One of my new traditions is to make and wear a vintage style dress for Christmas Day. Two years ago I made a 1960s gold brocade, but last year I wore just jeans and a t-shirt, and felt like a scrub all day, so I decided to revive the Christmas Dress this year (and ever after), and make an effort to look nice at our family gathering. I decided on this '30s frock because I thought it would look great in a strong plaid, but also because I didn't want too much tightness around the waist - always regrettable after a big Christmas feast. I wore my Christmas Dress complete with hair and hat, though I was skipping around the decades a bit - the dress was '30s, the hair and shoes '40s, and the hat '50s. Here it is:
Pattern: Decades of Style #3007, "1930s Button Dress"
Fabrics: Medium weight cotton plaid stuff, and light weight white cotton
Alterations: I gathered the butterfly sleeves into puffed sleeves, and set the waist ties at an angle instead of straight. I hemmed the skirt at 3 inches.
Overall Impressions: I liked this pattern a lot, and was impressed with how nicely the pattern pieces matched up. I noticed quite a difference between the pattern envelope illustration, and how the dress looks when complete, namely that the curved "waist" seam isn't up under the bust, but more somewhere between the empire and natural waists. The pattern schematic is much more accurate.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow, especially with the wonky way in which the sleeves attach to the bodice, and also create the tie at the back. The pattern markings were present, relevant, and helpful.
I took in the bodice considerably at the sides - about 4-6 inches total - but not the skirt. In a softer, drapier fabric this dress would look, fit, and hang completely differently. I like that it is versatile enough to make both a Summer dress and a Winter dress, and I wouldn't feel weird making this up again and having two of the same pattern in my closet, because you can customize the overall appearance in your choice of fabrics and trims.
Overall, I recommend this pattern. It's easy to sew, looks nice when complete, and was created by an independent company. The $20.00 price tag can be off-putting, but this is one that you can sew again and again.
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| The pattern envelope, but with my own color applied to the drawing. |