a better job pressing that seam, looking at this picture.

 

 

 

 

 

details: the "flappy bits" (that's the technical term for them, trust me) are a bit tricky to get right when you turn them out. Lots of very careful, very close clipping necessary.......

 

 

I love the pocket. I think I will stick some pockets like that on future sewing projects. Maybe on the skirt?

 

 

Thanks everyone, I hope you likey.

What do you think: Flappy button details yey or nay? Also what are they really called?

I think I need to make something that is not a shirt dress next.

 

 

 

New shirt dress Mailorder? pattern 4882

I indulged in some me-sewing again last week. When we last went to visit my in-laws I purchased some fabric in a local shop and wasn't quite sure what to actually make from it.

 

I had a selection of vintage shirt dress patterns to choose from and asked on twitter, and Instagram (@beatricewinter) as well as my personal Facebook which one to use.

 

The majority went for the top left pattern.

 

 

The envelope is missing. I believe it's a mail order pattern but I can't seem to be able to find it on Vintage Pattern Wiki or anywhere else. If anyone knows what pattern company it is and from what year, please let me know. I got the pattern a few years ago from Andrea who was so generous to send me a bunch of vintage patterns from her stash. Thanks again Andrea. This is the first time I have made this particular design.

 

 

And here it is. I decided to opt for the sleeves instead of the sleeveless version so I can wear it on bike rides without getting burned on my shoulders. This is a perfect dress for cycling  as it's a bit blousy and I won't get too hot in it. At first I wasn't too sure about the big collar but it has grown on me and now I rather like it. Maybe some pipeing along the yoke would be nice to show that detail off would be nice. Next time I would also cut the skirt differently to avoid the center front seam (not too keen on seams all the way down the front) and maybe make a full circle skirt. This four piece skirt also takes a lot of fabric due to the odd cutting layout. It hangs nicely though and the center front seam doesn't show too much. I also shortened the skirt by about 9". I need my skirts to hit just above the knee or slightly below. Any longer and they make my calves look even bigger than they are. Hello running muscles!!!

 

 

 

 

 

And because I like red and went for red buttons, I accessorised with more red today.

 

 

 

And then hubby and I spend the afternoon in Maidenhead, walking along the Thames

 

 

eating cake

 

 

and taking in some scenery and charity shop hunting but no pictures of that part, sorry.

 

 

 

I hope everyone else has had a nice Saturday. I'm off to bed now (at 9:30 pm on a Saturday night!!!) because I have to get up early to go and spectate at a Sprint triathlon tomorrow. I have never been to watch one live but I want to see what it's like, what to expect and so on so I'm not a complete idiot when I am doing mine in June. I hope I get to learn some tips.

Anyways, have a great weekend everyone.

 

Any suggestions what pattern from the selection above to try next?

Mint green and red

More pussy bow blouses, sorry guys what can I say, its one of my favourite styles. This time I used a vintage pattern though. So you are looking at a very different style tom the previous ones I made from my own pattern.

 

I used McCalls 7385 view B but cut short sleeves instead of the long ones. The fabric is a mint green pin spot poly cotton I already had, paired with red buttons for a (good) clashing contrast.

 

The colour combination was inspired by this picture on Pinterest.

source

 

I just love!!!! mint and red so I had to create an outfit incorporating those colours.

 

 

The blouse is a more boxy style and looser fit compared to my other ones but I like it just as much. I wore it out to a Burns Night dinner (sorry no tartan) so the extra room was much appreciated ;-)

 

I made the skirt, too. I wanted a little more 1960s flair so I went for a buttoned down A-line style and added a pocket and huge vintage buttons for detail. I used tomato red cotton drill for the skirt.

 

 

I think this outfit will see me through Spring as well.

 

 

And until it gets warmer, I'll pair it with a cardi. I think I'd like a red one better to go with this outfit but I haven't got one (sad I know, my last red cardi got paint all over the sleeves and I haven't replaced it yet ;-((((

 

 

I hope you all had a good weekend. Any mint or red or both on your sewing table????

 

 

1940s blitz blouse and super high waisted trousers....a sewing/outfit post at last!!!!!!!!!

It's been ages since I have posted anything I have made and it's about time that I change that and start breaking the cycle of blogging laziness. I am trying to ease myself back into it. Not that easy but I remember how much I used to enjoy blogging and sharing my thoughts and creations with you guys.

This week I decided to start working on some of the vintage patterns I bought over the summer. I posted about a bunch of vintage blouse patterns in May and finally got around to making simplicity 4139. I got inspired after reading this post and remembered I had the pattern myself.

