Catalog Sunday: Montgomery Ward Spring, 1933

 

Finished Dresses

Finished shots of the 'wearable mock up' of my knot dress. I am very pleased with the outcome of it.

Chambray alteration pt 1

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all are still plugging away on  your Make and Mend projects. I've been blog hopping and I'm seeing tons of people taking advantage of the Make and Mend mentality. It's inspiring! Keep it up!

I guess you could call this an alteration, though, with all the summer refashions going on in the sewing blogosphere, it seems to be an epidemic!

Overalls progress: Pants mock up.

Hello all.

As I finished up altering the pattern for the slacks, I decided to do a test. With the colder weather coming I wanted to make a set of pajamas. What better way to test the slacks than to make some jimjam bottoms.

They fit great!

Im so happy with the drape of the legs and the fit at the waist.

I didn't make the darts, I plan on gathering the waistline because I want the bottoms to be casual.

I did notice some discrepancy in the pattern.

Perhaps it was my alteration, but the sides of the front waist is about an inch lower than the bak. Not a big deal at all, but I might alter the back of the overalls to compensate.

My favorite part though is the side placket I made on the fly.

I just cut two strips of fabric and sewed one piece to the inside of the front, and the other I folded in half to make a good stabilization piece for the buttons.

The jacket of the jimjams I think is going to be a pattern I recently acquired.

I figure a double breasted jacket to sleep in was posh enough, right? Ive trimmed up the overalls bib and plan on cutting it all out when I finish up the chambray pajama bottoms.

Chambray Beret

Its finished!
View C

More photos on NVL.

The beauty of simplicity.

I love this pattern. I adore its sparseness, and Im a sucker for gathered necklines. Its a pattern that is only 8 pieces. I think thats cool. Its such the height of WWII efficiency combined with style.

I couldn't wait to get started on it.

I graded the pattern and cut it out in a great dark linen chambray. I got it by the pound from a giant fabric bin at one of my favorite fabric stores. Oh, how I love getting fabric that way. You can stumble on the most delightful treasures.

Its a heavier linen than the previous double breasted dress and I made the sleeve three quarter so it will wear well in the winter. I'm going to change up the front a bit, and use a slide fastener (zipper) down the front bodice.

I always like the look of those rare dresses from the early 40s that had zippers (pre rationing).

I also cut the band for the neckline on the bias (as seen here above the front band that will cover the zipper).

I think that will be better than the strange band shape that is provided with the pattern.

Once I overlock and prep the pieces, I'll knock this thing out in an afternoon.

I even have enough fabric left over to attempt this super cute beret topper,

view C.

I'm planning to wear it to a party this Sunday.