Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Bridal Veils from Woman's Day 1955

February 1955 Woman's Day Veils to Make

For the bride with a vintage flair, the available headpieces to complete the ensemble are not so easy to find in the ready-to-wear bridal shops. This 1955 article with charts and instructions for 8 headpieces with veils makes it easy to be vintage on your wedding day.

Lace Bonnet - photo by Ben Somoroff


Satin Band with Illusion photo by Ben Somoroff

Velvet Bow photo by Ben Somoroff
Satin Halos photo by Ben Somoroff

Pearl Embroidered Lace Cap photo by Ben Somoroff

Pleated Satin Cap photo by Ben Somoroff

Gathered Illusion Cap photo by Ben Somoroff
Velvet Disc photo by Ben Somoroff


Download instructions to make all 8 veils HERE. Prints on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. 

Find more Bridal veils, headpieces and wedding gown patterns on my CynicalGirl on Etsy shop.

Download this Bird Cage Fascinator pattern HERE.

And for your 1950's vintage finale - print out this pattern for Brides Blue Garter. Make it special. Make it yourself!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Slippers - Easy To Make From Vintage Sewing Patterns


McCall's 9027 at CynicalGirl on Etsy


Slippers, scuffs, house shoes, slip-ons, mules ... no matter what you call them, we all LOVE slippers! And they are so easy to make. You can make them classy or funky or whimsical, and with so many fabulous fabric choices, your entire wardrobe can have matching slippers. Or make them to give. Everybody loves those gifts from the heart and if it can keep their pinkies warm -- all the better. Gut busy now. Only 7 months until Christmas!


McCall's M6715 at CynicalGirl on Etsy and at CynicalGirl on Goodsmiths


Matching Mommy and baby slippers are fun and easy to make.


Simplicity 2278 at CynicalGirl on Etsy or CynicalGirl on Goodsmiths


Find this 1950's Ballet Slippers pattern HERE on the Free Pattern Friday post on the Vintage Pattern Marketplace Blog to download for FREE!


Vintage Pattern Marketplace: Easy To Make Gingham Ballet Slippers  Easy To Make Gingham Ballet Slippers The pattern for these easy to sew slippers came from my grandmothers 1947 copy of Golden Treasury of Needlecraft ..... more

Thursday, May 1, 2014

1940's Toddler's Sun Suit Patterns


8 June 1945 Younkers Ad in The Des Moines Register



 ...Fashioned for the minimum coverage and the maximum in good looks! This 1945 Younkers ad from the Des Moines Register for Summertime Togs depicts the small fry in suspender shorts and sun suits. The sun suit, in all of it's variations, is still as popular today as they were in their heyday.



Mail Order 2520 Sun Suit Pattern


The sweetness of the cherub-like face may have something to do with the popularity of this pattern. I can't tell you how many requests I have had for it. This is a Mail Order pattern from 1949. I found the advertisement for it on Newspapers.com from the 6 June 1949 issue of The Times Record from Troy, New York. 


The Times Record - Troy NY 6 June 1949


This 1948 Advance pattern adds a little kimono sleeve bolero for an easy to sew cover-up.
 
Advance 4927 from CynicalGirl on Etsy



With the popularity of sewing vintage fashions for both kids and grown-ups, it's no surprise that the Big 4 pattern companies have been reissuing some of the more popular patterns from the 40's and 50's. Simplicity released a ruffled pantie sun suit pattern similar to our Mail Order gem in 2013. With or without the ruffled pantie, Simplicity 1600 (a recreation of Simplicity 1944 from 1947©) is a good imitation of our 2520 with the bonus that this sweet sun suit converts to a bikini top and panties and includes a sun bonnet. 

Simplicity 1600 at CynicalGirl on Goodsmiths

Ms. Belle's Boutique made the original Mail Order 2520 with the most beautiful embroidery trim. You can visit her blog HERE to see the finished results. No doubt you will want to make this sweet little sun suit for your sweet little one. 

Find Simplicity 1600 at my CynicalGirl shop on Goodsmiths and my CynicalGirl shop on Etsy

Thursday, April 24, 2014

A. Neely Hall Craft Patterns

A. Neely Hall Craft Pattens No. 115 1941 Mail Order Woodworking Pattern

1941 and the world is at war ..... again. It seems no matter where you look, all hands are on deck. The war effort at home reached deep into the day in and the day out of every person in America and abroad. Everything was being rationed from sugar to tires to silk stockings. A. Neely Hall Craft Patterns, a company offering mostly woodworking patterns that were available as mail order patterns (just like sewing patterns), contributed to the war effort with their do-it-yourself patterns to make everything from pencil holders to boats and cabins using wood and not precious metal.

This very rare pattern for spool holders in the guise of Military Men was published in 1941. You could use a scroll saw or coping saw to cut these pieces out - or an Exacto knife to reproduce in chip board. Either way you choose to replicate this quintessential World War II era memorabilia, the result will be both useful and nostalgic. Download this pattern HERE to print out on 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper.

Make them for gifts for those very special retro sewists on your gift list.