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News — frock

Mar. 27 - Mar. 31 The Week in Patterning - 68, I am a Bias Junkie, Part II!

Alexandra Reynolds 1930s bias EvaDress Patterns evening gown frock My Personal Dressmaking Ribbon gown The Week in Patterning Storyboard Vintage Patterns

Mar. 27 - Mar. 31 The Week in Patterning - 68, I am a Bias Junkie, Part II!

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...

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Jan. 30 - Feb. 3 The Week in Patterning - 60, Completing a vintage pattern

Alexandra Reynolds 1930s dress frock Simplicity 2653 swing jacket The Week in Patterning Storyboard Vintage Patterns

Jan. 30 - Feb. 3 The Week in Patterning - 60, Completing a vintage pattern

I am putting this dress & jacket pattern out in multiple sizes a few months from now.   I began planning the pattern work up last year as I needed to complete the missing jacket back piece to make it available.  Luckily, I had a little something similar (and in the same size) from which to base the missing piece (also a Simplicity), shown below.  Doesn't always happen this way, but definitely make the process smoother.   The key here was to use enough of the jacket back piece from this design to make up what is just a side...

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