Happy Friday, everyone! Here’s a pattern story for you, as I am still tallying surveys. (We’re at 688 responses now – tons of feedback to review!)
Back in December, I linked to a vintage Vogue dress pattern on my Facebook page. Sometimes I chat over there, ask questions and post pictures of patterns I like or fabric I find. It’s mostly things I want, but can’t buy. I figure, why not share the love? Maybe you’re in the market for vintage dress patterns and I can live through your purchase? At least it goes to a good home!
Anyways, here’s a story about the one that got away. Here’s the vintage pattern, so you know what we’re talking about:
Here’s the awesome description:
What a fab.u.lous dress. Period. With snug fitted bodice with delicious details and a full skirt, count on Vogue to dress up a one-piece dress! ;D
The dress features bodice one-in-piece with skirt, with contoured princess seams in back, and contoured princess seams in front bodice that end at the hip. Vertical contour darts alongside the princess seams in front and back ensure a very sleek fit through the bodice and waist, before the dress flares into a full skirt. The bodice front features tab extensions from the princess seams that cross and button in front. Dress has shallow funnel collar, your choice of short or full length set-in sleeves, and front zipper closing.
I love the one-button detail! What a great way to design a dress around one fabulous button. I’m always partial to patterns that would be hard to figure out myself and capture the vintage silhouette. That tab detail, the seaming – I want to see what the pieces look like and read how they all go together!
I linked to it earlier in the day, and then went out for dinner with Mr Sewaholic and his family. While we’re out, Mr Sewaholic’s mother mentioned she loved the pattern I linked to that morning! Since it was before Christmas, she offered to buy it for me as a present. And I politely declined, saying I didn’t need it, but by the end of dinner she had convinced me I should have it. (Like it was hard to convince me I need anything sewing-related!) She’d never purchased on Etsy before, but told me the next morning she’d buy it for me. I was powerless to resist, I tell you! How do you say no to a pretty vintage Vogue dress pattern?
Anyways, we went home after dinner and, being me, I checked the computer. The pattern was still there! But when I woke up in the morning, it had sold. Aww! The next time I saw Mr Sewaholic’s mother, I casually mentioned it and she was like, oh no! So I knew she didn’t buy it.
That was back on December first, so I chalked it up to ‘not-meant-to-be’ and forgot about it. Fast-forward to mid-January when I met up with a good friend of mine. She gave me a package wrapped in Christmas paper… and by now you know where this is going! My vintage Vogue dress pattern, is now mine all mine! (Why do I always feel like I’ve won something whenever I get a new vintage pattern?) She saw my Facebook link and snapped it up for me. (And then kept it a secret for over a month!)
So thanks to my great friend, there’s another beautiful vintage dress in my future! Here’s to good friends who secretly buy patterns for their friends who love sewing!
What kind of fabric would you use for this dress pattern? Tweeds? Prints? Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I would go with a nice Lightweight Tweed to show off the style. A patterned fabric might camoflauge the great tab detail!
Congratulations, I’m so happy for you! The pattern is gorgeous, I’m sure you’ll make a wonderful dress out of it.
I tend to prefer fabrics with prints that are not so busy. So I’d use a solid colour in a fabric with a little bit of body. Or maybe a subtle print, like the herringbone on the envelope (I love herringbone-weave!). Something that doesn’t steal the attention from the button =)
Aww what a great friend! That’s one thoughtful gift giver!
Oh what a wonderful story and a beautiful pattern – I’m so pleased for you. I can understand why you loved it so much, the details on it are delicious. I can’t wait to see it made up. I agree with Erika, I think a plain coloured herringbone weave would be wonderful, to show off all the dart and seam detail.
What a lovely story and gift!!! :) The pattern design is gorgeous; I too am completely smitten by the button detail. I think I’m seeing this in a crisp linen for summer or gorgeous mid-weight wool in a jewel tone for the winter (ruby red? peacock blue? Something striking). So, so pretty. Are you planning on sewing it up any time soon?
‚ô• Casey
Lovely story; nice to know you have good friends like that. :)
Its a lovely pattern! I totally agree with the comments above about the light tweed, alternatively, if you wanted to make something a bit more obviously summery, you could use a pattern that emphasised that fabulous cross over detail by using a cotton or something with a definite stripe, so nautical but in a more of a “I’m going boating on the river and we are going to drink Pimms” than “I’m cruising the Riveria in the 80s” way.
I couldn’t find an image to show what I mean but I did find this one (she looks like she might be taking the rowing a bit too seriously!) http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmediamuseum/2780164539/
or these ladies http://www.postaprint.co.uk/ilnimages/i862009.jpg
That’s a GORGEOUS pattern. Definitely have to keep it in the back of my head.
