Simplicity Fashion News April 1968 Pattern Preview

Simplicity Fashion News April 1968

1968 was a year in transition. The fashions were a melting pot of 60's Mods with a glimmer of the Hippie movement on the horizon. This Simplicity Fashion News pattern catalog included these patterns: Simplicity 7549, Simplicity 7574, Simplicity 7575, Simplicity 7576, Simplicity 7577, Simplicity 7578, Simplicity 7579, Simplicity 7580, Simplicity 7581, Simplicity 7582, Simplicity 7584, Simplicity 7585, Simplicity 7586, Simplicity 7587, Simplicity 7588, Simplicity 7589, Simplicity 7598, Simplicity 7600, Simplicity 7603, Simplicity 7604, Simplicity 7608, Simplicity 7610, implicity 7611, Simplicity 7612, Simplicity 7614, Simplicity 7615 Download Catalog HERE.

Find these in my CynicalGirl shop on Etsy

Simplicity 7598            Simplicity 7577            Simplicity 7600

Simplicity 7581            Simplicity 7591          Simplicity 7576 

Ship 'n Shore - Refashioning a Man's Shirt For A Vintage Style Blouse

Refashionistas are everywhere. To see garments that are oh so blah and totally last year transformed into something awesomely today and actually wearable is a sight to behold. But not all refashion projects are created equal. Far too often I see transformations that look like a pillowcase with holes for head and arms and a belt holding it all together. Fine for a beach cover up but not a sustainable refashion and probably more wasteful than if it was just left to the rag bag. 

Would you attempt to make a cake without following a recipe? So why would you attempt to draft a garment without a pattern? Refashioning doesn't have to be the lowly cousin of couture design. Remember that every garment, whether in fashion or not is a potential resource - fabric. Consider the garment and visualize what sort of pattern you could apply to it to create a refashioned masterpiece.

I was a kid in the late 50's and early 60's. Nothing said summer more than the little cotton Ship 'n Shore blouses we wore. They remain a staple in my wardrobe for their easy wear and easy care. 

My husband outgrew one of my favorite shirts - a pinpoint cotton button down oxford. The fabric was in great condition and the tiny blue and white stripes would make a perfect little cotton blouse for me using the Advance pattern for a front button blouse. I carefully removed the collar buttons.

This shirt had one breast pocket and I very carefully removed it by pulling up on the threads and not ripping the seam to ensure a nice clean removal. The tiny stitches make this step a bit tedious but those tiny needle holes will vanish after a couple of washings so it is well worth the extra time. If however, you are making a blouse that has no bust darts and you want to keep the pocket, just skip this step.

Depending on the size of the shirt and the size of your pattern, you can cut the collar and sleeves off and cut the side seams. If you think you may need that little extra seam allowance for size you can carefully split the seams as I did here.

I folded the back of the shirt to resemble the fold of a length of fabric.

I laid out my pattern pieces, adjusting the position so the shirttail hem would be equal - I wanted a longer shirt than the pattern allowed. I used my nifty DIY Pattern Weights covered in Plasti-Dip. You can find the instructions to make your own set of weights HERE.

The front bodice for this pattern had a button band which I lined up with the seam allowances and pinned to the bodice piece. This helped me line up the buttonholes on the front of the shirt with the buttonhole alignment of the pattern.

Using tailors chalk I marked the front and back with cutting lines and markings for darts and tucks. Tailors chalk washes out easily and allows you to mark the entire stitching line which makes sewing straight darts a breeze.

And then simply follow your pattern instructions for sewing darts and seams. I chose to add armhole facings cut from the shirt sleeves.

But decided on white bias tape for the neckline.

 A single little snap keeps the front neckline intact.

The bias tape gives the neckline a crisp, finished look to a front buttoned blouse that didn't require any buttonholes!

This blouse buttons opposite of a woman's blouse. There are a couple of things you can do if you prefer a blouse that buttons correctly. One thing you can do is to find a much larger shirt than the size you require and simply turn the front of the shirt upside down after separating the sections. Another thing you can do is to turn the front of the blouse to the wrong side. (Inside out) For most plain weave fabrics it won't make a difference but you will have to move the buttons to this side of the shirt and be comfortable with the button band on the inside.

However you plan to refashion-up a garment, use a pattern as a guide. It may require a bit more preparation but the finished product will be something you will be proud to wear again and again. 

Find vintage patterns to pair up with your next refashioning project in my CynicalGirl shop on Etsy.

Simplicity Pattern Catalog March 1974

Simplicity March 1974

 

Simplicity 5556           Simplicity 6200          Simplicity 6081

Simplicity 6147           Simplicity 6198           Simplicity 5866

Simplicity 5957

Simplicity pattern pamphlet - March, 1974© Features these Simplicity patterns:

Simplicity 6250, Simplicity 5975, Simplicity 6198, Simplicity 5845, Simplicity 5750, Simplicity 6171, Simplicity 5802, Simplicity 5857, Simplicity 6147, Simplicity 5931, Simplicity 6101, Simplicity 5982, Simplicity 6037, Simplicity 6250, Simplicity 5866, Simplicity 6109, Simplicity 6261, Simplicity 6082, Simplicity 6140, Simplicity 6081, Simplicity 5452, Simplicity 5957, Simplicity 5379, Simplicity 5958, Simplicity 6027, Simplicity 5556, Simplicity 5336, Simplicity 6239, Simplicity 5483, Simplicity 5654, Simplicity 6249, Simplicity 6003, Simplicity 5806, Simplicity 6206, Simplicity 6200