Halloween Costumes And My 5,000th Pattern Sold!

Today was a milestone for my vintage pattern shop, Midvale Cottage, on Etsy - my 5,000th pattern sold! A lucky customer, Carey, in Canada was the purchaser - as a result, the pattern she picked was free. :D Boy, did she really save today (because that included shipping)! :)

Here is the pattern she purchased - whimsical adult costumes for Halloween:

 I wonder which costume will be sewn up - the monkey, the penguin, or the frog?

Be sure to visit my shop and view the inspiring Halloween costumes for all ages-from the 1930s through the present - and I am adding more each day. Just look in the "Crafts and Costumes" category of my shop. Halloween will be here before you know it!

Scraps from the Past - Embroidered Eyelet to Edge a Slip

This is the scrap I found in a pattern envelope for fabulous 50s slips - classic embroidered eyelet.

 

And here is the pattern - a great collection of slips for every occasion. In the 1950s slips were simply required lingerie for wear under every dress and skirt. This particular pattern was cut for the half slip, so you can guess that the embroidered eyelet trimmed the hemline. :)

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - A Luxurious Shawl Wrap for your Evening Frocks!

This wonderful tip provides instructions for an easy-to-sew, yet elegant wrap for your evening frocks It uses just over 3 yards of velvet and less than 2 yards of metallic brocade. Count on Ruth Wyeth Spears to help you sew up a luxurious evening wrap!

Just click the image to view a larger, easy-to-read version.

Spotted in a Shop Window - Peplums!

Spotted in the window of Nordstrom's, downtown Seattle, this fabulous Givenchy slim skirt & jacket with flared peplum and front cascading drape has dramatic color contrast:

Also spotted in the window at Nordstroms, is this Dior red hot 2-piece dress with cascading peplum:

Peplums have been popular over the decades, but particularly in the 1940s. Here are a few fabulous vintage styles with peplums.

1950s

 

 1940s

 

 

1930s

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Pointed Scallops Are The Chic New Mode!

Evidently pointed scallops are high fashion according to this 1920s home sewing tip from fashion columnist and sewing expert Ruth Wyeth Spears! You learn how to trim any hemline, and add tiers of pointed scallops to any skirt or frock. Pattern and full instructions included! :)

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Home Sewing Tips of the 1920s - Pleated Flounces are Smart Fashion

Do you want to add smart  accents to your afternoon frock? In this 1920 sewing tip from fashion columnist and sewing expert Ruth Wyeth Spears, you learn how to add tiers of tiny pleats (plaits) to your straight little frock.  Sewing machines in those days had an add-on tool that created these tiny pleats easily. Today there are other tools, such as pleating tape and the Perfect Pleater tool, for example.

 

Enjoy this inspiring tip!

Home Sewing Tips from the 1920s - Bound Buttonholes!

The bound buttonhole is the subject of this 1920 sewing tip from fashion columnist and sewing expert Ruth Wyeth Spears. It's such a classic, tailored buttonhole, and Ruth's explanation is as clear as can be. I like how she recommends it for children's clothes as well as yours. With Ruth as your guide, you needn't fear the bound buttonhole.

The New Look - Then and Now

You all know the iconic dresses of the 1950s and early 1960s known as the "New Look" - the dresses with a snug bodice and a full skirt or a slim skirt. Here are some lovely examples:

 

 

 

 

The current revival of the New Look is fun to see. Generally the dresses are shorter. I spotted a great example in this pair of formal dresses in the window of Luly Yang, Seattle.The full skirt has soft box pleats, while the slim skirt has soft gathers. Note how the display includes matching shoes and purse. :). Perfect!

And I spotted this pert dress in the shop window of Anthropologie - it has a softly box-pleated short skirt and contoured drop-waist.

 Totally fun fashion!

Spotted in a Shop Window - Classy Short Jacket

Iridescent peacock colors make this classy short jacket glamorous enough for evening. Spotted in the shop window of Nina McLemore in downtown Seattle. Note the turned-up collar, turn-back wing cuffs at bracelet length, and free opening. Very reminiscent of the 50s. Eye-catching fashion!

Spotted in a Shop Window - Butterfly Beautiful Formal Gown

I spotted this gorgeous formal in Monarch butterfly style in the window of Luly Yang's in downtown Seattle. Fabulous haute couture fashion I can only dream of. :)