Prairie Style 1978

I'm going to kill a whole flock of prairie-styled birds with one stone here. Follow the links to see the full project sets; there's too much to post here.

First up . . . Butterick 6038 (1978-1979):

The pattern packet said "Fast & Easy", and it was, even with my seam-finishing obsession. It has no fasteners and no darts or other complexities. I'm getting used to the fit. If I make it again, I'll trim down the remarkably-tall sleeve caps to both eliminate some of the necessary gathering and to tweak the fit, which seems slightly off in a my-sleeve-caps-are-too-tall kind of way.

I wasn't sure about the shape, which is boxy, and the waist ties, which suggest maternity clothes even though they're not really in the right place to be maternity-anything. It felt better the second time I wore it, though, so maybe I just need to learn to be less picky about fit.

The fabric is Kona cotton, which is a little stiff but opaque enough to make a respectable white blouse. The color is "Snow" which, oddly, is off-white. It's about the color of unbleached muslin, minus the brown flecks; I wanted muslin but couldn't find any that wasn't pretty see-through. I'd kind of like to try it in homespun, too. Maybe in brown plaid with button waist tabs.

Here it is with the improvised brown dirndl skirt.

I'm from Texas. I can wear boots with everything. If it's not in the state Constitution, it should be.

Also, that is not my house. Unfortunately.

Here's 6038 again with McCall's 5948 (1978):

5948 is Seventies prairie fashion, no holds barred. I look a bit like a B-movie Navajo here, I'm afraid. That was unintentional, I promise. I'll remember that in the future and maybe not wear them together too often.