Simply Stitchy

Hi all, Sometimes sewing patterns can be more than just a 2D representation of the latest fashions. They can also be a time capsule. A treasure trove of information on styles and how clothing trends have changed over the years. From the voluptuous, almost decadent, post war dresses of the 1950s to the figure hugging, casual elegance of the 1960 s. Patterns are a fascinating historical record of days gone by.  With a little bit of detective work, they can also provide an insight into the kinds of alterations our sewing ancestors carried out. Take this pattern, Simplicity 7253 from 1975. A “How To Sew Everybody Jacket” with raglan sleeves and a hat suitable for men, teens and women.  Although, the hat only appears on the teens… maybe adults didn’t wear hats in the 70s. According to the envelope, the size of this particular pattern is large. The pattern is in reasonable condition.  The instruction sheet is step by step with hand...

Hi all, T has been complaining lately about the fact that all his shirts are too short. He likes his shirts tucked in. Which is impossible when the shirt tails are only an inch lower than his waistband. It drives him nuts. Good job he knows someone with a sewing machine. Any excuse to go fabric and pattern shopping, right? The chosen pattern was Simplicity 1544 from 2013.  As I haven’t made a man’s shirt before, I definitely knew that a mock up was essential before attempting the real garment. I chose what I thought to be a Cotton Broadcloth. It was in a Thanksgiving sale last November. At $2.89 a yard it was a bargain.  Or so I thought. It turned out to be a polycotton blend with a slightly satin/silky feel to it. I mentioned in a previous post that mock ups need to be in a fabric that closely matches the material you’ll be using for the real item. As T only likes cotton shirts, I’ll be making his shirt from 100% cotton. The fabric deli...

Hi all, I mentioned a few posts back that I needed to get a more diverse range of sewingpattern s. Now, at the time, I meant that I needed to stock up on clothing patterns like shirts, tops, jackets, and maybe leggings. Did I also mention that I am a pushover for soft toy patterns?  From rag dolls to teddy bears, I have a growing collection of fluffy cuteness smiling at me from my pattern box. It wasn’t a shock to me, or anyone that knows me, when these two beauties arrived in the mail.  Well, actually it was a bit of a surprise. I was only really expecting this one. It’s from 1974. McCalls UK60 The second, McCalls 4780, from 1975 was a bit out of the blue. I’m still not sure where, when or even if I ordered this one... It’s a very welcome addition though.  The Wombles was a British Children’s TV show based on the books by Elizabeth Beresford. Cute little eco-warriors way ahead of their time. Recycling rubbish left behi...