Finally I’m using more of the vintage patterns I’ve acquired over the past few years.

We thought that this would be a nice cool option for summer, and that since Clare will be nine years old in January, the size 8 might finally fit her. As it turns out, this outfit is a little big, but wearable.

Because the blouse is only waist length, Clare has actually had to pull the skirt up a bit to meet it! She normally wears her skirts way down low on her hips, so at first she wasn’t at all keen to wear it at waist level as per how it was drafted. But she got there in the end.

The fabrics are lovely light coordinating quilting cottons that I bought three or four years ago. I rather like the combination. I made loads of bias binding for the elastic casing at the waist and for the blouse neck and hem bindings and ties. The top is beautifully drafted – there are curved raglan seams setting the flared sleeves into place. If you look closely you can just see them in this photo (and they are easy to see in the line drawing on the pattern envelope above).

It’s interesting seeing how vintage patterns translate to the current day with a change of fabric and styling. I am often reminded of the slogan that John Kaldor used when I was in my teens and twenties – “fabric makes fashion”. I reckon that they are right!