A little over a month ago the Alameda Vintage Fashion Faire started posting information about their upcoming event running from May 20-21 at Michaan’s Auctions. The theme this time is “Tropicanaversary, Celebrating 10 years”. What a fun theme and so many era’s to choose from, when deciding one’s outfit for such an event, and to enter the contest on Friday. The Sewing Room is giving a way a $50 certificate to one of the lucky winners.

I’m so excited it’s happening again, since it was announced and then cancelled late last year. I’m sure everyone is is feeling a bit of relief with things opening up, so am I! And having the option to attend an event like this seems like we are gaining a bit more normality in our every day lives.

So excited was I that I purchased this beautiful vintage inspired tropical print fabric while perusing the goods at The Recrafting company. The fabric is slightly heavier than dress weight, more of a home decor fabric, but the graphic appeal is undeniable. I knew I had to make something to wear to this event.

I chose a somewhat easy pattern with cute details. There is a center front seam that has a horizontal dart with gathers at the bust and cute flounce sleeves. The sleeves stick out a bit more than flounce, because of the fabric weight, but I’m ok with it. I ended omitting the two skirt flounces because I only had two yards of fabric to use. The dress really didn’t need that extra detail as the fabric print is quite bold. And I made a dress out of 2 yards of fabric. That is pretty cool.

Besides getting my hair right, accessories really make the look. Not that getting my hair right is easy peasy. It actually takes quite a bit of practice and tips from the Tube of You as well as @miss.silver.startlight over on Instagram really help.

I had the green vintage bow shaped belt buckle. I actually have 3 of them and have used the peach version on one of my 1930’s capsule wardrobe dresses. There is a brown one floating around. Will see if that one ever gets any use. I’ll keep it in my stash, just in case.

The hat was purchased at a sidewalk vintage sale from my Friend Daisy. She had purchased it recently (even though it was a vintage acquisition) and it didn’t work for her. I absolutely love it and was pleased to take it off her hands.

The gloves were given to me by a neighbor who knows I like vintage things. The earrings are hand made and the necklace, celluloid I think, from my collection of vintage pieces. And the shoes, Remix Vintage Shoes.

The pattern I used was Butterick B6266 and I used the size 18” for the skirt, blending to a size 16 at the waist and blended in between the 16 & 14 for the bust. The smallest size was too large for my shoulders so I adapted the pattern by removing 1 1/8” from each side at the armhole on both front and back pieces.

One might think this was going to make the armhole too big, but it did not. This pattern had so much ease added into the sleeve that I did not have change it at all. It walked into the new armhole with 0” of ease. Let’s talk about that for a minute.

I’m not a huge proponent of ease in sleeve caps. Especially when the sleeve is super flouncy or loose or if the fabric is woven too tightly to ease without gathers showing. Unless I’m making a “puff” sleeve, I just don’t like the look of all that extra fullness near my shoulder. The whole point of ease is to allow for the shape of your arm/shoulder curve. Only fabrics that one can “steam” into submission, will really allow the fibers to melt together (so to speak) so it doesn’t look bumpy.

This was a fairly straight forward pattern with only front and back bodice, front and back skirt panels (4 total) and a sleeve. I like that it had the horizontal dart with gathers at the bust and the french side darts for details. I use tracing paper and a smooth tracing wheel to trace the seam allowances and markings onto the back of the fabric. This helps me to sew exactly where the dart should be. Maybe I should make a video on how to pin the dart to keep it all in the right place!

I serged the edges of the seams before joining together, finished the neckline and sleeve openings with coordinating bias (single fold) and used the hand picked zipper technique to insert the zipper. The bottom hem is a blind hem with vintage rayon hem tape.

I can’t wait till Friday and the Alameda Vintage Fashion Fair. It should be loads of fun.

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

xo Jennifer