Let’s get 1950s Witchy in a Skater Dress

By |2025-09-25T17:16:22-04:00September 25th, 2025|1950s Style Fashion|

15 years ago, I made this 1950s skater dress. The “skater dress” is named for its A-line silhouette, narrower at the top and flaring out at the bottom, like the dresses worn by figure skaters. While modern skater dresses don’t typically involve figure skating, according to a Google search, the connection began with figure skating […]

Alien Twinning Dress

By |2025-09-10T17:54:14-04:00September 10th, 2025|1950s Style Fashion, Art made by Tracy McElfresh, Tracy Designs Dresses, Uncategorized|

I started drafting flat pattern blocks so I wouldn’t have to fiddle with the fit on commercial garments. With this, I have truly been challenged and had the opportunity to make one garment, including muslins, up to seven times before I got the fitting right. I have learned even more about my body shape and […]

Walk With Me Free-Motion Embroidery Dress

By |2025-05-12T15:10:22-04:00May 12th, 2025|1950s Style Fashion, Art made by Tracy McElfresh, Arts and Crafts, Costume Fashion Art Exhibits, Sewing Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized|

I use a regular sewing machine to do free-motion embroidery. Most people don’t realize this and when they hear “embroidery,” their immediate ask is what kind of embroidery machine do I have. “I don’t,” I say excitedly, “I am painting with thread on my sewing machine!”

I was gifted a half-finished wrap skirt with beautiful artwork […]

Learning to Flat Pattern Block

By |2023-12-09T06:23:01-05:00December 9th, 2023|1940s Style Fashion, 1950s Style Fashion, 1960s Style Fashion, Fashion Dress Replicas, Formal Wear, Sewing Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized|

I believe it takes a lot of bravery and strength to start something completely new and even more to share it with the public. I hope you enjoy my new adventure. A few months ago I took a break from dressmaking.

Not running directly into the next sewing project opened possibilities to […]

Date Night, Art w/ a Regular Sewing Machine

By |2023-02-04T06:19:00-05:00February 4th, 2023|1930s Style Fashion, 1940s Style Fashion, 1950s Style Fashion, Uncategorized|

With a little practice and some patience anyone can apply their very own art to clothing using a regular sewing machine. I hope you find my three different techniques helpful.

Just a heads up! Doing a lot of stitching, like I do on these projects below, can distort fabric and cause puckering. I highly recommend something […]

Letting Myself Van Glow

By |2022-02-08T06:16:15-05:00February 8th, 2022|1930s Style Fashion, 1940s Style Fashion, 1950s Style Fashion, Uncategorized|

Dresses, dresses, dresses! After seeing the Columbus Museum of Art exhibit, Through Vincent’s Eyes, I’ve decided no matter what people think to keep doing what I love. Vincent Van Gogh only painted for one decade and made 2000 pieces of art. 2000 dresses?

Loving Yourself Looks Good on You

By |2021-02-08T06:48:43-05:00February 8th, 2021|1950s Style Fashion, Costumes, Uncategorized|

February is the season of love and what better way to love yourself than to buy fabric and make something pretty. I invested in myself and purchased one of my own Spoonflower Shop prints in velvet. This print is called Hepburn and it comes in three color ways. While we don’t personally celebrate Valentine’s […]

2020 Year in Review

By |2020-12-21T06:55:56-05:00December 21st, 2020|1940s Style Fashion, 1950s Style Fashion, 1960s Style Fashion, Uncategorized|

I’m not even going to try to complain about this year. All I can say is that some good things did come out of so much tragedy. I stay excited thinking about the new year and the future as it approaches.

Pre-Covid

Here are just a few of the things I made right before everything shut down, […]

Collaboration with Artist and Poet Tiffany Diaz

By |2020-10-05T06:52:04-04:00October 5th, 2020|1950s Style Fashion, Tracy Designs Dresses|

I have been following Tiffany Diaz and enjoying her art work and poetry for years now with great respect. After many times commenting that her paintings would look great as a fabric I asked her if she was interested in collaborating. I was delighted when she said yes and to pick any painting and […]

Year of Better Canceled!

By |2020-08-03T07:50:40-04:00August 3rd, 2020|1950s Style Fashion, Uncategorized|

Every year I have a little mantra for myself to become a better person. 2017, “Tracy the world doesn’t revolve around you, keep your mouth shut and move on.” This was to help me not personalize every little thing.

2018 was the ‘Year of Less,” use it or let go. This was after we closed Sew […]

Go to Top