I was taught sewing in the 60s and quickly learned to beware of patterns that featured an idealized drawing on the envelope rather than a photograph. Our teacher pushed Simplicity patterns on us, saying they were easier to sew than other brands. I remember as a teenager mustering up the courage to buy a beautiful Vogue, and being pleasantly surprised to find it was no more difficult to make and fit much better than Simplicity and McCall's. Butterick's fit was similar to Vogue, because the two brands were produced by the same company. When Vogue came out with a stylish home catalog/magazine, I mailed away for a subscription. My sister and I spent many happy hours dreaming over the designer patterns, even though we had no boyfriends to escort us to non-existent gala events in our blue collar neighborhood. Everybody needs a little magic in their lives.
9386 1960s vintage from simplicity is one I thought looked interesting but it's not current. Mccalls 8379 looks nice, but we have so many options for cute dresses! You choose, I will totally enjoy watching 😂
I made and wore that Laura Ashley robe on my honeymoon. I still have the pattern because I collect Laura Ashley patterns. So I was really happy to see it came out. Also you can’t find robe and nightgown patterns anymore unless you go to Butterick, where there are only about two. So I (makes apostrophe marks with fingers) “strongly disagree.”
My thoughts exactly. I just bought the Laura Ashley robe pattern, and I’m so excited to make it! Finally a pretty robe to make that’s in my size! All of the modern robe patterns that are out are plain and boring to me. True vintage patterns are often pretty but not in my particular size.
And those are the "real" Laura Ashley styles, not that balderdash (malarkey?) they were awkwardly racing for in the 90s. I would've set my hair on fire in the store if I thought it would've done something. On a brighter note, I do have both of the Laura Ashley home decor sewing books and they're really worth their weight in gold.
It is kinda mind boggling that they have access to original archives and could just release the original patterns. That would certainly interest me more. No wonder the big 4 or is it 5? Struggle because they don’t even seem remotely interested in demographics. A quick Pinterest search would tell them exactly what home sewers, costumers, history buffs/blunders are looking for. You mentioned the Original Gunny Sax patterns, I know all my younger sewing friends are looking for those purple unicorns. I personally lived through the 70’s and the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress is my idea of perfection for the beginning sewer. Material hungry, but amazingly simple. This was one of the very first dresses I ever sewed.
Re-releasing the original pattern isn't always possible. It's possible that they only have the rights to publishing a pattern for a set amount of time before these rights revert back to the original designer, at which point they would have to repurchase the publishing rights. Oooor they could take the old silhouette and remake it with modern patterning standards/techniques which is a lot cheaper, plus then they would likely have the rights to publish forever.
I found a Gunne Sax Simplicity 9008 in a box of patterns at an estate sale. $6 for the whole box. I could not believe it. It's a pattern size 12, but I did not care. I may have cried a little.
As a 64 yo woman, who lost her tiny problematic waistline decades ago,, I understand completely why things are changing so much and what a nightmare has been caused for the pattern companies! Trying to learn how to accommodate my obesity by making my own clothing is a nightmare. Made almost all of my clothing since age 13 up to 32, due to a very short torso and very long legs with that now sorely missed tiny waist. Now, I'm basically an apple size 20 with size 28 "girls" on a size 9 frame. How should any pattern company be able to accommodate that? "Matrons" in 1969 did not wear the same clothing as a teen or twenty something then. If one wore an "18 hour bra" at any time, that person never left the house in a "sundress" with skimpy straps. A person larger than a size 16 virtually never went sleeveless in public. In 1969, Haight-Ashbury was all the rage coming out of Hollywood, but 16 to 25 year olds in the rest of the country, would still tuck their "cross your heart" bra straps in under the dress straps, because they were comfortable wearing the varying amounts of padding available in their bras. Modesty was still a "thing" in most of the country. Today, 55 year olds want to dress "young", yet even if weight proportionate the two ages of bodies are not the same. As I began my new sewing journey, I was amazed to realize my hips were only 1" larger than they were 40 years ago though I recognized my bum was flatter. So, just add to the waistline, right? Wrong? Learning to use the timer on my cell phone camera became my best fitting tool. One day I realized what used to be a round "oft admired" bum, was now dangling very low below its original positioning. How should a pattern company accommodate that on one set of patterns made for "all ages"? Then there is the posture issue. Even small slim young people today can have atrocious posture due to computer usage. A dropped shoulder, forward shoulders, and a rounded back are common in teens and 20-somethings today, whereas those issues were mostly seen in office workers over the ago of 50 back then. Add to that the fact that patterns were printed and sold in specific sizes whereas now, everyone expects an extensive size range. The fact is, a size 24 dress pattern can never be nothing more than a size 6 graded up if the wearer expects to look her best when finished. No matter how many DEI lectures one is subjected to, naked back fat isn't attractive to the overwhelming majority of human eyes. It is not possible to know how each individual human body - especially women - will store its extra weight. My BIL has probably gained 60 pounds since I met him almost 40 years ago. At 5'10" tall, he has somehow managed to carry his weight exactly where the manufacturers expect it to be. I bought him a new sports coat for Xmas a few years ago. He was appalled that I'd purchased it 2 sizes bigger than his decade old clothing. It fit him perfectly! Didn't even need to hem the sleeves. How I envied that fit! There is no answer for determining fit at this time. It is why women's clothing off the rack is offered almost exclusively in polyester stretchy goo fabric. Too bad we're not as "in shape" as the crew on the Enterprise. And, no, that's not "body shaming", it's merely a statement of fact.
I read an article that said they didn't retain copies of their original patterns. So they have me designers recreate them from the photos and the fit and design is not identical. At one point they were actually asking for people to send them old patterns!
Vogue, occasionally, runs a contest/request for vintage patterns. The other brands (probably) run a picture through a computer, then add the needed physical measurements to a CAD machine.....the problem is this: humans are rounded forms, and computers prefer pixels/cubic inches/feet/centimeters.....
