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I Made a … 1940s Sun Dress | 2 in 1 Pinafore McCall’s 7475
My 1940s sun dress has proved to be the perfect all year vintage dress as it doubles up as a pinafore too! I made this using the vintage pattern McCall’s 7475* during the summer, but have found that I get more wear out of it now that I can layer it over a shirt.
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I Made a … Colette Patterns Moneta Dress
The Moneta Dress from Colette Patterns was brought to my attention by one of my wonderful students Erika, who has an incredibly stylish me made wardrobe that I am VERY jealous of. Seeing how great the Moneta Dress looked on her I knew I had to have one for myself. And what’s more she kindly lent me the pattern! Thanks Erika!
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I Made a …. Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater
As soon as I saw the Elliot Sweater pattern from Helen’s Closet I knew that it was going to be for me. It has so many things about it which I just LOVE. I am sure that this will be the first of many tops I will make from this pattern.
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I Made a…. 1940s Winter Coat
My 1940s winter coat is complete! I am so thrilled with how it turned out and really pleased I was able to finish it before the cold weather truly sets in. I used a vintage Vogue pattern from The Vintage Pattern Store* with a selection of new, vintage and organic fabrics. Take a closer look below.
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How to Sew a Blind Hem on a Sewing Machine
Ah hemming. Am I completely alone in that I really enjoy hand hemming garments? Perhaps. But there is something so therapeutic about the repetitive nature of hand hemming. Machine hemming on the the other hand, is something I CANNOT STAND. Ugh. I hate it I hate it I hate it.
Why Machine Hemming Sucks
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The Petersfield Sewing Bee
This summer, the town where my parents live is hosting their own ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ style competition. If you haven’t seen the Sewing Bee, it is basically the Bake Off but for sewing. One of the plus sides to my convalescence in the countryside is my new found abundance of free time. And for me free time means sewing. So I’ve decided to enter.
If you still have no idea what I’m on about the idea is quite simple; contestants complete 3 different sewing related tasks, each designed to test a different area of dressmaking knowledge. And this premise has formed the basis for my local sewing shop’s competition.
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Charity Shop Refashion – Asymmetric Playsuit
Take a look at my latest project, a playsuit refashion.
Refashioning is a great way to get more life out of a garment that is maybe past its best. The idea is not a new one, in fact I get a lot of my refashioning ideas from Make Do and Mend, the WW2 advice pamphlet.
However, it has been a little while since I have taken the time to actually do one. I have a list of possible makeovers a mile long. But recently, thanks to my health being on the blink, I have had lots more free time for this sort of thing.
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On Costume and Vintage
Today on the tube, a man told me he liked my costume. I smiled and said thanks and then he got off the tube. But actually I was a little unsettled by this encounter, not just because anybody talking to you on the tube is a bit weird, but because my first thought was ‘what costume?’
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Are you ever too old for hand-me-downs?
As I sit here wondering how to begin my very first post for Retro Claude, my mind struggles to find something to talk about. Believe me, I am not lacking in things to say, far from it. My issue is how to introduce the ideas and concepts behind this little project of mine in a way that sets the tone for things to come, doesn’t give too much away but leaves you all wanting to come back for more.
