Patterns for Kit’s Feedsack Dress

I have been on a mission to find the holy grail of a pattern for a Kit Kittredge dress for Zannie.  There have been many that I’ve liked and Shea directed me to beautiful vintage dresses.  Anyway, here is a sample of patterns I’ve found that may help you out if you are in the same boat as I am; needing to make one of these dresses and not a clue where to start.  Here’s what I’ve found so far.  (By the way, a real seamstress could make a nice little chunk of change making these dresses and selling them on ebay…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Project Runway’s line of patterns for Simplicity (#2986)  It starts at size AA 8 and goes up, but I think if you’re an experienced sewer, you can cut the pattern to fit a smaller size.  I particularly liked the detailing options on this pattern, particularly the sleeves and the trim at the neckline.  I think the feedsack and calico fabrics are going to look fabulous worked up in this pattern.  I think you could put in a faux belt if you wanted mid-way or you could do it drop waist also. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Simplicity (#2878 ) and I bought it for the neckline detailing alone.  Those flaps, fastened down with black buttons were screaming out to me!  I think for 1930’s styling, the bodice is too nipped in, but the piping and the small print on the example here made me buy it.  (That and Simplicity patterns were 40% off right now) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a very sweet and cute pattern, and I’m not sure I’ll use it, but I do like the sleeves on this and I think you could customize it all over the place.  I think it’s too pleated for 1930’s, but it’s all about what you like personally, right? 

I ended up buying more yardage as well because the fabric is irresistable to me.  Here are companies that are making reproduction feedsack fabrics and modern takes on vintage fabrics.  Enjoy!

http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/designers/darlene_zimmerman/

http://www.fabricattic.com/newpage12.htm

http://www.fabricattic.com/aunt.htm

http://www.sewmamasew.com/ccp0-catshow/CLSWELL.html

Please, let me know how you all do and if you make a Kit inspired dress, please send me a photo!!

 

Tina

Farmer’s Market & Flea Market Treasures – NaJuPicMo

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish you all could smell these - they’re incredibly fragrant and ready for eating. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be put to work in a tangy pickle we make with plums, red onion and infused with star anise.  We serve it with grilled pork chops. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A local farmer was selling blossoms from his hydrangea bush.  $5 for 5 stems!  I couldn’t pass these up; they always reminds me of old-lady bathing caps.  After the farmer’s market, we headed over to the flea market and I scored a Kelvin Chen tea pot for $1.

Feedsack Fabric, Dresses & Kit Kittredge – NaJuPicMo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suzannah has become interested in the American Girl dolls, especially since we saw the Kit Kittredge movie.  And, because she is Suzannah, wearer of dresses, she wants to wear the calico and feedsack dresses of the depression era.  Can love for certain kinds of fabric be genetic?  I remember long talks with M. about what colors of fabric we liked.  We liked very similar things when we’d go to antique shops.  We liked shabby stuff before it was chic to like shabby stuff.  We liked orange and robin’s egg blue.  So, after the movie, when Suzannah mentioned wanting about ‘100 dresses like Kit and her friends’ I had a real sense of continutity between us three generations of girls.  It’s all come together over fabric of all things. 

So, now I’m on the hunt for patterns to make Suzannah dresses like this.  It’s funny, I thouht it would be a simple task.  I’d find something on ebay or at one of the many cool online fabric shops I drool over.  But, nothing yet.  But I have the fabric all ready to go…she wanted the first one to be aqua…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…the last one on the right.  My personal faves are the two orange ones. 

If anyone knows how to get ahold of patterns for dresses like these…please let me know!  They don’t have to be authentically vintage.