@@StephanieCanada It has the benefit of being more generally about how to add gathering to your blocks, akin to her video on how shift darts and the one where she shows how she converts from darts to princess seams.
Just sold my Gunne Sax wedding dress from 1977. Size 5. It wasn't a wedding dress specifically but it was absolutely perfect for me. Pleated cotton gauze with embroidered trim. Just perfect.
They're probably providing wrap dresses because the finished product is usually more forgiving in terms of fit. 🤔 I recently bought an authentic 1978 wrap dress pattern (for too much $$$, maybe?) and then found the Simplicity reproduction recently released. I haven't done a line for line comparison, but i plan to do so. So curious to see if they changed anything. I suspect they've added a significant amount of wearing ease to accomodate fuller bodies than what people had in the late 70s.
They usually just add ease because of the knowledge base of the consumer nowadays. I think I was one of the last classes to get a "home ec" course in HS.
@@StephanieCanada I had home ec in the early 90s but they taught us how to use a sewing machine, just the basics, and we didn't learn A THING about fit. I still have no idea what proper fit feels like.
@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 I've been trying to find an explanation of what particular darts etc do so I can know what patterns won't work for me before I get to the trying the dress on stage.
Oh, please, I just want to live next door to you and listen to you pick apart patterns! I don't even sew, but a good dose of your humor every day and I know I could live to be 100!😂❤😂
Finding this channel has reassured me that I am, in fact, not the only chaotic sewist...LOL I do not learn from my mistakes and then make all new ones on top of old. ("ease" means JUST MAKE IT FIT!", right?) Current (stalled) project - Vogue 9106 "Misses' Tiered and Ruffled Dress and Belt" in a pale peach polyester faux silk bought back in the ancient times when Wal-Mart had fabric specials for $1 a yard. Between gathering, a tiered skirt, and MORE gathering (damn thing has gathers in the bust darts...) I'm sure it will go well. AAAnd the project is stalled because there is a baby turkey in my sewing room. He's moving outside next week and then I'm vacuuming until my vacuum cleaner explodes.
This is both Hilariousand Agony …I learned on a treadle machine. No patterns for doll clothes. Patterns available for humans were a fight with flying tissue paper. I used Vogue patterns in teen years and for first girl-child. I became a professional theatre costumer. Draping, with or without muslin, was much easier than : searching books for adaptable patterns, fighting with line drawings uncut. I’m over 80 and just made medieval costume for wedding. I adore this presenter and feel her pain 😂
You are SO RIGHT. I started making my own clothes in 4th grade...1962. By junior high (what we used to call middle school) I'd learned never to make "Jiffy" or simple-to-sew patterns except for maybe beach cover-ups. Used them to learn, but they were too simple to be fashionable. They were, IMHO, simply ugly and ill-fitting. I don't get why companies would choose to reproduce those styles today. Seriously, Laura Ashley nightgown?! Thanks, Stephanie, for your voice of reason.
I really like old '40s, '50s fashion. Found your videos - yes, the walkaway dress 😂😂🤣🤣 Thank you for all the fashion and pattern research and the entertainment!
"Capitalistic Hellscape" and a screaming goat was all I had to hear in connection to the topic of vintage looks to know I had found a kindred spirit. Definitely subscribing now. So the one-shoulder 40's? was the pattern I would like to see.
I have the 8505! My Mom made the first one that I wore for YEARS! Once it stated falling apart made another one that I still have and wear. It is a very comfortable lounger. 😊😊😊😊😊
A trick to avoid the jumping back to top of search results - right click, open in new tab (sometimes called open in background). Works on pc on most web pages
I was looking earlier this week to find something that looked like Eleanor Roosevelt would have worn for me to wear on a reenactment weekend in Sept and found nothing in McCall's.
I want Vogue to go back and get out their old "Paris Original" patterns and put them out! I have a 1950 Vogue pattern catalogue book - the big one they would have had at a fabric store - and the wealth of gorgeous patterns in it is beyond! Why can they not do it? They even have the layout in the book - if I had tons of time and access to a giant printer I would enlarge for days until I got the right size and then guess at directions perhaps. Do pattern companies not have an archive? Or did they all have some big fire where all was lost.....hmmm.
They didn't keep a backstock. They would just cycle thru them. Back in the late 90's early 00's they asked for donations of old patterns (didn't pay anyone, ugh) to get some back.
@StephanieCanada Unbelievable, you'd think... But, didn't they start with a design drawing? Seems like they'd be able to recreate the process. Maybe the market is just too small to be profitable enough.
Hello glad to see that you are still doing videos I found all the old ones and feel in love with your channel. I love the pattern comparison you do and let me tell you I have never laughed as much as I do when I watch them. I also love your website also. Great job.
McCall’s M7443 actually has the combo problem of too long bodice and too long skirt. Having made it it also has the weirdest ease because I made it to my size which should have fit snug, but the bodice is actually quite large, and it has unusable bound buttonholes
PHEWWWW so, so glad someone agrees with me, regarding these so called REPRODUCTION vintage PATTERNS !!!! They are so frumpy, and drab!!!!! When you watch the old films and think ??? Why dont they release Edith Head, design patterns.💫she dressed the best actresses of the 40s 50s snd 60s ❤The styles were the epitome of pure ELEGANCE ❤❤
😂 I had all the same reactions as you! My activated shade says the parent company is too lazy to actually attempt a more complex yet desirable pattern. I have also tried a couple reproach and I laughed and then cried with one. 😂😭 I know I’m short but 2 feet past my actual feet to the pant hems?!?!
If you're looking for the vintage patterns from any of the brands that fall under the Simplicity umbrella, go to the side, use the drop down menu and choose Designers and Collections, pick Vintage, and Bob's your uncle! You're welcome!
My grandmother was a seamstress and i have over 100 patterns from simplicity, buttersomething, etc. I don't sew and would love to find a use for them. Lots of styles from '50's and '60's. I even have 2 of hats. And pics of her wearing one!
Oh, I’d love to buy them off you! I’m a budding seamstress and I love vintage patterns, but they’re kind of hard to come by. I even got my grandmother’s professional Singer sewing machine from the 1950s/60s to match! Or maybe you could upload them online for people to download, but I’m not sure how that would work with copyright stuff.
They say that styles repeat every so many years. I'm old enough and have been sewing long enough that I remember when a lot of these patterns were originally issued. What stinks is now the pattern that sold back in the day for $2.00 is now being sold for $20.00. I still have all my patterns from the 70's to the present. Call me a pack rat, but I'm glad I saved them. I only buy patterns now if they run a sale. I don't think they are worth $20.00. I'll never pay that. I also kept my mother's patterns when she passed away.
I made the B6485 1944 pattern! It actually turned out looking really lovely and authentic. I will definitely make more dresses using that pattern in the future. You're right that reproduction patterns can be a hit or miss. :)
I think the problem with the "reproduction vintage" patterns is that they are taking original patterns that were drafted by hand by experienced pattern makers and re-doing them in modern specs using computer drafting rather than hand drafting. it's a lost skill
I just sold a big box full of my own patterns from the lat 60s on up, most in the 70s. I was told that the room where my sewing stuff was displayed was a very lively and busy room. I tucked the patterns into the garments for the ones I made. Some of the favorite pieces I'd held on to for decades. That super jiffy wrap apron was in those patterns that sold.
My pick would be for the 1-shoulder 8380. Would love it to see a line by line comparison. I bought the walkaway dress reproduction pattern before you did your comparison and have never cut it after I watched your video.
Hi! So good to hear from you! I hope that your wrist is getting better. It would be interesting if you could do the wrap dress from the 80's and the wrap dress from the 70's. The 70's one is sized for knits. The other one looks like cotton. I wonder about the fit. As a busty gal, I am sure that the 70,s one looks better. the 8o's wrap dress kind of looks like a glorified apron! It wood be great if you could do any of these, then we could sew along!
I'm the old broad who remembers when variations on that dress was popular. Sometimes the sleeve/cape thing was removable. I had friends with sisters who wore it to both parties and church.
Weirdest thing... my family took me to see the "Catch Me If You Can" musical yesterday for a belated Mother's Day present. As you may know, it's mostly set in the 60s. Two of the dresses worn by Paula Abagnale I have in my stash of retro or vintage reproduction patterns: Butterick 5880 & Vogue 8850 - neither of which is a 60s pattern!
I'm wondering if they pin the models into the dresses for photo's like knit pattern companies do in their photo's. It took me a few years to figure that out ( stink eye to Vogue Knitting).
I made the caftan years ago. I was just learning to sew, had no one to help me and I found it soooo confusing. Lol. Something that I recently discovered is that people who've never sewn anything have no clue regarding the shapes of pattern pieces. I haven't sewn in years but I learned a lot that has gone through life with me. 😊
Yeah, the 'not large enough for someone like me' happened to me too, the one time when I bought a pattern a couple years ago. I can't sew anything at the moment because my trailer is a mess and I don't have a sewing area set up. But a couple years ago, I tried. The one pattern that I bought, at the largest size they had on the pattern, it was barely able to fit me, or else just barely too small for me, and I don't consider myself to be an extremely fat person. In the big scheme of things, I'm relatively thin compared to a lot of people. You don't have to be all that fat to be beyond the range of the sizes they have for those things. I got this book about how to custom design your own patterns from scratch, and whenever the time comes that I am finally able to sew again, I'll probably be doing that.
I've tried a few commercial patterns and though I'm not plus sized, my measurements and proportions are nonstandard. For example if I try to use a Mood pattern, my hips are a size 8, my bust is a size 12 and my waist is... size 18. So yeah that makes for all kinds of fun when trying to use patterns... if it was just a matter of making it bigger, most patterns that have multiple sizes on the same pattern, you can sort of see how to upsize it further, but if I were just to go buy a size 12 pattern, it's sure not going to look like what's on the package by the time I get done the mockups to make it fit my "brick with boobs" shape! I have measured the pants I wear that don't slide off my hips to be 32" from button to buttonhole and that's the measurement I have to use for any weightbearing waistband. Even though my actual comfortably snug tape measure measurement says something closer to 36", if I wear pants with actual waist measurement of 34" or larger, they slide off over my hips, with the button done up. Thankfully I can just shop in the mens' department for pants because apparently my hip to waist ratio is pretty accurate to what the standard is for men, but yeah, next time I try to sew my own pants, they're going to either be traced off existing pants I wear and know the fit of, or they're going to be self-drafted based on the (free PDF) Keystone Dress and Jacket Cutter's trouser drafting instructions. Best of luck on your endeavours, and I hope if you can't find patterns in your size, that you figure out how to alter them propery to fit you. Sacrificing bedsheets to the mockup gods has been the best thing I've ever learned from all the sewing youtubers.
Stephanie, I enjoy our time “together” and the fast friendship we have created entirely in my own imagination so much! I will watch and re-watch whatever level of fun you have time to share. Maybe you could do a roulette series taking on a Repro vs. OG 🤷🏻♀️. Put all the numbers on a wheel or in a cup and pull out the lucky winner 🏆 😂 We can roast marshmallows with loser patterns and share the love of anything we can make work without excessive changes.
I’m sorry, did I stumble into an umbrella store? THE SHADE ☂️🤣 hey, that pattern review that you have IN YOUR CAMERA? I just made that dress! And I have a video about it IN MY COMPUTER 😂 to release soon! I’m interested to see what you thought about it!
I messed up my dominant hand's wrist real bad back in 2020, not full broken but close. Now it flares up from weather and stupid tasks I use to be able to do with no problem. Fun times! (but not really)
I'm interested in "vintage" and/or "reproduction" SUITS - yes, I like the idea of matching and coordinating pieces. The darling - and time honored - day dress. Yeah, wrap around is for sissies - I think I've met my "vintage" and/ or "reproduction" sewing patten soul mate... subscribed. P.S. The butterick 50's! I made that one in Halloween black with red glitter collar and spit sleeve - it made a wonderful costume, and was a nice ride through the instructions and construction at that.
