Retro Butterick Robe

Retro Butterick 5152

Materials: midnight-blue crushed velvet, dark-grey cord for frog closures, shoulder pads

Tools: overlocker, sewing-machine (before I bought my walking foot - aaargh!), hand-basting, Clover Asian Knot templates

Front waistline detail

The waist was very low and I took out about 7cm when I overlocked the inside seams

Robe Back

Frog closure at wrist

Clover Asian Knot templates

Image from Retro Butterick B5152 pattern envelope cover

1940's Patterns Arrived!

Two 1940's patterns I ordered from Mom's Patterns just arrived! She's great to order from - reasonable shipping and only four days to get here from the U.S. from the day I ordered.  John saw me looking at them and said "This is like your porn, isn't it?" HAHAHAHA. In a way... 

Vogue 6140

"Easy-to-Make" Negligee or Housecoat

New York Pattern 760

Ladies' and Misses' Dress (in either of two lengths) or Smock

There's a great project on the BurdaStyle site called the Work Dress (photo credit: Martyna Szczesnaon Flickr - Work Dress.

Very 1940's in sensibility - a durable knee-length dress to work in with very cool simple styling.  I helped my partner pick out a new suit yesterday and I always marvel at the amount of purpose-built hidden pockets in men's jackets.  This dress has pockets for everything (maybe a few too many for me - I don't think I could reach the one on the back). It's very Rosie the Riveter meets 2010.  I'm a horticulturalist and never have a good place to put all the things I use frequently: secateurs, gloves, plant tags, waterproof pens, seed packets, notebook, hand spade, plant ties, camera.  I constantly have to move bits and pieces from place to place in a garden. I think I'll make one in the Spring!