Sewing 2 Vintage Style Day Dresses Using A 1950s Sewing Pattern

In my sewing room for this weeks sewing video I sew two dresses! I sew these vintage style dresses using an authentic vintage sewing pattern from the 1950s. The sewing pattern is Advance 8435 from 1950 and it states that it is easy to sew. I found it to be even though I made a few mistakes I was able to correct them.
I love these dresses they are very practical and great additions to my vintage style wardrobe. I hope this video inspires you to sew something for yourself or just intrigues you about vintage fashion and vintage clothing and sewing.

*If you would like to support this channel

*Me organizing all of my authentic vintage sewing patterns

[SewSewDrew]

Thank you for watching I would love for you to share the "Title" of your personal style as I have named mine "Vintage With A Modern Twist" Or any bits about your sewing journey or style evolution in general. At the least say hello, introduce yourself and lets normalize sewing being not such a solo hobby 😂
❤Drew

[tayouta]

First, you have a voice that one can listen to all day.
Second, your style is beautiful and classy. You should be proud of yourself for being a mom with kids who can still acheive a great look hand made from scratch.
I enjoyed how you shared your mistakes and did not shy away from them and made me laugh when you mentioned the belly drop. 😂
I come from a family of fashion designers (my uncle my mother and my cousin are designers and tailors). Even my father was a fashion house manager.) Crocheting was my only personal preference. I have always dreaded using a sewing machine thinking it would nip my finger, but ended up purchasing one only last year since my carpal tunnel injury did not allow me to crochet for hours any longer. I started quilting and made 3 quilts last year. A little sceptical about making my own dresses though. I have already purchased a vintage pattern but I can't seem to figure out how to start. This is what brought me here and I really enjoyed watching your video you speak gently and slowly which is less overwhelming for beginners. Keep at it dear and God bless you and your family❤❤

[evelynferrer]

Hi, I’m sewing for so many years. More than 30 years. Cotton is the best fabric to sew. However, when you begin using other fabric like satin, rayon are also good to sew too. The best is to try other fabric so you get the experience. Don’t be afraid to try other fabrics

[dorothyyoung]

I’m 67. I started sewing around age 6: a nearby neighbor had a treadle machine and I asked her to teach me to sew. I recall reaching my little foot down to the treadle to make it “go”.

These days I mostly make quilts so cotton broadcloth is my go-to fabric. I’ve always liked natural fabrics because they are easy to manipulate and press. A favorite in my garment-sewing days was wool plaid because matching plaids is fun!

[elizabethmarie]

The thumnail on this video totally drew me in and I'm so excited to be here 😂 I haven't even watched yet and I'm already inspired

[toniurban]

This video made me a subscriber! I’m 100% here for the neutral, practical vintage dresses for everyday wear. There aren’t enough videos like this!!!

[edenmichelle]

You are so bubbly and beautiful. I had to pause because you reminded me of my sister 😭♥️

[deloresgutierrez]

Drew, you are sewing for you so definitely do the materials and colors you love! Both your dresses came out great. I have always struggled to sew for myself and can say that you are doing very well!
I am just enjoying watching you and listening. You've actually inspired me to look for what I like and not worry about what other people think. Love your style!

[daxxydog]

I always trace my vintage patterns so I don’t feel bad if I screw it up doing alterations, etc. Medical exam paper is cheap and works great. I mark the crap out of my pieces, like center front seam, wrong and right sides. Sleeves are a bear to keep the placement correct once you get them separate from the pattern pieces! Marcy Harriell has a great video on invisible zips. I don’t do any other style of zippers now. I’ve done so many stupid things, but I learn those lessons well! As Yoda said, Failure, the greatest teacher is…😂

[Cantseemuch]

Hi, These dresses are beautiful.
I sew since i can think (it was my Moms hobby and I literally played underneath her sewing table) but I got good at it around 16/17 when I started learning how to draft patterns. After high school I trained as a dressmaker but am not working as one now. My favorite fabrics are wools (because you can manipulate them with steam and the worst are synthetic satins and organzas as they slip away and burn easily when ironed.
A tip for zippers would be to machine sew the place where it goes with a very long stitch and then sew the zipper behind it. Then you can open the first seam up and done. (I hope this makes sense) or for invisible zippers: use a special foot and try a few times, I still struggle with them if I haven’t done one in a while. For hems on non shrinkable fabrics: do a facing with bias tape, also looks great with a contrasting color. Because the hem should be as narrow as possible, because the fabric can’t be manipulated. I haven’t found a way to make them not wavy with a wide hem.

[tazbop]

Hello Drew these dresses are beautiful and as long as you like the fabric is not boring to you that is all that matters. You put in all that time and work, you want to make something beautiful for you to wear in your day to day life. You shouldn’t feel you need to use fabrics with prints and colors you don’t like to attract people to your channel, your talent is doing that. Peace and blessings

[UNITS]

My personal style is 1970’s (or late 60’s) pieces paired with modern pieces. I love sewing because I can get a unique garment I want to wear . I have been sewing for 20+ years but I’m just an intermediate because there were long periods of time I didn’t sew. Maybe a project went bad and took so long that I gave up. I recently started back, being inspired by people who sew and show their journey online. I love seeing that I’m not the only one who messes up and it gives me the patience to just unpick something and starting over.

