Sunday 19 December 2010

I thought I'd kick off my Vintage Stitching blog with a favourite pattern from my own collection.



This lovely Blackmore So-Easy dress is a favourite of mine because of the interesting darts and seams. It strikes me how modern patterns are lacking in such unusual use of shaping and style lines. Really, we only have a choice of bust darts or princess seams these days. But look at this lovely centre panel with bust gathers! And those shoulder darts are so elegant.
Another interesting point to note is the lack of shoulder seams - the sleeves are cut as one piece with the dress - usually referred to as Kimono sleeves if I'm correct.

I didn't know anything about the Blackmore company, but a quick Google tells me they were only in business from 1845 to the 1940s.

I picked this pattern up at Vintage to Vogue in Bath around two years ago for £4. I'm rather ashamed to say I haven't made this up into anything yet - in fact, I'm guilty of this with the majority of my vintage pattern collection! But I'm hoping this blog will spur me on a bit :)

I'd probably be tempted to make it up in a good basic fabric, like a black or navy crepe, to begin with. Although, that centre panel is crying out for some form of embellishment or contrast fabric... perhaps some experimentation with colour blocking to create a slimming effect?