There's some new reproductions in the today's Butterick (Summer 2023) release. One of them, B6938, says (in the description, and in a "stamp" on the front cover): Authentic Vintage Reproduction includes additional size options and cutting layouts. Won't be available here in Oz for at least 6 months, but I'm curious about what it means!
You could put the bows on little broah pins so you can take them on and off, or just put one on ect. Snaps would show, and i dont think magnets would hold during the day. And we aren't the ones that are going to be wearing the dress! So if the bows are going to put you off wearing the dress, take them off!! But consider the broah pins,thenyou couldmake diff colourboes too and diff sizes if you prefer. 👍
I’m in possession of several patterns from a century ago with the pieces in pristine factory folded condition…although the envelopes desperately need reconstructing as they’ve basically shattered. I got the entire lot of six for $1.50 if I remember correctly. As a lifelong seamstress and historical costumer, I WILL be digitizing and sharing the patterns once I finish moving. Those envelopes are going to take forever to piece together and I’m pretty sure I’ll need to throw together at least one of each pattern just to make sure that the reconstructed images are correct
6:49 I have M8380. It’s labeled “authentic” because the guide is a scan of the original instructions. It includes a second page with modern cutting layouts and pattern markings guide. But only original sewing instructions are provided. There are NO new/modern assembly instructions. It’s an easy project so if you’ve never sewn a vintage pattern this could be a nice one to try out.
@@StephanieCanada And they don't even have to be that crazy to be distinctly 80s. I've got my eye on some simple t-shirt patterns that are very unique to the decade, yet totally wearable. And I made a VERY 80s coat this year and got so many compliments on it. You just have to remember to grade for the lack of shoulder pads. 🤣
Even in the 70s, I avoided the super jiffy patterns. They tended to look like crap. I did make the Gunne Sax patterns. Loved those. I still have a dress I made back then. My daughter wore it once.
I was taught sewing in the 60s and quickly learned to beware of patterns that featured an idealized drawing on the envelope rather than a photograph. Our teacher pushed Simplicity patterns on us, saying they were easier to sew than other brands. I remember as a teenager mustering up the courage to buy a beautiful Vogue, and being pleasantly surprised to find it was no more difficult to make and fit much better than Simplicity and McCall's. Butterick's fit was similar to Vogue, because the two brands were produced by the same company.
When Vogue came out with a stylish home catalog/magazine, I mailed away for a subscription. My sister and I spent many happy hours dreaming over the designer patterns, even though we had no boyfriends to escort us to non-existent gala events in our blue collar neighborhood. Everybody needs a little magic in their lives.
I totally bought that super jiffy wrap dress pattern out of morbid curiosity. At some point this summer a thrifted bedsheet will meet it's doom.
I bought that one too! It *looks* like it could be a really cute casual apron/dress, even if it isn't authentic.
9386 1960s vintage from simplicity is one I thought looked interesting but it's not current. Mccalls 8379 looks nice, but we have so many options for cute dresses! You choose, I will totally enjoy watching 😂
'At some point this summer a thrifted bedsheet will meet it's doom.' 😂😂😂
I had authentic wrap dress by Diane von Furstenberg, now being worn by my daughter's best friend. She fell in love with it.
It will be recreated to something useful. That’s awesome 😊
I feel like we need to send this video to Simplicity… like writing to your congressman but for sewing.
Yep! No response is Simplicity's way of showing customers how much they care.
Best comment 😂
They need some kind of vote.
I made and wore that Laura Ashley robe on my honeymoon. I still have the pattern because I collect Laura Ashley patterns. So I was really happy to see it came out. Also you can’t find robe and nightgown patterns anymore unless you go to Butterick, where there are only about two. So I (makes apostrophe marks with fingers) “strongly disagree.”
My thoughts exactly. I just bought the Laura Ashley robe pattern, and I’m so excited to make it! Finally a pretty robe to make that’s in my size! All of the modern robe patterns that are out are plain and boring to me. True vintage patterns are often pretty but not in my particular size.
My major disappointment is the incredibly limited size range 🙃
And those are the "real" Laura Ashley styles, not that balderdash (malarkey?) they were awkwardly racing for in the 90s. I would've set my hair on fire in the store if I thought it would've done something.
On a brighter note, I do have both of the Laura Ashley home decor sewing books and they're really worth their weight in gold.
I love the Laura Ashley pattern
It is kinda mind boggling that they have access to original archives and could just release the original patterns. That would certainly interest me more. No wonder the big 4 or is it 5? Struggle because they don’t even seem remotely interested in demographics. A quick Pinterest search would tell them exactly what home sewers, costumers, history buffs/blunders are looking for. You mentioned the Original Gunny Sax patterns, I know all my younger sewing friends are looking for those purple unicorns. I personally lived through the 70’s and the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress is my idea of perfection for the beginning sewer. Material hungry, but amazingly simple. This was one of the very first dresses I ever sewed.
Re-releasing the original pattern isn't always possible. It's possible that they only have the rights to publishing a pattern for a set amount of time before these rights revert back to the original designer, at which point they would have to repurchase the publishing rights. Oooor they could take the old silhouette and remake it with modern patterning standards/techniques which is a lot cheaper, plus then they would likely have the rights to publish forever.
I found a Gunne Sax Simplicity 9008 in a box of patterns at an estate sale. $6 for the whole box. I could not believe it. It's a pattern size 12, but I did not care. I may have cried a little.
As a 64 yo woman, who lost her tiny problematic waistline decades ago,, I understand completely why things are changing so much and what a nightmare has been caused for the pattern companies! Trying to learn how to accommodate my obesity by making my own clothing is a nightmare. Made almost all of my clothing since age 13 up to 32, due to a very short torso and very long legs with that now sorely missed tiny waist. Now, I'm basically an apple size 20 with size 28 "girls" on a size 9 frame. How should any pattern company be able to accommodate that?
