Monday, February 1, 2010

Marian Martin 9376

The pattern promised such joy -- this was the newspaper cutout for this Marian Martin mail order pattern:

Look! This four-inch-wide bias insert in sleeve and bodice gives you the freedom of action! Reach, bend, sweep - do any active sport - this heavenly sleeve gives you plenty of leeway! Good news! This is a half-size style for shorter figures - no alteration worries!


While my job does not involve any reaching, bending, sweeping or active sport (I work at a computer all day every day), I felt like I would like some new work clothes for my new job.

So, I visited Tessuti fabrics and got some random black fabric from their sale bin. Combining the black fabric with this pattern, this is what I got:


The pattern has some awesome details - asymmetrical buttons, one pocket:


The back looks nice too:



I did have to do some alterations though. Namely taking it in about 3.5cm on each side, which was complicated by that lovely 4 inch bias inset promising so much freedom of movement. At the moment, I am completely bewildered with vintage pattern sizing. I have not had a straight forward garment in ages. 

But, it did turn out nicely:



And now I have a nice new dress for my new job!

9 comments:

  1. Wow! I love those buttons! I always promise to make more black dresses, I end up wearing them more often that way. This one is great - but yes, I wish that vintage sizing were more predictable. A straight-forward dress??? Let's keep wishing :)

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  2. Comfortable yet womanly, and the button detail is charming! Your dress makes me feel like putting more faith into pattern envelope drawings -- this finished product is every bit as chic as the illustration.

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  3. Cute! I have that problem with vintage sizing too - there always seems to be a lot of extra fabric somewhere, no matter how small the size. I suspect it's because of vintage undergarments. Also, I'm viewing any drawing with a belt with suspicion, because I'm finding that those styles are often supposed to be blousy, though it is almost never shown in the illustration.

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  4. Thanks everyone!! Vintage sizing is so unpredictable isn't it? I made two vintage skirts for work recently. One was a 26" waist, and I had to take it in about 5cm. The other one was a 28" waist and the waistband is too small. So weird. The 26" one is finished, the other one is in the pile until I have more patience.

    Enken - those buttons are from Spotlight! I sometimes find something really nice at Spotlight. Last weekend they were having a sale and I got some gorgeous quilting cotton for about $4 a metre. Yay!!

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  5. Gorgeous!!! Love the button detail down the front :)

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  6. gorgeous! I love that the buttons are not in a straight line. It adds an extra element of fun!

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  7. Absolutely beautiful! I love the buttons and the side pocket. Hysterical description!

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  8. Really nice dress! I love the buttons. I can imagine that Vintage sizing is quite strange. I have never worked from a vintage pattern, too scared of too many alterations. I have a hard enough time with contemporary patterns.

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  9. I love this! I admit I never would have given that pattern a second look; some of those MM patterns look like they would have to be completely redrafted to go from frumpy to cute. But this is absolutely perfect. You did a spectacular job!!

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