Announcing Our Newest Pattern!

“The 1950s Sisters Dress Pattern” is officially finished and added to our collection of classic cinema inspired patterns!!  It is back from the printer and starts shipping out today, and I’ll be hosting a sew-along for this new design on our Youtube channel beginning October 1st! Here are a few of the features :

~ This pattern comes in sizes 6-20 with options in the princess seams for A-B cups and C-D cups.

~ It’s fully digitized with computerized markings, notches, and outlines. (It looks so good!)

~ Features a strapless sweetheart neckline, lace bodice overlay, and a circular skirt with either tulle or lace overskirt. There are three “views” for SO many possibilities.

Available for purchase here, and the yardage page is here and on the product page.

View A                            View B                           View C

It all started in the spring of 2018 when I sat down to begin designing a new pattern that was different from my previous patterns.  While it’s 100% inspired by classic cinema, this one would be versatile – it would come with three “views” or style options for the pattern, instead of just creating one specific costume.  It would feature that classic strapless sweetheart neck bodice, full skirt, and lace overlay that you see in so many vintage photographs.  Prom dresses, evening gowns, and many film costumes showcase this style, but up till now it’s been elusive in pattern form. 

I worked on the design as I could throughout 2018, and in spring of 2019 I made an announcement our Facebook page – “I’m working on our next pattern design which should be ready by this fall.”  Everything was going full speed ahead until we began planning a move. Needless to say, that pattern had to be put on the back burner as I set up our new home while sewing customer dress orders that still had to be filled by the holidays.

In May of this year, I set myself a deadline – (I’m known for giving myself deadlines) –  “Finish the pattern in the next 3 months!”  With a lot of late-night work and most my afternoons scrutinizing every aspect of the pattern in my sewing room, I was able to do just that!

If you need further inspiration, here are some mid-century costumes that could easily be sewn using this pattern with a few adjustments:

Vera Ellen’s dreamy blush pink evening gown from the film Call Me Madam (1953) could be recreated by using the View C bodice with barely shortened sleeves.  For the skirt, you would simply lengthen it to the floor and add a couple of extra layers of tulle, chiffon, organza for that floaty look.

Rosemary Clooney’s white concert dress from The Stars Are Singing (1953)  is nearly identical to our new pattern design – strapless sweetheart bodice, circular skirt, and a flocked polka dot organza overlay.  The only difference?  A winged collar and puffy balloon sleeves.  With a teensy bit of adjustment to the bodice you could arrive at something similar to this gorgeous look – simply substitute the “Liesl’s Dancing Dress” sleeves for the “1950s Sisters Dress” sleeves.

And finally, Donna Reed’s “mother of the bride” dress from The Donna Reed Show, Season 1, Episode 35 (“Tomorrow Comes Too Soon”) is classic 1950s and would be a cinch to make from this pattern. Made following the View C bodice exactly minus the waist ribbons, you could swap out the pattern’s circular skirt for a gathered skirt (the skirt from Liesl’s Party Dress could work) and – voila!  You’d look like Donna Reed herself. 

You could even omit the overlay entirely, using the strapless foundation layer to make the perfect 1950s slip for all your vintage dresses.  If made in this way, it would look practically identical to the vintage pattern below:

I could show example after example of dresses that could be recreated from our new pattern, but I’d better stop before I get carried away! 😉  I would love to have you join me for the October sew-along on Youtube, and I know it’s going to be a vintage sewing blast! 

I recommend this pattern for intermediate seamstresses – it’s a fairly straightforward pattern and you don’t have to be a professional to make this easily.  The only thing I recommend is that if you’ve only sewn with cottons before, I don’t want you to pull your hair out working with formal fabrics!  You can make more of an Easter dress rather than party dress by using a basic cotton broadcloth or sateen for the base, and an eyelet fabric or Dotted Swiss for the overlay.  This way, all your materials are fairly stable and will be a breeze to sew with!  You’ll still end up with the same beautiful effect.

Feel free to send me an email or comment below with questions, and I’ll see you all in a couple weeks for some fabulous holiday sewing!  

Wishing you all the best,

Katrina Holte 

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