"Matrons" in 1969 did not wear the same clothing as a teen or twenty something then. If one wore an "18 hour bra" at any time, that person never left the house in a "sundress" with skimpy straps. A person larger than a size 16 virtually never went sleeveless in public. In 1969, Haight-Ashbury was all the rage coming out of Hollywood, but 16 to 25 year olds in the rest of the country, would still tuck their "cross your heart" bra straps in under the dress straps, because they were comfortable wearing the varying amounts of padding available in their bras. Modesty was still a "thing" in most of the country. Today, 55 year olds want to dress "young", yet even if weight proportionate the two ages of bodies are not the same.
As I began my new sewing journey, I was amazed to realize my hips were only 1" larger than they were 40 years ago though I recognized my bum was flatter. So, just add to the waistline, right? Wrong? Learning to use the timer on my cell phone camera became my best fitting tool. One day I realized what used to be a round "oft admired" bum, was now dangling very low below its original positioning. How should a pattern company accommodate that on one set of patterns made for "all ages"?
Then there is the posture issue. Even small slim young people today can have atrocious posture due to computer usage. A dropped shoulder, forward shoulders, and a rounded back are common in teens and 20-somethings today, whereas those issues were mostly seen in office workers over the ago of 50 back then.
Add to that the fact that patterns were printed and sold in specific sizes whereas now, everyone expects an extensive size range. The fact is, a size 24 dress pattern can never be nothing more than a size 6 graded up if the wearer expects to look her best when finished. No matter how many DEI lectures one is subjected to, naked back fat isn't attractive to the overwhelming majority of human eyes.
It is not possible to know how each individual human body - especially women - will store its extra weight. My BIL has probably gained 60 pounds since I met him almost 40 years ago. At 5'10" tall, he has somehow managed to carry his weight exactly where the manufacturers expect it to be. I bought him a new sports coat for Xmas a few years ago. He was appalled that I'd purchased it 2 sizes bigger than his decade old clothing. It fit him perfectly! Didn't even need to hem the sleeves. How I envied that fit!
There is no answer for determining fit at this time. It is why women's clothing off the rack is offered almost exclusively in polyester stretchy goo fabric. Too bad we're not as "in shape" as the crew on the Enterprise. And, no, that's not "body shaming", it's merely a statement of fact.
I read an article that said they didn't retain copies of their original patterns. So they have me designers recreate them from the photos and the fit and design is not identical. At one point they were actually asking for people to send them old patterns!
Vogue, occasionally, runs a contest/request for vintage patterns. The other brands (probably) run a picture through a computer, then add the needed physical measurements to a CAD machine.....the problem is this: humans are rounded forms, and computers prefer pixels/cubic inches/feet/centimeters.....
Re: Butterick 3674, Bianca from The Closet Historian did something that looked more authentic using just her own bodice & skirt blocks.
OOO! I will have to go watch it!
@@StephanieCanada it wasn't that long ago. She did a series of asymmetrical outfits & I particularly remember that one.
I think Bianca's done most of the 40's styles. I love her sardonic humour. So similar to Stephanie's 😂
@@StephanieCanada It has the benefit of being more generally about how to add gathering to your blocks, akin to her video on how shift darts and the one where she shows how she converts from darts to princess seams.
I am so over the reproductions. They are Halloween costumes gone bad. You rock 9n, and your taste SHOULD BE EVERYONES
The people want more Laura Ashley, Gunne Sax & Bellville Sassoon sewing patterns!!! Rawr!!! 🦖
yeah, I would totally push people out of line for a Gunne Sax pattern... this needs to happen in my life...
This is what I keep saying! People want Gunne Sax! Figure it out big corporation!
I've never even heard of gunne sax patterns...can't wait to check them out!
Oh! I see..they are those prairie/Victorian looking dresses. I now know the back story about the 1969 shop in San Francisco 😄
I had a Gunne Sax dress in ‘79. My bff bought the same dress too. We loved it
Just sold my Gunne Sax wedding dress from 1977. Size 5. It wasn't a wedding dress specifically but it was absolutely perfect for me. Pleated cotton gauze with embroidered trim. Just perfect.
1979, Gunny Sax dress. It was my prom dress. I am now 63, still own my prom dress and it still fits. I bought my dress at Nordstrom.
honestly what's really most unfortunate about these patterns is that they don't even bother to extend it past a size 24.
They're probably providing wrap dresses because the finished product is usually more forgiving in terms of fit. 🤔 I recently bought an authentic 1978 wrap dress pattern (for too much $$$, maybe?) and then found the Simplicity reproduction recently released. I haven't done a line for line comparison, but i plan to do so. So curious to see if they changed anything. I suspect they've added a significant amount of wearing ease to accomodate fuller bodies than what people had in the late 70s.
They usually just add ease because of the knowledge base of the consumer nowadays. I think I was one of the last classes to get a "home ec" course in HS.
@@StephanieCanada I had home ec in the early 90s but they taught us how to use a sewing machine, just the basics, and we didn't learn A THING about fit. I still have no idea what proper fit feels like.
@@bunhelsingslegacy3549 I've been trying to find an explanation of what particular darts etc do so I can know what patterns won't work for me before I get to the trying the dress on stage.
As someone with boobs 18 cm bigger measument the waist they also sit better on how they look on.
So glad you're back doing videos! You're fantastic and were sorely missed!
Thank you so much! It feels good to be back!
Amen to that!
Oh, please, I just want to live next door to you and listen to you pick apart patterns! I don't even sew, but a good dose of your humor every day and I know I could live to be 100!😂❤😂
Finding this channel has reassured me that I am, in fact, not the only chaotic sewist...LOL I do not learn from my mistakes and then make all new ones on top of old. ("ease" means JUST MAKE IT FIT!", right?)
Current (stalled) project - Vogue 9106 "Misses' Tiered and Ruffled Dress and Belt" in a pale peach polyester faux silk bought back in the ancient times when Wal-Mart had fabric specials for $1 a yard. Between gathering, a tiered skirt, and MORE gathering (damn thing has gathers in the bust darts...) I'm sure it will go well.
AAAnd the project is stalled because there is a baby turkey in my sewing room. He's moving outside next week and then I'm vacuuming until my vacuum cleaner explodes.
I HAD the original super jiffy pattern back in the '70s.
I’d be excited to see a line comparison with the Star Trek dress pattern!
I will work on finding the original!
@@StephanieCanadaI would so love that!
This is both Hilariousand Agony …I learned on a treadle machine.
No patterns for doll clothes. Patterns available for humans were a
fight with flying tissue paper. I used Vogue patterns in teen years
and for first girl-child. I became a professional theatre costumer.
Draping, with or without muslin, was much easier than :
searching books for adaptable patterns, fighting with line drawings
uncut. I’m over 80 and just made medieval costume for wedding.
I adore this presenter and feel her pain 😂
You are SO RIGHT. I started making my own clothes in 4th grade...1962. By junior high (what we used to call middle school) I'd learned never to make "Jiffy" or simple-to-sew patterns except for maybe beach cover-ups. Used them to learn, but they were too simple to be fashionable. They were, IMHO, simply ugly and ill-fitting. I don't get why companies would choose to reproduce those styles today. Seriously, Laura Ashley nightgown?! Thanks, Stephanie, for your voice of reason.
Honestly, I love the caped nightgown at 8:05. No idea bout the pattern, but if it is close I could live out my Golden Girls nightgown dreams.
I really like old '40s, '50s fashion. Found your videos - yes, the walkaway dress 😂😂🤣🤣 Thank you for all the fashion and pattern research and the entertainment!
"Capitalistic Hellscape" and a screaming goat was all I had to hear in connection to the topic of vintage looks to know I had found a kindred spirit. Definitely subscribing now. So the one-shoulder 40's? was the pattern I would like to see.
I have the 8505! My Mom made the first one that I wore for YEARS! Once it stated falling apart made another one that I still have and wear. It is a very comfortable lounger. 😊😊😊😊😊
You showed up in my feed. So glad I stayed for the screaming goat. I'm hooked. Subscribing now.
I am rewatching videos and i absolutely adore the apricot/peach sheath dress with the lace bodice behind you! Just had to let you know💜🩷❤️😘
A trick to avoid the jumping back to top of search results - right click, open in new tab (sometimes called open in background). Works on pc on most web pages
I was actually thrilled to see that nightgown pattern..
You’re so right about them needing to reproduce gunne sax. I would love to see either ‘authentic’ pattern compared to the original. ✌🏻
I was looking earlier this week to find something that looked like Eleanor Roosevelt would have worn for me to wear on a reenactment weekend in Sept and found nothing in McCall's.
It really is hit or miss, isn't it?
Love you Stephanie Canada!! Glad to see you’re making new videos!!
Oh gosh yes on the Gunne Sax patterns. I personally have several! I also have a Gunne Sax dress I had in high school in the 70's!!!
Amazing!!!!
I want Vogue to go back and get out their old "Paris Original" patterns and put them out! I have a 1950 Vogue pattern catalogue book - the big one they would have had at a fabric store - and the wealth of gorgeous patterns in it is beyond! Why can they not do it? They even have the layout in the book - if I had tons of time and access to a giant printer I would enlarge for days until I got the right size and then guess at directions perhaps. Do pattern companies not have an archive? Or did they all have some big fire where all was lost.....hmmm.
They didn't keep a backstock. They would just cycle thru them. Back in the late 90's early 00's they asked for donations of old patterns (didn't pay anyone, ugh) to get some back.
@StephanieCanada Unbelievable, you'd think... But, didn't they start with a design drawing? Seems like they'd be able to recreate the process. Maybe the market is just too small to be profitable enough.
Saucy!!! Ha ha. Fabulous video … that 50s dramatic go-to-the-opera coat! 😻😻😻
Hello glad to see that you are still doing videos I found all the old ones and feel in love with your channel. I love the pattern comparison you do and let me tell you I have never laughed as much as I do when I watch them. I also love your website also. Great job.
McCall’s M7443 actually has the combo problem of too long bodice and too long skirt. Having made it it also has the weirdest ease because I made it to my size which should have fit snug, but the bodice is actually quite large, and it has unusable bound buttonholes
I wonder how many new sewists go down the path of using these reproductions and end up never wanting to sew again. Great vid. Thanks again.
Me too…
PHEWWWW so, so glad someone agrees with me, regarding these so called REPRODUCTION vintage PATTERNS !!!! They are so frumpy, and drab!!!!! When you watch the old films and think ??? Why dont they release Edith Head, design patterns.💫she dressed the best actresses of the 40s 50s snd 60s ❤The styles were the epitome of pure ELEGANCE ❤❤
Gunne Saks were the bomb in the late seventies
😂 I had all the same reactions as you! My activated shade says the parent company is too lazy to actually attempt a more complex yet desirable pattern. I have also tried a couple reproach and I laughed and then cried with one. 😂😭 I know I’m short but 2 feet past my actual feet to the pant hems?!?!
OH NO!!! YIkes!
Two feet! I guess if you go down the rabbit hole with Alice and find the drink that makes you grow, those are the pants you want to be wearing!
If you're looking for the vintage patterns from any of the brands that fall under the Simplicity umbrella, go to the side, use the drop down menu and choose Designers and Collections, pick Vintage, and Bob's your uncle! You're welcome!
Thank you!
Please do any and all patterns that you can find the original for. 100% yes!
I just found your channel. Love your sense of humor. ❤😂
Gunne sax ive never heard of them so i went and checked it out and very pretty dresses indeed. Yes Melanie bring a video about them patterns :)))
My grandmother was a seamstress and i have over 100 patterns from simplicity, buttersomething, etc. I don't sew and would love to find a use for them. Lots of styles from '50's and '60's. I even have 2 of hats. And pics of her wearing one!
