sewing•Vintage Frivolities

1930's Hooverette dress project

Ahhh after much deliberation i have finally chosen some 1930s patterns to sew! starting from the very beginning of the silhouette, so they're mostly under layers. got myself a long-line bra, nightgown, slip, and this house dress, aka a Hooverette! they would often wear these dresses when doing house cleaning, hence the name. After thrifting the cutest little bedsheets, i just couldnt help myself but start with that dress!! I am making version 3, but with the sleeves of version 2. Hooverette dress 1930s

You know..this is my very first wearable sewing project! Dying to see this fashion on a body less 1930s fashionable😄 after all, I've got some meat to me! more updates to come 🫶

hooverette dress update

it is really starting to look like something now! i set the collar in (after a minor fuck up on it), and then some hand finishing began

and not pictured are all of my raw edges that i overcast by hand too. it was already starting to fall apart, and did NOT want to take any chances >:o all that's left is: bound buttonhole, hemming, and making the ties.

Welt buttonhole

i practised a couple different ways to do this, but i found the welted buttonholes to look the best (at least with my current skill). it was still nerve-wracking cutting into my dress, but honestly? it is looking great!
basically you start with stitching 2 lengthwise folded pieces of fabric the start of a welt buttonhole

on the right side. then open up the buttonhole from wrong side, and pull the fabric strips through. then you pleat the back in such a way that the fabric covers the entire opening! back of welt buttonhole

cast over the edges, too, because i didnt want to add a facing to this thin fabric. then i reinforced the short ends on the right side, and made sure the fabric was laying nicely finished welt buttonhole with reinforced stitching

the next major task is going to hem this without a full-length mirror OR help :o) we shall see how much my scoliosis affects the straightness of the hem..but here it is thus far!! 1930 hooverette house dress with just the hem and ties unfinished

honestly i might be able to knock that out in 1 single day, depending how the hemming goes lmao. much love< 3

FINISHED!!!

ahhh!!! i finished it!!!! i am so dang proud of it, too. got these fabric as sheets about a year ago, at the thrift store, and I'm extremely pleased with the results :D My goal was to make something that fits me, and doesn't fall apart lol. i know, low expectations, but it was my first project after all! cant wait to start the next. let's hope more success is in my future c: