Hi, old fart here. First, I think you did a great job filming and explaining your methods! Second, exposed bias binding was used a lot back then, but it never looked professional. I think most often this finishing technique was used on house dresses and aprons. Even though Butterick suggested this for a luncheon, I don't remember anyone dressing so casually. Third, Thank you thank you for showcasing/supporting local. And last, Thank you for making this video for me (and others) to enjoy!
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed it! I wondered about that. I havent ever seen this finish on a dress before. The other vintage things I have made feel way less costumey.
I’m never really sure why there’s such a stigma against handmade. As long as it still looks well made, who cares? Especially now. I’m not suggesting you’re saying that it’s bad, just I don’t understand why it’s still considered bad societally. I like the look of bias bound edges, even if it isn’t something I’ve ever done in my professional life. I do agree it’s a lot more casual though.
@@jaybee4118 I completely agree. I think when I tell people I have made things most people are just impressed because not a lot of people do anymore. I think previously if you made your clothes people thought you weren't as well off which now I would almost say its the opposite 🤣. I think this dress in particular just feels very "of the era" to me, more than other 50s things I have made because it is a very retro touch with the binding. I did wear it out to dinner after we took the photos and got lots of compliments, but that is probably partially because the style does stand out a bit. I would definitely wear it to like a vintage event.
@@jaybee4118 I'm not aware of any stigma, but I'm originally from "the wrong side of the tracks" so there's that, lol. I was only commenting on how things were back in the 1950's. I guess I wasn't clear. Indeed, even today my kids (42-50) still will ask for home sewn stuff, and have told me how they appreciated their home made clothes as kids. My daughter even asked me to make her wedding gown, so no judgement against home sewists from me. I'll do better making my comments more clear. Sorry. And I totally agree with you, we should all be proud of hand crafted everything.😊😊😊
It's so refreshing to see other plus size sewists! Especially ones that are my size, even though we are not the same shape. This reminds of of grading up my own projects and you've given me some new tools to use when making things fit me better.
I'm old school, I prefer Seamstress over Sewist but it is a lovely dress. Oh to have a 1950's waist...the closest I came was 1987 when I was 20 & a perfect size 3 (I started out a sz 16, my goal was a 0)
The dress turned out great, loved that you didnt hide any mistakes... great way to see how to upscale a pattern to fit size, I'm a big girl and find it so hard to find patterns that fit... thanks for the video
I was going to enter-just to represent the plus size vintage sewing community. But darling you did it 🙌🏻 & because you had so much extra work to do like grading up, FBA etc. I pray you win the Contest! 🙏🏻🎉 & you now have a New subscriber as well 💕
Thank you so much! 💓 the contest was mostly about who could sew it the fastest, which I already knew I had probably lost going in (one girl did it in three hours!). Obviously as a plus size person there is literally more sewing to do, coupled with the fact I am just not that fast. It was more about the challenge for me to see if I could make it for my body. So that was the real win.
The phrase "I got my bobbins wound and my iron set up" made me smile. I know it was stating facts, but saying "I got my bobbins wound" sounds like a perfect way of announcing to the world "I'm ready for a challenge!". 😄 I might borrow that expression for myself some time. Edit: I love the bloopers at the end! 😅
Yours is my favorite version of this dress I've seen ❤ also, this is the first time I've ever understood what was going on with the grading and bust adjustment, so thanks for that.
Thank you for this excellent video and for making this famous dress in a plus size too. As a larger lady who wants to dress vintage thank you for showing me that I can! ❤❤❤
I would have made mine all one color including the seam binding. loved your tips on how to alter the pattern and the mockup. LOVE the skirt on it. love how you work on the floor.. super natural.. no pretension. great job.
You are a great teacher, I learned a lot about what to look for when fitting a mock-up. It was very interesting to watch you grade a pattern as well, I've always just given up on patterns that are too small. Thanks for making this video!
I am so glad to hear it was helpful!! In general, I would not recommend making patterns that are too small/not made for you, but this was a challenge for me to see if I could do it.
I have made all my dresses in high school, but nothing this elaborate. I did make shirt waist dresses and once you make one that fits you well, then it is easier. But I really enjoyed skirts and pants that when the colored pleated bell bottoms came in I loved those. Best way to do those was make a pleat out of some broadcloth and take out the seam of a pair of pants or jeans you have and sew in the pleat, hem the pleat and you are ready to be like Cher, make it as wide as you wish! In the ‘60’s we had fun making our own outfits. Suits to jeans. We did it all.
Thank you so much for doing this. I am a plus sized person so watching the other people who are not doing this challenge was a bit depressing. You tackled a lot of the stuff that was worrying me about this pattern too, and I am very thankful that you shown how you did it.
I am so glad to hear it was helpful! Yes it has been a bit rough watching the other videos after mine that just basically cut it out and did it in 3 hours. That being said, it did reinforce to me how important it is to support people that are making patterns for my size.
You did fantastic at altering the pattern. I am a weird shape body too and still learning at altering patterns. Love the different colors of the fabrics. 👏👍
Wow! I've only watched the first 2 minutes and I'm already so impressed with you properly changing the pattern size, I'm not an expert by any means, just know enough that its not easy!
I so admire you! You really worked that pattern to make it fit for you. I'm 65 and have been sewing since I was 9. I watched your entire video and most of your terminology went over my head. In fact most of your techniques went over my head! You clearly have great vision and amazing talent! I'm just in awe. My go to alteration was to toss both pattern and fabric in the trash. I've just stuck to basic designs and hope for the best. I really enjoyed your video and marvel at your skill. Thank you for all your effort in putting both the video and your pretty dress together.
Thank you so much! That whole thing was pretty advanced, I dont even normally go that far. My goal is not to go over everyones head, but to make it doable, so let me know if I can explain anything better.
It was helpful to watch you do the pattern grading. Thanks for including that. I've watched other folks do this dress before. It never seems to be as quick and easy as it was promoted to be. I think it turned out great and us as cute as can be.
Hi, I think what you did here is exceptional. I have a couple of suggestions, only because I am a quilter. 1. Starch all your fabric ahead, (this will preshrink and will make it easier to work with). 2. Where you have a bias edge, what about adding a very light (featherweight) interface to the fabric. I commend you, I am not sure I would be even to recreate the pattern such as you did!!! Fantastic job!
My mother made all our clothes and I always admired her amazing ability to do that for us. Just found your channel and it is bringing back many fond memories of watching my mother sew and appreciate once more how adept she was at adjusting one pattern to fit each of her four daughters. Thank you for sharing your talent!
Oh, the finished product was cute on you! The colors were cute and Holly Hobby is cool! The shoes look great with it! I am a plus size person and I also don’t think that pattern would be the most flattering silhouette on me either, but you pulled it off well!
You had me hooked when you said the method came from Threads magazine. I like Threads they tend to get techie on simple stuff....but works in real world applications. Especially when it comes to knitting patterns.
I know this sounds hyperbolic, but this video literally changed my life! I could never figure out why a simple 2-dart bodice just didn't look good on me, and it seriously wasn't until I saw this video that I realized you can make a diamond shaped dart under the bust instead of just a straight dart to the waist. I had given up on sewing dresses for myself thinking I must just be too big and weird shaped to fit anything nicely. But just changing the dart shape is such a game changer, I tried pinching some out of a shapeless dress I just made and now it fits and flatters! If you have or know of any other tutorials for that underbust diamond dart, I am all about it! Thank you again so much!
I am so glad it was so helpful! I don't currently have a good video on specifically that type of dart (I will add it to the list!), but they are called fisheye darts. I believe @InsidetheHem has some good videos on them.
I love this! I just went on Amazon and ordered the pattern. I love to sew but never have time and I love to wear dresses but hate going shopping. You have blessed me with this video, thank you so much!
I do exactly the same thing with my FBA: "Hmm, looks like I've added six inches all the way down the front bodice. Isn't that fantastically convenient." It's not as if I don't need those six inches! 😍😍😍
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon this. I also got this pattern from Stephanie Canada to participate in the challenge and then immediately became overwhelmed by the amount of grading I needed to do. I have made the modern version of this dress so I was looking forward to comparing the two. Thank you for sharing your journey because my adjustments will be similar to yours and now I feel like I have a reasonable action plan!!
Hi! I like this look on you. I’d suggest that you use all the same fabric for a future version. Or use a much darker color for the part that wraps around with a light color (s) for the bust area. I think I’ve watched 5 of these challenge videos. Everyone seems to be having similar problems with the shoulders.
I would have to know a whole lot more about sewing to understand half the things you explained, but I was glad to be so well introduced to these foreign concepts and maybe one day will grok their meanings. As for the dress on you, I think a different color combo would suit well. One person did darker colors and it looked really elegant. The floral patterns are cute, but don’t fly with this kind of dress in my opinion. Plain fabrics with slightly contrasting colors or starkly contrasting would be interesting to see. Thank you for your all effort and explanations and daring to try out this contest pattern.
This looks fantastic on you! I’ve seen a few vids of this challenge and it was really nice to see a graded up version, I think it looks great in all sizes! Well done!
I just found you today; you popped up in my feed. This was one of the best fitting tutorials I've seen, and I've watched hundreds (or thousands, really) of hours of sewing videos since early 2018. I think your dress turned out beautifully, and it looks good on you. Personally, this is my taste, florals, lots of color, girly details, etc. I made this dress years ago for one of my daughters for a high school dance. We had trouble with the closure staying closed. I had used a snap, and it wasn't strong enough. I would really love to make this dress for me. I really appreciated all the time you put into this make and your video. It was incredibly helpful! So few people show all the steps of making mock ups and alterations. Thank you again!
Thank you so much! 💓 that means a lot and I really appreciate you saying that. I did add a could hooks and eyes behind my button loops which helps it stay closed. I am really glad I did because I noticed some of the buttons came undone when we were filming. 😳
Thank you, thank you Ashley! Enjoyed so much your teaching!! Learned a lot...and...you have beautiful hands ! You are really well accomplished...enjoyed the music! I am from São Paulo Brasil...
I love the yellow fabric you chose! Great idea pairing it with the green bias tape. I have owned this pattern for years (got the reissue from a bargain bin), but I've never made it simply because a sewing pattern size 22 isn't anyone else's size 22. Seeing this video makes me more willing to try to do some grading and make the dress. Thank you so much for going over the grading in so much detail, and for the resource links. Plus size grading issues aside, I wonder if some of the issues people are having are because we no longer wear 1950s underwear (no girdle, and bra cup shapes have changed as well). I noticed other videos mentioning they prefer to wear it with a "petticoat" -- which I guess means half-slip?
By petticoat I am pretty sure they are talking like a fluffy one to make the skirt stand out more like the cover art. Some of the issues are a little bit because of that. I definitely made the darts more pointy than I normally would to get it to wrap around.
Wow! I’m not actually a “sewer” but I did enjoy doing it in my youth. I’ve watched a couple of these walkaway dresses and I love your explanation of how you adjusted the pattern! Thanks for sharing ❤
love it, I also got the pattern from Stephanie Canada, and I have not been able to grade it up, so good job on that. would love a copy of your graded pattern you made it look so easy. thank you for sharing.
