Comeback Story

Hi all, I’m Anne, I blog vintage stuff at Vintage Belle & this is my first posting at the Monthly Stitch.  I missed August due to holidays etc, and only just managed to get this garment done in time for September, even though I am only posting now!

My vintage pattern is McCall’s 9819 from 1954.  Featuring a v-neck front & back, double pleats in the skirt at the front & two slightly gored panels in the back skirt, this one’s a corker!  From the first time I saw this pattern I was desperate to make it up, it’s just so sexy looking!  I decided it was the one to start with for the September challenge to sew something vintage.   I had bought some heather pinspot cotton from Ditto Fabrics in August to use for Rochelle & Tasha’s Fall for Cotton project in September & decided to use it for this pattern.  Two birds with one stone – love it!

Putting together was very simple.  The bodice of this dress is cut on the bias, which means that v-neck is on the straight, eliminating the inclination for the fabric to stretch & get all baggy.  Now I know it looks a little big on Belle, it is a size too big for her, but I needed a model!  I’m not grading these patterns, just making them as they come.  We fixed the problem a bit with a little judicious placing of the belt and posing!  I didn’t make this dress for anyone in particular, it is destined for a new home via a little shop in my town.

There is a small gusset under the arms to enable waving down a taxi or sending off a loved one…

One concession to modern tastes is that I shorten the skirts on these 50s dresses.  This one has had 15cm removed, as well as having a 3cm taped hem!  I leave the hem hitting just below the knee, they wouldn’t look right any shorter.  I am looking forward to getting going on October’s theme, I have such lovely dress patterns in my vintage boxes just begging to be made!