The anniversary outfit: Pattern Review for Simplicity 1782 and Burda 02-2011-107

Eight years ago, my darling and I met at a Halloween party. I can´t believe how time flies! So, to celebrate, we went out on a dinner date on Monday (yummy Italian food), and I got a chance to wear two of my newest creations, a 40´s top I´ve been dying to make since I got the pattern, and a pencil skirt in my new favorite color!

I got the pattern for this top at midvalecottage, and I was initially drawn towards view no. 2 with the balloon style sleeves, but I chose to make view no. 3 first, mostly because that was what I had enough fabric for! I used a gorgeous drapey black fabric and black and silver beads for the embellishment. You can´t see the embellishment as well as I´d wish, but I made a little flower using small Czech beads. So fun to do!

Pattern review for Simplicity 1792 (1940´s pattern) Misses blouse

Pattern size: Size 14 (bust 32)

Avaliability: Vintage Simplicity pattern

Pattern type: Misses blouse

Rating: Highly recommend

Pattern Description: The blouse has shirring at sides, dart-fitted back bodice, snug dart-fitted peplum or peplum with bias flare, side zipper closing, and your choice of collarless V-neckline or collarless jewel neckline with diamond keyhole and string tie closing. Add tapered cap sleeves, below-elbow balloon sleeves dart-fitted to bias-bound edges, or tapered long sleeves with snapped vents at wrists. Your choice to accent blouse with embroidery and sequins.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? I was very satisfied with the finished look in comparison to the pattern drawing!

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were quite easy to follow with illustrations and written descriptions that was easily understandable.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? There are so many details on this pattern I love! The idea for embellishments, the peplum, the side shirring and the sleeve options were all details I love! The pattern came with instructions (that I followed) about how to make a closing with snaps and hook & eye. Because my fabric is black it doesn´t show much, but I think an invisible zip will add less bulk in the side seam for the next version of this.

Fabric Used: I used a drapey cotton, perhaps cotton/rayon blend, fabric bought at Les Coupons de St. Pierre in Paris. I think this blouse would look equally good in other types of fabric as well, taffeta or silk dupioni would be fantastic!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn´t make any alterations.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I would love to make another version of this, perhaps try view no.2 with the balloon sleeves in a emerald green dupioni I´ve got lying around!

Conclusion: A gorgeous vintage pattern that really pays attention to detail without being overly complicated. I love it!

Pattern review for BurdaStyle Magazine 02-2011-107

I´ve been wanting to try this pattern for a while, so when I found this fabric I knew exactly what I could use it for!

Pattern size: 34-42

Avaliability: BurdaStyle Magazine 02-2011 and burdastyle.com

Pattern type: skirt

Rating: Highly recommend – and great for beginners!

Pattern Description: high waisted pencil skirt with gores in the back.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Absolutely.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn´t follow the instructions as this is a fairly uncomplicated type of skirt.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the gores in the back, it makes it very adjustable, and I also like that it is high waisted.

 The skirt teamed with my newest version of Sorbetto. 

Fabric Used: I used an upholstery cotton velvet fabric that I couldn´t resist when I visited IKEA (stash busted!).

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This will be my go-to pattern for high waisted pencil skirts, no doubt about it, and I can absolutely recommend it to others!

Conclusion: Classic pencil skirt with some cute details, it took me two hours and forty minutes to make this (hemming by hand included), a definite winner!

Including the Sorbetto pictured above, I´ve got three new garment to incorporate into my wardrobe as we are heading towards the festive season. I might be wrong, but I think that the black top is the first garment I´ve made using a 1940´s pattern, and so it fits into Sewing through the decades! And yes, I´ve got a new haircut…

Enjoy your week!