Minerva Craft Blogger Network: Christine Haynes 'Emery' Dress

The tights are off and my Spring sewing has officially begun! The Christine Haynes 'Emery' dress was a pattern that caught my eye as soon as I saw it, which was probably over a year ago. I snapped it up straight away but it got bumped back by other projects and I suppose I forgot I had it. But after stalking #emerydress on Instagram recently, I decided it was time I finally cracked on with this retro pattern.

Simplicity 8447 - 1940s Overalls + Sew Along!

Out of all of the patterns I selected for this current batch of Simplicity Stitch by Stitch project this is the pattern I was most apprehensive about. The 8447 pattern came out last year as part of their vintage reproduction collection, originally from the 1940s. The pattern features wide leg trousers, 2 shirt options and the star of the show; the overalls. Dungarees and overalls seem to have crept into the high street recently and it's a trend I haven't tried for myself yet. But the 8447 pattern caught my eye and having seem THIS version from an online retro clothing store, I thought perhaps this vintage pattern could be for me.


I say I was apprehensive about this pattern as it's a style out of my comfort zone and a style of clothing I've not tried. Whilst most clothing looks great on someone with a model body (see the woman on the envelope..), I fear my 5"4 curvier figure might not work with such a style. All the jeans I own are skinny and I haven't sewn a pair of trousers with any success before as I can sometimes feel self conscious of my thighs. Alas, I still tried my hand at this pattern with what I hope is a mild success!

Here's a peek at the pattern:


I was also initially concerned about the sewing, thinking it might be time consuming and tricky to sew. But to my surprise, I would call this pattern simple and would recommend it for beginners. But you can see the sewing process in the video below and watch how the overalls come together.



So in my video it comes across how simple the sewing actually is and how fun they are to wear. I enjoyed dressing up a little to fit the 1940s land girl vibe!

Overall, I enjoyed sewing the 8447 pattern even if it was more of a style experiment for me. I'm not 100% sure they suit me and I don't find them particularly flattering. Whilst I can't see myself getting much wear out of these moving forward, it was fun to try this 1940s style and push my sewing and style boundaries. The pattern is simple to sew and it's a authentic vintage style, but for me it comes down to personal preference about the look and I'm still on the fence.

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Let me know if you'll be trying this pattern and be sure to tag me @craftypinup in your snaps so I can see them too!


Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo

What I've Been Loving in March

Hi pinups! It's time for another what I've been loving post, a monthly blog series I am trying my hardest to keep up with! March has been a funny month for me, and when I say funny, I mean stressful as heck. But I'm looking forward to April with a positive mindset hoping to make it productive and creative. Due to March's stresses I've also felt a bit lost when it comes to my blog and YouTube and feel like I haven't been producing content as regularly as I should be. But sometimes you need to take a step back and refresh.

As always, the sewing world has continued to inspire me this month and Spring sewing is at the front of my mind! Here's what I've been lusting after during March...

During March I've been thinking a lot about my personal style and what I sew compared with what I wear. Since starting my sewing blog with the emphasis on vintage, I suppose I've felt a pressure to sew vintage styles and style myself in a certain way (especially with 'pinup' in my blog name eeek). when the reality is that I pair these retro dresses with comfy trainers and lazy hair. But more on this another time! I'm currently lusting after 'Old Skool' Vans in classic black to pair with pretty tea dresses for Spring.

Minerva Crafts is always tempting me with their ever evolving range of fabrics, and with the release of Tilly's new book all about sewing with jersey this palm leaf print is at the top of my shopping list. Also in March Lisa Comfort's new range of vintage style floral fabrics have hit the shops and I'm in love with all of them I don't even know where to start. Her new cardigans are also super cute!

Working from home I sometimes find my diet can be a bit all over the place. I recently shared on Instagram Stories that I made a lunch box every day to keep me on track and I got so many DMs about it. So here's the bento box I've got!

I had a total sewing fail in March and was also struggling with my workload, so sometimes you need a total sewing palette cleanser to get things back on track. For me it was the M7381 tie front dress, which I'll share with you soon.

Thanks for reading, pinups!
Abi xo