I am glad you enjoyed it! It was definitely a lot of work to grade it- I wont be doing that again for awhile. I dont think I have a way of scanning it in (and it has my adjustments) but I did link the article in the description box I used to help me do it. The diagram I made uses the same numbers from their chart so hopefully you can skip a couple steps if you still want to give it a go.
Very impressed with your grading, I have learned a lot. Seeing someone work with the same sizing issues I have is inspiring. Your finished dress looks good on you and the vibe is on point. Thanks for taking Stephanie’s challenge and making it your own, I think you get to take off time as the longer seams of a plus size just take more time. (Edit. This earned my Subscription)
I'm reasonably sure I have this pattern in two different size groups. Have not attempted it yet. Your brave to try the challenge. It's off topic a bit, but one of the problems with some of these older styles is that they don't make the foundation under garments that quite frankly formed the dresses in place. While it was the end of the era, I remember having to wear girdles even if you didn't need one and those long line bras were miserable in the heat. Now cotton slips were great.
I have seen some companies that make repro, but nothing close to my size. But yes thats definitely part of the issue, the waist to hip ratio being so large.
I love this video! You explained the grading technique beautifully with your step by step way of increasing. I have been sewing for many years and have trialed and errored so many patterns. Thank you for not only explaining but showing us the mock up and the adjusting process.
I love the dress. The colors are so pretty and I think I also loved watching your process in sizing up the pattern. I did make the dress challenge, but I made the dress reversible. I am a plus sized woman as well... figuring out that side dart was rough for me. It took me considerably longer than one hour, more like a week. But I love the dress. I'll make it again, but probably not reversible.
Yeah it was definitely a solid week and five hours... I think I was almost lucky that I am straight up and down and didnt need that side dart. I could see it being quite difficult if you were a more of an hourglass.
I spent my teenage years making simple pretty fabric A line summer dresses, I even remember cutting out one on living room floor, I was 12, watching England win the 1966 World Cup!
Very much enjoyed seeing how you enlarged the pattern. You did such a good job of explaining and showing the process. Thank you very much for creating this video. New Subscriber!! Continued success and good fortune!
This is a cute dress on you. I think it would look even better if you opened the front of the skirt to show the underlaying pink fabric. This way the pink on top wouldn’t look as random/isolated.
This is the first video of yours that I’ve come across and watched, and I’m very impressed with your efforts and success in altering the fit of this dress for your body! You did an excellent job addressing and overcoming each fit challenge you encountered. Huge kudos to you! I was born in 1950 and only two years old when this pattern was first released, so I was obviously unaware of the styles of dresses and what they were called at the time. So, to answer your question, the term, “walk away dress” is unfamiliar to me until watching your video. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the 100% “quilting” cotton draped in the skirt area. I think it looked very nice on you. You may have been happier with the results of the binding if you’d used a self-binding made from the skirt or bodice material. Thank you so much for taking on this challenge and sharing the journey with all of us!
I think this walkaway dress resurfaced as a big thing when sewing blogs started, although apparently at the time it was first printed it was so popular they dedicated whole factories to printing nothing but this pattern. I don't know if I understand that level of hype, even after making it. Honestly the ruby star brand quilting cotton is in a league of its own. They also make some beautiful rayon. I probably should have made my binding, the pattern calls for purchased, but also it is just SO MUCH binding. This project was already a huge fabric hog. Thank you for coming over and watching and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
@@ashleymainmakes I'm just so pleased to have wandered in, so to speak 🙂. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your wonderfully informative content, Ashley! I started garment sewing my own clothes in 1971, being self taught. I'd never taken the sewing portion of Home Economics in junior high (middle school, to some) when it was offered as an elective course. Although my mother sewed, she flatly refused to teach me when I asked her. Hard to believe I've been sewing clothing for over 50 years and making quilts for approximately 15 years. I love seeing all you young people becoming so enthusiastic and accomplished in the craft! There was a period of time in the late 90's and early 2000's when it had all but died out. Thank you again for the interesting and informative walkaway dress instruction, Ashley!
Another great video! The yellow rose fabric is adorable and I enjoyed seeing your process of grading the original pattern. The outtakes were funny too! Congratulations on reaching 100 subscribers - now you're almost at 200! Thank you for showing us your process and finished dress. 🥰
Hi Ashley, just wanted to let you know how much i enjoyed watching your process making this dress. I really appreciate all of your sewing knowledge and expertise. Great job!!❤
I started sewing my own clothes in high school. Made my sons clothes as babies. Took sewing and design. I go look at stores for what was being worn and made my clothes and my boys. Design many of our clothes. People used to ask me where I bought them. I say House if Sewing.
Im so grateful I found your channel. It randomly popped up on suggested and I decided to watch. I'm a larger lady, and it just really makes me happy to learn how to adjust these patterns to fit me and make them flattering on my body shape. All throughout my life I was told I could not, and now I'm learning so much from you. So thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤
Thank you so much, that means a lot to me because that is why I started making videos. You can do it. Everyone deserves clothes that fit and make them feel good. ❤️
I have watched so many of you guys do this challenge. And with that you all are different shapes and sizes. I just want to say this dress looks amazing on each and every one of you. It’s extremely complementary. Thank you for an amazing teaching video🥰
Very cool dress:) Skirt is beautiful! If I got tired of the dress I would convert to just the skirt and wear a dark stretchy untucked close fitting top over it. You have amazing skills!!
