Big Vintage Sewalong: Retro Butterick 5813

Big Vintage Sewalong dress

Back in March I announced I was taking part in the McCalls Big Vintage Sewalong. My scheduled date to blog seemed an awful long way off then, but all of a sudden today came shooting along like an express train and of course I’d left everything till the last minute!

My pattern of choice was the 1950s Retro Butterick 5813 – Nail on the head, Alana from Flying Purple Hippos.com! – but it wasn’t without a dither. I loved each of the three 1940s patterns on offer too!

retro butterick 5813

As soon as that pattern was in hand and I’d decided on version A, I headed straight down to Goldhawk Road and to the relatively new store, Goldbrick Fabrics, to snap up some gorgeous Italian brocade. I’ve been quite literally ‘stitched up’ (or rather unstitched) by brocade, once before (yes looking at you BHL Georgia!) and I knew as a rule, it has massive ‘give’ issues but this particular brocade is beautifully soft and luxurious with just the right amount of body at the same time and subsequently a little more forgiving.

retro butterick 5813

big vintage sewalong dress

And because the fabric was so special I wasn’t about to employ any gung ho scissor action. So I made a toile like the good girl I am. Fortunately I only had to make a few minor adjustments. Firstly I needed to remove some excess bagginess from the back bodice. I often come up against this issue but this style commanded some serious ease for practical reasons of movement I guess.

Big Vintage Sewalong Butterick 5813

Secondly, I needed to gain a little more girth. My go to adjustment for this is always to add a bit at the side seams but that often results in a loss of shape and a sausagey silhouette, so I thought I’d try a different way by sewing narrower darts and I do believe the result was way better, though, looking at the back view shot I should also have shortened the bodice a tad.

retro butterick 5813

Thirdly, I lobbed a fair bit off the length. I ummed and arred between below the knee or to the knee but I think after seeing these photos, an inch longer may have added a bit more drama. What do you think? I sewed a substantial hem so I could take it down a little I guess.

I wouldn’t recommend this dress to an absolute beginner. There are potentially, lots of hissy-fit inducing features like darts – lots of them, some underbust gathering (which admittedly would probably have been easier in a more manageable fabric) oh and inset panels! Luckily I’ve had some former training with insetting sections of my quilt panels – for example the Whirligig block –which made the instructions and the construction a near enough breeze!

Another thing to be mindful of is the precision of facing the front opening – sewing perfectly symmetrical seams to meet at a single point before turning through. I think the collar is such a lovely feature of this dress. There were no complications in adding it and it has a real neat finish that encloses the lining around the neck edge.

Big Vintage Sewalong dress

It’s fully lined too which means sleeves an’ all! I’ve only ever done this twice to my ever failing knowledge: My vintage plaid dress (which annoyingly seems to have disappeared from my blog) and more recently my Sew Over It Joan Dress. And I must say it feels like a bit of a rip off to have to basically construct the dress all over again in lining, no cutting of corners, darts, gatherings, inset panels the lot! And that means even more seams to overlock too!

retro butterick 5813

But of course it was all worth the effort and it’s so lovely and weighty. Proper quality, like!

I’m not sure whether I cut or sewed the wrist end of the sleeve incorrectly but in any case I opened the seam a little to avoid the puckering that was about to happen. And yes those are 3 little darts for shaping the sleeve. On the fashion fabric and the lining. That’s proper vintage detail!

retro butterick 5813

I chose an invisible zip over a more-authentic lapped one, only because I had one to hand but I’m really pleased with the outcome. It just looks like another side seam. I achieved such invisibility by taking my time for once, pinning and then tacking in position before using a regular zipper foot and then sewing a second time with the invisible zipper foot.

retro butterick 5813

One thing that surprised me was the vent. It’s just a slit with facings either side and the lining is stitched to the facings like a little bridge around the outside. Much simpler than the usual lined vents or kick pleats of most vintage dresses I’ve sewn but it does feel like a bit of a cop out after all the attention to detail elsewhere.

