I love vintage patterns

I love old patterns, not just for the style but also for the sewing lessons I learn from them. I realize now that the last generation of sewers sewed a lot but this meant that as regular sewers they were just as interested in fast and efficient ways of sewing as I am. These patterns are just so clever and ingenious.

A case in point is this skirt pattern. I am always on the lookout for straight skirt patterns that have some pleat detail so I can have the slimming lines, but still be able to move. If it isn't comfortable it just stays in my closet, and also I hate sewing vents, I know I have said that before, but I really hate sewing vents.

Of course pleats in themselves can be some extra work, so imagine how happy I was to see that this pattern didn't actually have any pleat pattern pieces it was just laid on the fold at center front.

 

The pleat was made simply by stitching up about half way along the centre front line as you can see from the instruction sheet. Of course the really great thing about this way of doing a pleat is that there are fewer seam allowances, less bulk and therefore the pleat hangs so much easier.  A trick to keep the pleat in shape is to hem the skirt, press the pleat, in this case a box pleat, in shape and then on the inside edge stitch on the pleat fold lines just in the hem area, I have posted a picture that hopefully shows what that looks like.

Slick. I love this pattern and have imported this approach to all my pleats.