Back in September 2021, my friend Eve asked me if I ever did commissions – I never had (beyond making clothes for my family) but it was something I’ve been open to for a while! I’ve gained more confidence in the professional finish of my work since I got my overlocker which has made meContinue reading “Trousers for Eve: By Hand London Jackie trousers”
Tag Archives: vintage sewing
Making my perfect vintage shirt dress: McCall’s M6891
One of my favourite staples of a vintage-inspired wardrobe is a shirt dress: they are versatile and effortless. I have one of the classic Collectif Caterina dresses but I have been wanting to make my own for a very long time. So, when I saw this cotton check in Fabricland maybe a year ago, IContinue reading “Making my perfect vintage shirt dress: McCall’s M6891”
One pattern, two tops: Wearing History circa 1939 blouse review:
When I finished my blue stripey Smooth Sailing trousers and my orange Simplicity 8447 trousers, I had quite a bit of each fabric left – enough, I thought, to make matching tops. I had also recently finished my lemon ensemble and was really inspired by coordinating sets. In the past, I’ve made simple strappy topsContinue reading “One pattern, two tops: Wearing History circa 1939 blouse review:”
Simplicity 8447… again: 1940s orange summer trousers
I make no secret of the fact that Simplicity 8447 might just be my favourite pattern of all time – I wrote a whole blog post about it! So when I saw this orange viscose/linen blend in my local fabric shop, my mind immediately jumped to what a beautiful pair of 8447 trousers they wouldContinue reading “Simplicity 8447… again: 1940s orange summer trousers”
Wearing History Smooth Sailing trousers: making 1940s summer trousers
When the shops reopened in mid-April, I was so excited to finally be able to pop to my local fabric shop to pick up the thread I had run out of, or the buttons I needed for a project, instead of having to order online. However, not only did trips for essential haberdashery supplies resume,Continue reading “Wearing History Smooth Sailing trousers: making 1940s summer trousers”
Making a 1940s lemon print beachwear set
In March, as the evenings got longer and the days a little warmer, I found my mind wandering to spring sewing projects. All the plans for warm wool skirts for winter were being shelved as I dreamt about bright printed cottons and summer dresses. After a really long and cold winter, I was truly readyContinue reading “Making a 1940s lemon print beachwear set”
The Curtain Dress – or a Cinderella moment (Vogue pattern V1094)
I wrote this article in September 2020 but have been long overdue in publishing it! I hope you enjoy… When my friend’s mum asked me if I wanted her old curtains, of course I said yes. Multiple metres of good quality fabric for free?? Why wouldn’t I say yes? Also, using pre-existing fabric is moreContinue reading “The Curtain Dress – or a Cinderella moment (Vogue pattern V1094)”
A 1910s costume, part 7: the blouse
This post is the seventh in a series in which I endeavour to create a historically-accurate late-1910s outfit to the best of my ability. From using an antique sewing machine, finding modern patterns of historical designs to using contemporary sewing manuals, this project is a huge challenge and one that I’m super excited about. IContinue reading “A 1910s costume, part 7: the blouse”
An ode to Simplicity 8447
There is one pattern in my collection to which I always return, whose versatility and design make it perfect for a variety of projects. This pattern is simplicity 8447: a pattern from Simplicity’s vintage line. The showcased design is for a collared shirt and dungarees but it can also be used to make trousers andContinue reading “An ode to Simplicity 8447”
A first attempt at draping: a 1950s style summer top
As the temperatures rose in 2020, I retrieved all my summer clothes from storage and began to go through them to see if they would make the cut for this year’s summer wardrobe. During this process I came across a pair of yellow New Look palazzo trousers with a geometric print. I absolutely loved wearingContinue reading “A first attempt at draping: a 1950s style summer top”
Rachel makes 