Vintage Fabric LOVE AFFAIR
Hey, Friends! I’m sharing a fun little collab here today. (I’m trying to anyway…in between the calamities of life during a pandemic with 3 young children, 3 dogs, and 2 cats at home… #literalshitshow #idratherbesewing)
Through the miracles of social media, Kelly and I recently connected. I do wish I could recall exactly how our virtual paths came to cross.
Things I do know: there’s something magical, for lack of a better word, about vintage florals; and I audibly gasp at everything Kelly shares. Her Etsy shop, Vintage Fabric Studios, is dangerous in the best way. I couldn’t decide which fabric to work with, so I asked Kelly to surprise me. I was delighted she sent this one.
Naturally, I wanted to pair the vintage sheet yardage to a pattern with a similar vintage vibe.
Finalists: Friday Pattern Company Sagebrush vs. Fibremood Elma
(Elma lost in part because the Fibremood website is painful.)
The Sagebrush pattern released earlier this summer and I didn’t buy it immediately, as I have done for quite a few years, not unlike every fabric that tickles my fancy. #stashhappens
gathers and ruffles, oh my!
I chose to sew Sagebrush in size S, one size down from measured, to balance the anticipated body of the fabric. (I measure 35” high bust, 35” full bust, 28” waist, 39” hips and am 5’5” tall.)
Despite this being the first time I sewed Sagebrush, I went ahead and made some construction changes. Namely, I faced the front and back yokes, which allowed for a few hidden seams and also eliminated the need to finish the neckline with bias. (I opted for a button and loop closure at the back instead.)
back yokes sewn along the neckline and center back, with loop
Faced yokes make way to burrito rolls.
front assembled with added yoke facing and rolled to sew the neckline and then shoulders
And fin!
I ended up taking 4” off the sleeves and finishing them with a fixed band (h/t Andrea).
To complete the look, I’m modeling my vintage sheet Sagebrush with vintage Jordache jeans. I purchased these in 2019 from Donna’s Dress Shop in KC (DO YOU REMEMBER TRAVELING?) and I FINALLY altered them to fit.
Tell me I’m half as cute as Natalie here.
Vintage sheets are often a blend of poly and cotton, which generally means they are quite easy to cut and sew as well as being resistant to wrinkling. Who could ask for more? Well, it also feels good to rescue these materials from the terrible fate of being buried alive in a landfill, so give yourself a gold star if you adopt some.
Fun fact about that button; I found it under my sewing table, likely scattered to the wind by a toddler some days before. I’d call that kismet.
that’s a flat felled seam, #jazzhands
I had enough left over to whip up a cheeky little pair of knickers which I will not be modeling for the interweb’s consumption.
Pattern: Koko
So, THANK YOU, Kelly, for reaching out and sending me some of your vintage goodies.
I ended up purchasing 2 rainbow strip packs from the shop too, thinking I would piece them into a coat of many colors. Stay tuned!
Do you spy a print that reminds you of your childhood?
And this, folks, is the end.
