60 minutes to make a VINTAGE dress with NO PATTERN? Let's test it!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- I do enjoy a good marketing gimmick, today's find is the "Sew Without a Pattern" book that claims each garment only takes ONE HOUR to make. So dive in with me to take on the #onehourdresschallenge and see if I can REALLY make one of these 1960's dresses in one hour or less!
VINTAGE CHAOS SEWING ENSUES!
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Stephanie Canada
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#vintagesewing #sewingchallenge
Would YOU take on this challenge?
Sound off below if I should make a sewing challenge for this, similar to The Walkaway Dress.
Probably lot
I would love to see other creators do this
yes, challenge please
do it!
I love that you took on the challenge! IME, anything that says 30 mins or 60 mins is one of those things written by people that either a. don't know what it takes or b. have been told that if you have a pattern drafter/cutter and an industrial sewing machine you can do. LOL. JMO. And sadly it's not just in sewing....knitting and crochet also suffer from this affliction.
One of the things I love most about your videos is how real they are. No curated tea cups and completely dust free sewing space with rainbow folded fabric stash. Your sewing room looks like a sewing room with random piles and stacks, bits of thread and fabric from projects past and present where they last fell. This is what sewing actually looks like.
Exactly. I haven’t seen the top of my cutting table since I got back from a quilt retreat. In February.
Yes it's approachable, attainable, and real. I can actually do that and my room or corner of a room let's be real can look like that.
This reminds me of every recipe on Pinterest. They say Prep Time: 5 minutes. Real Prep Time: 45 minutes. Love the necklace!
I was measuring my granddaughter the other day. With each number I told her it was the perfect number for her.
I love this! 🥰 - will use it next time I'm doing my own measurements, too 😄
Brilliant
Bobbin Chicken should be an Olympic sport ! 😹
It really should!!
Also extreme cussing when you lose.
@@suek7086 Extra points if an interpretive dance is "spontaneously" included...
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
I won it yesterday!! And lost thread chicken today. Oh well,😂
I won today!
Memories of the 70’s. The dresses made from a piece of fabric or a bed sheet. It was pretty much a sheet folded in half and a hole made for the head and a belt tied around the waist. Imagine mrs roper from 3’s company.
That's exactly how I made my first shirt....made a pattern from newspaper by cutting around a shirt I already had. Then transferred it to an old brushed cotton sheet ..😂
To be fair, she did have to deal with my constant distractions. But she got excellent tacos because of them, so…. Push?!? 😂❤❤
Hello Mr Canada! I was wondering who was doing some of that artistic camera work! 😄😄👌👍
@@josephinehogg3629Sadly, the camera work is not mine. I had to work that morning. 😢
Distractions are always worth it when tacos are involved. 🤣
I love Rectangular Construction! I'm involved in the SCA and make all of my Norse outfits this way based on body measurements. Yes, there's math involved, but I've written a handout and have a video here on YT on how to take your measurements and do the math to figure out your pattern pieces. I can make a dress or tunic from measurements to finished garment in 3-4 hours.
For your sleeves: measure from the top of your shoulder around under your arm and back up to the top of your shoulder with at least 2-3 finger widths of room to determine the width of your sleeve. I usually measure from the top of my shoulder under my arm to the top of my bra band and back up. My sleeves end up being about 24" by the time I add 1" for seam allowance (I use 0.5" seams). I then decide how long I want my sleeve and then I usually taper it because I like a closer fitting cuff.
I made a Norse hood and put a mid-century-modern twist on it. Simple, yet elegant construction and it always brings in compliments. I wear it so much it's actually getting threadbare in a couple of spots and is due for mending soon. Rectangular, patternless medieval garments, but with a modern twist, are definitely something I want to explore in the future.
