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Vionnet Patterns
The reputation of Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975), the brilliant innovator in draping and the bias cut, has only increased with time. The label she founded in 1912 was recently revived, and Betty...
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Slant-O-Matic for the Holidays
I wanted to share this holiday-themed, Mad Men-era advertisement for Singer Slant-O-Matic sewing machines and Singer Sewing Centers: What’s the newest slant on holiday sewing? Singer Sewing Centers...
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Mirror, Mirror
Happy New Year, everyone! This year I look forward to sharing more of my original pattern research and sewing projects, including my ’40s cape, an over-the-top ’70s Dior, and two by Alexander McQueen....
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There’s a War On: Weldons So-Easy Patterns
Bomb Girls is back. For me, much of the show’s interest lies in its portrayal of women’s wartime fashions, both on and off the factory floor. One line of sewing patterns that I associate specifically...
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Vintage Vogue Surprise + Giveaway
Last June a Vogue Patterns representative contacted me about borrowing a pattern from my collection, to be reissued in the Vintage Vogue line. Because Vogue Patterns doesn’t have all their patterns...
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Beverly Johnson
Model Beverly Johnson wearing a white striped caftan, Vogue Pattern #8587, sitting in front of window in artist Peter Lobello’s New York loft. Vogue, May 1973. Photo: Kourken Pakchanian. Image via...
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Vintage Vogue 8875 Giveaway Winners
Hot off the presses: the new Vogue 8875 The results of the Vintage Vogue 8875 giveaway are in! Thank you so much to everyone who entered and commented. The B5 size range goes to: sewexhausted The F5...
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Vintage Vogue Search
Vogue Patterns doesn’t have an archive of their old patterns, so the company is calling on the sewing public to lend patterns from their collections for reissue in the Vintage Vogue line. Reissued...
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Free Designer Pattern: Giles Deacon Dress
Giles Deacon’s ‘Troubadour’ dress. Model: Ranya Mordanova. Image via SHOWstudio. The latest project in SHOWstudio’s Design Download series is a dress by Giles Deacon. The Design Download project aims...
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The Irresistible Charm of Embroidered Lingerie
In honour of Valentine’s Day, some mid-Twenties illustrations for McCall lingerie patterns including embroidery transfers. The heading reads, “Embroideries That Lend Irresistible Charm to the Intimate...
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Clash of the Titans: Goddess Gowns
Oscar season is upon us, and that means goddess gowns. Goddess gowns usually share elements of classical drapery and the simple construction of the toga and chiton. Here’s a selection of patterns for...
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Year of the Snake: Vogue 2086 by Alexander McQueen for Givenchy, Part 1
I’m a little late to the party, but—as part of Anne of Pretty Grievances’ Jungle January event, I thought it would be fun to use a reptile print to make the strapless dress from Vogue 2086, the first...
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Toronto Sewing Blog Meetup
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of participating in a Toronto sewing blog meetup, co-organized by Gillian of Crafting a Rainbow and Adrienne of All Style and All Substance. All together we were...
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Free Designer Pattern: Alexander McQueen Kimono Jacket
Photo: Nick Knight. Image via SHOWstudio. Alexander McQueen would have been 44 today. On the occasion of his birthday, here’s a look back at the free pattern McQueen shared with SHOWstudio: the...
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Just Married: Badgley Mischka
After 28 years together, Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka were married in New York last weekend. To celebrate, here’s a look back at two decades of Badgley Mischka sewing patterns....
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Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis: Vogue Patterns, Part 1
Michaela Bercu wears Perry Ellis by Marc Jacobs, Vogue, November 1989. Image via the Fashion Model Directory. Can you believe the early-nineties revival in fashion right now? We remember Marc Jacobs’...
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Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis: Vogue Patterns, Part 2
Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer 1993 ‘grunge’ collection for Perry Ellis was a succès de scandale, a landmark collection that got him fired and continues to provoke debate. (See my earlier Marc Jacobs for...
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Punk: Chaos to Couture
Sid Vicious, 1977. Photo: Dennis Morris. Daria Werbowy in Chanel, Vogue, March 2011. Photo: David Sims. Image via the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year’s Costume Institute exhibition, PUNK: Chaos...
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Free Designer Pattern: Junya Watanabe Dress
Model: Gemma Ward. Photo: Nick Knight. Image via SHOWstudio. To celebrate this week’s opening of PUNK: Chaos to Couture at the Costume Institute in New York, I’ll be posting about two free patterns for...
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Free Designer Pattern: John Galliano Jacket
Model: Louise Pedersen. Photo: Craig McDean. Image via SHOWstudio. This week’s second punk-inspired pattern puts the ‘couture’ in Chaos to Couture. (The first punk-inspired pattern was by Junya...
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