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Sewing from a Vintage Pattern

    I’m buried deep in fabrics and patterns and sewing and gluing.  It’s the week before Halloween, and my children have requested costumes of all sorts and sizes.

    (Sidenote – we haven’t “done” Halloween in years. Years.  It’s not a long story, but it is a story.  And while I don’t agree with much of the way it’s celebrated, we just can’t say no to a chance to dress in a costume and collect candy with a bunch of friends. ‘Nough said.)

    Emma has had a few ideas on what she’d like to be, but we have our limits, and we do live in Maine, so warm costumes are a must for around our parts.  Her request led me to my drawer of vintage patterns for something that I can use, and I actually found one that was close enough to what I need to not require vast amounts of redesign.  vintagepattern

    I’m learning a few things along the way.

    :: Vintage patterns are printed on a nicer quality paper than today’s patterns with better ink (I can actually see all the marks clearly.  Some of the modern patterns I’ve used are printed poorly and lightly.)

    :: Each step in a vintage pattern is the equivalent to about 8 steps in today’s patterns.  I’ve had to read a couple of them 4 times to make sure I didn’t miss something important along the way.

    :: Vintage fit is different.  This is the first pattern I’m actually using from my collection, but when I first tried it on Emma, I was frightened by the lack of ease.  I thought I mis-measured her.  I had to put the bodice away for the night since I tried it on her just before bedtime and didn’t want to keep her up late so I could try to alter the bodice to fit better.  Apparently, sewing fairies arrived in the night and adjusted the bodice just enough that I don’t need to make any changes, but it’s definitely a different fit than we’re used to.

    I have a bit more sewing to do, and a collar to adjust, then I’ll (hopefully) get some pictures of Emma in her dress/costume.  But now I need to get back to my sewing machine – so much stitching left to do.  And I’m having so much fun!