Barbara Bell 1947 - complete run!

 Complete run of Barbara Bell mail order patterns from 1947!

Barbara Bell 1667

Barbara Bell 1652

Barbara Bell 1613

Pattern review: Simplicity 8673 drop-waisted dress from 1978

 

Pattern Description: Simplicity 8673 misses’ drop-waisted dress from 1978.

Pattern Sizing: Misses’/regular.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked that it was easy to assemble, looked like the illustration, and is comfortable.  No particular dislikes.

Fabric Used: Joann Keepsake Calico in pale pink mini floral

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The big one was that I raised the underarms by three inches.  This pattern has intentionally oversized sleeves and very low underarms, but I usually wear dresses under jackets for work and I thought it might not work if the underarms were that low.  I also reduced the circumference of the sleeve to match.

I probably also added some width around the hips (I usually do).

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  Yes, I will definitely sew it again and recommend it.

Conclusion: Cute, comfortable, and easily-sewn 1970s-does-1920s dress.

 

Pattern review: McCall's 6034 Annie, Too! smock dress from 1978

 

 

 

Made in red cotton homespun.

Alterations: 

Graded up a size.

Adjustments for full bust, broad upper back, and big hips achieved by increasing width within the tucks in the upper front and back bodice.  This worked beautifully.

Shortened the front button placket.  

Added deeper side-seam pockets instead of using the original cut-in-one side-seam pockets.

Changed sleeves to full-length, non-belled sleeves with button cuffs.

The actual pattern is quite a bit longer than depicted.  This was hemmed at the line intended for the second row of rick-rack.

Comments:

This went together really well.  I barely even needed to fix the sleeve caps!  I already have fabrics ready to make it again.

Alice Brooks craft patterns 1933

 I think this is the first year for the Alice Brooks craft nameplate.  I suspect this had the same parent company as Marian Martin/Anne Adams since they usually appear together.

Alice Brooks 1933.

Nancy Page 1936-1937 Falling Leaves Quilt

 Falling Leaves.  A friend of mine emailed me a newspaper image and asked if this was another of those Nancy Page quilts.  I hadn't seen it before but, yes, it is!  Eighteen blocks in all.

Falling Leaves.

Nancy Page 1931-1932 Garden Bouquet Quilt

 This one has cute Art Deco birds, a variety of flowers, and an "urn".

Nancy Page 1931 Leaf Quilt

 This appears to have been a small series of only four designs, which you would have repeated as many times as you needed to fill out however big a quilt you wanted.  They're very reminiscent of mid-19th century leaf and wreath quilts.  I never did find an image of a completed quilt, only the images of the individual blocks.