Scraps from the Past: Playwear in Stripes

The pattern: Simplicity 2444, 1940s

Now is the time we start thinking seriously of summer and great vintage summer fashion. This pattern is the perfect ensemble for a summer day of outdoor play - a picnic, a day in the park or at the beach. The skirt wraps around the step-in playsuit - it's great 40s style!

The scrap: This red-and-white striped piece of fabric was the collar piece, and was tucked in the pattern envelope. This piece of soft cotton looks like it would make a fresh and comfortable ensemble for summer sport and play. Although can you picture the entire outfit in red-and-white stripes? Perhaps this was a contrast fabric piece?

Gaylyn's Cute Cat Shorts! And a Happy Thanksgiving to All!

If you were a growing girl, wouldn't you love these shorts with a cat face for the bib? Mail order pattern 120 for suspender shorts is certainly a charmer.

This pattern from the 1940s includes three different cat faces, rendered in applique and embroidery to create the bib. Note the string of daisies that accent two of the three faces. Those must be for the girls. ;) So sweet!

Also included with the pattern were Gaylyn's "measuremints" written on the back of half of a card. A good sewist will always measure before sewing!

When you turn the card over, there is a note to Bertha (our sewist?). Ella Mae McPherson from "the chapter"  (of the local DAR or a similar organization?) has written a very kind and thoughtful get well note to Bertha, sent along with a plant. It appears that this was written before "the holidays" - would that be Christmas? 

The translation for those who are not skilled in cursive handwriting:

"Dear Bertha - 

You may not be able to 

place me but I certainly 

do miss you in the

chapter.

I'm so sorry you are 

ill and hope you will

soon be well again.

I hope this plant will

make your holidays a

little merrier. Sincerely

Ella Mae McPherson"

I love these fragments from people's lives in those days long gone. It is such a personal way to connect with the sewists of other eras.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!

It's Shorts Weather!

I know that summer is already upon most of the country, but here in the Pacific NW, we are getting a few days of 80-degree weather. We are delighted!

A brief review of shorts fashions through the decades seems in order. No matter what decade, they all look cute to me!

1940s - Most commonly fitted around the waist and hips then loose around the legs. Simplicity 2017 has a rare elasticized waistline version as well. Note the high waist on Simplicity 3673.

 
1950s - Still fitted, and definitely slimmer around the legs.

1960s - Very slim and fitted! Proportioned for height was an important new feature.

1970s - Both fitted with the zipper moving to the front (a major shocking fashion move - a fly front zipper, just like menswear!) and loose with elasticized waistline (but still looking relatively fitted).

1980s - Elasticized waistlines are most common, and generally loose in the legs.

A Salute to Boating Season!

The first Saturday of May is coming up soon and it's the official First Day of Boating. Port cities (like Seattle) usually have a parade of boats all tricked out with banners and pennants to celebrate the occasion. In honor of this annual event, I am beginning to post nautical-styled patterns in my shop. Here are just a few patterns for ladies and children, from the 1940s to the 1970s, to pique your interest:

Aye, aye, mates! Enjoy some timelessly great nautical fashion!

More Resort Fashions - Hit the Beach!

It's time to dream of hitting the beach, dressed in wonderful vintage fashion. And it is my goal to post beach wear, swimsuits, and other resort fashion in my shop daily for the month of January. Let's look at some of the  wonderful 1950s summer wear available for the kids and adults!

 Love the high waist shorts and the cropped top!

Wonderful ensemble with bra top, shorts, and cover-up - don't you think that beach cover-up with hood is cute?

Another bra top with shorts and cover-up - and pedal pushers too!

 Super cute beach wear with a kiddie version of the bra top with mock-shrug cap sleeves.

Scraps from the Past: 1980s full flirty shorts in nylon

This "scraps from the past" features the pattern Simplicity 6249 from 1983 - for pants, culottes, and short shorts. You may not care for the "Hammer" pants, but the culottes and shorts have a fun, very skirt-like fullness. The pattern has a very nifty design for the waistband, which is really two waistbands, with the front yoke-style band overlapping and fastening to the waistband beneath it.

The fabric our mystery seamstress tucked in the pattern is soft and sheer - plenty of movement for those full gathered skirt-like shorts. Swish, twirl! Can you visualize it? Or do you think she tucked in blouse material to go with the shorts?

Scraps from the Past - 1950s Casual Ensemble in Soft Summer Green

Sometimes a pattern illustration inspires us to sew the pattern just the same (as in my previous Scraps from the Past post). And sometimes we have a favorite fabric and look for a pattern that meets our need.

McCall's 4822 from 1958 is a great mix-n-match pattern for blouse with varying sleeve lengths, shorts in two lengths (short and Bermuda), and tapered ankle-length pants.

The original seamstress tucked this durable, yet soft, cotton fabric inside this pattern. It is a lovely shade of green. It has an almost-like-linen type of weave, but is much more pliable and softer than linen. Based on the pattern pieces that were cut, it looks like she sewed the Bermuda shorts in this fabric.

It makes me think of the pattern differently - in greens and blues and other colors, instead of the earthy browns and reds used on the pattern drawing. Lovely. I'm ready for green!