I made a plus size vintage pattern that was SUPPOSEDLY my size... It was NOT easy
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2023
- In this week's sewing vlog, sometimes you make the vintage sewing pattern because it is "your size". However, in this case there were many bumps along the way. This 1970's sewing pattern was a BUST 50" but was NOT what the instruction packet said. So I had to make this entire dress without instructions. Then the fit issues that came along with it were immense!
Pattern: Anne Adams 4619 from 1976, Bust 50"
Fabric: Jo-Ann's
Notions: thrifted
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The sewing teacher in me is proud you changed your needle.
The seamstress side can’t remember when I last changed mine… 😅😅😅
Florida HMO s can not prohibit clothes lines. State law 163. Clothes lines are listed as a solar energy device. HMOs lie about it but state law is state law.
Oooh, that’s interesting! I wonder if CA has a similar law? Our HOA prohibits drying clothes on our balcony. Hmmm 🤔
UPDATE: Well, yes and no. Here’s the info:
“Clotheslines and California HOAs: Not In The Front Yard Please Update to Civil Code § 4750 (Clotheslines & Energy Conservation)”
Sadly, we live in a building facing a pool and courtyard, so we have no private back yard. The HOA can still legally restrict our ability to dry our clothes on our balcony. Dammit. 😢
NIMBYism at its finest! Appearances over planet, every day ! 😢
@@DawnDavidsontell your HOA to go to hell.
Do they prohibit specifically clotheslines, or is it any clothes drying? I use a rack thing to dry my clothes since using a dryer in 100+ heat is stupid
Never understood why most of America don't have clotheslines. I get in winter using a dryer because of the snow but summer when it's hot and a load would dry in the time it took to wash the next load is just perfect, and free yay. Go Australia for having a brain lol
@@rachelhunting One reason is because where I live in the U.S. it is very humid year-round and clothes and things hung out to dry never really get dry. They are always sort of slightly dampish and I end up running them through the dryer anyway to get the damp out of them.
90% of dressmaking is getting the pattern to fit. And it's OK to make the same item over and over again when you've made it fit, if you love it. Once I accepted both of those concepts, my sewing became much more fun! That dress fits you perfectly and you made that happen! Kudos to you, whether or not you make that one again.
So true! I also found a youtube website that helps me realize that being PERFECT is not the goal. It's also enjoying the journey.
100% agree!
You can also change sleeves, collars, add belts, etc., to make things look different.
I sewed my first project when I was 11 -- a plain skirt with an elastic waistband -- and I remember my mum showed me the lengthen/shorten markings along with all the other pattern marks, because my whole family is tall, and OF COURSE we have to make alterations every time. This whole idea that retail clothes or patterns will just fit is a myth, always has been.
Having got that off my chest, the dress looks fabulous! The black & white dress with the pumpkin on the backpack and the red of your hair made for fabulous photography, too!
"We do not make a dress without pockets" needs to be a t shirt!
The end result looks super cute, so you won the fight. Between my size, and the FBAs and other necessary adjustments, I've long given up on making a garment for myself straight from the pattern. My goal right now is to follow Bianca at The Closet Historian, and just make blocks that fit me, and build vintage shapes from there
I’m currently in the process of perfecting an all-in-one sleeve bodice block based on The Closet Historian’s! My bust is not big enough for the all-in-one to work the way she does it, but I’m slowly but surely getting there by adjusting the shoulders and side seam 😂
My wife did that a few years ago. Best decision ever.
FYI she had a professional seamstress help her to make the basic blocks - best value for money spent - has saved her hundreds of dollars since.
I’ve also done one from her videos (I bought the Fashion Design textbook she uses) but also ones from Thoughtful Creativity (pretty simple and easy) and Chris Sartorial (he’s an actual pattern maker, also not difficult). Susan Elias is also a good one explaining it.
I am so wishing you’d go on the self-drafted block journey so we can go with you, a la Closet Historian. I’ve learned so much from her on this and have successfully created a block I can make so many things from. You always think you need a pattern but a block might help you copy the styles you want.
I've thought the same thing. Use the patterns to understand how a style can be achieved, then do it to a bodice block that fits the body you have.
I spent many years sewing with Big 4 patterns; they taught me to always measure the pattern pieces themselves and ignore the size charts.
I do not need 8" of ease in a slim skirt. I'll sew whatever size gives me ≈3" of ease.
I also learned that I should always get a multi-size pattern one size group down from my measurements.
Disclaimer: This info applies to my thin-ish but very hourglass shaped body. It probably doesn't apply to all sizes and shapes ... I assume somewhere there are people who fit Big Four patterns perfectly. [A different planet, perhaps?]
Yes, measuring the actual pieces and doing the math is the best way to get close on fit. Any top or dress that the center front goes on a fold is worth double checking with a piece cut from fabric, I find they often gap and there is no simple way to fix that.
Oh I’ve noticed this, but I guess what I have a hard time with is knowing home much ease is the right amount?
@@AM-pc7gw There is no one right amount, it depends on your preferences.
I will cross-check against other clothing I own.
Using a slim skirt as an example ... I'll measure the slim skirts I own. If the one that fits me best has a 42" hip measurement, a slim skirt I plan to sew will make me happiest if I pick the size that is 42" including ease. I may need to adjust the waist, or do the same at the waistline and adjust the hips ... it can get complicated.
If I don't own similar clothing to measure ... I might go to a shop with a tape measure and try things on then measure in the dressing room. This also gives me a chance to see if the style even looks good on me.
@@AM-pc7gw one method is to use a ready to wear item that is similar and try to duplicate the ease. The biggest issue I run into is getting tired of making tiny incremental changes, and taking out too much. If I find a reference to suggested ease in certain areas I will put it here later.
Oh, flashbacks to learning to sew in the 70's and trying to successfully guess what size pattern to purchase. Most often you'd be swimming in something if you went with the measurements but it wouldn't fit it you purchased with back-then retail sizing in mind. (Insert your goat scream here.) Your dress turned out SO CUTE! Glad your wrist is healing.
@mollysmith6055: I empathize with you. For me, sewing patterns in the 70s can be summarized in the following phrase that still evokes nightmares -- plus size patterns for maternity clothes to wear to work.
Enough said!
I have two pencil skirt pattern from the 80's, from the same manufacturer. There is 3 inches difference in the waist band size between the same sized patterns. So frustrating.
I love patterns from the early 70s and before. Learn to sew in the 60s. Never have problems until the late 70s and that is when they added the vanity ease. I remember when bell bottomes went out and regular legs at the real waist came in. I wanted to make some. When I asked for a 12, the lady said to go with a 10. She was right.
If I sew a modern pattern I go several sizes smaller. I love when I find old patterns that fit my modern measurements. Always fit, but harder to find.
I never had any problems with patterns in the 70's. They fit me perfectly. I took my measurements and compared to the sizes and chose the one closest. Not until the 2000's did I have trouble with fit. Everyone's body is different. I just got lucky to have a standard sized body.
It wasn't vanity ease, it was design ease as the style of the clothing was looser, less fitted.
That fit is absolutely spot on. You look fabulous. my dear❤!
I've completely given up on any pattern just fitting me without adjustments. That dress would look super cute with a wide belt.
Love, a vintage pattern with a Mandalorian fabric! This is the way!😊
Hi from New Zealand Stephanie and well done on your creation! I am a Computer Scientist, originally from England, and I am happy to be called a "Nerd" too. Plus I love your fabric. You look great in the dress. I have pretty-much given up on commercial patterns because after doing a "Full-bust-adjustment, Under-bust--adjustment, Sway-back-adjustment, Shoulder-shortening-adjustment, Small-hip adjustment, sleeve-length-adjustment... etc.... let's face it ... I have basically made my own pattern. So I'm finally trying, as a sewist, to embrace the fact I'm a weird shape; alas it has taken me decades to accept this and embrace it.
