Give it a Twirl... Give it a Whirl! Vintage Butterick Dress - 5368

I'm not quite sure what to make of this dress!  It's my first attempt at a vintage pattern and I have to say... it was SUPER easy and pretty fun to make.  I'm now in love with bias tape!  (Kinda pathetic, huh?) 

I had illusions of the perfect little vintage dress, wearing it with an adorable vintage apron (that I would have to make, but would love to do so) and taking a pot roast (which I don't eat because I don't eat beef) out of the oven as my husband comes home from work... think Leave it to Beaver!  That's not exactly what I got as I started making this dress!

I think the dress is adorable, but there are several flaws with my fabric choice and the pattern grading for my body type. 
Fabric: Lightweight Broadcloth from Joann's - On sale for $2.99/yd. (+7 yds of black bias tape)
Looking back, I would have chosen a much stiffer, heavier-weight fabric if I had realized how much the design would rely on the draping of the fabric.  On the mannequin, you really cannot tell, but the fabric under the arm and bust line would lay much better and provide more movement if it was of heavier weight. 

Time to Complete: 2 hours - SUPER EASY

Machine(s) Used:  I used only my sewing machine for this dress.  Overall, there are 8 darts between the front and back of the dress and I didn't want to risk messing anything up with the blade of the serger. 

Alterations Made to Pattern:  I didn't do many alterations to the pattern as I used the pattern as cut at a size 10 - 32.5" bust.  Since it is my first vintage pattern, I thought it best not to rock the boat!
Looking back, I would have made it a bit more "petite-able."  I found that the pattern is far too large in the shoulders and the waist line could have been raised approximately an inch or two.

Yeah/Nay:  Maybe, but probably not - If I do find some motivation to make this again, I will definitely go for heavier-weight material; perhaps in a print!

(so sorry, but my photographer, aka husband, is out of town this week so you have to settle for me and my dress form!)

UPDATE:::  This pattern is available for Sale!!  StudioPVintageSewing.com

So... What Pattern Companies Are Out There???

It's amazing just how many companies are out there when it comes to sewing patterns for clothing for you, for him, for your child and even for your home. 

I've done my best to make a list, complete with links to each company (or where to purchase online).  Email me or post a comment if I have forgotten any!

More Mainstream Pattern Collections:
Burda
Butterick (owned by McCall's)
It's So Easy (owned by Simplicity)
KwikSew
McCall's
New Look (owned by Simplicity)
See & Sew (owned by McCall's)
Simplicity
Stitch N Save (owned by McCall's)
Vogue (owned by McCall's)

Specialized/Independent Pattern Collections:
Akasha
Amy Butler Sewing Patterns
The Batik Butik (also known as Bali Collection)
Christine Jonson Patterns (also known as CJ Patterns)
CNT Patterns
Collette Patterns
Cutting Line Designs
Donna Christopher Patterns (Could not find direct link, but available on major sites like sewingpatterns.com)
Dos de Tejas Patterns
Encore Design (Could not find direct link, but available on major sites like sewingpatterns.com)
Fig Tree & Co.
Folkwear
Ghees
Grainline Gear
Green Pepper
Heather Bailey Patterns
Hot Patterns
Islander
Jalie
Kayla Kennington
LaFred Patterns
Lazy Girl Designs
LJ Designs
Loes Hinse
Lorraine Torrence (also known as Grainline Gear)
Lutterloh
Material Things
ModKid Sewing Patterns by Patty Young (Plus, Misses, Tweens and Children)
Neue Mode (also Young Collection, Quick & Easy)
Palmer Pletsch
Park Bench
Pat Bravo Patterns (Accessories Patterns)
Pavelka
Petite Plus
Portabellopixie Patterns
Purrfection
Rag Stock
Saf-T-Pockets
Sense & Sensibility
Serendipity Studio
Sewing Workshop
Wild Ginger (Software Company)

Child-Specific Pattern Collections:
Abacadabra (Could not find direct link, but available on major sites like sewingpatterns.com)
Izzy and Ivy
Jona G
Oliver + S
Pink Fig Patterns

This list will be a work in progress - feel free to message me on twitter @pixiepattern or email at pixiepattern@gmail.com if you have a company to add!

Jumpsuit Review - McCall's # M6083

I am obsessed with jumpsuits.  We are about to depart for a much-needed vacation to Mexico, so I thought that it would be the perfect arrival outfit!  It's completely appropriate to wear something perfectly flowing and somewhat loose fitting to arrive in a tropical country, go through customs and arrive on-resort. 

For this jumpsuit, I used McCall's pattern number M6083.  I am a perfect pattern size 8 in McCalls, but I wear a size 2 in store-bought clothes (don't get turned off by pattern sizing!). 

Fabric: Cotton/Poly Blend with Slight Stretch - Black

Time to Complete: 1 1/2 hours - SUPER EASY (and quick too!)

Machine(s) Used:  For this pattern, I used both the sewing machine and my serger.  I mainly used the sewing machine to make darts, attach the pockets, and make the casings for the elastic. The serger was great for the side seams, to seal the edges of the fabric as it did not lend itself well to being cut, and for the roll hem on the delicate fabric. 

Alterations Made to Pattern:  I really did not make many alterations to the pattern.  It fit very well, except for the fact that it was too long, so I did shorten the pant leg just a little!

Observations/Changes Once Made:  One thing that I would have changed in the way that I constructed the item was that I did not think to seal the edges of my fabric with the serger on the top casing.  I wish I had done this!  It would have been much cleaner.  I also followed the directions for purposes of this review and I would have sewn the casings a little differently than the instructions suggest.  Often, it is easier to add the elastic in a large circle, stretch and just sew into the garment as you sew the facing. 

Yeah/Nay:  I think Yeah!  I will make this pattern again - perhaps in a linen print and skip the fabric belt in lieu of a wider, more embellished belt.

Overall, this is a VERY easy pattern and was quite fun to make - especially if you are obsessed with jumpsuits!

Welcome!

It's great to welcome you to my blog, Pixie Pattern and Sewing Reviews!  Each week, and maybe more often than that, I will post photos of items that I have made using various patterns available at stores, online or printable on the web.  I'll give you feedback as to what I would have done differently, if I had to change any part of the pattern and what else I think could be done with the pattern. 

A Little About Me:  I am not your average seamstress.  I am 27 years old, something that is a rareity in this field and I can't sit still for very long - I am told I may have a touch of ADHD.  Just this combination makes for a zany, but interesting mix for sewing and designing.  I am married to the most wonderful man in the world and I have a cute, but overanxious Blue Merle Great Dane, who just so happens to love the hum of the sewing machine and/or serger.