Sewn: A dress called Edith

Edith

 Edith is currently my favourite dress at the moment. Yes, I love her so much, I gave her a name. 

She is a vintage-inspired 60s summer dress made using Butterick 6582, a retro reissue of the original pattern that was printed in the 60s. 

Love the print on the fabric

Pattern: Butterick 6582, option C
Fabric: Polycotton, Floral motifs with white and green gingham background
Modification(s): I shortened the hem by 15 cm because I am fun-sized!

Initially, I was quite apprehensive about this pattern because the bodice looked complicated to me with all the various pieces and the ruching at the shoulder. But the instructions were really helpful and the sewing process was a real breeze!

I really love the shoulder detail and the gathering at the sides of the skirt, which makes the skirt looks poofy when I wear it even without any petticoat underneath! (That said, I do still want to get a petticoat...)

Bodice and skirt

Poofy skirt!

This is definitely a pattern that I will use again. I am probably going to make Version A the next time!

More photos of the dress can be found in the previous post here.
xx

Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show (and a dress called Edith)

Edith

This post just cannot wait. As everyone who has been following me will know, I am not very good at keeping up to date with my posts. But this post simply cannot wait. 

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was making a dress to wear to the Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show. I was almost certain that I was NOT going to finish the dress in time as the date of the show drew near. But I did it. I finished the dress 2 days before the show and I think it's most probably the loveliest thing I have ever made. So, behold, my favourite dress at this very moment - Edith. 

Wearing: Handmade vintage-inspired 60s dress, nude Rubi flats, white vintage purse, white ASOS sunnies

Oh, I also made a matching bow

Don't ask me why I'm calling it Edith. The name just popped into my head as I was admiring it. 

Anyway, the Sydney Summer Love Vintage Show was amazing and I loved every minute that I spent there. There was a sign outside which said no photographs of the stalls were allowed, so I didn't take many photos at the show. But I did take a couple at a stall with the permission of the stall vendor. 

Mustang Sallie

And here are the things I got at the show:  

Vintage red luggage bag, $30

Vintage Australian Home Journal (1951), $18

Vintage handmade crochet gloves, $12. My life is now complete.

Vintage dress, $10. What a steal! 

Vintage sunglasses, 2 for $25. My friend bought one too.

The details of this sewing project will be discussed in another post. Stay tuned! x

I'm making a dress to wear to a vintage show

There is a vintage show coming to Sydney, called the Love Vintage show. It was here in Sydney back in March but I missed it because I simply could not find the time amidst the hectic uni workload. This time, I will not miss it for the world.

And, I'm making a dress to wear to the show. This is the pattern and the fabric that I am using. Ahhhh!! Summer!!

I've sewn up a muslin for the bodice and it seems that I have to alter the rather poofy back a little. But that should not be a huge issue since the zipper is at the back of the bodice. I can always take more in as I insert the zipper.

Wish me luck! x

P.S.: Oh, and a reader commented on one of the previous posts and asked me about the camera I use and what I do with my photos. I am using a Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS which I have been using for 4 years. My recent photos have been edited using the Photoscape, a program that can be downloaded for FREEEE!! I highly recommend it to everyone!!

Oh lord, what have I done?

The semester is drawing to an end and everything has been going fine (as in ok and only just ok) so far. So, last Saturday, I thought to myself, "what better way to celebrate the survival of another semester than spending money to fulfill my materialistic desires?" Behold, a picture featuring the full glory of my finds. Perhaps I have gone a tad too far.

Burnt orange wool hat with brim, Dotti, $9.95
Olive green wool bowler hat, Dotti, $5.95
Leopard print beret (with a furry texture *squeals*), Dotti, $.9.95
Black bag with gold bow detail, Dotti, $9.95
A set of 3 headbands, Factorie, $1
A set of bracelets in ethnic-inspired colours, Factorie, $4.95
Striped cotton jersey dress, Factorie, $4.95
Floral dress, Cotton On, $10
Faux fur coat, Cotton On, $20
Sunglasses for a DIY project, Cotton On, $2
Buckle bracelets in black and beige, Cotton On, $2 each
Faux leather brown laptop sleeve, Cotton On, $2
Burgundy Hi-top sneakers (*without* hidden heels, unfortunately), Rubi/Cotton On, $10

When I become an old spinster, I shall be known as the Hat Lady.

I am really really going to miss shopping in Sydney when I return to Singapore.


xx

Sewn: Vintage-inspired 'Country Road' Dress

All right, ladies and gentlemen! I present to you... *drum roll* the 4th clothing item that I've sewn from scratch! I actually completed this dress a while ago but haven't had the time to take the pictures for a blog post. 

Left: Front view, Right: Back view

Left: Dress with belt; Right: Dress without belt

Pattern: New Look 6824 (A+H+J)
Fabric: Green and purple gingham cotton

New Look 6824, circa 2011/2012

I made this dress using the vintage-inspired New Look 6824 pattern. I bought the pattern because I felt that the dresses really reminded me of the 60s. When I first saw the pattern, I even thought that lady on the cover was Betty Draper from Mad Men! 

Dress with belt

Dress without belt

The version of the dress I made comes with a sash that is supposed to be worn as a belt. But I think the belt looks better wrapped around my head as a headband rather than around my waist as a belt. What do you think?

The seam between the bodice and the skirt

The zipper and button closure

The skirt hem

I decided to call this dress the "'Country Road' Dress" because wearing it really really makes me want to pack my bare essentials into an old leather suitcase, hop on a bus and sing "Country Road" by John Denver while I stare out in the vast empty lands on my way to a quiet countryside. But alas, I don't have an old leather suitcase and I certainly do not have the country to go to a countryside on my own. I also do not have the ability to hold a tune, unfortunately.

I made a dress that looks like sleepwear

I only have myself to blame for choosing a fabric with a gaudy design. Well, I guess it's still a good sewing practice for me, considering that each yard of the fabric was only 2AUD.

Will I wear it out? You can dare me to do it. I think I probably will do it at least once or twice before I start feeling awkward about it. 


This is the vintage sewing pattern that I used to make the dress. Perhaps I would look better in the dress if I were still a tween!

circa 1992

Oh, and before I forget, this is a pattern that I bought from the local Vinnies in Sydney. I got it for just 50 cents! :)


Note: I know I promised a crafting TUTORIAL, but the item that I made is missing. It's a brooch or some sort that I made for my mum. My mum has no idea where that thing is right now. This is not the first time that something like this has happened. I am not very pleased...

The Australian Women's Weekly, For Brides (August 22, 1973)

Look what I found at the local Vinnies! They were having a massive sale and I got this well-preserved magazine for just 25cents! What a steal! Wheeeeeee!!!

The Australian Women's Weekly, For Brides

August 22, 1973

It seems to me that second-time brides do not traditionally wear white wedding gowns. One of the things that I never knew...