Simplicity - June 1973

Simplicity 5688

Oooh, summer days are here, and that means summer fashion!  Let's look at 1973... you'll be surprised how stylish you can be in your retro fashions. :)

On the cover... an adorable playsuit with skirt add-on... so fun for those long summer days.  In stock now at People Packages and Clutterina's Shop.  Such a cute playsuit will never go out of style.

Simplicity 5692; 5695; 5697; 5687

The summer fun continues!  Look at all these cute outfits!  All stylin' and easy to sew.  You can make them today and wear them tomorrow. :)

The adorable tie midriff blouse + crop pants (5695) is great for a day on the lake!  In stock now at Fancywork, Kinsey Sue, and Clutterina's Shop.

The sweet crop-top and shorts combo (5697), in stock at Sew Vintage Detroit... also comes with pants or a skirt.

Simplicity 5670; 5671; 5673

Nothing says summer like a little sundress.. and these are perfect for any gal's wardrobe.  Any picnic will be prettier if you show up in one of these. 

Simplicity 5671 is in stock at Retroactive Future. (Comes with pants, too!)

Or try some of these similar dresses from the Pattern Patter Team:

1.)  Simplicity 9225; Grandma Made With Love

2.)  Butterick 4449; Roma's Maison

3.)  Simplicity 9779; Redcurlz's

4.)  McCall's 9746; Cloe's Closet

Simplicity 5705; 5704; 5667; 5668; 5669

Don't forget the little ones, of course. :)  Plus dresses and outfits you can make in a JIFFY.

The cute little sundress, 5705, (which can also be worn a as a top with pants) is in stock at Redcurlz's.

Here's some more "Jiffy" patterns you can make so quick!

1.)  Simplicity 5079; We Are Vintage Sewing
2.)  Simplicity 9072; California Sunset
3.)  Simplicity 6079; Blue Tree Sewing Studio
4.)  Simplicity 8865; Clutterina's Shop

Simplicity 5675; 5678; 5679; 5677

Casual dresses make the scene, stylish now as they were then. :)

Cute 5678, with it's keyhole neckline, is in stock at MBChills.

Here's some similar dresses with cool contrasting details like in 5677...

1.)  Butterick 5959; Fancywork
2.)  Simplicity 9338; Happy I Found It
3.)  Simplicity 7804; Purple Plaid Penguin

Simplicity 5693; 5694; 5712; 5694

Summer means SWIMMING and these beachy swimsuits are perfect for you!

Similar swimwear from the team:

1.)  McCall's 3606; Vintage Needle Finds
2.)  Simplicity 9321; Frisky Scissors
3.)  McCall's 2839; Erika With A K Vintage
4.)  Butterick 6267; Roma's Maison

Simplicity 5724; 5725

Crewel was very popular and trendy in the 1970s... lovely floral designs.  A similar floral crewel design, Simplicity 4716, is in stock at DRC Rose Patterns.

Simplicity 5708; 5696

Great tennis looks on the back cover!  Anybody want to play a match?

Similar looks:

1.)  Simplicity 9417; People Packages
2.)  Simplicity 9966; Blue Tree Sewing Studio
3.)  Butterick 4342; Clutterina's Shop
4.)  Simplicity 6398; Retroactive Future

Well, that's about it for right now!!  I hope you enjoyed this look back at Summer, 1973!

What's your favorite pattern? :)

Swimwear Sewing

I know we've done swimwear articles in the past.. but you really can't have too many!  Now's the time to make your summer swimsuit and get ready for vacation time!  It'll be here before you know it, so why not check out some of the cool patterns on offer from the Pattern Patter Team?

Vogue 6490

Everything you need for the beach with this pattern from Bluetree Sewing Studio!  A chic bikini or one-piece swimsuit, plus super groovy cover-ups are great for everyone from teens to grandmas, seriously!

Simplicity 1627

I'm mad for this adorable skirted swimsuit with little jacket.. so chic and so Hollywood.. !  And that graphic is perfection, from Roma's Maison.

Simplicity 1607

Here's a similar look from Sydcam123.  Love love LOVE it.  So flirty and pin-up perfect!

Simplicity 3273

The younger set can wear a similar look as well, in this ultra-cute little ruffled number from Clutterina.  By the way, this is actually a mother-daughter pattern, but I'm not sure about the number for the mother size.

Simplicity 9212

The skirted look goes into the 80s... with this unusual pattern.. I love the back interest as well, from Sandritocat.

Kandel Patterns for Knits No. 71

One of the cutest graphics I've ever seen on this hard-to-find pattern from Sew Betty & Dot.  And the suit is adorable, too!

Vogue 6079

Kinsey Sue has this spectacular 1940s swimsuit in stock, pretty enough to wear as a dress!

McCall's 6370

Oh!  So cute 1960s swimsuit with cover-up from Fragolina is still fashion magazine worthy.

Butterick 3161

Equally cute is this little 1970s bikini with impressive hooded cover-ups from Grandma Made With Love.  Oh, the graphic is so cute, don't you think?

Butterick 3122

Here's a similar look for girls with really sweet cover-ups, from Erika With A K.

Vogue 8053

Another hooded poncho to go with your swimsuit from Sew As It Was Patterns.

Hollywood 1581

Perfect for your Luau Party is this rare pattern from Frisky Scissors!!  Serve your guests drinks out of coconuts while sporting this ensemble.  (Also in stock @ Erika With A K.)

