Description

~ Circa/Date: 1952

~ Details:  SUIT – JACKET and SKIRT by VOGUE COUTURIER DESIGN
  

~ Size/Measurements (Inches):    Size: 16    BUST: 34″    Waist:  28″      Hip: 37″ 

~ Customer Pictures Details: A very good customer of mine Abby kindly submitted these beautiful patterns of her finished garment of this pattern. The fabric is of a light weight 100% wool and both jacket and skirt have been lined to give the outfit more body and better tailoring. A beautiful choice of colour, giving it an authentic vintage look and feel. The skirt has been slightly moderfied to create a more penciled fit. This customer has maintained the balance of the design and this is a fine example of a beautiful creation from one of our vintage sewing patterns. She has complimented the outfit with an original vintage hat and gloves. I love it and the entire outfit looks stunning! Here is a breakdown of Abby’s working progress of this garment:

“For this size 10 pattern I bought 3 metres of 150cm wide light weight wool. Anything heavier than this causes problems with bulging around seams (there are many decorative ones) and curves that need to be clipped, as well as making hand made buttonholes nigh-on impossible. The wool was as thick as I’d want to go, and allowed me to show off the panel decoration with the ability to press it properly.

This suit would also look fabulous as a summer outfit so suitable fabrics would be heavy weight silks, brocades, cottons. Avoid stretchy crepe etc as smart, crisp seams will be a nightmare. Not suitable for big patterns unless you don’t mind that pattern matching will be impossible. For an edge of madness, use contrasting (but similar weight) fabrics on the sleeves or panels. London has some fantastic fabric shops in Soho and Shepherds Bush, but the internet also offers some bargains as you only need 3m. Buy good quality fabric for a professional look that hangs well.

I also used iron-on interfacing (the original pattern suggests hessian canvas which is an old means of adding body and stiffness) on the yoke and centre front panels. I ironed these on to the FACING not the outside fabric as I wanted the main body of the suit to look softer from the outside.

The colour of thread you choose is vital as there is a lot of decorative over stitching. One reel will be enough.

Choose a 7″ zip that is as close to your fabric colour as possible. You’ll also need 1 skirt hook/bar for the waistband

You’ll need 7 buttons + 1 spare which can be all the same size. I used 23mm ones that look perfect.

1 pair of shoulder pads. I used soft, fairly basic ones from Hobby Craft as you don’t need too much definition (unlike the 40s).

Short length of very narrow ribbon or tape to use as hanging loops for the skirt. 

Make sure you press every seam and dart well as you go. Keep pressing. This is what will give your suit a great finish.

Pin the skirt for length when you’re wearing the right shoes. An inch difference makes the 1950s look authentic (or not) in a second. Use a hand blind stitch to hem the skirt invisibly. DON’T USE A MACHINE. It’s taking this type of care that makes the suit look authentic and expensive. I found this YouTube clip that might help and I’m sure there are others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp-HcRTZQZ0 

I lined both the skirt and jacket with something very decorative to give it added interest and better body. If you line a skirt, it hugs your bottom and keeps bulges to a minimum, allowing the outer skirt to hang beautifully and not stretch too much. I simply cut pieces from the same outer pattern including the sleeves and trimmed both them and the facing panels to a pleasing shape before hand-stitching the whole thing inside. I used a cotton poplin that like the wool, is dry clean only.

Total Cost = £104

Time taken from start to finish, equivalent of 2 full days (but I’m a pro). Probably allow a couple of weekends on and off so you don’t get too frazzled and start making mistakes.”

~ Please Note: ~ You are buying a ‘Professional Digitally Reproduced’ copy of this sewing pattern. Copied from the original sewing pattern. Produced in Full Scale Pattern Pieces ready to cut with full instructions included. Reproduced on high quality 50 gm paper with black ink, durable and easier for reuse.

~ With this product comes an accompanying ‘Booklet’ and inside the Booklet it includes:

~ A 2 page Instructions and Illustrations on ‘How to Adjust Your pattern to your Personal Measurement .

~ Personal Measurement Chart’

~ Body Form Illustrations

~ Fitting Checklist

~ Metric Equivalency Chart

~ Note Pages

~ Fabric Worksheet

~ Garment History Page

~ ‘Grandma Told Me’ – Historical facts related to that year or era

~ Woven Sew-in-Label

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