70s – Stacey Stitch

Simplicity 1360: All Sewn Up – 70s Inspired Gold Maternity Gown

Published on February 14, 2016January 25, 2019 by Stacey Stitch14 Comments

For my first sew of the year I decided on adapting this new maternity pattern to make a vintage style outfit.

That’s correct, if you don’t follow me on Instagram then you might not have seen that I’m preggo, up le duff, got a bun in the oven etc.

I am not going to go all modern, I have picked up a few vintage patterns and my friends have loaned me some so there will be vintage maternity wear being made at some point but I thought it would be quite interesting to see how they compared against modern ones to make up.

Thinking along the lines of “if I lengthen this dress and make it glitzy it could totally look 70s disco-a-go-go” I opted for buying in a boatload of gold lame, without really thinking of the consequences.

Namely that lame is a bitch to sew.

While I was waiting for it to arrive I finally managed to clear out my lovely little sewing space in our dining room and started to read through the instructions (I also put a load of my spare vintage patterns on ebay if you fancy a look).

Which made no sense. How confusing is this? (or at least how confusing does my dyslexic brain want it to be).

I put my faith in the pattern and hoped when I cut the pieces out it would make more sense.

When the lame arrived I fell in LOVE, It is sooooo beautiful and undeterred I set about lengthening the pattern and cutting the extension pieces out (excuse the slippers).

I ran a few pieces through the machine to see what the fabric was like to sew. This did not go well. Now, I have always been told to use a zig zag stitch for stretch fabrics (I don’t own an overlocker) but this didn’t work.

After a stressful and annoying night I managed to get the front of the dress completed but only after a lot of turning the air blue and wondering why in the hell it wouldn’t sew like it was meant to.

Truth is, I’m still not sure – is it because the weight of the fabric is too heavy, so it’s not your typical stretch? (If anyone does know please tell me!).

The front knot part actually was pretty easy after I had the pieces in front of me – funny, it’s never the thing that you think is going to cause trouble that does, is it?

I sewed up the two back pieces and put the neck facing in and by this point I had opted to go for a straight stitch as it appeared to be working much better than zig zag and wasn’t making me want to cry. Damn the consequences.

What was the worst that couple happen? I could spend hours unpicking it when it didn’t hang or stretch properly? (yes….yes that is what could happen).

The sleeves, I decided, would be sewn in the cheat’s way as the fabric was so tricky.

Rather than sew them up then set them in, I sewed them into the arm holes without the sleeve seam sewn up, then sewed the seam of the sleeve at the same time as the side seams of the dress (try saying that quickly!).

I have to say, when they were in, it looked pretty good.

I tried it on. It looked good, it actually stretched the way it was meant to (thank the sewing Gods) so I could fit it over my ever expanding bosom and tum.

Now all I had to do was hem the sleeves and the dress, which turned out to be not that challenging, With the aid of clips (and pegs) I managed to get the length more or less right the first time. I only needed to adjust it slightly and once sewn up I was ready to go.

So here I am in all my shiny gold disco glory, pretty happy with how it’s turned out, even if I do look like a preggo space babe from the future.

May Vintage Sewing Pattern Giveaway

Published on May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 by Stacey Stitch6 Comments

Up for grabs this month is this Vogue Designer Original vintage late 70s Belinda Bellville fitted and flared, bias back-wrapped dress.

It’s suitable for soft fabrics (challis, wool crepe, wool jersey, lightweight double knits etc).

It’s a 36 Bust.

The pattern is uncut and in mint condition.

If you’d like to enter comment on this blog below:

or visit my facebook page like and comment on the post related to this blog:

or visit my twitter and retweet the giveaway tweet:

If you do all three you’ll get three entries.

Competition open until midnight on 31st May. I’ll announce the winner on 1st June.

Good luck!

VOTE FOR ME PLEASE – ONLY 5 DAYS TO GO!

The votes are close so if you have five mins, please read below and give me a quick vote. Thanks for all the support!

If you liked this blog please vote for me in the NVAs as I’ve been nominated under the Best Vintage Fashion/Lifestyle Blog category. Voting is open throughout May and it’s a simple click to select Stacey Stitch and then enter your email address to confirm the vote (you wont be spammed). Clicking on the photo or links above should take you straight to the website. It’ll only take a few minutes of your time if you have it spare! Thank you!

Tank Tops (also known as my topsy-turvy brain thinks it’s Winter)

Published on May 20, 2014 by Stacey Stitch6 Comments

I went a little tank top crazy last week and bought four, and along with a brown dagger collared shirt, they cost me the grand total of £11. Bargain, thought I.

Then I considered the fact that:

I’m Going to Vegas soon and this is not suitable attire
It’s very nearly summer in the UK

And wondered what I was going to do with the, Ah-ha! I declared (inwardly, as I was in the middle of Manchester when I had this eureka moment), I am obviously just being super prepared for the coming winter of course.

With that thought it in mind I had rummage through my patterns and found a great 60s skirt pattern and a fantastic pattern for some flared trousers with turn ups.

So all that’s left is colours and materials to choose, any ideas anyone? I am getting stuck at brown, black and mustard and can’t seem to get my thoughts any further.

