Sometimes I troll thrift stores looking for fabric. They can be a great source for vintage fabric, if you know what you are looking for. This dress was made with one of my finds. I think it might have cost me $3.00, and it is in great shape! So far the research I have done has not led me very far to finding out much about the “Petticoats and Pantaloons” fabric from Roth Greeting Cards by the Manes Organization. One person’s guess is that it is roughly 1970’s era. Either way, I love it! Do you shop for vintage fabric?
Vintage Fabric Dress
I originally made this dress for my oldest, I think about a year and a half ago. She wore it a few times, but somehow when I was drafting the bodice for the dress I did not put in enough ease, so she didn’t wear it often. I pulled it out last week to try on my youngest and it’s perfect. Thank goodness for remembering to go through the boxed up clothing!
The bodice was altered to be larger and traced from another pattern, not sure which – shows how well I keep track! The skirt was made as full as I could manage, it is the entire length of the full cut of fabric. I think I may have gotten about a metre. I also made it as long as possible, which decreases the “twirl factor”, but increases the cuteness!
I think I am really loving the maxi-dress length on my kids right now, even though it is not so good for playing in. The kids love it because they can pretend to be princesses. I remember feeling that way in a long dress when I was their age too!
I generally don’t get too excited about buttons, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I don’t sew a lot of items with buttons! When I made this dress I made the bodice just long enough that I was able to only use 3 buttons, because these were the perfect ones! They are not wooden, but look it from a distance. I can see becoming very addicted to collecting them! Actually, I sew a lot less clothing than I think up in my head. I’d love to sew more, but the time it takes seems always to be directly in opposition to me doing anything else useful around the house – anyone out there feel the same way?!
It is still warm here – hopefully for a while, so the dress will get a lot more wear. I think it will look good with a long sleeve top underneath for fall as well, because I don’t think it will still fit next summer. Then I suppose it is going to be relegated to the boxes labeled “Keep” in my daughters’ closet. I can’t bring myself to give away the things I have made my girls – not yet at least… What do you do with the things you have sewn when they don’t fit anymore?
We’ve got some exciting things happening between posts here at Thread Riding Hood. A few shops have asked, so I am now selling Licenses for three TRH projects so you can make and sell items that have used the free tutorial – more on that later on in the week! I’ve also got a pattern or two in the works (I’m SUPER excited!) and am hoping to do a Facebook pattern tester call later on this month.
Also – if you have been waiting patiently for the Empire Waist Scirocco Sundress tutorial, I will have that for you on Thursday of this week – along with a surprise from Figgy’s Patterns! You’ll not want to miss it!
Oh that is just absolutely darling!! Your daughter is the sweetest little thing!! LOVE the fabric… reminds me of my childhood! Just gorgeous! 🙂
YAY! Thanks Carla. I’m so glad you like it. The whole thing makes me feel nostalgic also!
I absolutely agree with Carla on all three points! It looks like you girls had great fun doing your photo shoot. She’s got the sweetest little face and the maxi-dress suits her perfectly! Very princess-like! 😉
Thanks Esmari! She is super happy with the princessness too and was dancing around in it all day!
The dress is absolutely darling! What a wonderful use of themed fabric. I save the special clothing I’ve sewn when it’s outgrown, and cut it up and sew it into quilts. It preserves a few memories .
Thanks Pam. I’m so glad it fits my youngest now. I was thinking maybe it was a lost cause! What a good idea for the old clothing. I will keep it in mind.
I definitely check out the crafts section every time I’m at my local thrift shop, I have found some fantastic treasures–including felt, ricrac, and zippers. Your fabric reminds me a bit of Holly Hobby–so definitely late 70’s ish.
Hi Lisa, I did see it labeled as Holly Hobby also – funny, all I can find about the greeting cards company is a lawsuit! 🙂 Maybe my Google skills are lacking, I should get my husband to look it up, he can find anything on there!
So beautiful!! This is definitely a keeper for when the girls have their own kids one day 🙂
I think that’s what I’m landing on as a good option! I’m not good at giving them away (yet!), and I’m not sure I could cut them up to make a quilt (yet…) either. 🙂
I’ve just started to give away the things I sew my kids. Now I Look around town every time I’m out to see if I can spot one of my outfits. I have a few times and that is a really fun feeling. I’ve considered going up to compliment the mother on the clothes but it just seemed too creepy!
Very pretty dress on your very pretty girl. Looks like she doesn’t mind the decreased twirl factor 🙂
I think if I were to give it away that would be what I would like to do best, it sounds like fun to spot the outfits on other kids! Complimenting the mom would be so much fun, you should totally do it! 🙂
Hi found your site searching on this company as I have just bought two packets containing two different patterns from this fabric. It’s definitely 70s era. I paid $1 and $2 for mine great bargain. I’m going to make some shopping bags with them. They are very cute. Greetings from Melbourne Australia where we’ve just come of out a 265 day lockdown so it was nice to go op shopping. During lockdown everyone had a clean out so there’s lots of nice goodies. These are thrift shops for those in the USA.
Wonderful Jodie! I’m so glad you got out. Sounds wonderful. Your shopping bags will be so cute!