Return of 3263

Over a decade ago, I happened upon an amazing selection of vintage sewing patterns in a thrift store.  Most of them were immediately put on eBay, but I did keep and make several.

My favorite was Simplicity 3263, from 1950.  It was a simple shell shirt pattern, with some interesting double dart details.  The original owner (Betty Rose--she had written her name and address on most of the pattern envelopes, and I was actually able to look her up and learn a bit about her) had extended the sides of the pattern, and I cut it that way the first time I tried making it, and I liked the way it fit. I made the shirt a few times, every one extremely cute.

Eventually, though, I gained enough weight that the vintage size 14--even with the modifications--was just too small, so I sold that pattern, too.  Years later, I developed a sudden nostalgia for it--I considered trying to recreate it by hacking some other patterns (I am not up to making a personalized block), but I couldn't get a result that I even wanted to test.  I looked at what options were for sale, and even managed to find Betty Rose's old pattern for sale on Etsy.

I let the interest fade, but it jumped back recently, and I found a vintage size 18 (B36) version of it on eBay--for more than I usually spend on a pattern, but not bad for a vintage pattern, so I got it.  That was also around the time I got the die cutter, so I was distracted by that for a while.  But! I finally tried making the size 18!

 It's a little large!  But I can work with it!

Well, it's a little large across the shoulders, not bad at the bust, and too small at the hips.  I feel like I can do a hackjob of compensating for all of that, next time, by tilting the front pattern piece so the top extends past the fold and the bottom doesn't meet it, pivoting at bust level.  I can, of course, do more detailed alterations instead.  I'll think about it.

The main thing I completely lacked confidence in being able to recreate--at least not without a lot of trial and error--was the double darts.

 (and also the big peter pan collar, but I didn't try that on this.)

I had forgotten that the pattern wants the neckline and arm openings finished with independent facings.  So, I immediately cobbled together some all-in-one facings.  At least I also learned how to apply those facings with the burrito method, in the nearly ten years since I last made this pattern.

I also remembered that I had tried installing the zipper in a lapped configuration before, so did that again.

I'm almost at the point where I can install a lapped zipper without consulting the directions.  Almost.

 

I actually think I'll use my slim button up shirt pattern (heavily modified Burda 7831) to get this one wrangled toward the fit I want.  Eventually.  I have a list of things I want to sew, and most of the things on that list got there before I re-bought this pattern.  Eventually!