This is so helpful! Thank you so much for making this video. I can never find patterns my size and you explained how to size everything so well! I'm excited to see more of your videos in the future!
I've watched a few people that have taken on this challenge of the Walkaway Dress. On every video I noticed a lot of complaints about fit. And while I think the pattern looks great in the drawn mock-ups, I think it has failed to delivery in every finished product I've seen. But kudoes for taking on the challenge and sharing your views on the finished product. I do like how you used two colors in your dress.
Amazing effort! Be proud that you took up the challenge. My know how is limited to add or subtract a seam allowance. I enjoyed watching the process. Thanks for the video. 👍
I'm so relieved to see your time was much the same as mine! As I said in my video what this pattern lacks in seams it makes up for in binding. I was stitching on binding for hours! Wonderful video - you are so personable and engaging.
Haha I have had this pattern sitting in my stash for YEARS! I don't do much pattern sewing, and in the meantime I've gone up 3-4 sizes xD However your grading demo is making me more confident that I could do it, if I wanted to! I think yours turned out adorable. :)
If I recall correctly, those old patterns always came out big. Sizing then was very different than sizing today. I THINK part of itmay be the pretend conversion to metrics. For example, a gallon of milk today issmaller than a gallon of milk from 1960. A liter does NOT equal a quart and a centimeter is smaller than a standard half inch. I remember making skirts that were supposed to be my size but they were always too big. Just the other day I went through a sack full of patterns...I have a ton of old patterns! Your video encouraged me to consider making some of them. Thankyou!
I thought that would be the case, that it would be bigger than what they said, but I didnt seem to have that issue with this one. And I didnt even check it before I gave it a go because I thought it was going to need a ton of adjustments anyway. Kind of weird, but I am happier it was easier than I thought. Ooo more vintage patterns, that exciting!
Your dress came out lovely! I kinda like the contrasting binding too! Your video was also great to watch and your voice is nice to listen to. Subscribed! 🙏🏽💗
I've never seen or heard of this dress pattern before. I think I liked it better when the buttons were off to the side a bit. You looked beautiful in it. The impression I got from it that it looked very snow white. This is my first time here and I skimmed through your other videos , can't wait to watch them. Have a great week 🙂
I am 70 yrs old learned how to sew in 8th grade, hated it then still hate to sew but I Love to watch people who love to sew sew.
Well thank you for watching! It can be a love hate relationship at times 😂
Hi, old fart here. First, I think you did a great job filming and explaining your methods! Second, exposed bias binding was used a lot back then, but it never looked professional. I think most often this finishing technique was used on house dresses and aprons. Even though Butterick suggested this for a luncheon, I don't remember anyone dressing so casually. Third, Thank you thank you for showcasing/supporting local. And last, Thank you for making this video for me (and others) to enjoy!
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed it! I wondered about that. I havent ever seen this finish on a dress before. The other vintage things I have made feel way less costumey.
Tfs ' old fart' 💗
I’m never really sure why there’s such a stigma against handmade. As long as it still looks well made, who cares? Especially now. I’m not suggesting you’re saying that it’s bad, just I don’t understand why it’s still considered bad societally. I like the look of bias bound edges, even if it isn’t something I’ve ever done in my professional life. I do agree it’s a lot more casual though.
@@jaybee4118 I completely agree. I think when I tell people I have made things most people are just impressed because not a lot of people do anymore. I think previously if you made your clothes people thought you weren't as well off which now I would almost say its the opposite 🤣. I think this dress in particular just feels very "of the era" to me, more than other 50s things I have made because it is a very retro touch with the binding. I did wear it out to dinner after we took the photos and got lots of compliments, but that is probably partially because the style does stand out a bit. I would definitely wear it to like a vintage event.
@@jaybee4118 I'm not aware of any stigma, but I'm originally from "the wrong side of the tracks" so there's that, lol. I was only commenting on how things were back in the 1950's. I guess I wasn't clear. Indeed, even today my kids (42-50) still will ask for home sewn stuff, and have told me how they appreciated their home made clothes as kids. My daughter even asked me to make her wedding gown, so no judgement against home sewists from me. I'll do better making my comments more clear. Sorry. And I totally agree with you, we should all be proud of hand crafted everything.😊😊😊
It's so refreshing to see other plus size sewists! Especially ones that are my size, even though we are not the same shape. This reminds of of grading up my own projects and you've given me some new tools to use when making things fit me better.
I am so glad to hear that!
I'm old school, I prefer Seamstress over Sewist but it is a lovely dress. Oh to have a 1950's waist...the closest I came was 1987 when I was 20 & a perfect size 3 (I started out a sz 16, my goal was a 0)
The dress turned out great, loved that you didnt hide any mistakes... great way to see how to upscale a pattern to fit size, I'm a big girl and find it so hard to find patterns that fit... thanks for the video
I loved seeing the grading up and seeing this pattern made for someone who looks like me. Thank you.
I agree!
I was going to enter-just to represent the plus size vintage sewing community. But darling you did it 🙌🏻 & because you had so much extra work to do like grading up, FBA etc. I pray you win the Contest! 🙏🏻🎉 & you now have a New subscriber as well 💕
Thank you so much! 💓 the contest was mostly about who could sew it the fastest, which I already knew I had probably lost going in (one girl did it in three hours!). Obviously as a plus size person there is literally more sewing to do, coupled with the fact I am just not that fast. It was more about the challenge for me to see if I could make it for my body. So that was the real win.
The phrase "I got my bobbins wound and my iron set up" made me smile. I know it was stating facts, but saying "I got my bobbins wound" sounds like a perfect way of announcing to the world "I'm ready for a challenge!". 😄 I might borrow that expression for myself some time.