Forget VINTAGE patterns and getting one your size, I'm on full dress draft #3 getting a modern one to the correct fit. I hope I'm almost there, because it's driving me INSANE!
This was just about THE most entertaining dressmaking video I have EVER watched. Thank you. Informative and funny! love it.
Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️
I FEEL you on the no clothesline rule ! I live in an Apartment & no washers or dryers allowed in apts., and no clothesline.
Considering the global warming, we should AT LEAST be able to dry our clothes for free !
Loved Day 2 dress, purple floral. 💜
Loved the reveal ! It turned out adorable! 😊
Wow, how is that even legal? We feel like we’re not even allowed to breathe unless we’re doing it in an environmentally responsible manner and you get lumbered with that.
i got a retractable clothesline and put it in my living room, didn't run it across the middle, dont want to starangle anyone lol, but its a foot or so from the wall on the least used side. doesn't dry as fast as if it were outside, but it works. also, check and see if your apt rules allow a portable washer, the kind that hooks to your sink. they usually dont have rules against those and that's what we got years ago and it saves so much money and hassle in the long run
I'm in SC, and not allowed a clothesline either. (Those dumb arses). I've fixed that! I have a screened in porch which I put an old fashioned collapsable folding rack on. In also use my plant hooks to hang hangers to dry my dresses. I occasionally will dry towels on the porch stair railing.
@@dees3179 it's the HOA (home owner's association), they're pretty much above the law, and it has nothing to do with the state she's in, they're like that all over the US. John Oliver did a good episode on them a while back if you want to learn more about how messed up they are.
My dear, why on earth didn’t you ask for help cutting out the dress?!? The dress looks great! Fits well. Flows nicely. Well done! Especially with a bum hand!! As far as how it looks on the inside, who cares!!! When I learned to sew in Jr High I was taught to cut out the pattern pieces, pin the darts then pin the front and back together to give you a general idea of fit before you start cutting. That has saved me hours of tears and the ability to alter the pattern rather than the garment!
I’ve been sewing for 55 years. I’ve used fuse-able interfacing the entire time. I’ve never had it rip or tear. Not something you should worry about. Although I have had the fuse stuff fail more than once.
A tip when using a rotary cutter to cut out a paper pattern is to cut off the excess paper from your pattern first. I don't know why but it always hangs up on the paper. You'll find the cutting much easier.
Oh my word, this is an incredible idea!!
HOA's can go hang....no way I'd live in one. The dress is cute! But oh how I feel you with the fittings! I'm so sick of patterns that don't account for an actual bust or how it curves the fabric. I love vintage patterns but honestly, I'm *this close* to just making my own blocks and using them as inspiration.
You are hilarious, Stephanie. I haven’t done real sewing for years. (Mostly just repairs and weird pattern-free experiments like making a pillow case for my mom’s neck pillow.) But I love watching your process, because you are so hilariously snarky and struggle with all the things I’ve struggled with my whole life. And strap jokes! 😂😂😂 Also: Mandalorian geekiness for the win! Glad your wrist is getting better!
Thanks, Stephanie. The dress turned out cute, and you've inspired me to take another look at a UFO dress that is also too big (damn the EASE!!!) and do whatever I need to do to make it work. It doesn't have to be pretty on the inside or perfectly finished to be cute and wearable. 🙂
Totally agree, especially for the first time using a new to you pattern. As long as the outside of the garment looks fine, who cares what a disaster the inside is. I usually find that by the third garment, I've tweeked the pattern enough to get the inside looking professionally finished.
LAUGHING OUT LOUD!! and loving your misadventures in the sewing room! Being an extra-large woman myself, for many decades, the 'pleasure' and 'delight' in finding a pattern that was actually my size, was often diminished by the realisation that it had already been cut to several sizes SMALLER than I am. But finally having my own,m PERSONAL dress form has now brought new fun and enjoyment to everything that I sew for myself
Okay the baby Yoda buttons are a stroke of design genius though 😍
We need pockets - this is the way. The dress is cute, you made it very well.
