Vintage May guest: Shwin & Shwin

Today’s Vintage May guest is one amazing seamstress…she seriously can churn out clothes for her adorable kiddos like no other! I’ve also had the chance to meet Shauna, from Shwin & Shwin, in real life, and she is just as nice and awesome in real life as she is on her blog! (honestly we had way too much fun talking sewing, fabric, and blogging when we met up last month!) She has such a huge collection of tutorials, and patterns also, including this one I REALLY want to use when/if we have a boy. She has such a knack for adding just the right touch to make an outfit go from adorable….to fantastic. Such as the belt on this cute top…adorable! I “helped” her pick out that flower while we were chatting away last month, btw. So I’ll take 1% of the credit for it. lol just kidding! Anyways, onto her adorable project!
Hi CINO readers! I am so excited to be here today! Jess is just the sweetest and I was so excited when she invited me to be a part of Vintage May! I typically gravitate towards modern and clean lines but honestly what’s not to love about something vintage? Old treasures tell stories and a history, and I love finding the simple and clean lines that are so often found in vintage styles. 

 I decided to use “vintage feel” fabrics and trim and create a dress that was perfect for our backyard vintage tea party. (Jude’s pants will be shared over on my blog today)

See below for the tutorial!

 So for the dress I started with a bodice piece really simple. You can use a trusted pattern or make your own by drafting from kids clothes. Make it about 2 inches wider in the middle than you want since there will be pleats.

 Then make a box pleat in the middle of the bodice piece. A box pleat is just two pleats that go out to either side. Press the pleats.

 Next I added some vintage like trim in both pleats and stitched it down in place to secure.

 Next using the bodice piece as my guide I made the back pieces but I split them down the middle since there would be buttons down the back. At this point I also used the front and back pieces as my guide for the lining. (I used the same fabric as the front for my lining)

 Then sew the front and back together at the shoulders. (do the same for the lining)

 Place the lining and front right sides together. Then sew along the black lines in the picture.

Clip the curves

 Then with right sides together line up the underarm (lining and front) and sew together the front and back so you have a nice little underarm seam.

 Next I added buttons down the back. I had these three little cream vintage buttons in my stash which were perfect and add that nice little vintage element.

 Now for the skirt piece I made used a natural linen, and cut a rectangle that was 2.5 times the waist measurement across and was the length that I wanted. Then I folded it in half and sewed down the side to create a wide skirt.

 I added extra large box pleats around the skirt so it fit the bodice. Then with right sides together sew them together.

 Then hem the bottom and that’s it. A simple and easy vintage inspired dress.

 I love the clean lines of the pleats although it has a vintage feel.

 Perfect for those sunny afternoon tea party’s we even used my baby blanket as the table cloth (which makes in “vintage” right? and some other vintage treasures from grandparents)

I had one pleased little girl, with the dress… and the proper party.

Thanks Jess for having me! I can’t wait to see all the other vintage goodness in store!

Thanks, Shauna! I loove that polka dot bodice…paired with that linen…sigh. So perfect!

Make sure to hop over to Kristin’s blog today to see what the fabulous Rae from Made by Rae has whipped up!

Comments

  1. What a sweet little dress!!

  2. QUÉ BIEN EXPLICADO!!!

  3. this is just gorgeous Shauna! I love the fabrics paired together, and I love all of the gorgeous detail. Well done!

  4. I’m all about the pleats right now…love them! Great dress.
    liZ

  5. I’m all about the pleats right now…love them! Great dress.
    liZ

  6. I’m all about the pleats right now…love them! Great dress.
    liZ

  7. I’m all about the pleats right now…love them! Great dress.
    liZ

  8. WAY cute, shauna! love it and love the tea party photos, too! 🙂

  9. maravilhoso. obrigada. beijo

  10. what a cute photo shoot! great job Shauna!

  11. Great dress and tutorial and I love the photo shoot.

  12. super cute!!
    Love those pleats! 🙂

  13. Gorgeous dress and models! Thank you for doing a tutorial at the same time.

  14. Thanks everyone! And thanks Jess for having me part of Vintage May! I am loving this series!

  15. Love love love that dress!

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