Skip to main content
I found these little gems at one of my favorite vintage shops in Chicago today - they were hidden in the back, but clearly meant for me to find them!


I'm always looking for things like this for pattern making inspiration. These particular Simplicity Home Sewing Catalogs are from Summer of 1967 (on the left) and Fall/Winter 1966 (right). The illustrations are great as they are mostly full-body in these and many of the items in here are quite simple as far as pattern making goes.

I love the "obliquely waisted" contrast dress in this photo. I actually have 2 vintage dresses in my own wardrobe with this styling and it is always flattering.


Sooo cute!


Planning on a version of the diagonal dress with the built-up neckline as well.


I also like that the back of them, they show back flat-sketch views of items in the catalog as well as approximate yardage for each piece!


Similar items inspired by these catalogs (perhaps these very pages) are in the works for the Etsy shop!
Labels:

Comments

  1. shelley0821October 17, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    I may have actually seen these books since I was sewing at this time & I was 9 & 10 when these books came out...see how easy it was to sew then? I made most of my clothes!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Latch Hook Rug Update

A little under a month ago I received all of my supplies to take on one of the biggest long-term projects I have ever taken on - a self-designed latch hook rug. I don't know why, but I am clearly nuts. So beginning today I am posting photos each month, (preferably on the 1st of each month) progress of this gigantic shag rug. See how I started it here (scroll down past posting of my $10 dress).  This is a photo of it today:  Yes, I used the candelabra for scale. Haha.   This rug is really soft and is fun to run your fingers through.  It doesn't look like much was accomplished, but though the number of packages we have gone through of pre-cut latch hook rug yarn already I have calculated that  we've used over 2500 strands for this ie.) 8 packages. I also just ordered 10 more packages of lime green since that's what I ran out of first and 6 more packages of straw yellow. There is still quite a bit to go, but you see the blue row square...
18 comments
Read more

DIY Trapeze Dress

I'm a pretty big fan of tent dresses (or trapeze dresses - call it what you want). They're simple, easy-to-make and you can have many variations of them. These are a fun style to wear for spring and summer!  See this DIY from a Good Housekeeping Crafts book from 1971 - photos at the end of my own trapeze top from a while ago! (Bear with me on the photos here - this book is quite cumbersome and hard to scan.)  Applique patterns, in case you wanted the dress to look EXACTLY like the photo. (But why?)  How to cut the fabric efficiently. (This is actually pretty important cost-wise for you - especially with something this big.)  Using pattern instructions from my patternmaking book from college, I created this swingy trapeze top a bit ago. I used sweater fabric from a thrift store find for the collar of this top.   I also opened up the back on the pattern to have a diamond shape.   It c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shingo Sato and the Art of Transformational Reconstruction

So I got really excited on my break at work today when I got an email from Burda about a webinar they're doing on a pattern technique called "Transformational Reconstruction" developed by Japanese designer Shingo Sato. I hadn't even heard of Shingo Sato until today let alone his design technique but oddly, it's sort of the path I'm going down with my designs anyway as seen with the Sunrise Panel dress as well as the Petra Dress and the pattern making involved in those designs. What I did there is perhaps a "light" version of Sato's where the darts and shaping are hidden in the seam lines. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know that my design aesthetic focuses largely on color blocking, unusual seam lines, and a love of anything psychedelic. Note: All photos stolen from the internet. Sorry! I'm super-excited. Let me know if it's yours and I'll take it down.  Shingo Sato teaching.  More designs using...
3 comments
Read more