Historic Sewing

Lavendar Victorian Top
This bodice appears to be Victorian, and does have a matching skirt. The garment is full of small details. Delicate buttons close the front of the bodice, lace and gauzy ribbon trim the edges, and a gentle ruffle edges the neckline. The fabric is quite faded now, but many areas hint at the dreamy lavendar that once was. To recreate this garment we have chosen Black Snail Pattern 0515 which features the button front closure and bustle detail on the back.⁠
Triangle Shawl
Shawls are a classic project for knitters and crocheters! This shawl in our collection features a great fringe on the edge and a floral motif. Today there are two pattern suggestions: the Merino Shawl by Lea Petäjä is a free knitting pattern with a fringe border, and the Marguerite Shawl by Vintage Knit Crochet Pattern Shop is a reproduced vintage crochet that would give the floral vibes of the original!
For this Sewing Saturday we have this beautifully delicate Edwardian blouse. It features lace trim, and darling floral embroidery. The string that can be tied around the waist of the wearer is very typical of this time period and would help to create an Edwardian silhouette. To create a similar shirt we have chosen Folkwear Pattern 210: Armistice Blouse.
The feature from our clothing collection this week is a 1920's evening dress. The dress is made from silk crepe and velvet. The dropped waist and boxy shape is characteristic of the flapper fashion of the time. It was hard to choose just one pattern that could be used to re-create a similar garment, so there are two suggestions! Both are available via the pattern company Lady Marlowe. 4917 features a similar sailor collar and belt, while 5239 shares a similar neckline to the original.
Vintage Party Dress
This purple dress features full, gathered sleeves, floral appliques, and trim in a matching purple ribbon. The dress is likely from the 60s or 70s, but we are uncertain of a specific date. This week we have chosen a free pattern that has an accompanying tutorial to recreate this look! the Zenobia Dress by Mood Fabrics also features a modest neckline, bishop sleeves, and full skirt for a slightly updated take on this look.
Yellow Party Dress
The spring like weather means it's time to look at another pastel party dress! This butter yellow 1950s dress comes with a matching jacket with delicate buttons up the front. The dress gathers into a flounce in the back, almost creating the appearance of a bustle. Reconstructing History has some great options to recreate this look. 1508 is a full length, spagehetti strap dress with optional sleeves. For that fun flounce pattern 1516 would be perfect!
1950s Party Dress
This week we are showing off this 1950s party dress for Sewing Saturday! The dress features a darling sweetheart neckline, boning through the strapless bodice, and a skirt of tiered lace that matches the cheery pink of the rest of the garment. The following Lady Marlowe patterns capture elements of this fun dress: the V-791 pattern has the fun tiered skirt found in our example, and the V-601 features a strapless sweetheart neckline with options for longer tiers.
Varsity Sweater
The item from our collection is a varsity sweater from our local high school, and the pattern chosen to replicate this artifact is "Jacket for Weekend Sports" from "A Stitch in Time: Vintage Knitting Patterns, 1930-1959 vol.2" by Susan Crawford. This pattern captures the vintage shape of the artifact, and utilizes similar elements like zippers instead of buttons.
Bed Sheet Skirt
The item for this week's Sewing Saturday was chosen not necessarily because it reminded us of a certain sewing pattern, but of a certain sewing material! This beautiful handmade skirt with a flounce hem is made of a floral fabric reminiscent of vintage bed sheets! Thrifting fabric, and bed sheets can be a great way to start sewing! Next time you are in the thrift store peak in the linen section to see if you can spot some fun 1960s or 1970s sheets to use in projects. ⁠
Nurse's Cloak
The clothing in our collection doesn't get many chances to shine in the public eye! So we are starting a new series to not only show off our textiles, but to pair them with sewing patterns that will help sewing enthusiasts recreate them at home! These beautiful nurses cloaks remind us of "Call the Midwife". We think the Vogue V9288 pattern would make a fun garment inspired by these classics!