This was a strange sewing project! It was made from a vintage McCalls pattern from 1946. I really loved the shape of this vintage dress on the pattern picture but once I had sewn up a toile and tried it on I suddenly felt the urge to butcher the poor thing to oblivion. I looked in the mirror and although there was plenty to be said for the dress I just saw a much cuter one hiding within the silhouette of the pattern.

I changed the neckline to a v-neck and gave it very small little puffy sleeves and a (very) short hemline. I have come to the conclusion that what I was actually seeing hiding in my toile was a 1940s style playsuit- I just didn’t realise it until I had made up the dress in my fashion fabric with a playsuit length skirt. This was a bit of a shame really as a playsuit would have been super cute. I think I will do that with this pattern next.

I really love the waistline of this dress- I’m not sure what to call it really? A zig zag waist? It reminds me a little of a waistcoat. The skirt is really interesting too with its central inverted pleat and little gathers to either side. I also really liked the side darts in the bodice as they are in quite an original position and are actually more like tucks as they are not sewn to the tip like regular darts.

These are the kind of details that I think vintage patterns are so fantastic for – I never would have thought to have a pleat and gathers together on the front of a skirt, but it’s so cute in practice.

This project gave me a strange amount of satisfaction! I liked that something fun and flirty was born from this very conservative vintage pattern. I am now of the opinion that taking a big pair of scissors to your toile occasionally is good for the soul. So, next time you make up a pattern and just aren’t inspired by it get hacking- maybe you’ll end up with something fun too!