I have never felt more seen than when you were like “I shall write this down” when it came to the measurements. I would think that I would have learned by now to write the measurements needed but it never fails and I try to remember them in my head. Four measurements in and I am muttering curse words and searching for a pen and paper 😂
been sewing for 45 years. wedding, costumes, etc. make your own pattern of anything. take something you have and love how it fits. lay it out. trace it. give a seam allowance. viola! (pleats and gathers need extra. just measure the width of the pleat and add it to the pattern piece. gathers are however loose you want.) most of all, have fun. :)
Have done that so often.
I was babysitting my grandchildren for 3 weeks in the fall. When I pulled out my grandsons winter pants, every pair was 5 inches too short, but still perfect around.
A long drive to town, but a sewing machine and a lot of fabric, thread and elastic available.
It had been given to my daughter, who hates sewing, and I was told before she left that I could use what ever I wanted for anything.
Made him 5 pairs of winter pull on pants from his old favorite pants. He loved them. He hated zippers as he was just 6 years old then.
But have also done the same with my clothing.
Love your content and this one doesn't disappoint. Have noticed that when you sew, you hunch over your machine and look uncomfortable. Try propping the back of the machine up around a couple of inches with something stable so you are looking directly at the needle plate. I started doing this years ago and now have a permanent holder and can sew for hours without problems with my neck or back. Experiment with the height until it is just right for you. Large erasers or old phone books work well as they absorb bounce.
So do old Slantomatic machines. They were designed so you could see the sewing space better.
I love this 🥰
Great advice!
I'm impressed! I have never made a garment without a pattern. I like the dress. Every DECADE or so, I set up my machine and sew. I appreciate all of your videos and I have watched a bunch (NO, I'm NOT a stalker). I have been a sewist since I was 12. I have found sewing to be freedom to be able to make and wear whatever I want! Shopping for "store bought" has always been a hassle--WRONG size, WRONG fabric and too expensive. OR having it fall apart after the FIRST wash! So, thank you for INSPIRING me--I have already made four trips to JoAnn's!
Those pieces came out so cute!!! I never trust anything that says "sew in [amount of time]!" I was surprised the blouse made it though. I love those fabric choices!
Actually very cute, minus the pockets. I’d wear it. The pink shirt looks perfect for a nightgown. I love that you took on this challenge. Now that you made the outer garment, you could easily tweak it to perfection if you wanted to make it again.
yeah, this was giving mamaw nightgown more than dress. cute on Stephanie though.
Useful info I've used from Peggy Sagers - darts are a girl's best friend, put in the right place they take pounds off. She also sews every fabric with a straight stitch of 3 or 3.5 and I've found that works great. Interesting video and can see why people embraced ready made patterns.
Great tip about the stitch size, haven’t seen that one before!
I can’t follow a pattern to save my life and only have basic sewing skills. However, I have been loving your channel so much. You fearlessly take on these pattern challenges, making size adjustments, using whatever fabric you have in hand. It is so fun to watch.
Another fun challenge…and you basically made a perfect shift for medieval cosplay with that pink dress! I rarely laugh out loud at anything I see on TH-cam, so thank you for making me laugh not once, but three times during this video 😂😂😂
I would put a non-stretchy strip inside those straps so it looks the same but can’t head south. I also like to make my peasant top gathering cord have ribbon or cord at each end with a short length of elastic between - all elastic makes a neckhole that suddenly expands to expose way too much, all ribbon feels nasty, but having about 10cm of elastic in there gives you movement without getting cut. Hope you can make both of these into love-to-wear items with a bit of tweaking!
I do this with all my drawstring and similar! For drawstrings at the waist I buy a package of drawstrings from Amazon, the kind that are made for hoodies, and then I cut the drawstring in the middle and insert elastic so the elastic will be in the middle of the casing (I also stitch it at center back or on one of the side seams to keep the dang thing from wiggling its way out in the laundry). If I need to make the drawstring shorter, I just cut that out of the bit that I cut from the middle so I can preserve the eyelet thingies on the ends. It gives a bit of extra comfort, stability like you mention so the elastic doesn’t get out of control for necklines, and it works great!