Overall I totally love this dress. It was such a pleasure to indulge in some vintage sewing again. Very long overdue and I’d love an excuse (and some more hours in the day) to make another. But I’d make a few more adjustments next time, namely taking a bit off the shoulders, shortening the bodice a fraction and adding a little more to the waist.

retro butterick 5813

It got some lovely comments as we strutted around Portobello Road and around Notting Hill. Not least of all from the lady who managed to sell me 2 new pairs of sunglasses. Flattery gets you everywhere, see!

retro butterick 5813

retro butterick 5813

retro butterick 5813

Many thanks to The Foldline for the encouragement, for McCalls Pattern Company UK for providing the pattern and fabric. I sincerely hope that lots of people get inspired to buy these gorgeous vintage patterns and that lots of wonga is raised for The Eve Appeal in the meantime.

retro butterick 5813

Special thanks also to Dan for dutifully shooting these amazing photos. We always have such fun. London is so full of amazing places and we’re lucky that most of them are just a short tube ride away. It’s always a hoot when we’re oot and aboot!

Marie from A Stitching Odyssey is next up. Can’t wait to see what she makes.

21 Replies to “Big Vintage Sewalong: Retro Butterick 5813”

  1. Oh My!! This is gorgeous! Love the fabric, very dramatic 🙂 The length is perfect to my eyes.
    I love it when others sew up patterns that I have, but think isn’t “really me” (based on those long, impossibly slender cover art ladies). Seeing the design on a real person, makes all the difference to me, and is very inspiring!
    You look great!

    1. Thank you, lovely. I know what you mean about the cover illustration. But I’m quite used to it now. They are always longer and skinnier than me but hey… they are just drawings I’m all real! 😀

  2. This is a fabulous dress – I love the fabric and shape and you have done an amazing job. I also think it’s a perfect combination with your sunglasses, those really great shoes and your fishnets! Inspiring! Kx

  3. Oh wow, such a stunner! What a perfect fabric choice. I think the length looks great too and your shoes are a perfect match. Off to order this pattern now

  4. Awesome dress and fabric! It looks very luxurious and fits you so well. I have the tendency to sew up vintage dresses or skirts a bit shorter myself, because I do not wear high heels very often and feel a bit frumpy in below the knee skirts with low heels or flats. However, if you wear your dress mostly with high heels like in the photographs, it could easily be somewhat longer, I think.

  5. Oh my! You are absolutely stunning in that dress! I’ve had this pattern for a while. Now I can’t wait to see here up. You’ve styled it perfectly! Those scores are to die for. Beautiful work!

  6. Oh this is stunning!

    I love the little details too, like the sleeve darts, you have done such a nice job.
    Very classy, interesting to read another sewer who adds – or takes away with the darts, I have found that a good way to adjust by a centimeter or so.

    I think the length is good on you, I have a dress waiting to hem and I can’t decide! I know I’ll wear a slightly shorter skirt more often than the really elegant below knee hem…

  7. Hi, like you I have made up this pattern, view A. I also had to widen at the waist and remove excess from across the back. I have used a stretch fabric (unlined) which is really comfortable to wear and have shortened the skirt. Not thinking ahead like you I have lost the kick pleat altogether, but am really happy with the finished look. I know it is a dress I will wear and wear.

  8. Wow, Love the styling of these photos. So very glam. The dress is beautiful, what gorgeous fabric. Not sure I could sew such an intricate pattern, well done because the effort was worth it.

  9. Your dress turned out amazing!! I’m hoping mine does as well but I’m having trouble with the collar. At the shoulder seams, where the facing ends, did you turn the raw edges in the back under or just leave them? I’m getting puckering there and am so frustrated at the moment with it I’m not sure what to do. Any advice with the collar would be greatly appreciated.

    1. Thank you Mary and sorry so late in getting back to you. Have had issues with WordPress recently. Did you manage to solve the problem? I can’t remember off the top of my head but I will happily investigate if you need help. Let me know. 🙂

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