Was watching some Seamstress talk about making a perfectly fitting dress....when I realized, I have always given the simple patterns a rough "fits me " check, cut out the pattern and sewed it together enough to figure out where I want/need darts...pinned & drew them.. The Vintage way of pinning the pieces of pattern our cut-out to yourself also works.
Knowing how to draft patterns is really useful.
Hi! Your dress turned out so cute and it looks really good on you!! The reveal was perfect at Disney World. 😁 I’m glad your hand is improving and hopefully, will soon be at 100%. Sew on!! ❤️
Oh, Stephanie, you are my hero! The dress is frickin' cute, too
You're hilarious! I needed a good laugh today! By the way, you have to open the rotary cutter for it to actually work LOLOL
Using a ring sizer is brilliant! I hate turning things out. The dress is quite cute and looks great on you. Fabric is greeeeeat!
Thank you for return of The sewing chaos!
thank you for your honest videos ! I love them. I get so frustrated when things don't go right- I'm so glad you document those. I feel so much better . You are hilarious! Ooh I love your channel so much
Your sense of humor is so funny. 😂
I've been where Stephanie is with the broken wrist situation. As soon as I was in a brace and out of the cast, my friend who's an Occupational Therapist gave me lists of exercises and the recommendation to get some "hand putty" to increase my flexibility, strength and range of motion. I did those exercises for months, worked with the not-so-stiff hand putty and regained all my mobility, as far as I can tell. It took months to regain the ability to carry heavy objects in that hand, but with work it came back, and there's been no residual stiffness. I recommend anyone with a hand injury get help from an OT.
I don't know why I've never thought to use sewing clips to "pin" a WIP to my body to check for sizing. Brilliant.
Love the hair the last two times I have seen you! The deeper color and the curls are fantastic on you. Although you don’t like this dress that much, I think it looks fantastic and it makes you look perfect. Chefs kiss.
I think I would have liked this dress better if the fabric pattern was different. Just me.
It looks amazing on you! I hope you Do wear it - and often!
That is a really cute dress. It looks good on you. Maybe black buttons?
THAT is a very cute dress and I am currently looking for that fabric.
You are goofy as hell I adore you this channel is the best ever thank you so much
Good Job. Not the dress you expected! there is nothing like comprehensive instructions, and that is noting like comprehensive instructions; but you got it done and it looks nice 👍🥰
After breaking my right wrist/arm in a very bad car accident with A LOT of injuries/broken bones, I basically have become somewhat ambidextrous. It’s been 12 years since the car accident & I am still making myself use my left hand. I can’t write with it, but I can do a lot of things with it.
Glad to see you sewing again! I love the chaos 🥰
I cannot believe you went to Disney in the summer. It must have been so hot and humid. I stay indoors this time of year. OTOH, what a perfect place for the final reveal! Your dress looks great!
😂when I saw you first modelling the dress, I thought “OMG …….how did she get that to fit so well straight out of the box???🤦♀️…….the stars have aligned on this one”.
……..Fast forward to the explanation of how much it actually took to make it fit…….
Well heck, now I have a new use for my ring sizer. Nice!
Bla ha ha ha! The strap on jole had me dieing!!!
The inside may be “Hot Garbage” (btw, I know the person who wrote and sang the Hot Pockets jingle), but it looks amazing on the outside, and the fabric choice was perfect! I do love the fact that it says Mamian: It Is Way on that seam, tho. 😂
What a darling dress! I need it. Right now. & the fabric choice is perfect.
Love your hair! The curls are perfect. I like how your dress turned out. The adjustments work.
Stephanie, I adore your videos. Embrace the chaos! The result is absolutely darling and looks fantastic and thoroughly flattering on you.
As a petite, "well-rounded" individual with virtually no waist, i feel for your struggles. Example: i made two pairs of pull-on casual pants 50 pounds ago; they fit perfectly now.
Save the buttons they are adorable! And it looks great on you!