April Vintage Pattern Giveaway

Published on April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by Stacey Stitch9 Comments

Up for grabs this month is this vintage late 60s/early 70s spring dress featuring long bell sleeves (or short variation). It’s suitable for knits, it’s a very easy, very vogue pattern in four pieces so won’t take long to make up at all, perfect for the spring days ahead. It’s a 38 Bust.

If you’d like to enter comment on this blogbelow

Visit my facebook page like and comment on the post related to this blog:

or visit my twitter and retweet the giveaway tweet:

If you do all three you’ll get three entries.

I’ll pick a winner on 30th April.

Good luck!

Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques

Published on March 20, 2014 by Stacey Stitch3 Comments

When I saw this book on Amazon I knew I had to get it. I had a quick scan through the reviews online and decided to purchase.

I adore vintage styled lingerie (total Kiss Me Deadly addict) but it doesn’t come in cheap. If you want quality, you’re most certainly going pay for it.

When it landed through the letterbox with a comforting thud I tumbled downstairs, pulled apart the packaging and gazed and the beautiful front cover.

I was aware of the author, Jill Salen, as my cousin’s (then) girlfriend (now wife) had lent me her fabulous book on corsets a few years ago when I was first foraying into making my own burlesque costumes. While the book was amazing, the thought of making a corset was very daunting and I loved reading through but it was packed up and shipped back to the lovely Sarah (thank you!).

But, I digress….back to Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques.

I am more than happy with its stylistics. The book is laid out in an easy to read way, spaced out generously (I find books that are “too busy” very confusing due to my dyslexia) and sleek and stylish. It covers 30 pieces from 1890 to 1970 and is set up for each piece as follows:

The first page devoted to a beautiful piece of vintage lingerie, photographed beautifully and simply.
The following page with a description of the year or era, detailing on the fabric, techniques, measurements and embellishments used.
Following this is the scaled down pattern, each reproduced on graph paper for ease of scaling up separately.

While this book as an absolutely beautiful addition to my collection I really should say that it is definitely not aimed at beginners.

There are few (if any) instructions for actually making the garments but it really doesn’t feel daunting to me to consider starting to reproduce any of these items, after all using the internet to find clarity on certain sewing techniques is old hat at this point for me!

There are two comprehensive projects contained in the back on this book, with full detailing and step by step instructions:

A black brassiere (1930s)
A petticoat (1905)

Neither of these grabbed me as items I would really like to crack on with; there were far more gorgeous offerings in the previous pages (corselette or the Dior style longline bra for instance) but I am sure that is just a matter of personal taste.

At the back of the book is a handy chapter about embellishing and finishing techniques such as scalloping, making button loops, fastenings etc.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for good a resource of vintage lingerie. I have been looking for something like this for a while now and everything else seemed to fall short of the mark.

I can’t wait to get cracking with my first project from this, although I will definitely be making a toile, sewing in a cheap fabric and then making the final in something a little more luxurious!

Oh and I am very tempted to purchase Jill Salen’s next book Vintage Swimwear Patterns: Historical Patterns and Techniques, but that’s for another time when my purse is a little fatter I think!

February Vintage Sewing Pattern Giveaway

Published on February 27, 2014February 27, 2014 by Stacey Stitch5 Comments

It’s that time of months again, and this is the lovely pattern I’m giving away:

This 36 bust dress and Jumpsuit pattern, McCalls 5366.

How to Enter

Well, it’s very easy this month. All you have to do is like my page on facebook (link below) and comment on the post on my facebook page about this competition. If you share the post you’ll get an additional entry into the prize draw.

Stacey Stitch on facebook

The giveaway closes on Friday 7th March and I’ll announce the winner on Saturday 8th.

Good luck!

My Machine Knitting Pattern Collection

Published on June 6, 2013 by Stacey StitchLeave a comment

My Nana gave me her Knitmaster and all accessories, patterns and cards at the beginning of the year. I have put them to one side knowing I’d pick them up at some point but not knowing when. It was only last night when I started leafing through them that I discovered their full retro potential.

As with my sewing patterns I’ve added them to my flickr, created a set and I’ve also put a link in the sidebar; if you click you”ll be directed to them.

They are mainly from the early 70s through to the 80s, at a time when my Nana furnished me, my sisters and pretty much the whole of my family with knitted goods.

Unfortunately I had to ask Nana to stop knitting for me after a disastrous fashion blunder of a rainbow coloured jumper which I felt I had to wear and promptly was laughed at by pretty much everyone (I should point out that I am extremely grateful to my Nana. It was definitely a jumper I would love to own right now and I feel horrible that I probably broke her heart a little).

At 89 she can’t see all that well and has arthritis in her fingers so she asked me if I’d like her Knitmaster and I happily agreed to take it off her hands and show it some love after all these years.

There are a lot of amazing patterns in there, I plan on knitting several matching outfits for me and Tim. I will make him wear them when we go out in winter by hiding every other jumper option.

So without further ado, some of the pattern books I have:

Modern Knitting 10 1975

And that’s just the front of them. You should see some of the treasures inside! I am very much looking forward to getting stuck in, and hopefully I can find some patterns that correspond with some Mad Men knits too. I have a lust for Megan’s green jumper that cannot be fulfilled by just any green jumper.

Again though no running before I can walk, I have not used a knitting machine for about five years now and I feel like the old cast on issue will raise it’s ugly head yet again.

It’ll be scarves and bobble hats for a while until I know what I’m doing and can master the pattern cards (my previous knitting machine didn’t have that function!)