Vogue 9183

Oh, the beautiful graphic on this pattern is so glamorous!  I love the big hat, but of course the pattern is for the swimsuit and jacket.  I think those puffy-butt swimsuits are really cute and flattering. From DRC Rose Patterns.

Simplicity 1302

More Luau Glam from She'll Make You Flip!  The wrap skirt is removable and reveals swim shorts.

Simplicity 8795

Having a most mod beach party with these mix-and-match items from So Sew Some.

Butterick 3163

Don't forget the smallest beach combers with this too-cute-for-words little pattern from People Packages.

Butterick 3757

And finding a cute swimsuit while having a baby on board is no problem either, with this pattern from Redcurlz's.

Butterick 9287

And you can make swimwear for boys, too!  It's easy with this cute vintage pattern from MbChills.

Well, that's about all for now!

I hope you'll consider making your own stylish and vintage swimwear with these (and other) awesome patterns!  

Check out more patterns HERE!

Let's Do the Twist!

Chubby Checkers’ “The Twist” came out in 1960 and became an international dance craze until The Beatles came out with “Twist and Shout” in 1964. The preferred Twist fashion styles then were still the form-fitting sheath dresses and pencil skirts of the late 50’s, but with a fun, more youthful feel. The little black cocktail dress turned up a lot.

Here are some great little numbers from the Pattern Patter Team.

1. McCall's 6085;  sewbettyanddot

2. McCall's 7245;  DRCRosePatterns

3. McCall's 5658;  CherryCorners
4. Marian Martin 9175;  RebeccasVintageSalon
5. Vogue 4112;  sydcam123
6. McCall's 6571;  Fragolina





Another popular style was pencil or cigarette crop pants with a cute little top.

Check out the plaid crop pants on Jane Mansfield!

Girls still had to wear dresses to school, and pants were considered a little racy, so it was a lot more daring to dance in pants.

Here are some fun patterns if you'd like to make your own "Twist" pants.

 1. Else' of California Precision Pants;  ErikawithaK
 2. McCall's 7248;  ThePatternSource
 3. Simplicity 4487;  pattern memorie
 4. Simplicity 3435;  SelvedgeShop
 5. Simplicity 3703;  Redcurlz
 6. Simplicity 3428;  GrammaMadeWithLove

           

Full skirt dresses also made a showing, although they were on their way out when "The Twist" was in full swing.

That's Brigitte Bardot in the left photo.


Here are some great full skirt patterns from the early 60's.

1. Simplicity 2646;  Fancywork
2. McCall's 5417;  sandritocat
3. McCall's 5784;  ShellMakeYouFlip
4. Butterick 9563;  SewAsItWasPatterns
5. Advance 3194;  PeoplePackages
6. McCall's 7333;  mbchills


Last, but in no way least, there was beach party "Twist", with girls in the now widely accepted bikinis and enough hairspray to keep that do in place on the outside chance any water touched  it.






Make your own retro bikini with these patterns.






1. Vogue 6490;  BluetreeSewingStudio
2. Simplicity 8785;  Clutterina
3. McCall's 8289;  GreyDogVintage
4. Vogue 6175;  AtomicRegeneration
5. Butterick 3546;  FriskyScissors
6. Simplicity 6547;  RosesPatterTreasury


So, get out those early 60's LP's, put on your dancing shoes (or take your shoes off and wiggle them in the sand), and sew up a wonderful outfit to show off your Twist moves!

Vintage Summer Swimwear from the Pattern Patter Team

It's not too late to make a swimsuit for summer fun!  How about a quick look at some swimwear patterns from the Pattern Patter Team?  Better pick them up quick... Summer's over before you know it, and swimsuit patterns sell in a flash!

Row 1:  Simplicity 9321 @ Atomic Regeneration; Butterick 3179 @ DejaVu Patterns; Butterick 3078 @ Fancywork

Row 2:  McCall's 4063 @ Frisky Scissors; Vogue 8864 @ Sydcam 123; Simplicity 8804 @ Sew Betty and Dot

Row 3:  Simplicity 3234 @ Grey Dog Vintage; New York 1617 @ Sew Vintage; Vogue 6175 @ Selvedge Shop

Row 1:  Simplicity 8199 @ Redcurlz Patterns; McCall's 6370 @ Fragolina; Advance 3904 @ Sandritocat
Row 2:  McCall's 6860 @ Roma's Maison; Simplicity 8795 @ Clutterina's Shop; Advance 5099 @ Sew Betty and Dot
Row 3:  Simplicity 1607 @ Sydcam 123; Style 4633 @ Sew As It Was Patterns; Simplicity 1302 @ Vintage Needle Finds

Row 1: Simplicity 4624 @ Bluetree Sewing Studio; Butterick 4868 @ Lady Diamond; Kwik Sew 173 @ Patterns New 2 U

Row 2:  McCall's 6372 @ Sydcam 123; McCall's 6541 @ Clutterina's Shop; Simplicity 8028 @ Vogues Vixens

Row 3:  Kwik Sew 652 @ Sew Betty and Dot; Vogue 9484 So Vintage; McCall's 9295 @ Sew Vintage

Later we'll do a quick focus on kids' swimwear!

Which one is your favorite?  Let us know in the comments.

That's all for now as summer chores are calling my name!