I can't believe I've only just found your channel. This was like watching myself (although your sewing skills are way ahead of mine...) and you've given me the confidence to just go ahead and tackle things I want to make - if I can make them big enough :) Great dress.
1970s patterns are the pits! Your dress came out super cute. I started sewing seriously in the 70s ( I was forced to learn in 1968 because girls took home ec not shop, but only got interested in sewing in the late 70s) and I found that the patterns had so much ease that the measurements were useless. To the point that my measurements said sew a 14 but I really needed an 8. Strangely enough, the children's patterns fit my kids, so I gave up sewing for myself and either made kids clothes or did home Dec projects.
Eventually, I learned to pattern draft and hardly ever use commercial patterns.
That is really cute, you did a great job at fixing it up.
OK so perhaps that pattern could actually fit me and my two extra apples then! There is hope for me yet!
Also you should truly be proud how well you centered the print on those straps!
The Official color of Florida? Cherry. So true. My daughter and I have taken it to the risky level of Black Cherry when we go on the biking trails. I too, live in Florida. I seen your injured hand in your videos but never heard how you hurt it. Glad your regaining more use of it and getting back to what you want to do.
I’m curious, are the 70s when this problem of the crazy amount of ease in patterns started to became an issue? Knowing how to flat measure patterns flat is really useful when working with commercial patterns .
I like your dress. It looks like it would keep you cool. To be honest, I have never met a pattern I didn’t need to adjust in some way! But isn’t that why we make our own clothes, oh, and to add pockets! Lol😂
I just found you today, and you had me at strap-on joking! Okay. I am now subscribed! I always did love roller coasters!
That's actually very nice looking on you--even with the funky fabric.
Girl, when you put on the bracing called it, the brace of power rolled. 😂 but I do hope your hands get better. Please follow your doctors advice. I did not, and ended up, having to have surgery on both hands and both thumbs.
Anyway, I absolutely love your videos. I found you through another young lady’s channel. I’m in the learning stage of sewing clothes. I’m still more of a crocheter. Watching the different sewing channels is very encouraging for me and I hope that one day be as good as all of you.
Whatever you did to the first result to make wearable work, and worked well. This is the way!
It was super cute you did great and still have your hair!! Lol
Love the dress and the backpack is too cute with it.
Love your sundress! That fabric is fabulous! Best non jewelry use of a ring mandrel award goes to you!
Thank you for the honesty and laughs. I needed this after my pants waistband fitting fail today 😆
I think the dress turned out really well and we wouldn't have known about the adjustments you had to make.
I've been measuring patterns and sewing many bodice mockups lately in an effort to understand pattern ease across companies and years, and I have concluded nothing. I reliably wear a size 15/16 in early 50s clothes (garments flat measure 34" bust, accommodates 36" bust). I did a mockup of New York 1329 from the early 50s in a 14 (32" bust), and it was massive. I took an inch from both sides and still had too much room. Same problem with Advance. 70s is even worse. Aside from the 1956-1967 size 14 that fit me (after my usual adjustments), I think I need to go the Closet Historian route to preserve my sanity.
It looks so cute tho! Love the idea for the black accents and Well done on making the damn thing! 🎉
I love that dress! It would absolutely suit our Aussie summer.
Omg… I was devastated to see your true vintage dress get a tear. I was wanting to say how lovely it looked on you.
I like that dress! I hope your hand heals soon.
I laughed at multiple parts of this. Not the least of which was the changing of the needle. I KNOW it’s supposed to be a big thing, and I don’t know why I know it, but I laughed anyway! ❤
I would like to have seen how you made it fit!
It is cute and very 70s but it could use some color blocking or some kind of contrasting details, just for fun.
And from someone who made lots of dresses in the 70s none of the patterns that fit me matched my actual measurements. I wore size 10 and according to the pattern I needed a size 14. So there you are.
Jan in Oklahoma.
