Saturday, January 2, 2016

The Seventies


I cannot believe I am making (and loving) a design from the 1970s.


What can I say – I love this pattern. 


What I do not like is the required yardage.  This one is a real fabric hog.


Should I ever come across ten yards of suitable fabric, I will definitely make up the full length version.  Or maybe I should swap out another skirt.


I did shorten the skirt by a few inches, partly to save some fabric, and partly because as drafted it hits the leg in a bit of an awkward spot (it is considerably longer than the illustrations on the envelope would suggest).


I would love to see the original vintage pattern directions for the sleeve.  This reproduction uses the sleeve seam as an opening, which places the button and loop closure inside the wrist.  That is not the standard closure for any sleeve I have ever come across, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the reprint has been dumbed down and a dart or placket has been eliminated.


But other than that, I really do love the dress.  It is just that I have learned so much about garment construction from vintage directions, and I wish that information was included with these designs - when I suspect it is not, I get cranky.


What would make me feel a whole lot better is finding ten yards of fabric to make myself another version!



Dress:  Made by me, Simplicity 8013

18 comments:

  1. Sweet dress! I was sewing in the sixties and seventies, and hate to burst your bubble, but remember doing this sort of sleeve finish. I would date the "dumbing down" of patterns to the 1960s minidress era, which started a new youth sewing wave. That is why I occasionally splurged on a Vogue Designer pattern, which could still be (usually)relied on to do things properly

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  2. Beautiful. I love the seventies.

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  3. Looks lovely! I have the pattern too and have been waiting to find the perfect fabric to splurge 10 yards on.

    www.alittletalent.com

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  4. NOT TWIRLING!!!

    Oh, trust and believe, it's ON in 2016 Laura Mae!

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  5. Pretty! I remember having a very similar dress as a kid and it was my FAVORITE! Swingy skirt, that style sleeve, little flowers... Must have been an early 90s revival.

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  6. Very nice! I agree with you about vintage pattern instructions. I learned so much from them.

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  7. WOW! Your dress looks fantastic! I always love swingy skirts. It looks like so much fun to wear. I've been reading your blog for quite a while and really enjoy it. You're sewing skills are incredibly inspiring.

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  8. I saw that pattern and I think it's the sleeves that really drew me to it. I still don't have any long flowey dresses even though I live them in everyone else.

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  9. Gorgeous--Some styles can be fabric hogs--but the results are terrific!

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  10. Why be amazed that this is from the 70's? Some styles are just beautiful, no matter what their "period."

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  11. Gorgeous, so glam and still featuring the waist. The long one would look great in silk if you won a lottery! X

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  12. It's so beautiful!! I do like a bit of 1970s but sometimes I'm not tall enough to pull off the flowy silhouette. You have the perfect figure for it though!

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  13. I think the 70s are underrated... I love the flowy romantic styles like this, and your dress is beautiful.

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  14. I had a lovely rayon type fabric dress in this style (blues), but with slimmer sleeves and less skirt - I loved it - 1975. It was really comfortable. I would make it with less fabric, knowing it would still be lovely. However, I no longer wear dresses - never, ever.

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  15. What fabric did you use?
    As for the placket; it could be a Vogue = placket, Simplicity = onseam. I remember being surprised at my first placket on my first Vogue, and I messed it up repeatedly. And then I learned.

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    1. It's a rayon challis from JoAnn Fabrics of all places. I wish it was slightly heavier weight, but it works.

      You are probably right about the placket. Or perhaps the placket is more of a 40s and 50s thing? I just think it is a bit lazy to have the opening inside the wrist, but that's just me.

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  16. It is just beautiful. I love the tones of the fabric. Jane

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