Just to prove I have been sewing with something other than polka dots recently, here are pictures of my late 1930s housedress made to fill a gap in my wardrobe.

I wanted something in a dark print (so the lines had to be simple), something that was fitted without needing a belt (hard to find in vintage patterns), and above all – not be wrinkly! I love sewing with cottons, but once in a while want something I can just pull out of the closet and put on. 

I found the answer in a late '30s mail order pattern, which was fitted with sets of 2 long darts in the front and the back, and used a seersucker which really doesn't wrinkle and is comfortable.

It did have a little cute detail, though, with the overlapping zigzag button front.

I also did another hand-picked zipper for this one – not because I wanted a couture touch on a simple everyday dress, but because I had no invisible zippers the right color and I can not do neat overlapped ones on the machine. Also since I was top-stitching in black thread a messy zipper would have been…noticeable.

It is very easy to wear and cool for summer, and was quick to make from start to finish. I made it even simpler (though the pattern was very simple) by topstitching a narrow hem around the edge of the skirt and sleeves instead of facings or traditional hand-stitched hems.

I always have a long list of things I want to make whether I need them or not – but it's nice to make something I actually need once in a while, and get some use out of it.