"Sew For Victory!" Patterns Inspiration from Emily's Vintage Visions


For those of you that haven't heard, the annual "Sew For Victory!" challenge is currently underway until April 30th!  It's a non-competitive challenge to create a 1940s appropriate garment all on your own, and I will be joining this year!  This page will explain everything, and there's a Flickr group to join as well to keep up to date on everyone's project progress!

Now when I get inspirations for such projects that involve vintage sewing, I do as much research as I can on a pattern before I begin.  I search to see if anyone else has done the pattern and talked about it online, and I look at magazines and fashion ads that show trends of the time to find ways to customize the pattern for myself if I'd like.  Although pattern illustrations are helpful, I really prefer to see the garments in real life because sometimes they can differ a lot from the pattern drawings!  

I've found a great source for ideas and research to be Emily's Vintage Visions, one of Flashback Summer's sponsors.  Emily, a vintage and historical seamstress, has participated in Sew For Victory before, and she has a great repertoire of completed projects with details on them that I--and I'm sure many of you--can find helpful:

Inspiration-- a 1940s Vogue Counter Book
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

See this pattern all made up (Isn't it amazing?  I love the dress clips, too!):
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

Check out the rest of the pages in this 1939 Du Barry pattern book:
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

Check out a blouse and pants project inspired by this lovely lady, and the trousers pattern features a button-up blouse with a HOOD! Somebody make one of those! (and I'm DYING over her hair!!!  Must try it!):
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

See these notions and this pattern all made up into a fabulous dress:
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

And lastly, look at the real-life version of this 1946 dress:
Flashback Summer:  6 "Sew For Victory!" Pattern Inspirations from Emily's Vintage Visions

I encourage you to hop on over to Emily's Vintage Visions!  She has lots of other posts as well on everything from reenactments to historical stays to... well, she's got a great variety on all things historical and vintage!  Go check it out!

5 comments

  1. Opps, I posted my comment to your FB page:) Such a great entry and wonderful inspiration. Emily makes some amazing things. I'm hoping I can get my act together and join in too! So much fun!

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  2. Thank you Emileigh for the great post! And for the reminder about Sew for Victory. :) I knew it was coming up soon, time to get organized! I have no idea what I want to make this year.
    -Emily

    Emily's Vintage Visions

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  3. I'm wondering whether to join in with this or not - I've got so much uni work and other things going on at the moment, I'm really short of time, but at the same time I really want to get some sewing done! I might see if I can find an easy and quick pattern to throw together in my spare time.

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    1. I totally understand! I have so much to do, but I'm finding myself CRAVING sewing time! I've just got to work something in!

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  4. Ohhh, if I found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow right now, a Vogue counter book like that would be one of the first things I'd try to track down. They are worth their weight in gold, nearly quite literally I guess if that's how I purchased it :D, for the amazing inspiration and look at high end fashion from back in the day that they provide.

    Happy sewing! I look forward to hearing more about what you create for this year's challenge (I'm not a sewer myself or I'd be all of it, too).

    ♥ Jessica

    *PS* I really want to thank you, sweet Emileigh, for your tremendously lovely comment on today's post. I wish you the absolute best with your plans for blog revamping and long remember how much what you said (about me and how I've helped you) touched my heart.

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