Edit: I love the bloopers at the end! 😅
I am so glad! It is the first time I have included them.
The Walkaway Dress became famous (for me & a lot of sewists) through The Great British Sewing Bee, I think you did an amazing job 😊
Thank you!
Yours is my favorite version of this dress I've seen ❤ also, this is the first time I've ever understood what was going on with the grading and bust adjustment, so thanks for that.
Aww thank you! 😊 I am glad what I was saying made sense.
Thank you for this excellent video and for making this famous dress in a plus size too. As a larger lady who wants to dress vintage thank you for showing me that I can! ❤❤❤
You definitely can! Thank you for watching ❤️
I would have made mine all one color including the seam binding. loved your tips on how to alter the pattern and the mockup. LOVE the skirt on it. love how you work on the floor.. super natural.. no pretension. great job.
I really like the colors of your fabrics.
You are a great teacher, I learned a lot about what to look for when fitting a mock-up. It was very interesting to watch you grade a pattern as well, I've always just given up on patterns that are too small. Thanks for making this video!
I am so glad to hear it was helpful!! In general, I would not recommend making patterns that are too small/not made for you, but this was a challenge for me to see if I could do it.
That was so cool wasn’t it!
I have made all my dresses in high school, but nothing this elaborate. I did make shirt waist dresses and once you make one that fits you well, then it is easier. But I really enjoyed skirts and pants that when the colored pleated bell bottoms came in I loved those. Best way to do those was make a pleat out of some broadcloth and take out the seam of a pair of pants or jeans you have and sew in the pleat, hem the pleat and you are ready to be like Cher, make it as wide as you wish! In the ‘60’s we had fun making our own outfits. Suits to jeans. We did it all.
TheClosetHistorian breaks down bust adjustment really well, too. But this lovely lady, Ashley is closer to my size, and also teaches well!
I fine your video very interesting, I have never seen anyone on how to enlarge a pattern! Thanks! Love your hair!
Thank you so much for doing this. I am a plus sized person so watching the other people who are not doing this challenge was a bit depressing. You tackled a lot of the stuff that was worrying me about this pattern too, and I am very thankful that you shown how you did it.
I am so glad to hear it was helpful! Yes it has been a bit rough watching the other videos after mine that just basically cut it out and did it in 3 hours. That being said, it did reinforce to me how important it is to support people that are making patterns for my size.
my goodness, the dress looks absolutely divine on you! amazing and well done. Thank you for sharing 😗☺
Thank you for watching!
I'm glad I found you channel! You don't know how often I have to figure out how to get a pattern to fit my size!
Then you need to join Glenda Sparling of sure fit designs because the pattern makers all make things for people who are size 0 up to size 8
You did fantastic at altering the pattern. I am a weird shape body too and still learning at altering patterns. Love the different colors of the fabrics. 👏👍
Thank you so much!
Great Job! Super cute.
You did SUCH A GREAT JOB!!! You inspired me to actually get mine done!
Thats amazing! I can't wait to see your version! Thank you for coming over to watch!
Wow! I've only watched the first 2 minutes and I'm already so impressed with you properly changing the pattern size, I'm not an expert by any means, just know enough that its not easy!
Its not, but it actually ended up not being as bad as I thought. Doing it methodically really helped.
I am so sure you have aced this pattern. So impressed!!!!.
Thank you!
You are an amazing sewist! What a fabulous video. I learned so much about grading and pattern adjustment. Thank you
I am so glad it was helpful!
YOU GO GIRL! That is a really cute dress. The fabrics you chose are perfect.Thanks for sharing- have a great week!
Thanks! You too!
I’m so impressed with your adjustment skills!
You look amazing in this dress! The walkaway dress pattern is deceptively tricky, but your grading skills and tenacity paid off tremendously!!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you! So glad I watched your video. Also, thanks for showing all the actual setup to get started. Love your dress.
Thank you!
Lovely dress, the fabric is really pretty and refreshing and you did a great job!
Thank you!
Your dress came out great. Cute fabric choices! Thanks for sharing your upsizing and resources for it. I’m really having trouble with it.
You are so welcome!
I think it's beautiful. I love the yellow fabric flower fabric!
The colors of that dress are lovely for you. I’m so glad you popped up on my feed and I look forward to seeing what you do nextS
Thank you! ❤️
I really loved the finished dress and think the minor adjustments and it looks fabulous. Beautiful colors. Perfect picnic dress😁
Thank you! I am excited to wear it for something like that.
I so admire you! You really worked that pattern to make it fit for you. I'm 65 and have been sewing since I was 9. I watched your entire video and most of your terminology went over my head. In fact most of your techniques went over my head! You clearly have great vision and amazing talent! I'm just in awe. My go to alteration was to toss both pattern and fabric in the trash. I've just stuck to basic designs and hope for the best. I really enjoyed your video and marvel at your skill. Thank you for all your effort in putting both the video and your pretty dress together.
Thank you so much! That whole thing was pretty advanced, I dont even normally go that far. My goal is not to go over everyones head, but to make it doable, so let me know if I can explain anything better.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHOWING YOUR PROCESS!!
It was helpful to watch you do the pattern grading. Thanks for including that. I've watched other folks do this dress before. It never seems to be as quick and easy as it was promoted to be. I think it turned out great and us as cute as can be.
Thank you! No project ever is, but this one was a doozy.