This is extremely inane, but I absolutely LOVE that blue kitty measuring tape!
Bobbin chicken. I love it! I was playing spool of thread chicken while I was watching this, so that phrase really hit my funny bone!
I had a book in the 1970's all about making clothes from squares and rectangles. Reminds me of that.
I just found your channel, and it's so nice to see a sewing room that actually looks like you work in it. I work from home as a full-time sewist and my living room constantly looks like a fabric factory exploded in it 😂🎉❤
One hour patterns are lying liars who lie, but you made it very entertaining!
I burst out laughing at " lying liars who lie".
This is so WILD
Stephanie, we're BASICALLY THE SAME size, that is so awesome
What I found interesting is that of the three styles seen in the video (the pink dress, the floral/white dress, and the caftan on the book cover), they're all centuries-old styles. From the peek you gave us of the table of contents, it looks like the rest of the book's looks are also similarly century-bounding.
The pink dress looks like a chemise and would make a great nightgown in cotton or linen, and the floral/white dress is pretty close (IIRC) to a Viking apron dress.
Having said that, it was wonderful to see them made up in fabric contemporary with the book publication. I always wonder a bit that so many medieval/traditional styles enjoyed a resurgence at the same time polyester was taking over everything.
I think the historical trend (in the U.S.) was strongly indluenced by the bicentennial.
@@Eloraurora A trend in medieval and earlier clothing was influenced by the bicentennial of something that happened in the 18th century?
@@gadgetgirl02 As a gateway to historical aestheticism, not the sole influence. Not trying to overstate its importance, just pointing out an additional element in the mix.
I think it was partly from the hippies deciding to make their own clothes, and the easiest ones were the old rectangular cut styles.
I have made one garment with pure math, that was a japanese Hakama.... because that's how they make them and there aren't any patterns. I understand why, but goodness it was a chore.
Billie Matsunaga on her channel was heavenly to do the translation of the formula and pattern sample pictures into english so all of us outside of japan could get the correct math to start you off.
It took me 5+ hours to get my measurements, to then figure out my kimono measurements (which is a step), to then be able to have the measurements for the Hakama (because they base it off of your kimono measurements).... then do the conversions to inches from mm. THEN I could figure out how much yardage to buy of fabric and make it. Took another 3 hours to make. It broke my brain and it took 2 attempts to start it since math make my brain hurt, but it was worth it! I swear these math only patterns always take longer than they advertise. I feel your frustration and pain on this one.
That was beautiful. The next dress will be much, much faster. That pink looks like it would make a great nightgown.
Can I just say, that I love it when the door dress comes out? That fabric is fantastic. Also, I would totally wear this project.
Most relatable sewing video ever 😆🤣😆🤣😆
I LOVE watching you sew! You're so fun and funny! thanks for sharing!
Love your channel and your "every woman" approach. I'm currently not happy with my weight, but I still love ME❤. Here's some more rambling, semi-related thoughtsI: I think what's important for us all...and for guys too: health and a healthy self-esteem is what matters over size/weight. What do our health stats say? what did your last blood work tell you? Sugar and cholesterol? Fine? Too high? Joint health? creaky joints? Arthritis pain? (Trust me as you age, joint health gets more & more critical) For women, we need to have our bone density checked as we age per our drs recs. And stay on top of our female health. I'm 67 now, but in my 40s, my periods got so heavy, were so awful, so I finally gave in and had a uterine ablation or scraping of the lining of my uterus. The best decision for me. And recovery was a snap! This would also mean infertility, but I was past that anyway. I had the option of a hysterectomy, but why? I didn't need it and I wanted to keep my ovaries, thank you very much. Don't give up your egg baskets if you don't have to...even as our ovaries age toward menopause, they're still an integral part of our female health. (But if you had to or decided to for healths' sake, that's ok too.) And with too many drs recommending a hysterectomy to take care of all those female probs ...I heard it said...what if men were regularly told they should have their balls removed for say "prevention of testicular cancer?" Yeah...not gonna happen. Sorry for the off-topic ramble! I hope everyone has a Happy Easter and/or a Happy Spring! 💗
🐰🐇🌹🪻🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼
Am soon-to-be 66. Amen on the joints!! Also, I've had hysterectomy, but kept my ovaries. It can be done. Be wary of breast health/cancer also.
