The “Dress Like Your Grandma!” Challenge

The Idea

This is a vintage sewing challenge where family history can inspire your wardrobe. Take a photo of your grandma (or your grandpa, great-grandma, mom, aunt, someone else’s grandma — you get the idea!) and re-create an outfit or piece that they are wearing. Many of us don’t have vintage garments to remember our loved ones by or perhaps we can’t fit into what they left behind. Re-create that image with vintage patterns, reproduction patterns or modern patterns. If your style is different from a family member’s or you want to evoke a different era, find a vintage photo with a garment that suits you and re-create that. The idea is to study a vintage photograph (1980’s or earlier) and transform that photo into a garment or outfit that you’ve sewn yourself.

The Details

This is a non-competitive sewing challenge, not a competition. We are not here to compete against each other in a sewing contest, we are here to challenge each other to create something, inspire and share it with others. The challenge begins on March 6, 2017 and ends on April 17, 2017 April 24, 2017 (challenge extended). After the deadline I will gather photos and links to blogs and/or social media in a post on this site. Following the deadline there will be randomly drawn prizes for those who participated in this challenge.

How You Can Take Part

I have set up a Pinterest group board dedicated to this challenge. To join the board and post your photos, please send me an email with a link to your Pinterest profile so I can sign you up to pin. If you prefer, I can also pin your photos for you. If you choose to have me pin your photos, be sure to send me your blog/social media link (if you wish) so they can be added to your photos. Having a blog and/or social media links is not required to take part in this challenge. My email is: tanya@tanyamaile.com. In addition to our Pinterest board, you can also use the hashtag #dresslikeyourgrandma on Instagram so we can socialize, talk about our plans and gain inspiration. Don’t forget to tag me with my IG username @tanyamaile so I can see what you’re up to! If you’re concerned with privacy, crop your vintage inspiration photo or black out the face so that it only shows the garment/outfit. If you’d like to take part but do not want your photos on Pinterest, email your photos to me (tanya@tanyamaile.com) and let me know and I will only include them on the final challenge photo parade post on this blog. This is an international sewing challenge.

*I have also set up a Facebook group where we can share photos and discuss what we’re making.