News — evening gown

In a sort of Advents-Kalendar way, I will post 'red' for each day of December through Christmas and link the image as closely as possible to EvaDress Patterns (in pattern tour form) available in the shop! Here is the third, forget Santa's coat (Sorry, Santa) this is incredible Art Deco Wrap inspiration-forget presents and be the present all wrapped up in this one! Detail Image per: http://fripperiesandfobs.tumblr.com/ Sew the look using this is the Evening Wrap originally by McCall in 1929:  Originally by McCall, this wrap can be embellished with flounces and back tie, or with such omitted, for a plainer look. Below,...

This is a pattern by Vogue for the evening or wedding ‘Frock with or without train features circular frills outlining the raglan armholes.  Long sleeves pointed over wrists and darted at shoulder, are optional.  Deep V-opening at back or higher back with inset.  Gathers at front below neck band which is buttoned at back.  Knotted whisker at throat is optional.’ Vogue offered a generous seam allowance of 5/8" at a time when pattern companies widely produced patterns with a 3/8" or 1/2" seam allowance.  For their exceptional designs, Vogue also set themselves apart in the commercial pattern industry by selling...

Excuse my absence, been inundated with network issues and a dental procedure, as late.  As I touched on last week, it's often a better garment when cut on the bias versus the straight of grain.  This week, I demonstrate this in my improvement of a Big Four pattern, namely Vogue 8191 (OOP).  I cut the top front on the bias in two pieces, versus the one piece to avoid undesired asymmetry. Many may already know one side of a bias cut garment behaves differently than its opposite side.  Here, the armholes would have draped differently with the bodice cut in...

Picking up where I left up in 'Bias Junkie Part I', it's often a better garment when cut on the bias.  Take McCall 9906, the 1938 Day or Dinner Dress: The skirt is arranged on the fabric with grain.  It's fabulous already, right?!  Yet, I saw in it an opportunity so many of us dressmakers want - the potential to MAKE our own fabric!  As you may have seen in my blog 6 years ago, I set out to create my own ribbon gown using this pattern as I was inspired by an extant gown I bought in an antique...

It is a joy to come across an extant example originally made from a pattern I have reproduced to offer in my collection!  This example was posted on OMG that dress! (from Kerry Taylor Auctions) in 2013: The pattern dates to 1930 and was originally by McCall.  It is the evening gown pattern E30-6298.  I added it to my collection in early 2008: This is a slip-on gown (that is, no side placket to hook or snap) with only an opening at the left hip which is closed via the side-tie (and it works!).  The hem is uneven with a...