Making the 1964 Sundress

This 1964 sundress is the first Spadea pattern I have made. I have quite a few in my collection and decided that it was time to give them a try. The patterns are based on actual designer garments and the sizing is based on the ready-to-wear measurements. The proportions were also much different than I am used to with vintage patterns. Though I adjusted the pattern for my bust and waist measurements, I still needed to take out almost four inches in the torso. The rib cage was huge!

This pattern calls for all pieces to be underlined, probably because the original was. I don’t think this is necessary if your fabric has enough body. I used a cotton/linen blend which I also washed so it was a bit soft. I lined the dress with cotton voile which worked perfectly. I also ended up using a lightweight interfacing for the facings and the bows as I felt my fabric needed the extra support. The waist is finished with piping which I think is a nice touch.

While the front of the skirt is pretty straight with tucks, the back panels are much fuller and sweep into a soft inverted pleat at the center back. I love the extra fullness at the back. I also added a pocket on the right side so that I can take my phone with me. The construction of the dress is rather simple after you finish all of the underlining. The most time-consuming part for me was adjusting the bodice fit. I ended up even taking the upper back strap in another 1 ½” after I finished because it was sagging.

Even after all the agonizing over the fit, I think it turned out pretty nice. I really love the bows in the back and now that the strap is adjusted, it’s nifty how it perfectly covers my bra. That’s a big plus for me with sundresses.