Swap 2009 Update
My goal is to start the actual work March 1. We’re coming up to the deadline and I think I’ll be ready to go. I did hit a couple snags, though.
1.The light blue linen I ordered was slightly off the blue in the flowers. However, after driving all over the county, I think it’s the closest I’m going to get.
2.I’ve decided I would never wear a solid brown top. This takes me down to 5 tops in my SWAP.
3. I can not find cream or ecru matte jersey or jersey with lycra. I’m really surprised, considering that it’s a basic color. I found it online, so I guess it will have to wait.
Other than those things, I’m ready to go. Everything will go in the wash today and I should be ready to start cutting on March 1.
Butterick 7552
I think I’ve found the blouse pattern for my solids. This is Butterick 7552, which I have used as the basis for a dress, but have never it made as a blouse. This pattern works with jeans as well as skirts. 
Simplicity 1127
This is the first of two test garments that I need to do this week. I’m quite happy with the fit, right out of the envelope, aside from the basic grading up to fit. The only thing I will change on the finished top is to add an inch in length to both the hem and sleeve. I will be using this pattern for my print top.
What I like most about this top is that it has the yoke and gathering that is in style in modern tops, but with the closer fit around the waist of the 50’s. Modern gathered tops tend to make me look pregnant, so this pattern was a great find!
SWAP 2009 Progress report
Last week, I ordered my print fabric from http://equilter.com/. Today, I ordered my woven solids. I’m starting to get really excited about this project. With the coupon that fabric.com gave me for mentioning their site on this blog, I was able to splurge and get all linen fabrics. Some of you might cringe at the thought of an all linen wardrobe, (all that ironing!) but I don’t wear my linen that way. I got my sewing start in Elizabethan costuming. We used linen for all our underthings. They were always well laundered, soft, wrinkly and drapey. The biggest drawback to laundered linen is the prep work. It will take at least 2 machine wash and dries to preshrink it. That’s fine by if, in the end, the finished garments are machine washable. So, let’s have a look at our color scheme, shall we?
I’ve decided on a skirt pattern and a knit top pattern. I have 2 more blouse patterns to test. I hope that by the end of the week, I’ll be able to post the storyboard for my SWAP.
My favorite online fabric store
Earlier this week, I was contacted by someone from www.fabric.com. For mentioning their site on the blog, they are giving my readers a $5 off coupon, valid until 2/19.
coupon code: blognewvintage
SWAP change of direction
So, after 2 weeks of testing garments, I think I’ve come to a conclusion. I need to let go of the need to be “historically accurate”. Back when I was involved in historical reenactment, this was a HUGE deal for me. It has remained with me as I started to get into vintage clothing. However, after seeing all the various garments on me, I’ve come to see that the best garments for my figure don’t always come from the same era. Part of the beauty of choosing vintage styled garments is that I can pick what best suits me. From what I can see, what seems to suit me best is the 40’s A-line skirt and 50’s fitted blouse.
This picture shows 40’s A-line skirt with a 40’s blouse
Oh, my word! My chest looks GINORMOUS
However, with a T&T (tried and true) 50’s blouse, the girls don’t look quite so big and you can actually see a waistline.
I think these will be the two garments that form the basis of my complete wardrobe.
SWAP 2009 Progress report
Today, I ordered my fabric! This feels like a huge step forward. I’ve been waiting to get paid before ordering and it felt like I was just treading water.
Here is my final choice for my print fabric. It has the same chocolate, blue and cream, but a more classic print.
I’ve also been doing tester garments. Some of my original plans for patterns haven’t worked out as planned. I will be using the same skirt pattern, but not the blouse. My plan is to use Simplicity 3789 as the body, with a vintage collar and sleeve to give it a more vintage look.
This pattern is from their “BCD” collection, meaning it has seperate pieces for B, C, and D cup sizes. This makes fitting the garment SOOO much easier. I’ve made a tester blouse, using the sleeve and collar that comes with the pattern, and it looked great. The 40’s blouse was just doing nothing for my figure. This week, I will make a wearable, I hope, tester blouse using the collar and sleeves from Hollywood 6151 on the bodice of the above pattern
SWAP 2009 Update
I’ve given up on the idea of a completely vintage SWAP. The reality is that sewing knits is so much faster and less stressful (no zippers or buttons, no facings) that a huge chunk of my SWAP will be jersey knit. I’ve decided to use Simplicity 3688 for my trouser and woven skirt pattern
Simplicity 7635 will be my knit skirt and tee pattern
The biggest problem with trying to do a vintage SWAP is finding a print. I found some lovely, but quite modern cotton woven prints that would do well in a SWAP. For example:
SWAP 2009?
I am considering doing a SWAP for summer of 2009. SWAP stands for Sewing With A Plan and usually consists of 6 tops, 4 bottoms and 1 jacket that all go together. A dress can be included if it can be worn with the jacket. There have been SWAP contests running for several years, on various websites. I think I’m too late enter this year’s contests, as most of them are using a time frame of November 2008-April 2009 for when the garments must be sewn. I would like to do a vintage SWAP, but I’m not sure it will work out. In my experience, 50’s separates tend to look quite frumpy on me. I’ve made several blouses and a couple skirts, but never wear them. I have a couple 40’s separates that might work. Yes, I’ve complained about 40’s fashions before, but the separates seem to look less fussy and more wearable than the dresses.
For exmple, here’s Hollywood 932
I think the long, shaped hem of the top would be quite flattering for my short waist. I’m not so sure about the gathered skirt, but for that, I have Hollywood 1164
This pattern is a good basic blouse and skirt. I think the skirt is perfect! I already have a high waisted, wide leg trouser pattern that I love and I don’t wear jackets on a regular basis, so I don’t plan to make one.
I haven’t made either of these patterns before and will need to test them out before making a decision. If neither of these work, I have a modern pattern picked out.
