Hot under the vintage embroidered collar!!

Along with a hundred other things I have been meaning to make are some collars for Bronte  - she has taken to wearing some of my old blouses (circa 1965) that have a nice pointy collar so thought that we could throw a bit of versatility into the mix.  I have made Peter Pan ones before but this was this first time I had ventured into the world of 'proper collar' making!

Not difficult at all - I got the old blouse (circa 1965) and had a good look at it - drew round it as a pattern and then realised that it is only two parallel lines - one slightly shorter than the other and then a line drawn to join the two together (the wider the differential between the two end points will result in a more/less pointy collar).   Since fiddling about with all that I found lots of tutorials on the interweb - but as with lots of patterns it is usually best to adapt so that it is just right for you/moi!!

This collar is lined with some old Jonelle fabric (used to be a pair of curtains and has been used for lots of different things).

Tomorrow I am going to make one with 50s fabric and then the next day it will be the 60s.  Such fun!!

This photo makes it look as though it is an odd shape but I promise that it isn't.  It did take a while to find the right sort of embroidery.....

This is Bronte wearing it!

I like top stitching but did not do that here - now wish that I had....

Bronte much preferred the first mock up that I made (complete with pen marks!) - out of an old sheet.  The next one I make will not be so high (though it is not as high as it appears in these photographs - this one looks very Edwardian in style!).  I also made these to be used with my collar studs left over from my nursing days when I wore, what I call,  a 'proper uniform' and a white collar (rubbed like heck by the end of the day mind you!).

Never fear I will not be going into collar production! Have a lovely week.

PS Thank you for kind comments and messages regarding Homes and Antiques - I didn't know which edition it was going to be in so was surprised too.  The photos were all taken a year ago and they first asked me February 2011!! I hate having my photo taken and did not think that would be needed so not had my annual 'shearing; but had managed to get a nice streak of grey in my hair (that takes years of practice to get that right!!).

PPS thank you again for not posting on Pinterest - my bike has appeared there though....