I make something very similar to the pink dress for quick chemises and shirts to wear at pirate/Ren faire/SCA kinds of things. Once you get the hang of it, they go very quickly. I think that a lot of "one hour" type sewing projects take longer the first time, then come together much more quickly in subsequent attempts.
My favorite part was feeding the dog. You make me wish I had a dog. 🐶
Love your nails in the beginning of this (showing us your fabric choice)! The bats are so cute
Thank you! They are from when Holo Taco and Safiya Nygaard collaborated
@@StephanieCanada beautiful colours 💗 love Holo Taco and Safiya
I thought I detected Spirit Fingers. Love Cristine and Safiya!
4:57 Thank you for including this section. It's not something I thought I needed to hear, but ever since I got up to a healthy-for-me weight my body has decided to be extra chaotic and bloaty. My measurements fluctuate wildly over the course of a day. Frustrating, but not my fault, and I'm doing my best.
Here is my old timer tip. I sew little loops with snaps on my sleeveless dresses to prevent bra straps from showing.
Worst thing about sewing is math. Also why do they teach us mostly useless math in school? Teach us sewing math and taxes math!
They do. Sewing math is called fractions.
@@laurielahr9401I don’t use fractions in sewing….but I use fractions in mechanics. :3
Disagree; the BEST thing about sewing is the maths! ❤
I use metric. Much easier. Just basic arithmetic required. No calculus.
Yes, using metric is easier. No fractions. All whole numbers, millimeters and centimeter
You are such an uplifter and a beautiful soul. I love your optimism and humor! God bless you!
I love your sewing humor! Turned out super cute!
The jumper dress is so cute! I'd make it with maxi-length skirts and side seam pockets, and wear it everywhere. I love jumper dresses. So cute for layering and wear as breezy sundresses! 😊
Oh I had that booklet when it came out. I was a kid. It wasn’t enough for me. lol! I didn’t know I could go to a fabric store and find sewing lessons or I would have done that. My first base was north of New Orleans and my second was in Italy. Oh, the missed fabric opportunities.
I just laughed at your short circuit I do that all the time infront of my grown adult son.❤ I love it.
Right! It was full on “where did those sleeves go”…. Then OH RIGHT!!!
1) OMG your dog is so cute! 2) I have watched many of your videos and enjoy your personality and fun comments - I've been sewing since I was 8 years old and, well, that's a lot longer ago than I care to admit! 3) quick tip - use quilters tools for those straight seams - a long ruler and a rotary blade will work wonders. You will never to back to Scissors!
Hmm. Found it interesting how you did your gathers. I've always pinned the center and then pulled the gathers from either side. But I'm a bit of a fuss bucket.
From 1965 to 1973. The first dress I made in high school as a jumper in black and white hounds tooth check. Then with front pleat in multiple colors as maternity dress and top.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this when it first started but you grew on me. And we turn tubes the same way. I really enjoyed watching your video.
I swear I made that top from a bad McCall or simplicity costume wench dress from the late 90's early 00's 😂
Just need to jump in here and mention how gorgeous you are looking in this vid, Stephanie! I know you were probably melting as per while filming, but it's got to be said ❤ 🤩
I have like 4 variations of these books. I love how you test all things sewing for me.
Love seeing this challenge!! I am a child of the 70's. I picked up a couple vintage reproduction, patterns. While browsing online, collecting ideas, some memories of my grandmother sewing for me, with vintage patterns. She used newspaper to adapt the pattern to my size. The pink underdress, you made could definitely work as a layering piece, in a breathable fabric. The second dress turned out very cute. The pockets, with that fabric, seemed "off" and hung open. In all, great experiment!!
