I am so in love with vintage pattern re-issues from Vintage Vogue, Retro Butterick, Simplicity, Burda and the McCall Archive Collection. Not to mention retro inspired and vintage pattern based designs from indie pattern companies like: Folkwear, Reconstructing History, Wearing History, Blue Ginger Doll, and Sew Chic. For curvy sewists like us, these vintage re-issues and retro inspired patterns are a godsend as a lot of them come in plus sizes or are easily graded up, unlike their vintage counterparts. The instructions and pattern pieces are also geared more towards modern sewists so that they’re easier to decipher and allow you to create the retro garment of your dreams that actually fits you!
These are some of my favorite retro dresses that I’ve made:
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- Vintage Vogue 8812, 1940 design
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- Retro Butterick 5281, 1946 design
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- Retro Butterick 5748, 1960 design
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- Vintage Vogue 2535, 1928 design
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- Vintage Vogue 8780, 1957 design
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- Wearing History Palisades, 1940s design
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- Vintage Vogue 2960, 1954 design
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- Simplicity 1950’s Vintage 1459
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- Vintage Vogue 8811, 1940 design
Tanya, I just completed Simplicity 1459 for my daughter using three blue cotton fabrics (bodice, skirt, and cumberbund) of her choice. I was ready to throw in the towel doing a FBA for the first time. But she wore the dress to a party this week, and that bust is magnificent! 😉 I’m going to check out the vintage patterns you’ve mentioned here. I’m ready to get cracking on another great-fitting dress for my beautiful curvy daughter!
That sounds lovely, Martha! I’m getting ready to make another Simplicity 1459 myself!
I love retro dresses! I think they are my favorite thing to make. My pattern collection is disproportionally full of vintage re-issues.
Vanessa – since I’ve been buying vintage patterns, my collection has gotten even worse!! 🙂