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Help!! Vintage pattern-searching

So some friends of mine are getting married in October, and I'm going to help the bride out with a dress for the reception.  She wants a dress sort of like this lovely vintage Vogue pattern... Vogue Special Design 4068.
It's for sale online at pattern stores and Etsy stores, for $95-150.  I'm sure it's worth that much, too; I totally appreciate the value of vintage patterns.  However, for a wedding that's costing enough as it is, it's a lot of money to pay for a pattern!

Do you think we could find something similar somewhere else?  Maybe a boat neck style, with the same princess seams?  We could easily add the sweetheart scallops.
Here's a back view...
Any ideas?
Does this Vogue Special Design remind you of any other vintage patterns, with that great full skirt, or do you think it could be adapted from a modern or 90's pattern??


  1. to me it seems simple enough to adapt from a modern pattern. i'm sure you can find something with similar princess lines and a full skirt. why not go look at some pattern books in the bridal sections?

  2. I have this one, and immediately thought of it. The one design looks similar.


    Both of these have a fuller skirt and princess seams.

  4. Annapolitan2/20/2011

    Cute dress! It should be fairly easy to come up with something close. It's basically a tightly fitted bodice with a boat neck, some short sleeves capped with a flat bow detail.

    Magpie's pattern looks good, but you'd need to put in some darts in the front and perhaps the back, which would be pretty simple. Make a muslin sloper first out of muslin or gingham, pin in the darts, fit it to your friend (she should be wearing her foundation garments) and then use the muslin as a pattern to make the bodice of the dress.

    Or maybe either of these would do as a start?

    Another thought is to find something that's vintage and which has a similar profile to this Vogue pattern -- the dress itself doesn't have to be in great shape -- and take it apart and use that as a pattern. Look in vintage and thrift shops, etc.

    This looks like a fun project!

  5. You could try Ebay (worldwide) and if necessary buy several patterns to adapt into the one. It could still work out cheaper than the expensive Vogue one. A friend of mine is a UK soap actress and wanted a dress for an awards ceremony that she had designed herself. I ended up buying 3 or 4 different patterns to ensure the skirt, sleeves, collar etc all matched her design. Good luck with your search!

  6. Try an 80's formal dress, they had princess seams and sweetheart necklines all over the place.

  7. That wont be too hard but I suggest what is going on UNDER the dress will be very important . Even though that is a Princess line dress I bet there is alot of boning going on in the bodice not to mention that there would be lots of tulle to hold that skirt out.I think any princess line pattern will get you there along with a mannequin , alot of muslin and a good drafting book.

  8. Nice project! I would go on etsy and look for 1950 vintage patterns.

    Once you have the basis pattern with princess seams you can make the alterations you want.
    Hope this helps!
    Tell us what you decided....
    Have a good day, regards from Switzerland Sabine

    Sent from my iPad

  9. Anonymous2/21/2011

    All of these Vogue vintage reprints are decent candidates (and are 3.99 on the website right now if you can't wait for a sale at Jo-Ann):

  10. I actually just happened on the
    pattern that Anonymous posted!

    Looks like all you'd have to do to edit that one is create a sweetheart neckline which, with the way the bodice is shaped, shouldn't be that tough.

    Good luck!

  11. There is also Vogue 2903, a beautiful vintage pattern, full skirt but with no waist seams, the look is very smooth. Definitely needs a petticoat and adjustment on the top, but this is a great pattern for your collection.

  12. In my pattern stash I have a McCall's6382 size B that has a vee neck, full skirt, princess seaming. I have McCall's 7894 and 5253 that also have full skirts and princess seaming on the bodice. These skirts are cut and gathered separately from the bodice. All three patterns are from the 80's or early 90's I think. I'd be willing to ship them to a new home.



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