Are you a Strictly fan?

I love this time of year when Strictly Come Dancing arrives on our tv screen!    I love the colour, the glitter and the glamour!

So imagine my delight when this pattern turned up in a bundle of vintage patterns I acquired recently.  It is a 1960s pattern for a ballroom dress, with variations on neckline and sleeve.  It has been partially cut, but is complete and in good condition.

 

 

The pattern is recommended by Bill and Bobby Irvine.  Here’s their wikipedia entry.  They were dancing in the 1960s, and won 13 world titles during that decade.  Here they are dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfD72raCfKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ESsqnYguo

 

I can’t find anything out about Theatreland Ltd.  All I can find online is a company with the same name which provides theatre guides and websites which began in 2003.

Just fabulous!

It is for sale in my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/487288861/vintage-ballroom-dress-pattern?ref=shop_home_active_9

One pattern, Three looks

With the price of patterns so high nowadays, it’s great to use a pattern more than once.  I think people call it TNT, tried ‘n tested.  I fell in love with this Kwick Sew pattern, K4026

My first attempt at making this dress was for Christmas last year.  I bought this gorgeous printed jersey from More Sewing.  The rich velvety look to the fabric suited a Christmas dress.  It was a very straight forward make, the only alteration was to grade out at the waist.  I love the skirt on this dress!

The next iteration of this pattern was a top.  Another gorgeous jersey fabric from More Sewing, but this time much more drapy.  Indeed, I had to alter the cowl neckline as it was so low!  But I just love the colours in this fabric.

Finally, a dress I made this summer for a friend’s 60th birthday party.  This is my least favourite of the 3, as it is a very bouncy fabric and it feels like the cowl neck sticks out!  I am not sure about the sleeves either, maybe it would look better sleeveless?  I made this one longer in length, and the skirt is very swishy!

Finally, talking about saving money, here’s a plantain top (Deer and Doe free pattern) I made with the leftovers from the Christmas dress.  There is a seam down the back, and the sleeves are made from a lovely tweed look fabric.  The only problem is that the sleeves are a little bit tight as this tweed is a woven fabric.  If I do it like this again, (which I am sure I will!) I will either use a stretch fabric or cut them a bit bigger!  I do love the elbow patch detail on this top!

Coats!

Are you thinking of sewing a coat this autumn?  Well, if you are, here’s some inspiration from my stock of vintage patterns:

Here’s a closer look at 3 patterns,1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

See them all on my Etsy shop   www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SewLindyLou