Possibilities: And the Bertness Award goes to . . . June 25, 2008 17:59 3 Comments
Butterick 2240, circa early 1960s
This is hubby’s choice for the first step in my learn-to-sew project. He says that I can wear it every Friday when we ballroom dance. (That sounds utterly pompous, doesn’t it? Why not simply say dancing? Because, after all, is there any other kind of dancing? Not in my world!) And this dress is quite pretty, ever so feminine. I see it in a silk-linen blend. Unlined, of course, because it needs to be cool on the dance floor. It’s easy to work up quite a sweat — I suppose I should be every scintilla the Southern girl and say glow — with a tango or a cha cha. My dance teacher, by the way, is celebrating his 20th wedding anny next week. So mahvelous! But back to the Butterick. It looks a little difficult. I see buttons. And that means buttonholes. I want to learn to make beautiful buttonholes — one day. But I see frustration if I attempt them too soon. Baby steps. Right?
And speaking of Southern women, did you know that Patricia Taylor Allanson, she of the arsenic and pearls and jail cells, is a very skilled dressmaker? So says Ann Rule in Everything She Ever Wanted.
Comments
Evalyn on May 20, 2015 12:08
I don’t reommend a pattern with buttons down the front for dancing. Or for your “beginner” sewing project. Button holes are tricky, take practice. Front button dresses tend to gap and to come undone under stress. But the white dress from Threads should be good if it’s full enough in the skirt to allow dance moves.
Pattern_Nut on May 20, 2015 12:08
Adorable pattern. I don’t dance so I can’t comment on what works or doesn’t for dancing. But you’ll want dresses for your non-dancing hours, too! Make a muslin. Okay, so some people think it’s too much trouble, but if you aren’t ready to cut into your beautiful fashion fabric—and you shouldn’t be—cut out and sew the main pieces of the dress from muslin or from plain old bedsheets or tablecloths. I know whereof I speak. You can work out your fitting problems on your muslin(s). Transfer the alterations to new pattern pieces you’ve traced onto heavy or light but durable paper. From there you can make a wearable test from a fabric you don’t feel too emotionally attached to. Then cut into your fashion fabric.
Buttonholes: practice on scraps. If you can, get lessons from your sewing machine dealer so you can really get to know your machine. You can make machine buttonholes for now, but one day, you will want to make the bound buttonholes that so many vintage patterns call for!
Marilynn on May 20, 2015 12:08
Precious pattern — FAR too fitted for a beginner AND — beware of patterns that have an illustration instead of a photo of an actual garment. In an illustration, all garments look like they are fitted perfectly. That sleeve will bind you when you try to lift your arms to dance because it’s not a set-in, it’s cut onto the front and back of the garment. Because it’s cut on, it will bunch under the arm. Also, if your bust is not exactly the same size as the pattern, the darts won’t point at your bust apex. When in doubt, cut out the just the front bodice section (shoulder to waist) out of scrap and sew in the darts. You will see instantly if they point to your bust. See? I’ve been taking salsa classes, and I think I’m going to buy one of the cheap skirts made of stretch fabric just to wear to class — we need that movement.