I have much better luck since I learned (after being told several times by my favorite CZcamsrs but clearly not listening) to go by the finished garment measurements on the most fitted part of the pattern. You’ll have to figure out how much ease makes you comfortable in that particular style (measure a similar garment you already own), and figure whether to grade or adjust from there. I do not need 4 inches of ease in a fitted bodice. Evelyn Wood has a couple of great videos on this subject and we should all go give her some love since she fighting a health battle right now and could use some views. I think she prerecorded a bunch to run while she’s getting treatment.
Im here for all the strap-age :P
Steph’ you need an assistant! My inner geek loves the dress!
Cute dress, for me I would make it longer, but I like the dress itself
Love this! I made a star wars themed dress for my friend's May the 4th wedding a few years back. I have had a lot of trouble with getting the straps to fit correctly so the dress stays where I want it. Have considered just going strapless, but that's not really comfortable for me. Yours looks great!
I think you need some basic rotary cutting instruction! It can be safe and efficient! Love the fabric!!! Great fussy cutting!
Hi Stephanie,
Haha I have the same wrist thingy, and I also find it hurts either/ both hands to squeeze the clips. The solution for the clips is to get the larger clips ( green Wonder clips) . I just got a squillion of them !
No particular solution for the wrist thingy …some days the wrist hurts, some days it doesn’t…
Dress looked very good on you imo 😊
While I have the chance, I want to say that your walkway dress challenge where you sent everyone a pattern for free was the best !
I am still running across videos from viewers who tried ‘Stephanie Canada’s ‘ Walkaway dress challenge, even when they were past the deadline.
So many new sewing friends of from so many places , all because of your really cool challenge 🎉🎉🎉
I think the dress is reaaly cute.
I cut my teeth on vintage patterns in the 60's and sewed them on an old black and gold non electric Singer! Made ballgowns, suits and everything in-between! Happy days. Keep going!
Well, there's a new use for a mandrel!
Before I remembered it was an Anne Adams, I almost asked if it was Simplicity, bc they have SO MUCH ease built in. I end up making two sizes down from the one they say matches my measurements 😮
It turned out cute! Looks like a nice comfy summer dress!
“Manrian! This is way!” 😹 Honestly this is how I feel whenever I make something the has issues (doesn’t fit, wonky looking, or I just don’t care about fighting the seams). The dress looks good!
Stephanie, you are one of the creators that I click on the video and hit the like button straight away because I know it'll be good. Halfway through, and I have to pause to let you know, because I've laughed multiple times already and love watching you sew. I love your pattern matching 😂 "This is way. "
I made that dress or just very simular in the 1970s and I loved the dress very much. Mine was a red and white design. But I think mine had a zipper in the back. I guess I am vintage age now. Lol
Love the way it turned out, even though the road was painful.
Stephanie I am a big girl and I was so exicted when I found my 70s Simplicity Pinnifore dress in a size 52. I made it a few times but I have now lost 2 stone and those dresses are like tents on me. Congrats on working out the pattern will all its difficulties.
Love your outcome! Looks great, hate you struggled to get it here.
Thank you for reminding me it's been a few projects since I changed my needle.
this turned out super cute, it was worth the time and effort you put in. but it also showcased my relationship with sewing I stopped my sewing adventure five projects into starting it. Turns out that, while my end products look cute, I fucking hate sewing. I'll stick to knitting and crochet lol much more enjoyable.
You look super cute! Love the dress
I think the dress is perfect! I always have had to size down if I am using a store bought pattern because of my DDD cup chest. They are always way off compared to store bought clothing.
You look adorable in it!
I think it’s really cute on you
I think you did an awesome job, and it looks great on you! Actually I wouldn’t mind making it myself. I was going to suggest black fabric under the bust, and take it in there a bit as well, if there’s room. Thanks for a really enjoyable video, I am also bigger than I was, don’t even want to look in a mirror, so I appreciate your bravery, and your editing! Please keep the videos coming, I’m one of your fans up in BC! 🇨🇦
I think it is cute! Good to see you!
You did so great. Pretty!!
Super cute end result!