This is how I learned to sew! Very similar to the gathered dress. No patterns, just measurements. You’re so much fun Stephanie, I loved this video ❤
Another entertaining video. I have not even begun to make an outfit or even one single piece of clothing but watching this video really will encourage me to give it ago...just for the fun of it.
You validate my sewing abilities and philosophies and I sew appreciate that.
I am loving your necklace! And I love your channel too!
Thank you! I thrifted it for $2 quite some time ago.
I have ADD and playing bobbin roulette is my usual routine. Thankyou for making such down to earth content. Some of us unpick often due to sewing the wrong sides together or upside down. Patterned fabric is extra trixy for me because I have mismatched it...often! You make me feel better about myself and see that I'm not the only one out there. Xx
I like the jumper a lot more than I thought I would! I would wear it!
I’m enjoying this way too much!! Hahaha. You are so amazing!
I’ve had this little book since I was 12 or 13 and I’m 66ish now. There was a simple pattern in it but it said you had to be Willow slim to wear it. I was never a Willow. That really made me feel disappointed. The peasant dress worked really well though! 🙂
"Maybe we just do what it says." 😂
Love the dress you are wearing and your necklace goes perfectly
Lol😂, you had me in stitches the whole video. Like the top dress and the strip of lace in center (genius). Pink one draw string style is good and I like the idea. Makes me think of peasant dress or blouse. Maybe taking it in more on sides and adding inside pockets. The sleeves were cute too but I wonder what flutter or fly away sleeves would look like instead. Oh boy, you got ideas flying through my mind. Stop me please!!! Thanks for sharing the makes and I enjoyed the vid.
This is right up my alley, no pattern is my favorite pattern
It turned out very cute!
It’s a very cute pinafore. I have never found anything that says takes x amount of time ever takes that amount of time with the exception of cooking times but even then experiences often vary 😂 Also I love the colourful necklace you are wearing at the beginning part if the video.
It really did turn out cute! I remember wearing something like that pattern in the 70’s in high school. Everybody did. Maybe if you did it again, with your knowledge of what you want may just work out better the second time around.
Ya know.. if that trim does not stretch, you could center a piece down the middle of the straps so they don't grow while you wear it.
Oh that is a GREAT idea!!
You know its always the most simple thoughts as a way to fix things!!!
The ones that I never seem to think of on my own... Lol lol
Thanks, that was a very amusing episode, Stephanie. I once sewed a gathered dress like that when I was in my early twenties and had a c-cup and was slim; even so, I felt and looked like I was wearing a maternity dress so that dress didn’t last long in my wardrobe. 0:15
@@StephanieCanada I hope it works..if not, seam binding on the back might do the same thing.
Hello from Edinburgh. I’m new to the channel. I’ve been binge watching all your videos over the last couple of days. I absolutely love the white and floral dress. Super cute.
I love that feeding the dog is part of this video. You never fail to surprise
Folks wanted more Candy, so more Candy it is!
Oooh! I love this challenge😊Also...I have that same tape measure!! She lives in my purse, cuz ya never know when you need to measure something.
At first, I thought it would be like the 1920s Mary Brooks Pickens "1 Hr Dress". I bet the sheath dress is more like it. I have made several of those and really like them.
I like patterns that give you drafting instructions so this sounds like my cup of tea.
I'm not sure how I got here, but I am SO happy to be here! @StephanieCanada, you are beyond delightful! I love your presentation, your humor, and your delivery rhythm. Again, you are truly a gem. Subscribed with a smile!
I love that you love your measurements. I lost a lot of weight recently and I'm not fond of my new measurements. I feel like I've lost all of the fluff that made me.😂😂
Just found your channel, and I love your video and style! Your carefree mood and confidence has honestly made my day better. Thanks for the video!!