[carolinemiller]

Hello. I’ve been sewing since the early 90s with a Husqvarna Designer 1 as my sewing gift to myself! I love your dresses and how you styled them with your beautiful shoes and handbags. I’m a stiletto girl myself. A tip for your delicate patterns is to use iron on interfacing to reinforce them. Use parchment paper to protect your iron as the holes in the pattern will allow the interfacing adhesive to stick to the sole plate. I do this with patterns I know I will use often. I hope this helps. ❤

[jeanwilliams]

Your Dresses Were Beautiful. You Did A Good Job. They Were Beautiful On A Beautiful Young Woman. Love Watching Your Videos.

[HeyJenkies]

These dresses are great! My wardrobe is severely lacking in practicality haha. I personally love printed fabric so I always have to make it a conscious choice to buy solid colors - it helps if it has an interesting weave or texture. I sew with a lot of cotton but I’ve purchased a ton of rayons I need to get better at working with so I can make all of my beautiful 1940s dress patterns. 😊

My mother is a seamstress so I’ve known how to sew pretty much my whole life, but I never bothered to learn how to read a pattern until about 7 years ago when I took sewing as an elective class in University. Though I didn’t start getting serious about it until right about 2020 when I had access to my mother-in-law’s machine and needed a hobby haha! Sewing is a great hobby but also an amazing life skill to have.

[ozzyanddad]

For me. Been sewing about 8 months. I sew vintage only 40s-50s. Sew what you like for yourself. Yours come out great and I watch all your vids.

[MrTgleason]

I’m sad that you feel lonely!! I don’t comment really, but you saying that makes me want to. I loooove your work, and I love listening to you.
I’ve been sewing since I was 9, so 27 years. I still don’t feel like I’m great at sewing, but that’s ok cause there’s always more to learn! I got taught a trick for darts recently, game changer.
I love working with linen, even tho it’s difficult sometimes. I love cotton, silk is pretty fun. I just did a project with poly-velvet and that, HANDS DOWN, was one of the worst fabrics ever to work with.

[sarahw.mcelyea]

I like the idea of making something neutral that you can get a lot of wear out of. Nice!

[johnettehaines]

Both dresses look lovely on you. Either dress would have been nice in either of the fabrics. I am 75 yrs old. I have been sewing since l was 5 years old when my Grandma first taught me to sew by hand. I first used a sewing machine in 7th grade home economics class and our project was a very simple Tonga made from a white bed sheet. My mother never let me use her machine at home until l got into high school. I had 2 yrs of home economics in junior high and 4 years in high school. In my senior year l used my first vogue pattern to make my prom dress and the evening coat that went with it. I did this in my senior home economics class. It was the first time l had ever made anything out of brocade. I not only had my teacher helping me with it but she also called the other home economics teacher in to help. I got an A++ on both the gown and the coat. It was also the first time l had ever made bond buttonholes. I still have the gown and coat put away in my cedar chest. I prefer to work with cottons now and l don't like working with the real bulky fabrics. My eldest daughter asked me to take one of my Grand-daughter's formals to make a dress out of it for her new baby girl. I discovered working with the sheer rayon l did not like working with it. But l did get the dress made for my Great Grand-daughter. I don't make much in clothing for myself due to how the patterns are made today. I make doll clothes for my Grand-daughter's and Great Grand-daughter's now or things for the home. The most challenging thing l made was my eldest daughter's wedding dress. I had to camouflage a 5 month pregnancy. However since my weight is coming down and l am not as stress out anymore. I have decided to start making things for me again. I like the vintage looks because that is what l grew up with. My mother made all my clothes and my brothers shirts. I did the same for my 5 children when l was raising them. However l learned sometime ago to never ever cut my original patterns. What l do no matter what it l trace out the pieces l need. This way the original pattern stays intact. Yes it is time consuming but will worth it in the end. Then l put the traced out pieces in an acid free bag along with the pattern. I never pay full price for a pattern l wait until they go on sale at Joanne's for $1.99. I just got 4 Simplicity patterns at Joanne's yesterday for 8$ 2 dress (1-1940 & 1 called The Baby Doll dress), 1 vintage apron and petticoat. Of course mine are only reproductions. Being on Social Security limits me on the true vintage patterns. I am starting with the apron pattern first. But before committing myself to fabric. I went to Good Will this morning and bought a king size sheet with a nice print to make the apron and this way any changes l can make knowing l only invest 5$. I have to say l like the fact a lot of young women are beginning to float back to how we dressed in the past. I get so tried of seeing even woman my age dressing in ripped or torn clothes. Or so tight they look like they had to be poured into it. Keep up the good look you have chosen for yourself. What you do and wear will reflex on your children one day.

[karenpessoa]

I can't sew but admire your skills.
Both dresses look beautiful on you. The leaf dress is very slimming on you definitely. Thanks so much for sharing.