Pattern Reviews
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Pattern Review: Butterick 6094
Pattern Description:Pattern: Butterick B6094 (patterns by Gertie) – Sleeveless dress has close-fitting, lined bodice, wide waistband, bateau neckline, and fold-back contrast facings. A: Flared skirt (cut on crosswise grain of fabric) and petticoat. B: Straight skirt. I made view A. Pattern Description:Pattern: Butterick B6094 (patterns by Gertie) – Sleeveless dress has close-fitting, lined bodice, wide waistband, bateau neckline, and fold-back contrast facings. A: Flared skirt (cut on crosswise grain of fabric) and petticoat. B: Straight skirt. I made view A. Look how pretty that brocade it! It just shines perfectly and adds enough visual interest to keep the dress intriguing while still remaining simple. Were the instructions easy to follow?The…
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Pattern Review: Butterick 6211
FULL DISCLOSURE: I made a peplum top (just shortened the skirt to 6.5 inches long) to look like a banana. No joke. A banana. Yes, I am okay, no I don’t have 6 other fruits lined up (okay I lied, I’ve already done peach and strawberry–blueberry, orange, and lemon are next). Pattern Description:Pullover, front wrap dress (fitted through bust) has bodice back extending to side-front, skirt cut on crosswise grain, no side seams on bodice or skirt, concealed elastic with hook & eye closure, front button and hook & eye closing, narrow hem, and self-belt. Topstitching. Note: No provisions provided for above waist adjustment. Circa 1953 Were the instructions easy…
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Pattern Review: Vogue 8972
Pattern Description:Lined dress has close-fitting bodice, seam detail, skirt variations, and back zipper. Topstitching. Separate pattern pieces are included for cup sizes A, B, C, D. A, B and C: semi-fitted skirt, back hemline slit and stitched hem. B and F: unlined sleeves. D, E and F: narrow hem. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I like that it comes with the different cup sizes (even though at a DD the C fits me best because of the curve). I hated a lot about this pattern and I think that mainly has to do with the fitting issues I had (explained below). Once I fit it, it…
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Pattern Review: Simplicity 8257
Soooo, this pattern *says* it has 3″ of wearing ease at the waist. I call bullsh*t. It does not. I found out too late when I went to do my first fitting that there is no ease. I double and tripled checked my measurements after trying it on, hoping it was my mistake, nope. I then measured the dress (before letting out seams) and there was no ease. Or at least when sewing a larger size. To say I am frustrated with having a cute but too small dress is an understatement. I *was* able to take out enough of the seams to make the dress comfortable to wear on…
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Pattern Review: McCalls 7718
Pattern Description:Close fitting lined dresses have princess seams and strap variations. A: Contrast overlay. C, D: Uneven hemline, wrong side of fabric will show. Includes separate pattern pieces for A/B, C, and D cups. Pattern Sizing:6-22 with A/B, C, D cup sizing Fabric Used:The pattern fabric is quilting cotton from Spoonflower (I’m recreating a design so I needed exact fabric) and the overlay is poly voile from Fabric Wholesale Direct. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes, but with the alterations I made, it does have a different feel. Were the instructions easy to follow?I read through the instructions, and…
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Pattern Review: Simplicity 9233
Pattern Description:Misses’ tops with sleeve variations & neck closure with ties or elastic loop & buttons. Pattern Sizing:Sz. 16-24 (I cut a straight 18 though with how much ease there is, I could easily have cut a 16 with no worries) Were the instructions easy to follow?The instructions were simple, though this is a fairly standard construction. Nothing is really out of the ordinary. The only thing that was weird was sewing your gather stitches and then NOT gathering for another 12 steps. Lol. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I LOVE the sleeves and the depth of the front slit. The lantern sleeves hide my hefty…
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Pattern Review: Vogue 9285
Pattern Description:Loose fitting top has back hook and eye closure and sleeve variations. Pattern Sizing:6-14 or 14-22; I cut an 18. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?I made a number of alterations, but the bones of the shirt matched that of the picture. Were the instructions easy to follow?The instructions for the bishop sleeve were easy. Reading through the flared sleeve instructions were slightly confusing. The shirt comes together quickly though. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?The sleeve cuffs are dreadful, they are supposed to be one piece (I made them two to insert the…
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Pattern Review: Simplicity 9104
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?It definitely did. Though I did make some rather major cosmetic changes. The construction minus those cosmetic changes was rather close to the pattern. I did completely change out the sleeves and added an underlining as well. Were the instructions easy to follow?Quite easy – this is actually a pretty simple dress! What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I like how easy it is to fit the dress. I usually have to make a FBA, and it was simple to do this with just adding in an inch or so to…
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Pattern Review: Truly Victorian 428 (1880 Jacket Bodice)
Pattern Description:This style is particularly suited to 1878 – 1882, and is perfect for daytime events. This jacket has a roll down collar with lapels, and is cut away at the center front below the waist. The bodice hem can be made in two styles, either with two points and shaped over the hips, or long on both sides and back. The side back seams open up into pleats below the hip for added fullness. The fitted sleeve is in 2 pieces, and can be made either full length with a cuff, or 3/4 length. The bodice is drafted based on a tailoring method actually used in the 1870’s. Each…
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RedThreaded’s 1860’s Gored Corset Review
Pattern Description:1860’s Gored Corset sewing pattern, individually sized. These patterns are based very closely on historical extant corsets and patents, but the draft is our own, adapted to fit a woman of average modern proportions. Designed for steel boning and front busk closure. An instruction booklet is included with photographic how-to instructions in a mix of historical and theatrical construction techniques. We also include a supply resources sheet with US and UK based corsetry supplier recommendations and general research sources. This pattern is recommended for those with moderate-advanced historical sewing skills. Corsets are not beginner projects. Pattern Sizing:Individually Sized. I sewed a large with alterations described below. My measurements are:…
