Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennie Robbiano on July 10, 2012 at 10:09am

A lot of the major pattern companies (vogue, butterick, simplicity) have vintage collections. I would head to wherever you get patterns and look in the books they have there. I also really love simplicity's Project Runway collection because they separate all the pattern elements making it easier to customize.

These are some of my favorite patterns:

McCall's 6503 http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6503-products-16285.php?page_id=108

Simplicity 1803 http://www.simplicity.com/p-7502-misses-miss-petite-dresses-project...

Vogue 8640 http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8640-products-10782.php?page_id=864

Clover  1019 http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/clover

McCall's 5845 http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m5845-products-10057.php?page_id=108

Simplicity 2444 http://www.simplicity.com/p-4463-misses-dresses.aspx

Also check out this blog; it's fantastic. http://www.blogforbettersewing.com/

Happy sewing!

Permalink Reply by Katiesue Wadsworth on July 11, 2012 at 8:02am

ooo those are really cute! Thanks for the links, I keep saying I want to start trying to sew again and these have been some much needed motivation, LOL ^_^

Permalink Reply by Lissete Briggs on July 14, 2012 at 6:45pm

Hi one thing I have done that has been immensely beneficial to my sewing is making my own sloper which is shell that is fitted to your body then disassembled . You use this to adjust your patterns accordingly. 

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4498/the-merits-of-a-basic-fitt...

Joining patternreview.com and asking questions on their boards has been very helpful and also checking reviews on patterns before I buy them . I cannot count how many times I have started on a project only to be disappointed with the directions on pattern. 

craftsy has a great online class taught by gretchen hirsch who teaches you how to sew a "bombshell" dress.

http://www.craftsy.com/class/Sew-Retro-Perfect-Fit-Bombshell-Dress/29

as far as fabrics I like to go on the mets online catalog and looking at midcentury dresses the description usually gives fiber content of dresses  also really experiment with fabrics , silk taffeta backed with flannel draped differently then say taffeta backed with organza.

lastly add a waist stay to any projects you have where the skirt is very full , this helps support your garment and allows it to drape beautifully.

good luck with you sewing :)