Hi, I think what you did here is exceptional. I have a couple of suggestions, only because I am a quilter. 1. Starch all your fabric ahead, (this will preshrink and will make it easier to work with). 2. Where you have a bias edge, what about adding a very light (featherweight) interface to the fabric. I commend you, I am not sure I would be even to recreate the pattern such as you did!!! Fantastic job!
Thank you! And thanks for the tips! Yes I have a roll of interfacing tape coming to play around with that I saw used on a pattern shortly after this 🥲
My mother made all our clothes and I always admired her amazing ability to do that for us. Just found your channel and it is bringing back many fond memories of watching my mother sew and appreciate once more how adept she was at adjusting one pattern to fit each of her four daughters. Thank you for sharing your talent!
Aww thank you so much. Thats so sweet.
Oh, the finished product was cute on you! The colors were cute and Holly Hobby is cool! The shoes look great with it! I am a plus size person and I also don’t think that pattern would be the most flattering silhouette on me either, but you pulled it off well!
You had me hooked when you said the method came from Threads magazine. I like Threads they tend to get techie on simple stuff....but works in real world applications. Especially when it comes to knitting patterns.
I know this sounds hyperbolic, but this video literally changed my life! I could never figure out why a simple 2-dart bodice just didn't look good on me, and it seriously wasn't until I saw this video that I realized you can make a diamond shaped dart under the bust instead of just a straight dart to the waist. I had given up on sewing dresses for myself thinking I must just be too big and weird shaped to fit anything nicely. But just changing the dart shape is such a game changer, I tried pinching some out of a shapeless dress I just made and now it fits and flatters! If you have or know of any other tutorials for that underbust diamond dart, I am all about it! Thank you again so much!
I am so glad it was so helpful! I don't currently have a good video on specifically that type of dart (I will add it to the list!), but they are called fisheye darts. I believe @InsidetheHem has some good videos on them.
@@ashleymainmakes awesome, thanks!
I love this! I just went on Amazon and ordered the pattern. I love to sew but never have time and I love to wear dresses but hate going shopping. You have blessed me with this video, thank you so much!
Please check out reviews on the new pattern. It is way shorter than the original pattern. I have the new pattern too. I haven't made it yet.
I do exactly the same thing with my FBA: "Hmm, looks like I've added six inches all the way down the front bodice. Isn't that fantastically convenient." It's not as if I don't need those six inches! 😍😍😍
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon this. I also got this pattern from Stephanie Canada to participate in the challenge and then immediately became overwhelmed by the amount of grading I needed to do. I have made the modern version of this dress so I was looking forward to comparing the two. Thank you for sharing your journey because my adjustments will be similar to yours and now I feel like I have a reasonable action plan!!
I am so glad! Yes having an action plan was half the battle.
Hi! I like this look on you. I’d suggest that you use all the same fabric for a future version. Or use a much darker color for the part that wraps around with a light color (s) for the bust area.
I think I’ve watched 5 of these challenge videos. Everyone seems to be having similar problems with the shoulders.
You look so beautiful!!! You did such a wonderful job sewing this dress.
Thank you so much!
I would have to know a whole lot more about sewing to understand half the things you explained, but I was glad to be so well introduced to these foreign concepts and maybe one day will grok their meanings.
As for the dress on you, I think a different color combo would suit well. One person did darker colors and it looked really elegant. The floral patterns are cute, but don’t fly with this kind of dress in my opinion. Plain fabrics with slightly contrasting colors or starkly contrasting would be interesting to see.
Thank you for your all effort and explanations and daring to try out this contest pattern.
Let me know anything that you don't understand- it might be a good future video!
This is so dang pretty. Yes there were some issues but for the time frame you did great. You are an inspiration for me to get back into sewing!
This looks fantastic on you! I’ve seen a few vids of this challenge and it was really nice to see a graded up version, I think it looks great in all sizes! Well done!
Thank you!
I just found you today; you popped up in my feed. This was one of the best fitting tutorials I've seen, and I've watched hundreds (or thousands, really) of hours of sewing videos since early 2018. I think your dress turned out beautifully, and it looks good on you. Personally, this is my taste, florals, lots of color, girly details, etc. I made this dress years ago for one of my daughters for a high school dance. We had trouble with the closure staying closed. I had used a snap, and it wasn't strong enough. I would really love to make this dress for me. I really appreciated all the time you put into this make and your video. It was incredibly helpful! So few people show all the steps of making mock ups and alterations. Thank you again!
Thank you so much! 💓 that means a lot and I really appreciate you saying that. I did add a could hooks and eyes behind my button loops which helps it stay closed. I am really glad I did because I noticed some of the buttons came undone when we were filming. 😳
Thank you, thank you Ashley! Enjoyed so much your teaching!! Learned a lot...and...you have beautiful hands ! You are really well accomplished...enjoyed the music! I am from São Paulo Brasil...
Thank you so much!
I love the yellow fabric you chose! Great idea pairing it with the green bias tape.
I have owned this pattern for years (got the reissue from a bargain bin), but I've never made it simply because a sewing pattern size 22 isn't anyone else's size 22. Seeing this video makes me more willing to try to do some grading and make the dress. Thank you so much for going over the grading in so much detail, and for the resource links.
Plus size grading issues aside, I wonder if some of the issues people are having are because we no longer wear 1950s underwear (no girdle, and bra cup shapes have changed as well). I noticed other videos mentioning they prefer to wear it with a "petticoat" -- which I guess means half-slip?
By petticoat I am pretty sure they are talking like a fluffy one to make the skirt stand out more like the cover art. Some of the issues are a little bit because of that. I definitely made the darts more pointy than I normally would to get it to wrap around.
Loved the dress and learned a lot! Thanks- really enjoyed the vid.
