Retrophile

If I had one piece of advice to aspiring costume makers, it would be BUY PATTERNS!!  Doesn't matter if you think you will use it anytime soon or not.  If you like it and can afford it buy it.  My compulsion to buy patterns is really working in my favor right now.  I am a self taught seamstress and have had no formal sewing, draping or pattern making lessons.  This being the case I depend on my patterns. This has allowed me to piece things together, alter existing patterns and just some just for their general shape. This is what I have been doing the last couple of days.  I found my perfect Dicken's fair inspiration dress. http://www.antique-frock.com/earlyvictorian/products/dress102.html I am in love this dress.  It is an acutal 1860 gown and being such, there is no specific pattern for this dress.  So, this is where my pattern collection comes in to play.  I am using 2 different patterns to piece together and create this dress. ...

So I have decided on my first dress for the new school year.  I am going to be making a red floral dress from my 1947 repo dress pattern.  You can see it below Butterick B5209  This will actually be the 3rd time that I have made this dress.  I have made the halter version once, and this will the second round making the sleeved version. Original Dress You can see the original dress I made from the pattern here . I love this pattern.  It fits really well and is super easy to make.  Here is the fabric I will be using. I know it is a bit more colorful then what they would have used in the 40's, but I just love it!  So far I have all the pieces cut out and just need to start the sewing.  The construction may have to wait a bit though.  Tomorrow I am heading off to do some old fashioned camping. I have also planned out the next dress as well.  I will be using a pattern I have used before.  As you can tell I am not feeli...