Blog

One of the reasons we often are drawn to Vintage fashion is the lovely silhouette often seen on dresses from the 1950’s.  There is no better feeling, in my opinion, than swirling about in a full skirted dress.  I think we sometimes overlook the foundation garments worn at the time to help achieve that nipped…
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  If you are using a vintage pattern you will notice that it is precut to one size.  There may be a number of style options for collars and cuff variations, for example, but fundamentally you only have one size to deal with and the pattern pieces are already trimmed ready to use.  However, contemporary…
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Perfect dress straps We often have to create straps for garments – you can see I have almost finished this 1950’s sundress with crossover straps travelling from the back to the front. Getting them flat and even in width is what we are aiming for so this week’s top tip offers a few techniques for…
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There are many pattern symbols you will be familiar with but sometimes we can stumble across an overlooked or more unusual sign when using a commercial dressmaking pattern. I’m presently working on this little number, Vogue 8974. Here is the pattern piece for the front bodice. The circle with the cross in it indicates the…
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Mrs Bowden’s top tip – magnetic strip pin collector Use a little strip of self-adhesive magnet and stick it to your machine. You can easily collect pins as you go along and stop them rolling underneath the machine as you stitch away. In stitches,     Amanda xx Ps – magnetic strips available from good craft/haberdashery shops…
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When you are preparing to cut fabric it is useful to know the ‘direction’ of the print. A one direction print has a clear and regular pattern. The fabric can only be used in one direction or you will have upside down sections in your product/garment. In this example the hedgehogs and mushrooms all face…
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Cones can be an economic way of buying good quality thread, particularly if you are working on a project which requires plentiful stitching…all you patchworkers/curtain makers out there! However, accommodating the height of the cone can be awkward on a domestic machine. Please have no fear – grab a wide necked tea cup and use…
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  Mrs Bowden’s top tip – using embroidery transfers   I really enjoy collecting sewing memorabilia and clothes from the 1940s and 1950s and have built up a considerable collection of vintage embroidery transfers. Hand embroidering a motif can add such interest to your clothes and other things you make. There is a whole host…
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