Wow! I’m not actually a “sewer” but I did enjoy doing it in my youth. I’ve watched a couple of these walkaway dresses and I love your explanation of how you adjusted the pattern! Thanks for sharing ❤
Thank you for watching!
love it, I also got the pattern from Stephanie Canada, and I have not been able to grade it up, so good job on that. would love a copy of your graded pattern you made it look so easy. thank you for sharing.
I am glad you enjoyed it! It was definitely a lot of work to grade it- I wont be doing that again for awhile. I dont think I have a way of scanning it in (and it has my adjustments) but I did link the article in the description box I used to help me do it. The diagram I made uses the same numbers from their chart so hopefully you can skip a couple steps if you still want to give it a go.
I think you and the dress look great. Thanks for all the details you included. I'm still learning how to pattern for my body.
Good job. The dress looks good on you
Very impressed with your grading, I have learned a lot. Seeing someone work with the same sizing issues I have is inspiring. Your finished dress looks good on you and the vibe is on point. Thanks for taking Stephanie’s challenge and making it your own, I think you get to take off time as the longer seams of a plus size just take more time.
(Edit. This earned my Subscription)
Thank you so much! I am glad it was helpful!
You did a great job with this pattern!
I'm reasonably sure I have this pattern in two different size groups. Have not attempted it yet. Your brave to try the challenge. It's off topic a bit, but one of the problems with some of these older styles is that they don't make the foundation under garments that quite frankly formed the dresses in place. While it was the end of the era, I remember having to wear girdles even if you didn't need one and those long line bras were miserable in the heat. Now cotton slips were great.
I have seen some companies that make repro, but nothing close to my size. But yes thats definitely part of the issue, the waist to hip ratio being so large.
I love this video! You explained the grading technique beautifully with your step by step way of increasing. I have been sewing for many years and have trialed and errored so many patterns. Thank you for not only explaining but showing us the mock up and the adjusting process.
I am so glad you found it helpful!
It's really pretty, I love these styles. I'm smaller and cannot sew but I'm watching anyway 🤍
I appreciate it!
The vintage pattern sketches make me want to make them, but the never look the way I want them to.
PS- I love your green shoes! They are so pretty!
Thank you!
I love the dress. The colors are so pretty and I think I also loved watching your process in sizing up the pattern. I did make the dress challenge, but I made the dress reversible. I am a plus sized woman as well... figuring out that side dart was rough for me. It took me considerably longer than one hour, more like a week. But I love the dress. I'll make it again, but probably not reversible.
Yeah it was definitely a solid week and five hours... I think I was almost lucky that I am straight up and down and didnt need that side dart. I could see it being quite difficult if you were a more of an hourglass.
I spent my teenage years making simple pretty fabric A line summer dresses, I even remember cutting out one on living room floor, I was 12, watching England win the 1966 World Cup!
Very much enjoyed seeing how you enlarged the pattern. You did such a good job of explaining and showing the process. Thank you very much for creating this video. New Subscriber!! Continued success and good fortune!
Thank you so much! 💓
Damn, I'm suppose to be working on mine! Your dress looks great!
You made this look so easy. Not sure I could master all the changes you made. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Lovely. Turned out pretty!
Very good effort! I applaud you for persevering and making it through!!!
Thank you!
Good info and surprising to me. Fixing the shoulders corrected lots of the problems in other areas.
It always amazes me too how important it is.
I love seeing your process! That yellow floral is stunning too ❤️
Thank you so much!
This is a cute dress on you. I think it would look even better if you opened the front of the skirt to show the underlaying pink fabric. This way the pink on top wouldn’t look as random/isolated.
Loved seeing the process and it coming together! Learning so much! Can’t wait for your next one!
Thanks so much 😊
This is beautiful. It would be very difficult to ever find a dress like this on the rack. It’s lovely and I love the materials you used.
Thank you! I honestly dont think you ever would, even considering just the amount of fabric required for it. That is the beauty of sewing ❤️
@@ashleymainmakes can't wait to see your next creation.
This is the first video of yours that I’ve come across and watched, and I’m very impressed with your efforts and success in altering the fit of this dress for your body! You did an excellent job addressing and overcoming each fit challenge you encountered. Huge kudos to you!
I was born in 1950 and only two years old when this pattern was first released, so I was obviously unaware of the styles of dresses and what they were called at the time. So, to answer your question, the term, “walk away dress” is unfamiliar to me until watching your video.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well the 100% “quilting” cotton draped in the skirt area. I think it looked very nice on you. You may have been happier with the results of the binding if you’d used a self-binding made from the skirt or bodice material.
Thank you so much for taking on this challenge and sharing the journey with all of us!
I think this walkaway dress resurfaced as a big thing when sewing blogs started, although apparently at the time it was first printed it was so popular they dedicated whole factories to printing nothing but this pattern. I don't know if I understand that level of hype, even after making it.
Honestly the ruby star brand quilting cotton is in a league of its own. They also make some beautiful rayon. I probably should have made my binding, the pattern calls for purchased, but also it is just SO MUCH binding. This project was already a huge fabric hog.
Thank you for coming over and watching and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
@@ashleymainmakes I'm just so pleased to have wandered in, so to speak 🙂. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your wonderfully informative content, Ashley!
I started garment sewing my own clothes in 1971, being self taught. I'd never taken the sewing portion of Home Economics in junior high (middle school, to some) when it was offered as an elective course. Although my mother sewed, she flatly refused to teach me when I asked her. Hard to believe I've been sewing clothing for over 50 years and making quilts for approximately 15 years. I love seeing all you young people becoming so enthusiastic and accomplished in the craft! There was a period of time in the late 90's and early 2000's when it had all but died out.
