03 Jan 2013 10 Comments
Various Vintage Necklines and How to Draft Them
Happy New Year! May 2013 bring you many new sewing ideas and lots of hours of sewing fun.
One of the books I started the year with was “Precision draping; a simple method for developing designing talent” by Nelle L. Weymouth. Published in 1889, this is a lovely book; everything is so well explained and it just makes pattern drafting seem so easy! I got to this book via The Perfect Nose, who posts lots of vintage goodies as well as marvelous sewing projects of her own.
One of the things that I sketched into my notebook for future reference were the necklines and how to design facings. My favourite were the sweetheart neckline, the triangular keyhole neckline and the peter pan collar, both the rounded and the pointed version.
The full lesson on neckline facings can be found here and these are the drawn notes I took while reading. Drawing helps me both remember notions I would like to experiment with and understand better what it is to be done. Just don’t get to bored by the repetitive busty lady shown below.
1. The Sweetheart Neckline
A rounded and rather modest sweetheart neckline is shown here, but you can make it as generous or as square as you like it.
2. The Keyhole Neckline.
A triangular shape is shown here but the same can be done with an oval shape.
3. The Peter Pan Collar
The Peter Pan collar has been getting a lot of attention lately and I’ve seen many tutorials and even made my own following the pattern of a blouse I have. This all seems silly when you notice how simple it actually is to draft. If only I had pictured it like this 6 months ago.
4. The Pointed Peter Pan Collar
Another reason why I am such a sucker for sewing books is learning the names of things. And then calling them by their names, dammit :) This is such a pretty collar; did you know it was called a pointed peter pan? How do you call it?
Hope this sounds at least 25% as exciting as it does to me and if not, well, I expect you to write about it in the comments section :) I’d rather be told when I am boring than yap yap yap alone.
Jan 03, 2013 @ 14:15:36
I appreciate this, and you aren’t boring! I wish I wasn’t leaving my sewing machine at home to go to school.. I’ll have to wait 4 months before I can try any of these out. Ugh.
Jan 03, 2013 @ 16:24:34
Ah, I know how that feels. I’ve also been with a sewing machine for about 5 months (it was actually when I started the blog) and I was dying to try new things.
Maybe you could use this time to plan and read and pinterest? :)
Jan 03, 2013 @ 16:08:03
Hey, thats’s cool! Thank you for sharing. How would you hold the keyhole together? I usually see them held together with a loop button/hook and eye/thin straps tied to a bow. Wondering if you have other ideas?
Jan 03, 2013 @ 16:26:03
I like the button idea but I was thinking more about a couple of invisible stitches where the loop closes. Cleaner :)
Ps. I just stumbled upon your olderish Mad Men dress – how amazing!
Jan 03, 2013 @ 20:12:53
Ooo I love this! Thank you for sharing!
Jan 03, 2013 @ 22:56:48
I hope I can share projects too, it seems my time for sewing is shrinking :)
Thanks for the comment!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 13:51:27
This isn’t boring at all!I love it!And I didn’t actually realize how easy some necklines and collars where to draft!Thanks so much for sharing!
Jan 04, 2013 @ 17:28:52
gosh, I love that you’re starting off 2013 with pattern drafting. LOVE.
Drawing things out also helps me walk through the process of sewing/pattern making so that I know what I need and what I need to do in the future.
Mar 30, 2013 @ 20:09:00
This is exactly what i was looking for – specifics on how to make different necklines. i don’t like shirtcollars, and have some blouses i hope to alter by creating a peter pan or pointed peter pan collar, so thanks!
Apr 02, 2013 @ 11:40:27
Hey, very glad to hear! I would love to see photos of how those turned out.