Pan Am Costume

I am getting behind on my blogging so I have queued up a few posts this week so you won't get inundated with them all at once! 

Onto the sewing!  When I was at university I was part of the Student Guide and Scout society and every term they do a fancy dress pub crawl.  As an oldie I still get invited along (read: I invite myself along!) and this term it was something beginning with your first initial.  I wasn't sure I would have time to make something new so I was going to go as Snow White but in the end I did have time and thought I would go as a sailor.  Sorted.  Then I watched an episode of Pan Am (if you haven't seen it, watch it!  NOW!) and as I was lusting over the 50's/60's glamour I realised that I could be a stewardess!  This would be perfect and would realise some of my vintage fantasies.  

Pan Am-ing it up

Hand made items

 I had recently seen a tutorial on Instructables and had bookmarked it for the future.  I do this a lot with things I like but rarely seem to actually use them.  I used the pattern the author made for the hat, though I did find the hat band was not long enough for the hat.  I also lined it with the blue cotton I used for the hat and skirt, I had 1.50m and it was just enough.

Flying Hat

 

hmmm a 2-4-1 on cocktails you say?

 Better picture of my make up - red nails, red lips, and hair which I used a You Tube tutorial for which is actually a method of curling hair but you leave it wrapped around a hairband and I thought this was a great up-do for the hat.

 I used an odd gold button from my stash where the Pan Am emblem normally goes.  I also bought a little Pam Am badge on ebay to pin to my shirt and to hint to those people that didn't know what I was supposed to be.  The hat is also the second time I have used piping and this one was far more successful as I used shop bought piping rather than making my own (which failed) though I would use a proper tutorial next time if I made my own rather than just bodging it up.

Back view

 This was in no way my most careful project, I thought of a better way of sewing the vent straight after I did it, the zip is appalling and will be re-done using a different method, and the hemming stitches were too tight and you can see the ham all the way round even though I hand stitched it.  I didn't line it as it is essentially a costume but I do think I will wear it again after I have tidied it up a bit as I think it actually looks quite flattering on me.  Plus this was a great way of making a wearable muslin for a pattern that I am sure I will make again.  It would look great in a nice woolen or plaid and properly lined.

Pockets!

I used a Burda Style pattern from issue 8/11, pattern number 122, which was a stretch pencil skirt.  I didn't realise it was stretch pattern until after cutting out the very non-stretch cotton.  This wasn't too big of a mistake though, it just meant there was not much ease so I reduced the seam allowances on the sides and back to give my bum and thighs a bit move room to move.  I was going dancing in this, I needed a bit of wriggle room! 

Exits to the side of the plane!

I had a great night and the costumes were all really good.  Quite a few people knew who I was supposed to be and one had even watched the tv programme.  Someone did think I was a Thunderbird though!  Multi-purpose outfit perhaps?  Heehee!

Vintage Vogue Re-issue Summer Dress - Work in Progress

I started this project quite a while ago but other things have cropped up and it is not going very quickly.  Hopefully posting it on here, combined with my week off will give me a bit of a kick up the bum.  I got this lovely re-issue of a 1954 Vogue pattern in the Daily Mail giveaway last year, for just the price of the postage.  Bargain!

Vogue V2960

This pattern does scare me a bit, it has bound buttonholes which I have never done but I am going to attempt. (If they go wrong they will end up as just machined button holes, I warn you now!)  I am using the lovely floral fabric I bought at Sewing for Pleasure which is fairly see through so it is going to be fully lined.

The dress instructions do not include a lining so I am just winging that bit but I know the theory of how it should work.  I think I will line it and then add the floral facings over the top but I hope this doesn't make the top section too bulky.  I have made some changes to the pattern, but I can't entirely remember what they are!
I know I took a bit of fabric off the arm hole as these always seem to be too tight on me lately.  I *think* I took a bit off the length of the torso piece to make it sit at my waist better.

So far I have cut my fabric and lining but that is where construction ends.  I will have to gee myself up to carry on as in my mind those button holes are a bit of a hurdle.  I did get these really cute buttons in a contrasting colour to go down the front.  I figure if I am going to have buttons all down it then I want them to stand out.

Ebay Pattern Binge!

I have no money.  So of course I bought patterns.  :S  Well in my defence they were paid for using my Papal, so its not like it is REAL money. *ahem* Plus I am going away to the Sewing for Pleasure exhibition in Birmingham this weekend where I am hoping to pick up some lovely new fabric and now I have patterns to go with it!  Enough with the justifications, on to the patterns!

Vogue 6654

This was quoted as a 1940's pattern when I bought it and that was one of the reasons I went for it though it doesn't have the date anywhere on it.  I would like to get the date confirmed but can't find it online so it is quite possible. The style and hair dos look 40s though which is positive.  I don't think I would ever wear this but I would really like the challenge of making it.  I love the pin tucks just not sure about the frills.

Butterick 5033

This is a re-print of a 1952 pattern which I only bid on as I couldn't see it go for 99p!  heehee!  I wasn't going to buy any more 50's but I did and I love the necklines, they are very summery looking.

Sunday People 567

A free with a newspaper pattern but I had to have it as it is so sweet!  I love the bib front and shirt under dress look and this is lovely!  It is a few sizes too big fr me so I will have to have a go at grading it but I am game for this as it was cheap.  It was also listed as 1970's but I think it might be more modern than that as the sizing is pretty much modern sizes, i.e. size 16 is a shop size 16 instead of smaller.

.................and now, my favourite pattern to date.....................

Simplicity 4399

eeeeee  Don't you just love it!  I love everything about this!  The big buttons, the off centre fold, the big skirt and the cute wiggle dress.  I was so happy to get this one as I really love it!  I believe it to be another 1950's patter, again no date shown.  I love it when patterns come back in style and I can't believe how many 50's style dresses and prints I have seen recently.  Hooray!

My 1950's Vintage Patterns

I haven't done any more sewing this week but I am planning on reorganising my sewing room and in the process I have been looking through my sewing patterns.  I have a few now and I can't help it, when I see one I want I buy it.  I am particularly drawn to vintage patterns, I really like fifties styles but I have a lot of seventies too so I thought I would split these pattern posts into decades.  I am posting in date order shown on the packet, my earliest ones are from the fifties.

1945 

Vogue Vintage V2960

This is a new pattern of an original 1945 pattern by Vogue, I have included it as it is still originally a fifties pattern.  I got this one from a Daily Mail postal offer which was a bargain as I only had to pay postage.  I love the low back and the sweet little cap sleeves, I think this would look great in a floral print.

1955

Simplicity 1197

I won this pattern in an online giveaway, the packets a bit damaged but you can see the tie shoulder straps and jacket.  It has a scoop back too which is the illustration missing in the top right, which is really sweet.  I was very happy to win this as I love full dresses and this was a little different.

1957

Vogue 9181

I absolutely love this pattern!  I have made this one up, it is the only vintage pattern I have used to far and I had excellent results from it.  I bought it on ebay after spending time trying to find the perfect Chuck dress pattern and buying several others that I thought would 'do.'  Then this popped up and it was lovely, had the collar I wanted and extra pleats which were not in my original idea but worked so well I loved them!  

I want to get some action photos of this.  (Ignore the mess this was in my old flat where I had zero room to move and sew.)

1959

McCall's 4920

I bought this one on ebay when I was looking for shirt style dresses but it would be a little big for me once made up.  I am hoping I can adjust this but I haven't had the confidence to try yet.

Date Unknown

Woman's Weekly 324K

This is a lovely pattern and another ebay bargain of a full dress with bow detail on the neck.  It is from the Woman's Weekly magazine and is in great condition but I have no idea of the date.  It is not printed on the single page I have but from the style of dress and the advertisements on the back it looks 1950's to me.  If anyone has any other ideas please let me know.

I don't have any 1960's patterns as yet so next we will be jumping into the 1970's of which I have a few as I inherited most of them from my gran.