Oh, I’d love to buy them off you! I’m a budding seamstress and I love vintage patterns, but they’re kind of hard to come by. I even got my grandmother’s professional Singer sewing machine from the 1950s/60s to match! Or maybe you could upload them online for people to download, but I’m not sure how that would work with copyright stuff.
@@kristinastone7838 I currently have them in a storage unit but can contact you when recovered if you like...
Did you ever recover your patterns? I would be interested in buying some of them from you.
Great to see you back on RUclips!
They say that styles repeat every so many years. I'm old enough and have been sewing long enough that I remember when a lot of these patterns were originally issued. What stinks is now the pattern that sold back in the day for $2.00 is now being sold for $20.00. I still have all my patterns from the 70's to the present. Call me a pack rat, but I'm glad I saved them. I only buy patterns now if they run a sale. I don't think they are worth $20.00. I'll never pay that. I also kept my mother's patterns when she passed away.
I made the B6485 1944 pattern! It actually turned out looking really lovely and authentic. I will definitely make more dresses using that pattern in the future. You're right that reproduction patterns can be a hit or miss. :)
Loved this. So great you’ve found time to do a video.
Amazing how much free time since I was let go for no reason. 😂
@@StephanieCanada oh. I didn’t realize you are between jobs. Their loss.
I saw a dress in white eyelet like the Laura Ashley nightgown at a boutique. I actually like the robe. I'd like it in silk or rayon.
Ahhhhhh, got my Stephanie hit! All is well, you never stop cracking me up👍🤣
I think the problem with the "reproduction vintage" patterns is that they are taking original patterns that were drafted by hand by experienced pattern makers and re-doing them in modern specs using computer drafting rather than hand drafting. it's a lost skill
Problems with that red dress the model wire is that she very likely wasn't wearing the 1940s undergarments that we might expect.
I also think the bodice is too blocky for the reproduction, which didn't help.
The edge looked like it might be piped, not top-stitched, in the sketch. The new photo showed nothing
I just sold a big box full of my own patterns from the lat 60s on up, most in the 70s. I was told that the room where my sewing stuff was displayed was a very lively and busy room. I tucked the patterns into the garments for the ones I made. Some of the favorite pieces I'd held on to for decades. That super jiffy wrap apron was in those patterns that sold.
I remember when patterns cost 75 cents. Material started at 25 cents a yard.
Yes, but you only earned $2/hour in those days :)
@@paulabroussard1824 I earned 65c an hour in 1960 at Woolworth's.
Thanks for great critique and I have the same collectible Trolley car on the shelf behind you!
How cool!!!
My pick would be for the 1-shoulder 8380. Would love it to see a line by line comparison. I bought the walkaway dress reproduction pattern before you did your comparison and have never cut it after I watched your video.
Hi! So good to hear from you! I hope that your wrist is getting better. It would be interesting if you could do the wrap dress from the 80's and the wrap dress from the 70's. The 70's one is sized for knits. The other one looks like cotton. I wonder about the fit. As a busty gal, I am sure that the 70,s one looks better. the 8o's wrap dress kind of looks like a glorified apron! It wood be great if you could do any of these, then we could sew along!
Oh maybe! That is a fun idea. Let me see how my wrist is feeling. It may have to be a mid-summer project.
"Glorified apron" Yep. I saw the line drawings and thought "I could cut most of the back off and have a great apron" LOL
I want more nightgown patterns like that from the 80’s. I wore them growing up as a kid and I want to now too 😂
I'm the old broad who remembers when variations on that dress was popular. Sometimes the sleeve/cape thing was removable. I had friends with sisters who wore it to both parties and church.
You are hysterical! So much fun to watch.
Thank you! Yes, the Big One could be doing soooo much better! Hope your hand heals well!
Just found your channel. I love your reactions. I terrified to try to make clothes but you make it look fun.
Weirdest thing... my family took me to see the "Catch Me If You Can" musical yesterday for a belated Mother's Day present. As you may know, it's mostly set in the 60s. Two of the dresses worn by Paula Abagnale I have in my stash of retro or vintage reproduction patterns: Butterick 5880 & Vogue 8850 - neither of which is a 60s pattern!
I'm wondering if they pin the models into the dresses for photo's like knit pattern companies do in their photo's. It took me a few years to figure that out ( stink eye to Vogue Knitting).
Yep. Shade IS activated.
😎 accurate
Grandma had a ton of these in her collection of patterns, we tossed many! 😂
😮😢
I LOVE your unboxing!!!!
I just hope they releases a vintage re-do of an 80s era nightgown pattern I had but misplaced. It is a Laura Ashley, a curved yoke. It was so pretty.
I made the caftan years ago. I was just learning to sew, had no one to help me and I found it soooo confusing. Lol. Something that I recently discovered is that people who've never sewn anything have no clue regarding the shapes of pattern pieces. I haven't sewn in years but I learned a lot that has gone through life with me. 😊
New follower. Enjoyed the video. Hope to binge some of your content in the next couple weeks.
Stephanie, I love this channel. Do you have any recommendations for dress or top patterns for bust 49, high bust45/46 and waist 43?
Yeah, the 'not large enough for someone like me' happened to me too, the one time when I bought a pattern a couple years ago. I can't sew anything at the moment because my trailer is a mess and I don't have a sewing area set up. But a couple years ago, I tried. The one pattern that I bought, at the largest size they had on the pattern, it was barely able to fit me, or else just barely too small for me, and I don't consider myself to be an extremely fat person. In the big scheme of things, I'm relatively thin compared to a lot of people. You don't have to be all that fat to be beyond the range of the sizes they have for those things. I got this book about how to custom design your own patterns from scratch, and whenever the time comes that I am finally able to sew again, I'll probably be doing that.
