Lisa, founder of Sew Over It

My favourite would have to be the Betty Dress. It was one of the first dresses I designed, and it was based on a dress worn by Betty Draper in Mad Men. I’ve always been a fan of the vintage look since I was a teenager. I was that crazy girl wearing a beret and red lipstick on the school bus in Yorkshire. I wore a Betty Dress to the launch of Sew Over It eleven years ago, and it is still my favourite dress today. It is just so elegant and so flattering. I have too many to count and I think I will keep wearing them until the day I die!

Alma, Social Media & Content Exec Sew Over It

It's so tricky to pick just one of our vintage patterns, but I think the Lea Dress is my favourite. It has a beautiful vintage shape yet it's really comfortable to wear, so it can easily be an everyday outfit. I love the V-shape of the neckline and the movement of the skirt. I feel like I should be lindy hop dancing when I wear it!

It looks fancy with heels, but I also really like wearing it with a pair of brogues or even with trainers to make it more casual - it's so versatile. I highly recommend making this one. I also added some in-seam pockets to mine, which is a very easy hack and makes this little dress even more perfect for me.

Rosie, Chief Operations Director, Sew Over It

The Vintage Shirt Dress is my absolute favourite of our vintage patterns - the soft shape of the collar and lapel, the tucks at the waistline and the gathers into the shoulders are such cute vintage inspired details. Although it is a vintage style dress, I've found it works perfectly for so many occasions. It's been my dress of choice for a few weddings as it dresses up so well with a pair of heels and a cute jacket, but also looks at home on a normal weekday with pumps and my big work bag! The option to have it sleeved or sleeveless means it's perfect all year round but for me the sleeveless version on a sunny summer's day, with a cocktail in hand, is where it's at its best!

Nicole Wells Production Manager, Sew Over It

I got really into vintage clothes as a teenager - I was bored with buying the same things as my friends, and we had this amazing little vintage shop where I grew up. It had been there since my mum was young - same owner! - and she always had the most eclectic mix of clothes. As I hit my mid-20's, it drifted into a more 1940s inspired style. I love the muted colour palette of the time, and the cut of the clothes suit my shape. True vintage is hard to find and/or really expensive, so sewing has always enabled me to re-create vintage inspired looks for a fraction of the cost and get the perfect fit. The Kitty Dress is one of my favourite Sew Over It patterns. It's super versatile as it has tons of variation options, so you can make it look super vintage with the shawl collar, or slightly more contemporary with the revere collar. I often wear mine with vintage-style flats for park trips, or it would work with tights and a cardigan in winter months. Plus - it has pockets!

Jemima, Online Shop and Customer Services Coordinator, Sew Over It

Vintage isn't normally my go to style, but I fell in love with the silhouette of the Aida Dress as soon as I saw it. I love the empire waist and the gentle gathers under the bust, and I learnt a new skill doing the shirring at the wrist! I have made two Aida Dresses now, a long sleeveless version and a shorter version with the puff sleeves and I just find them so easy to dress up or down for any occasion.

Julie, Tutor on Sew Over It Stitch School

My favourite vintage make is the Grace Dress. It's a very easy dress to wear and can be casual or dressed up depending on fabric choice. I made my rose printed cotton version right at the beginning when we first started teaching the class and I still love it. The rose print reminds me of dresses my mother wore when I was little, so it makes me very nostalgic. It is the perfect summer dress.

Janene, Designer @oobop and sometimes model for Sew Over it

I modelled The Miriam Dress for the Sew Over It Vintage Dreaming eBook and didn’t want to give it back! It has a wonderfully fitting bodice, straps that actually sit on your shoulders and all the flirty flare in the skirt you could want. I’ve got my eye on the cute, cropped jacket too. And the fitted dress version that I so want to make for my niece’s wedding. Oh, the possibilities! Full disclaimer: I didn’t make this dress, but I will be making my own soon. This is most definitely on my urgent sewing list.