Thank you again for the interesting and informative walkaway dress instruction, Ashley!
I think the dress looks lovely on you and I love the colours you used . I don't think I would be able to make it so fast hahaha.
Thank you so much!
Another great video! The yellow rose fabric is adorable and I enjoyed seeing your process of grading the original pattern. The outtakes were funny too! Congratulations on reaching 100 subscribers - now you're almost at 200! Thank you for showing us your process and finished dress. 🥰
Thanks so much! I am glad you enjoyed the outtakes- for some reason I had so many this time, this was only like a couple 😄
Hi Ashley, just wanted to let you know how much i enjoyed watching your process making this dress. I really appreciate all of your sewing knowledge and expertise. Great job!!❤
Thanks so much Marie. I appreciate you saying that. ❤️
I have never seen anyone do an FBA with this dress. Thanks. I downloaded her pattern too but haven’t had a chance to make it yet.
Wow, that looks great on you! Fantastic fabric choices and thank you so much for sharing how to do the pattern larger!
Thank you so much! ❤️
I started sewing my own clothes in high school. Made my sons clothes as babies. Took sewing and design. I go look at stores for what was being worn and made my clothes and my boys. Design many of our clothes. People used to ask me where I bought them. I say House if Sewing.
Im so grateful I found your channel. It randomly popped up on suggested and I decided to watch. I'm a larger lady, and it just really makes me happy to learn how to adjust these patterns to fit me and make them flattering on my body shape. All throughout my life I was told I could not, and now I'm learning so much from you. So thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤
Thank you so much, that means a lot to me because that is why I started making videos. You can do it. Everyone deserves clothes that fit and make them feel good. ❤️
That dress is so cute. Lots more work than what it initially seemed but you pulled it off👍❤️
Thank you! Yeah it was, but I kind of knew it would be be. I am just glad I did it.
I have watched so many of you guys do this challenge. And with that you all are different shapes and sizes. I just want to say this dress looks amazing on each and every one of you. It’s extremely complementary. Thank you for an amazing teaching video🥰
Thank you so much!
Very cool dress:) Skirt is beautiful!
If I got tired of the dress I would convert to just the skirt and wear a dark stretchy untucked close fitting top over it.
You have amazing skills!!
Yes I have had a bit of a debate about doing that. Maybe in a couple wears
You did great! I haven't done the adjustments for myself yet, got overwhelmed thinking about it. Might have another go at it now. Thanks! 💖
Thank you! Just break it down into steps and go one by one. You can do it!
This is so helpful! Thank you so much for making this video. I can never find patterns my size and you explained how to size everything so well! I'm excited to see more of your videos in the future!
I am glad it is helpful!
Those green shoes are LIFE!
What a beautiful dress! You look amazing in it! Love your shoes and your ring! 💍 Just subscribed!
Thank you so much!
I've watched a few people that have taken on this challenge of the Walkaway Dress. On every video I noticed a lot of complaints about fit. And while I think the pattern looks great in the drawn mock-ups, I think it has failed to delivery in every finished product I've seen. But kudoes for taking on the challenge and sharing your views on the finished product. I do like how you used two colors in your dress.
Amazing effort! Be proud that you took up the challenge. My know how is limited to add or subtract a seam allowance. I enjoyed watching the process. Thanks for the video. 👍
Thank you so much for watching!
Wonderful. I was just thinking about how to grade this up drastically. You did a fantastic job. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Well done Ashley quite a task, you did well 🧵🪡👍
Thank you!
I'm so relieved to see your time was much the same as mine! As I said in my video what this pattern lacks in seams it makes up for in binding. I was stitching on binding for hours! Wonderful video - you are so personable and engaging.
Thank you so much! Good to know someone took the same amount of time.
Haha I have had this pattern sitting in my stash for YEARS! I don't do much pattern sewing, and in the meantime I've gone up 3-4 sizes xD However your grading demo is making me more confident that I could do it, if I wanted to! I think yours turned out adorable. :)
You can do it! Thank you!
If I recall correctly, those old patterns always came out big. Sizing then was very different than sizing today. I THINK part of itmay be the pretend conversion to metrics. For example, a gallon of milk today issmaller than a gallon of milk from 1960. A liter does NOT equal a quart and a centimeter is smaller than a standard half inch. I remember making skirts that were supposed to be my size but they were always too big.
Just the other day I went through a sack full of patterns...I have a ton of old patterns! Your video encouraged me to consider making some of them. Thankyou!
I thought that would be the case, that it would be bigger than what they said, but I didnt seem to have that issue with this one. And I didnt even check it before I gave it a go because I thought it was going to need a ton of adjustments anyway. Kind of weird, but I am happier it was easier than I thought.
Ooo more vintage patterns, that exciting!
I've seen this pattern and have occasionally considered making it (but I'm lazy). Thank you for making and modeling it!
Your dress came out lovely! I kinda like the contrasting binding too! Your video was also great to watch and your voice is nice to listen to. Subscribed! 🙏🏽💗
Thank you so much!
I've never seen or heard of this dress pattern before. I think I liked it better when the buttons were off to the side a bit. You looked beautiful in it. The impression I got from it that it looked very snow white. This is my first time here and I skimmed through your other videos , can't wait to watch them. Have a great week 🙂
Thank you! You too!
I think it looks cute on you, but you did bias me in your favor with those cute shoes!
Your grading/pattern process was super cool to see.
Thanks so much!
I was trying to tie in all the binding and it was a good excuse to show off one of my favorites 💚