I've tried a few commercial patterns and though I'm not plus sized, my measurements and proportions are nonstandard. For example if I try to use a Mood pattern, my hips are a size 8, my bust is a size 12 and my waist is... size 18. So yeah that makes for all kinds of fun when trying to use patterns... if it was just a matter of making it bigger, most patterns that have multiple sizes on the same pattern, you can sort of see how to upsize it further, but if I were just to go buy a size 12 pattern, it's sure not going to look like what's on the package by the time I get done the mockups to make it fit my "brick with boobs" shape!
I have measured the pants I wear that don't slide off my hips to be 32" from button to buttonhole and that's the measurement I have to use for any weightbearing waistband. Even though my actual comfortably snug tape measure measurement says something closer to 36", if I wear pants with actual waist measurement of 34" or larger, they slide off over my hips, with the button done up. Thankfully I can just shop in the mens' department for pants because apparently my hip to waist ratio is pretty accurate to what the standard is for men, but yeah, next time I try to sew my own pants, they're going to either be traced off existing pants I wear and know the fit of, or they're going to be self-drafted based on the (free PDF) Keystone Dress and Jacket Cutter's trouser drafting instructions.
Best of luck on your endeavours, and I hope if you can't find patterns in your size, that you figure out how to alter them propery to fit you. Sacrificing bedsheets to the mockup gods has been the best thing I've ever learned from all the sewing youtubers.
Stephanie, I enjoy our time “together” and the fast friendship we have created entirely in my own imagination so much! I will watch and re-watch whatever level of fun you have time to share. Maybe you could do a roulette series taking on a Repro vs. OG 🤷🏻♀️. Put all the numbers on a wheel or in a cup and pull out the lucky winner 🏆 😂
We can roast marshmallows with loser patterns and share the love of anything we can make work without excessive changes.
I don’t know how to use patterns 😅 but I like watching these videos
I’m sorry, did I stumble into an umbrella store? THE SHADE ☂️🤣 hey, that pattern review that you have IN YOUR CAMERA? I just made that dress! And I have a video about it IN MY COMPUTER 😂 to release soon! I’m interested to see what you thought about it!
OMGosh , my son loves these reproduction critiques!
my mom made that wrap dress, in the maxi-length style, in pale green polyester of some sort, in 1977.
I messed up my dominant hand's wrist real bad back in 2020, not full broken but close. Now it flares up from weather and stupid tasks I use to be able to do with no problem. Fun times! (but not really)
I'm interested in "vintage" and/or "reproduction" SUITS - yes, I like the idea of matching and coordinating pieces. The darling - and time honored - day dress. Yeah, wrap around is for sissies - I think I've met my "vintage" and/ or "reproduction" sewing patten soul mate... subscribed.
P.S. The butterick 50's! I made that one in Halloween black with red glitter collar and spit sleeve - it made a wonderful costume, and was a nice ride through the instructions and construction at that.
The one shoulder 40s dress please
OMG I want that Gunne Sax dress again, 8th grade dance dress!
Jessica McClintock - or was she the Gunne Sacks designer?
There's some new reproductions in the today's Butterick (Summer 2023) release. One of them, B6938, says (in the description, and in a "stamp" on the front cover): Authentic Vintage Reproduction includes additional size options and cutting layouts. Won't be available here in Oz for at least 6 months, but I'm curious about what it means!
I’ve sewn up the skirt of 5880 and it came together well!
Great job!
Did they change the sizing to compensate for women of the 2000’s?
I’m here for the screaming goat 🐐
I love it so much I bought a desk one too, for every day use.
Love your personality and subscribed because of the sheep scream after 'caftan'.
Thank you so much!! ❤️
Apropos of nothing, I just realized we have the exact same glasses!
You could put the bows on little broah pins so you can take them on and off, or just put one on ect.
Snaps would show, and i dont think magnets would hold during the day.
And we aren't the ones that are going to be wearing the dress! So if the bows are going to put you off wearing the dress, take them off!!
But consider the broah pins,thenyou couldmake diff colourboes too and diff sizes if you prefer. 👍
I’m in possession of several patterns from a century ago with the pieces in pristine factory folded condition…although the envelopes desperately need reconstructing as they’ve basically shattered. I got the entire lot of six for $1.50 if I remember correctly. As a lifelong seamstress and historical costumer, I WILL be digitizing and sharing the patterns once I finish moving. Those envelopes are going to take forever to piece together and I’m pretty sure I’ll need to throw together at least one of each pattern just to make sure that the reconstructed images are correct
I try to collect GunneSax patterns, so far I have 5, of which 2 are toddler girls' sizes. I plan to make one for my granddaughter when she's 3!
6:49 I have M8380. It’s labeled “authentic” because the guide is a scan of the original instructions. It includes a second page with modern cutting layouts and pattern markings guide. But only original sewing instructions are provided. There are NO new/modern assembly instructions. It’s an easy project so if you’ve never sewn a vintage pattern this could be a nice one to try out.
The Laura Ashley nightgown pattern is on my cutting table as we speak...being Gen X of course it's an orginal pattern!!
Of all the decades, why the 80’s? 😢
Personally, 80s are my favorite, but there are FAR more interesting patterns than that robe, that's for sure.
RIGHT?! But also, if you are gonna commit to 80's, commit FULLY! Do the CRAZY patterns, not a nightgown!
@@StephanieCanada And they don't even have to be that crazy to be distinctly 80s. I've got my eye on some simple t-shirt patterns that are very unique to the decade, yet totally wearable. And I made a VERY 80s coat this year and got so many compliments on it. You just have to remember to grade for the lack of shoulder pads. 🤣
You got my like with the Wrap Dress comment.🤣
Just found your channel… you are hilarious 😂
Why don't they ask us the ones we actually want!!!!!!! Yay give me the good Laura Ashley shizz xx
What pattern did you use for the gold dress in the background? Maybe I missed it. Thanks so much, love your videos.
Thanks!
Even in the 70s, I avoided the super jiffy patterns. They tended to look like crap. I did make the Gunne Sax patterns. Loved those. I still have a dress I made back then. My daughter wore it once.