Vintage Pattern Maxi Skirt

If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen just a tiny portion of my vintage pattern stash.

I love vintage patterns!  I love the cover illustrations, I love the styles and I love wondering about the previous owners.  What did they make?  Which fabric did they use?  Did they ever imagine that 45 years later someone would be making the exact same skirt using their old pattern??



This fabulous 1973 McCall's pattern maxi skirt has been on my "to make" list for awhile. 

I was truly amazed to discover that I had to cut 2.5cm off the bottom!  I did!  Me!  The ladies in the 70's must have been rocking some massive platforms if I, at 6ft tall, had to shorten it!! The only other adjustment I made was to reduce the width of the waistband, it was just too wide for my liking.







The fabric I used was found at an op shop.  I paid 50 cents for 9.6 metres of it!  Bargain!  It's a simple cotton that is perfect for the hot weather.  I also found the zip for 10 cents and the button is a vintage wooden button which was gifted to me.  Seriously, this has to be the cheapest skirt ever!!

I used a vintage wooden button.
This is not a good invisible zip insertion;
I use a vintage machine which doesn't have an invisible zip foot!

I Made It Monday: Easy DIY Maxi Dress

Today I'm wearing a lightweight cotton maxi dress. 

It's really simple to make and is the sort of effortless styling a busy Mama (or busy anyone!) needs.

This fabric was from an Ikea doona (duvet) cover! 
It's very thin so drapes nicely.

Oh, and I added pockets but we'll talk about pockets another time!

 

Photos c/o my wonderful Husband

 

Here's how I did it:
1. Take a very loose fitting Dolman sleeve top and trace around the front and back, adding a bit extra for seam allowances and your desired length to make it a maxi dress.  Make sure it's a loose flowing fit; if you cut it too wide you can always take it in later.

2. With right sides together sew the shoulder seams. **

3. Finish the neck line by folding over 1cm twice to make a neat hem, sew. **

4. Sew underarms and down the side seam, stopping and backstitching where you want the side slits to start. **

5.  Finish sleeves by folding over 1cm twice to make a neat hem, sew. **

6. Make a tube of fabric, same width as the dress.  Sew into dress at your natural waistline, leaving an opening to thread elastic.  Cut a piece of elastic which is your waist measurement + 2cm.  Thread into casing (tube) and securely sew closed.

7.  Neatly finish the side slits and hem by folding over 0.5cm twice to make a neat hem. **

8.  Give it all a good press and you're ready to go!

**Press with the hottest iron temperature your fabric will allow.  Trust me, pressing between each step makes sewing so much easier and gives you the best finish.

NB: all seam allowances are 1.5cm unless otherwise stated.

Just on a side note: this "trace around existing garment" method only really works for loose fitting, shapeless clothes.  If you are new to sewing and try it for something more fitted you'll be frustrated and disappointed.  An experienced seamstress can draft a pattern, but again that requires far more expertise than this method. 
If you are new to sewing, and my shonky instructions make you scratch your head (I apologize because they make sense to me!) then buy a pattern.  A purchased pattern will give you exact measurements and precise instructions.  For a budding seamstress I think patterns are a good way to start, it will build confidence and technique.  Unless of course you're the "jump in and give it a go type", then this method will work just fine!! 

I Made It Monday: From Frumpy to Fab Refashion

This is a really simple dress to skirt refashion (see similar here) that anyone can do. 

I picked this dress up at a Thrift Shop for $3.00 - you get what you pay for, right?!

I was singing "I Feel Pretty" as you do! 
I went all out for the before shot: no shoes, no make up!

I like the colours and the lightweight cotton fabric.  However, that square neckline does me no favours; the whole dress is too wide on me; the hem line is a weird and unflattering length with that much solid blue.

So to remedy all these problems I simply chopped the dress off under the armpits; sewed a casing and inserted elastic. 

Sandals: Big W; Skirt: Made by Me; Shirt: Old & refashioned by me
Pretty view c/o Kiama, NSW

Ta da!  A maxi skirt!  From frumpy dress to fabulous maxi skirt in one simple seam!

It was really windy! 
I don't mind rain, snow, cold or heat but I do NOT like the wind!
Photos c/o my wonderful Husband who loves a random unflattering shot!

I Made It Monday: Sewing with the Flat Bum Mum

One of the goals of this blog is to encourage others to sew.  So when I suggested to the fabulous Bron at Flat Bum Mum that we team up to make a skirt and she said YES I was thrilled. 

If you haven't checked out Bron's blog you really have to.  She's a stylish Mum of 3 (including twins, I always feel like twin's are worth extra points it the Mum stakes!) who writes an interesting and funny real life blog for real Mums. 

We each made a skirt using this tutorial. 
 
I had this gorgeous fabric (from The Remnant Warehouse) in my fabric stash for a long time, so I posted it on IG and asked what I should make with it.  The almost unanimous answer was maxi skirt!  You were all so right! 

I have a confession to make.  I didn't own a maxi skirt.  Not one.  Why??? 

Skirt: Made  By Me; Necklace: Made By Me; Tee: Target

I am loving the maxi skirt!  So much so that I've made a second one.  You have the ease of wearing a skirt without having to worry about remembering to shave your legs (not that I'd ever do that...* ahem*)

Here is Bron's beautiful skirt, didn't she do a great job? 



Bron at Flat Bum Mum looking amazing!

I love that you can't make such different skirts with the same simple pattern. 

So have a go at this simple skirt - I'd love to see your creations!