Vintage 1950’s Seahorse Embroidered Beach Jacket, McCall 1524

August 31, 2021

I bought this Vintage 1950’s Beach Jacket pattern, McCall’s 1524 on Etsy and really lucked out. I fell in love with the lines of this simple jacket pattern- not even realizing it had embroidery- and seahorses at that!The pattern contained intact (and fully functional) embroidery pattern transfers! So perfect for Florida!

It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time either. I scooped up this pattern right after I fractured my ankle. Having a slow project to focus on really lifted my spirits while I was recovering. I worked on the embroidery outdoors on my loveseat with my foot propped up and my dog Suki by my side. The embroidery pattern itself is very simple and repetitive which made for a relaxing practice.

I’ve been embroidering way longer than I’ve been sewing, since my early 20’s. This was a wonderful opportunity to get back to one of my favorite crafts. After working on this project I realized how much I missed having a slow and meditative sewing practice. It was just the impetus I needed to start a new business too!

I’m back to my first love and heading full circle back to my original art school training. I attended art school for graphic design before switching over to printmaking and love being able to utilize those skills again. I’m learning Adobe Illustrator (bootcamp Jason Hoppe class on Creative Live-> link in sidebar) and getting back to drawing everyday. This injury forced me to slow down and reevaluate what I really value most- time with my family and a meditative sewing and craft practice.

Cross stitch in the hospital as I wait for surgery

All the Details

Pattern:

GroverStreetGirlSews on Etsy

McCall 1524 Printed Pattern with Transfer Size 16 Blue

Misses Casual Coat for Beach or Evening

Bust 34, circa 1950 with seahorse embroidery transfers (my pattern did not contain the beaded pattern embroidery- my guess is that was the version the original owner made)

Fabric:

Organic French Twill-59/60″ Organic Cotton Plus

My very favorite fabric to work with! I love this twill weave and have used it for a ton of projects. It’s lightweight but sturdy with a very light twill weave that is very smooth to the touch. This fabric was wonderful for embroidery and easy to work with

This fabric is combed cotton that is micro sanded for a luxurious feel. The end use for this fabric includes general apparel such as pants, shorts, skirts, and shirts.

Width: 59/60″ Wide Content: 100% Organic GOTS Certified Cotton Weight: 4.5 oz Weight Care: Preshrunk 5% maximum Made In: India

Batiste-60″ OCP

I used this for my lining, lightweight and protective layer for my embroidery.

A balanced plain weave fabric often used for handkerchiefs, lingerie, liner for high quality garments. The weight, smooth feel, and stable construction makes it very versatile material.

Made In: India Weight: 2.5 oz/sq yd Width: 59-60″ inches Content: Control Union (SKAL) 100%

GOTS Certified CottonOEKO-TEX standard 100 Certified Eco Friendly and Sustainable. Pre-shrunk to 3-5%.

Embroidery Floss:

DMC 115 5-598 Pearl Cotton Thread, Light Turquoise, Size 5

4 skeins purchased from Amazon

I’m on the lookout for copies of the matching swim looks shown below. And the pic of the woman in the beach jacket totally inspired my mini photo shoot! I wanted to take my pics at the beach but haven’t gotten there since my injury. Waiting until the end of summer to head back before I test my balance on hot sliding sand!

Vintage McCall Needlework Images:

This illustration (on left) is from the Spring-Summer 1950 issue of MCCALL NEEDLEWORK magazine. Description from the magazine: Midriff swimsuit with little-boys shorts, red marine embroidery. For sunning make bloomer type. Pattern, yellow or blue transfer, 75 cents. (Child’s matching pattern is McCall 1523.)

Construction wise this was a relatively easy make since the instructions were thorough and and well labeled. Vintage patterns always seem to have great instructions. The embroidery pattern has excellent instructions as well. What made this project so relaxing was the very simple stitches used in this design.The collar was a bit fidly to attach since it’s hand sewn, but that was really the only challenging part. I would probably adjust this pattern if I made it again to simplify that part of the construction.

The pocket design is really cool too. You embroider the pocket piece first and then make it into a square border that attaches to the front of the main pocket bag. This makes construction really clean and easy to hoop. The collar design is easy to work flat and I love how it curves the design around the neck and ends at the bust.

I’m so happy with how this turned out! It’s a beautiful jacket that I know I’ll get a ton of wear out of- it’s quite comfy. I think it’s going to look great with jeans in the fall. I love how the embroidery adds a bit of interest to an everyday make.