It’s been a week of illness for everyone in our household except Clare.  Stella and I were finally well enough yesterday to pop out to one of the local op-shops for a quick visit.  Success – lots of old patterns!  There were many from the 80s (which don’t count as vintage to me, since I was sewing dresses for myself during the 80s and still have the patterns to prove it) but also quite a few from the late 60s and early 70s.  They worked out to cost 25c each.  Bargain.

I have seen the Simplicity one on another sewing blog recently (maybe Summerset’s) – it must have been a popular pattern! I think that it will be a really flattering shape for me. 

Many of the patterns have really interesting design lines.  Some are completely in tune with current fashion.  And the illustrations are always good value!

The girls skirt pattern was a sentimental purchase.  View 3 was the skirt that I made in Year 7 Fabrics (first year of high school).  We had to choose a skirt pattern that had a waistband, a zip, and gathers or darts.  While many of the other girls chose pencil skirts from the “Misses” section, at age 11 my figure was definitely still that of a “Girl”.  I remember wishing that I too could make something a little more sophisticated.  I am struggling to remember what the fabric was like, but I think it was a soft purple, with a print.  Mum, can you remember?  Anyway, the finished skirt was rather nice.  And entirely age-appropriate.