williamsews

Vintage patterns. I have been sorting old patterns, changing them from plastic bags to envelopes, which are acid-free and will preserve them. Fashion and styles evolve, but some men’s fashion is constant, these clothes would certainly be fashionable today. These are from the late 1930s to early 1940s – I’m so glad the date is included on patterns. I won’t make these garments, but I do love old patterns. I have some from the 1960s that I will wear. Charity shops used to be a great source of these patterns, but it not anymore, pity. Back to sorting these treasures. Please visit my YouTube channel:  williamsews - YouTube Take care, Will.  

There is never enough fabric of course, I am in love with some of the designs and quality of the fabric I have been buying lately. Most are jelly rolls, which in a way, is limiting but I’ve ordered larger pieces. There are other pieces of equipment on the way as well, bought on eBay, these days it’s a long wait, several weeks with tracking, but it’s worth the frustrating wait. This is my idea of a ‘scrappy’ quilt block, its made from 2″ squares and it a great way to use up scraps. This is a 10″ block. It looks complicated but it’s easy and quick. I will make a video of it’s construction soon. These are other blocks I have been working on; Same layout with a different look. This one has a name; ‘Air Castle’. This is the latest lot of fabric; beautiful, lush colours and designs. Also started a shirt, I have started a video of the construction, I’ll probably make several videos of the process in depth. This is nice fabric as well, soft and colourful. That’s my lot for today, Regards, Will...

  I mainly use one shirt pattern and vary the collar, cuffs, yokes, etc., to create different looks. The collars can vary, along with many parts of the shirt. A lot of possibilities. Take care, Will.

  I discovered the thread pull method of making shirt collars many years ago and loved the results. It’s simple but creates perfect points. I’ve made a video of the method; I hope this video is helpful. I use the one pattern, Simplicity 8711 from 1979, and vary the collars, buttons and cuffs, the check shirt has the pattern’s original 1970’s collar. Please like and share this post, Thank you, Will.

  I’ve been fiddling with a new camera and gimbal, I’d never heard of a gimbal until one was bought for me, it’s a Feiyutech AK2000C and I think it’s great, it’s early stages as far as learning what it’s all about but after wandering around the garden with it this morning, I can certainly see the advantages of using one, so smooth. The local Heritage Fair is happening at the end of the month, so I’m hoping to be proficient enough to do some filming. Anyway, here’s a video of a shirt I have started, using the new camera. The photographic stuff has seriously distracted me from sewing but hope to rectify this tomorrow. Winter is on its way, cold today and raining, perfect sewing weather. Regards, Will.

  Made a new, smaller collar for the block shirt, the pattern is a vintage Simplicity from 1979, so it originally had a high collar with long peaks. I shortened it by 1cm and made it less ‘peaky’ years ago but have gone further this time and taken another 1cm off. It makes a nice little collar. This is the progression from the original. The collar stand was shortened from the original to the middle size, but not for the latest. It makes a neat little collar that will work well with bowties. It’s risky to travel far these days and the major fabric shop is about 20ks away, so I’m just using whatever I have, which isn’t much. There is enough gingham for a shirt but it’s Polyester, not a favourite fabric. Merry Christmas, Stay safe, Will.

 Made a shirt out of light-weight denim and was going to use the wrong side for a contrast yoke but decided against it. The wrong side is a nice grey, but it didn't work. Will be using the block shirt pattern; Simplicity 8711, issued in 1979. I occasionally think I'll use one of the other vintage patterns in the collection, but it always ends up this one, I know it fits and have made lots of extras for it, different yokes, pockets and collars, etc. One thing I like about it is the back yoke/lower back, the back is curved and the yoke is straight, this pulls it into the neck at the back. After watching Seinfeld in the '90s where Jerry wore a lot of shirts made with great fabric but they pulled away from his neck at the back which isn't very flattering (apart from the looseness and big sleeves of shirts in that era). It's going to have a placket front. I bought some embroidery threads recently, mainly because they are shiny...

It's been a long time since I have sewn anything and am looking for something to start a spark. It's pleasant to look through my old patterns anyway. I didn't realise that I had so many in my size and have never been used by me. I have made three of these. Haven't made these but one has piqued my interest... This one; long-sleeved version. It's a 1959 pattern - old patterns fit much better because more effort has gone into the fit. Let's hope it happens soon, my sewing machine needs a run. I gave three sewing machines to a charity shop last week, along with a lot of fabric and I actually don't regret it - I just have too much stuff, let someone have the benefit of it all. That's my lot for the day, Take care, Will.

  I’ve copied Simplicity 8753 and shall make a sample to ensure that it’s right, there have been a few alterations – I am doing view B, not too loose and not too tight. I have to make the same shirt for someone else but in a 38″. I usually use a 1cm seam but have left the 1.5cm or 5/8″, it’s easier than altering it, I’ve been sewing a 1cm seam for so long, so I shall have to concentrate. I visited the big fabric shop in the city and bought a shirt length of denim. I want to make a Levi jacket as well, but this denim is quite lightweight and not heavy enough for a jacket, so that means another trip to the shop–it was a rushed trip last time but maybe more time next visit. A visit to the Op shops (charity shops) was fruitful this week with a hoard of wooden cotton reels and two enormous cones of thread, I used a normal cone to show how large they are, I won’t use them up in my lifetime but I shall use the Day-Glo orange soon, perhaps on the denim. More pattern transfers to card this ...

  A lot of rain; it’s been a cool and very wet summer and it’s almost half over, perfect. Last year the heat was overbearing and bushfires all around… this year it’s floods instead, Just like Dorothea Mackellar’s epic poem. Anyway, all this means lots of lush growth so a lot of time has been spent taming the garden instead of sewing. I have two new patterns that I’m wanting to try. I tried a MimiG Levi jacket, but the sizing was out and not a good cut, so this one may be better and a shirt for me as well as someone else as it’s multi-size, it looks like a good pattern. It’s a matter of going to the fabric shop in the city and buying denim, but I’ll make a sample or ‘muslin’ first from fabric I already have. I shall work on the pattern today and have a break from the garden, it’s raining intermittently anyway. Slowly winning the battle of the garden, it had been neglected for some time and needs a lot of help. The patchy lawn had been top dressed and looking lush. This part will be ...