Mary-Ellen, sewist, @shesewshappiness

While I love the entire Sew Over It vintage line of patterns, the Marguerite Dress has to be my favourite. The charm is in the details; the gentle gathers that do the shaping are beautiful. The style of the dress makes it perfect for sewists of all levels – the semi fitted bodice and cuffed dolman sleeves makes it easy to fit.

Marguerite is an empowering pattern for me; it cinches me in at the waist, where I need it, and fits the bust area really well. The dolman sleeves and the skirt are well-balanced, so it creates a good silhouette. As a curvy woman, I love a pattern that works with my curves, not against them. This is the pattern that bolstered my body confidence at the start of my sewing journey. When I took up sewing, it was a knee jerk reaction from being tired of ready-to-wear fashion suggesting my body was a problem. As a short, curvy woman with as many problem areas as any woman admits to, as much as I loved fashion, clothes shopping was a chore. As I picked up the needle and thread and started to learn the art of pattern manipulation to fit clothes to my body, I became even more comfortable in my own skin. Marguerite helped me reach a whole new level of body confidence solidification. Even my arms which bother me so much don’t annoy me in this dress at all. That’s why I make this pattern repeatedly. It’s a celebration of the body I have, not the one I once wished I had, nor the one society tries to dictate I should have.

Maria, sewist @maria_b_lovestostitch

I am a Sew Over It pattern insider and I love the vintage look so when I heard that Sew Over It was bringing out the Vintage Dreaming eBook I knew it would be fantastic and I have not been disappointed. I have loved everything I have made from it so far. The Marilyn Dress and The Miriam Set are my favourites - I feel so glamorous in them!

Carolina, sewist @carohillxblue

I love the vintage look because I think it is timeless and elegant. And I feel quite smug when I wear your vintage patterns because I live in Southern France and my garments here are unique. No-one else looks like me! I love my Betty Dress in this glorious fabric, making an appearance at a wedding in France in 2018.

Rosy, sewist @Rosysewsmodernvintage

My favourite Sew Over It pattern is the Penny Dress. I love the shoulder detailing, the flat collar and the big full skirt. I wear it with a fluffy petticoat for an extra vintage touch. I like that it can be dressed up with a hat, high heels and pretty handbag or dressed down with converse and a denim jacket. I am so pleased that Sew Over It are offering so many patterns in a more inclusive size range.  It makes me very happy to see bigger people modelling the patterns too.

Loriann, sewist @PayneLoriann

I have been attracted to Vintage clothing since I started following Sew Over It about 5 years ago.  I love the “nipped in” waist and the 50’s era.  My new favourite is the Marilyn Top from the Vintage Dreaming eBook, which I made in Liberty Tana Lawn.

Lisa, sewist @bobobunmakes

I used original 1940’s cotton lawn to make the Sew Over It 1940s Tea Dress. The pattern is so true to designs of the period which I love. I made a few alterations to the original design following 1940’s sewing techniques. I topstitched the midriff section to the bodice rather than sewing together as suggested. I also added a side popper placket rather than a zip, as metal was redirected to the war effort, and drafted two waist ties which can tie at the back and front. The finishing touch is the three green vintage buttons, again fitting the utility scheme requirements. I absolutely love my dress which gets lots of wear, especially at war events with proper shoes of the period.

Bernice, sewist @sewbee73

This is me in my favourite vintage make, the Charlotte Dress, made in Art Gallery Fabrics cotton poplin. Whilst technically not one of the Sew Over It Vintage Collection, it’s still got that retro vibe.

Get 20% off the Sew Over It Vintage Collection!

To celebrate Sew Over It being Vintage Designer of the Month we are offering 20% off any of our Vintage Collection until Monday 13th June. Just use the code 20VINTAGECOLLECTION at check out.

Note: Discount does not include copy shop printing.

Remember that Premium members can still get this beautiful free Sew Over It pattern! Find out more HERE.

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