What a lovely, lovely story. And beautiful pattern.
What an AMAZING friend! :)
That’s such a sweet story! honestly, in order to preserve the detail of the seaming and the tabs, I would use a solid color, but maybe in a fabric with some texture for a little interest? I’m always on the hunt for silk blends that have a little something interesting going on.
There’s something about this dress that tells me it wants to be made up in navy blue? I don’t know why. I think it’s the tabs.
What a wonderful story – and a wonderful pattern! I agree with Casey – I see this dress in a lovely linen for summer or light weight wool for cooler months. Solid colour to show off the lovely lines and… the “BUTTON”.
Oh Tasia, what a good friend you have! She is a treasure.
My mother had a dress just like this one except for the crossover and button, which is fabulous by the way. Her dress was in a mauvey grey, I want to say taffata? but I’m really not sure what the fabric was…all I know is that it was beautiful.
When I saw the pattern, the image of my mother came to mind and rush of “good feelings”! : )
Thanks Tasia ~ you’ve made my day a little happier!
What a sweet story & a wonderful friend! I see the dress in a lovely plain, neutral linen or silk fabric. I wouldn’t want the details to get hidden in a busy print.. I can’t wait to see you make it up, though.
Oh, I totally agree with the herringbone suggestions. Black and white herringbone with some killer red heels!
This is a stunning pattern. I would definitely vote for the herring bone light weight tweed
Tasia, beautiful story. You are blessed.
Who is the other person posting responses with my name? Would love to know!
Samina
Two words: Gel us! lol
I’d keep it simple so the design can speak for itself. I like the tweed suggestion.
Great story! You had me at tweed, but I do think the herringbone is another great idea. Casey’s remark about the linen struck me also because I happen to have some gorgeous teal linen in my own stash that needs to be a dress!
Gorgeous pattern and lucky you!
I think it would be lovely in many fabrics as long as they are relatively plain – tweed sounds nice!
That is so sweet! And good luck with your survey write-up.
Thats such a sweet story. What a friend she is :-D
I agree with others – you wouldn’t want a pattern to take away from the detail of the buttons. A light tweed or any kind of wool would look great. Something a bit unusual in colour – like chartreuse or olive or duck egg blue if you can find it ;-)
Almost like a fairy tale, with such a happy ending. Looks like a great pattern. Maybe a small print so you see the details of the little cross-over element on the bodice. Tweed does sound lovely, too!
That pattern is gorgeous and that little story makes it even more special! Sometimes miracles happen :) You got a lovely friend aswell.
I would use solid colour fabric or subtle lightweight tweed (pepper or fine houndstooth or similar). That tab and button detail is the best feature in the dress. I have an idea how the pattern looks like, but it would be lovely to see how it actually goes. This is why I love vintage patterns, the cuts and designs are exquisite and still simple, effortless looking, making the outfit look like high-end design no matter who made it. You don’t get that in modern patterns.
:) It’s lovely to have such good friends!
Ooh, I love it! I like the idea of a solid color, or something that looks solid a meter away, with an interesting weave. But then I’m a sucker for a neat weave ;)
I’d love to see what the pattern pieces look like! I hope you sew it soon.
Lovely story of friendship….but I guess I’ll be the lone dissenter of the tabs on the pattern. Love the skirt, the fitted waist, the slight collar and gentle v in front, but those tabs…all I can see when I look at the tabs is nipples being dragged across the bodice and buttoned together-OUCH!
Thanks everyone – isn’t it nice to have friends who appreciate the beauty of vintage patterns!
I am planning to sew it soon, as soon as school is finished or in between Phase 1 and Phase 2. There’s a couple of days where we don’t have to attend classes, maybe I can squeeze in some sewing there! :) Love the ideas of solids, jewel tones, or textured solid fabrics like tweeds and herringbones! Something along those lines is what I was thinking, too. If it fits well, linen would be great for a summer version!
The pattern pieces are really weird looking! I’ll show you soon. That’s half the fun of buying vintage patterns, seeing how they fit together.
@Anna W: Of course not everyone would like this pattern – I can see what you mean about the tabs looking like they’re buttoning nipples together. I’m hoping that results in a push-up effect on the final dress. It will be interesting to see what the tabs do in real life, as opposed to an illustration.
@monkeysocks: I like the idea of stripes, too, although that would be a challenging cutting layout! And a gold metal button, for a nautical look? Maybe subtle stripes just in case the cutting isn’t completely perfect… that would be fun to work out the stripe placement though!
Hi Tasia
FYI Gala Fabrics on Granville is having a sale on some older pattern stock, including a few Vintage vogue (2267 was in there for exemple, and some other ones) for 1 dollar a piece !
if you’re close it might be worth taking a look !