Dress Like An Egyptian

Here is something REALLY vintage!  As in 5500 years old vintage.  And a FREE pattern.

The Tarkhan dress is made of fine linen, probably handkerchief linen or a little heavier blouse-weight linen.  It was apparently made to fit a young teen, but examples of the style have been seen in pictures of women.  There were, apparently, string ties to hold the v closed in front and in back.

If you want to try your hand at making a dress like this for lounging around the house, the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaelogy staff have written some instructions for you.

It kind of looks like a Fortuny.

There are also instructions for a beaded netting dancing dress at the same site.  That one would probably look best over a catsuit.

How To Pull A Pattern

Back in the dim, distant past I worked for Past Patterns when they were located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  I started out sewing test garments, did pattern grading, made corsets, and eventually was the Office Manager.  I was able to indulge my love of vintage clothing, old patterns, bookkeeping, and flea marketing during this period.

Here is an article that appeared in a magazine called handmade #17, in Jan/Feb 1985.  Click on the image to make it larger.

1930's See-Through Dress

I believe this is of rayon.  In beautiful condition, and handmade.  There would have been a matching belt, covered with the same fabric, or a solid burgundy to match the slip that would have been worn with this.

If you enlarge the photo you can see the crinkly fabric.  Aren't those tulips wild?  (That is not a worm, but a piece of yarn I didn't see.)

This shows the front drapery, which is attached at the neck and waist. 

The 3/4 sleeves are bias-bound.

The back has a yoke.

You can find patterns for dresses like these in my Etsy store and in the stores of many others on Etsy.

Although it looks shapeless here, it would look marvelous with a slippery rayon slip and a belt to gather it up.  If anyone is interested in purchasing this dress, let me know.  I also have a wonderful wool felt '40's hat that matches it!

(Limited) Grand Opening of The Sewing Palette

I have been waiting since April to tell you all this!  There have been a few bumps and delays along the way, but a new selling venue for sewing patterns and needlecraft books will be opening up on Monday, 22 August 2011 from the folks who run Pattern Rescue.  My patterns sales at Etsy have flatlined, and I am slowly moving patterns over here after they run their 4-month course on Etsy.  I have linked you to the buyer's page so you can all sign up and be ready for the Grand Opening.  There will be a few weeks for testing the system and working the kinks out before the advertising push begins and the Official Grand Opening after Labor Day.  The category pages will be up ASAP, so you will have to browse a bit to see everything right now.  So get in early if you want the best choice of patterns.  And spread the word!

Update 25 August 2015!  The Sewing Palette is now closed.  Due to illnesses in the owner's family, it never really got off the ground and faltered to a stop earlier this year.  Sad news for me, because now I have to move all of my patterns over here to sell them.  Look for them in the tabs at the top of the blog.  I will be slowly adding more - starting with children's patterns.

Update 2021:  Sadly, the Sewing Palette had to fold some years ago due to illness.  It was fun while it lasted!

Forties Maternity Wear

I just added these two sweet patterns to my Etsy shop.  The first is a 1940's maternity dress or smock.  It is basically a square shape with a waist tie and some nice ruffle details and a sweetheart neckline.

Here is the matching slip.  These came from the same person, but the slip pattern was never used.  It adjusts in the back.

The Pajama Game

One of the less challenging items of clothing to make is a set of pajamas.  They usually don't require much fitting as nobody sees them anyway (or shouldn't!).  The top either is a slipover with a v-neck or a placket, or buttons down the front.  The pants either have an elastic waist or elastic and buttons.  The styles haven't really changed much in 100 years for men, and women have adapted the look and comfort of men's pajama styles for their own.  Following is a selection of pajamas from the 1940's and 1950's.  Most of them are available in my Etsy store.

This guy has to get in one last smoke.  This is an example of the placket style and a very simple round neck button style.  The pants are only two pieces--no side seams.  Notice the shes instead of comfortable slippers.

These little guys have pajamas just like Dad's, but with the addition of a collar.  In pajama sewing the seams are usually flat-felled or french-seamed for comfort.  Topstitching is also used to keep the soft flannel from rolling.  Buttons, when used, are flat.

Proving that pajamas are timeless, here's a redo of the former pattern--this time the tissue is printed!

Interestingly, these pants have a side seam and are shaped at the hip.  I like the contrasting piped trim.

Here is an annoying little brother and some elegant frog closings.

These are looking just like the first pattern for men.   I like the shortalls with the drawstring waist.

I'll bet these are a little uncomfortable.  A waistband and side seams for a really fitted pant.  Looks more like a leisure outfit than pajamas.

Now these are really wide and wonderful!  Bellbottom pajamas.

A terribly unflattering robe without the belt, and extremely bulky with it!

Robes are pretty universal except that women's and men's wrap to different sides.  Looks like Ronald Reagan as a boy!  Ken doll had a pajama set with slippers just like #1.

Cute slippers.

Aren't these adorable?

From the 1990's.  Showing that things never change (except the models get hunkier!).  And evidently floors get warmer.

Here are some bedjackets for eating breakfast in bed.  They look pretty pulled together for just getting up.

Baby Dolls.  I remember them well!

And this is my mother's nightgown pattern.  I understand when my father saw version 1 for the first time as a new husband he was not amused.

Interesting Sleeves

I like patterns that have something different than the usual read-to-wear stuff.  The patterns below all have very interesting sleeve variations that make sewing vintage so much fun.

These have the seam on the top.  I just love this pattern!

This example is seen a lot in 40's dresses.  There are usually pattern pieces for shoulder pads, too.

Here is a nice sleeve that was on one of my favorite 1980's blouse patterns, too.

Of course, I had to include dolman sleeves.  This was a favorite suit of mine.  The t-shirt is simple to make and looks good in most fabrics.

Another dolman for that classic slouchy no shoulders 1950's New Look.  This one is cut in one with the bodice.

This bow would look good if you have a long neck.

Another one of my favorite patterns.

The buttons and tabs are sweet.

Another dolman with a raised waistline.  Waspie definitely required!

Silly picture aside, this dress makes an interesting strapless effect in contrasting fabrics.

These are all available in my Etsy store.

Vintage Children's Patterns

I have another question for my followers:  Do you think there is a market for vintage children's sewing patterns?  Below are some of the patterns I had listed for several months on Etsy, of which I only ever sold one.  I know it's hard to get most little girls into something that looks decent these days, as opposed to the current style of Britney-wear, but infants and toddlers would have to wear whatever you put on them it seems to me.  Update 25 August 2015!  I have listed some children's patterns here.  Look for the tabs at the top of the blog.

Sold

Sold