Loved this video! You are a pleasure to watch! I’ve made several vintage garments from old patterns and I know how difficult they are (especially the ones from the 1920’s - 30’s that are unmarked!). My opinion is that back in the “vintage” days they must have known a whole lot more about sewing than I do LOL! Keep up the good work! ❤
You crack me up Stephanie. Jumper not too bad, the pink would make a good nightdress, lol x x x
At the 17 minute mark we all heard you say you weren't working with a full bobbin. LOL
Finally had time to enjoy this. The results are really cute when put together, though I totally understand why you aren't terribly happy with the pink underlayer.
If you want to try more draft your own but simple, try looking up some SCA basics, like a chemise, or a viking apron dress for a pinafore. I think you'd enjoy the challenge.
And oo challenge please.
Pusheen! We have the same Pusheen dress :D It's so comfy.
I really enjoyed watching you. Thank you. Very entertaining.
I am, surprisingly, not unhappy with the sundress/jumper. Polyester is a pain. It wears out your shears and your needle on your machine and can gunk up near your machine. Be sure and change your needle before doing something else.
It’s adorable! I like the details u added. Nice job. & I like it with the cream skirt…not sure that patterned fabric would’ve looked good as a whole dress.
I am watching your channel for the first time! I love your style..
I was going to ask if one strap went to the front of the frint and the other back of the front..... BUT I think what I was seeing is a purple part of the pattern that looks like a button or just where the strap was attached??!!... Thus my eye regestering it as one strap in front and the other behind !!!
Dang eyes and mind always tryin to make us believe everything we see!!??!!.. lol
Great work...thanx for sharing !!
So stinking adorable!!!!! It looks so comfy!!! I love your reveals! 😂
I bet that little jumper done in linen would be fantastic in the summer. With a nice little cotton jersey under. 😍
Aaaaaaaaagh I love when you do a challenge! Also you look so pretty with your hair up and the dress you sewing in! I love you xx
Aww thank you!
I love jumpers! I made one as one of my first non-skirt projects and I love it so much for hanging out
The two pieces looked good together. To bad that they were polyester. I think that type of night shirt with a jumper have been popular for centuries if not millenia. On the cover they decided to go with a sash rather than worrying with darts.
That turned out really cute!! 💖💖💖
Im making basic block patterns for my mom and sis and, lets just say, I'm very, veeery happy my phone has a calculator....
Cutting. I watched someone recently that said that manmade fabrics are hard on sissors and that for your good sissors only use natural fabrics, ie. cotton, wool, linen. I didn't know either. I knew about the thread, thread needs to be the same material as the fabric, but I don't always follow that either.
I thought this was so much fun ! Thank you x
You are hilarious! It's nice to know that you show your mistakes. Most other youtubers show the finished product and edit out the mistakes. Nice to know that other sewists are not perfect🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Watching you just makes me so happy ❤.
This is actually cute! Loved the presentation 😄👍
OH My Goodness Stephanie, you have a Bernina Machine like me! No wonder you love sewing, and no surprise your dresses turn out perfect. 🙂
I just stumbled across you this morning for the first time. You sew like I do!!! I love it. ❤❤
I like what you said when measuring yourself, they are just numbers!
I also love your dress and necklace that you are wearing in the video!👗
Love your humour and asides!
But I also learned something. Take a look at what you are doing when you measure from your shoulder to full bust - it was short by about 2 inches. I’ve done that, too, and wondered why it’s short. Gotta look in the mirror, I guess, so you can see where the fullest point of the bust is - looking down at the tape either bends your body or there’s some foreshortening- but I wouldn’t have believed how much if I hadn’t seen you do it!!!
I like the overall skirt as well. You are very brave using creamy white for a skirt section, as I fear I would certainly sit down on something and stain it straight away. The printed fabric is lovely.
Loved this, how fun! I’m a very slow sewer, I would 100% fail this challenge 😂 everything takes me ages.
Stumbled across your video. They’re really cute outfits and I enjoyed your entertaining presentation Makes me want to buy a sewing machine. Thanks for the work