It was super easy to whip up. I used a very light cotton lawn in a pretty red floral print. I have the same material in green still waiting to be transformed. I think I might make another blouse from it. 

I combined the blouse with one of my Autumn/Winter collection staple pieces. Extreme high waisted wide legged trousers.

I think I am really getting into 1940s designs for the winter. I need more from that period.

 

 I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I did....It was the calm before the storm.We're moving next weekend. Boooooooooooo,not looking forward to the mess but I am looking forward to our new place. It'll only be for a few months until we'll be moving again but that's army lifer for you. Be prepared for possible house/moving posts coming up.

Nice people = lots of sewing patterns = super happy me

I have been on lots of business related courses lately to lean and improve my own business skills. It's very interesting and slightly overwhelming if you are doing everything yourself. But if you are in a similar situation like me and start up your own business, I highly recommend getting as much information as you can. Go to workshops and use every single opportunity to learn new things, find out the latest trends in business and most of all meet new and exiting people.

I have met business owners of all sectors new to business and some who have been trading for years. I have also made some great contacts that I will probably get back to in the near future.

On one of my last workshops I met a very wonderful lady who is running a very successful company specialising in fine dining in care homes.There is a business idea I haven't heard of before but they are doing very well and I think it's a great idea.

Anyways, after a brief conversation with Marguerite (the business owner) and exchanging what our businesses are, she remembered she still had a huge box of old sewing patterns that once belonged to her mother. She said she would post them to me if they would be of any use to me. Of course I couldn't say no to a kind offer like that. After the workshop we exchanged contact details and went our separate ways......

A week or so passed and I of course forgot......I have bad memory every now and then....

And then this huge package arrived:

I had no idea what it was as I had forgotten about the promise. Please excuse my awful scarf pattern and dress pattern combo but I was ill and not prepared for pictures that day.......

At this point I started to remember.........

And at this point I felt pretty overwhelmed by the amount of patterns Marguerite had send me. What a kind lady. It's a huge selection of 1960s, 70s and 80s patterns. A few are kids patterns which I passed on to my friend as she makes kids clothing. I haven't had time to check through the patterns thoroughly but once I have and know which ones I will use in the future, I will share some of them with you lovely readers. So stay tuned for a giveaway.

I feel like so much kindness must be shared.

I did send Marguerite a big bunch of flowers which hopefully made her just as happy as me. Christmas came early this year!!!

Have you ever met anyone who over showered you with kindness like that?

New old patterns

This weekend was pretty lame as the weather was crap and we didn't do anything exciting. No cycling and therefore no new outfit shots. I have a couple of new dresses finished but no nice pictures yet so stay tuned.

I have been busy with customer orders last week and didn't really have anything exciting to blog about hence the lack of posting. I hope this will change again soon as I am working on a few cute new projects.

I bought a bunch of new vintage patterns that I am hoping to make up very soon. They are all shirt waist dresses which I am a bit addicted to as you know.

I am not too sure about the last one as it could turn out a bit too granny-ish, what do you think?

I hope you had a more exciting weekend and got some cute sewing done.

weekend bliss 2 a walk in the country side

When we went for drinks with our friends last night we decided to meet for Sunday lunch with Matt and Helen, one of the couples the following day followed by a nice long country walk with them and they cute labrador Bella.

I thought it would be time for a new dress post but didn't really get a chance to make myself anything new last week. I had some orders leaving my house and will hopefully have some pictures to show soon but they kept me busy and I didn't make anything new to wear.

However I had made a dress from Simplicity 4731, I got at a vintage fair, a little while back but never blogged about it. I wasn't happy with it and didn't feel it was worth blogging about. Today I fancied wearing it for some reason and decided all it needed to be wearable is a little shortening. So I chopped 11 inches off the hem and bang I had a new dress to wear. perfect for the hot day as it covered my shoulders and neckline and protected me from burning in the sun.

Hair turned out great again. I held the sides back with a comb, the center and top was turned into a faux fringe slightly swept to the side (I don't suit the full one very much plus I always mess it up for some reason) The back is rolled into a big roll creating a short hair do.

Lunch at the Rose and Crown in Great Horksley was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone local enough, the walk was just right after stuffing ourselves.

The best thing was the cherry tree just across the road full of sweet juicy goodness. It is now not so full of cherries anymore, therefore are we. YUM!!! I hope you all had a great weekend too.