Sewing a Vintage 1940s pattern with Vintage Fabric and ONLY Supplies from my Stash

[@tammymasson2343]

I NEVER would have used that fabric, but I have almost no creative vision! I think this dress looks fabulous! I wouldn't change a thing! You look great in it, too!

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you so much!

[@neldahinojosa4890]

Even the buttons were a perfect match

[@Terinka14]

i LOVE the fourties... it is my favourite, the only objection i have is the shoulderpads, but clearly they can be avoided and the finished garment still looks quite fourties... you inspired me to try something from my vintage pattern magazine soon.

[@helenawestby]

Perfect choice if ever there was one! The 1940's - WWII - make do and mend! And it turned out beautifully!

[@rachelunderwood4868]

I know you said you don’t love it, but it hangs beautifully and looks awesome. Thanks for sharing your mishaps along the way too!

[@DixieDIY]

Aw, thanks, I think the style is growing on me...

[@jessieratledge4308]

The dress is lovely , so glad you fixed the skirt as it looked so bad. you are very clever to think up a way to overcome the problem.

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Making the skirt pieces into gores was brilliant.

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks! I'm glad that idea worked

[@Persphonefallen]

Thank you for making this. I got the pattern and got confused and your video saved me from abandoning said project.

[@lynnschofieldolf]

Love the fabric! I also made this exact same dress pattern. I quickly learned that I don’t like the bodice gathered into the waistline-too blousy. I ripped all that out and darted the bodice into the waist instead, both front and back. Huge improvement! Looks great with or without a belt. The five darts on the sleeve make it a bit more of a prominent shoulder than I prefer-the pattern calls for shoulder pads, which I def do not like and which I did not include- but I do love the front shoulder tucks and the four gore skirt (which I lengthened a bit, opposite of your preference. Beauty of sewing, we can modify as we like.). I’m attracted to the 1940s dress because of the fit and flare style (very flattering for my body shape) and less volume in the skirt than the 1950s due to war fabric rationing. (Cheaper to make; uses less fabric, still an A-line). Reducing the military-style/boxy shoulders and avoiding or modifying patterns with waist gathers make the 1940s dress one I really enjoy. I made a belt to wear with mine. Anyway, I think your version is cute as is. Maybe convert the waist gathers to darts and see what you think in a second make of the dress?

[@blufaerie]

I’m in love with the dress!❤

[@Tere08]

Thank you for sharing the videos. Beautiful dress!

[@hopenield8234]

Great hack with the skirt panels!

[@DixieDIY]

thanks! I'm glad it worked out

[@kjtherrick4031]

I really like your buttons! And, I enjoy learning from you as you sew, mistakes and all! Maybe, especially the mistakes because it helps us learn. Dress looks good for 1940s and 2020!

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you so much, that's really encouraging

[@joannecarroll5504]

The reason the arms don't look forties is because you changed the shape of the shoulder. The square-ish cut of forties dresses is all about the shoulder, its structure held by the shoulder pad (which was removed), which is integral to the style. The shape flows from the shoulder (which was reduced) into the armscye (also reduced) & then onto the longer sleeve that you mentioned. However, a shoulder pad isn't only 1 of those gigantic things from the eighties that look like they belong on American Football players, they can be as tiny, thin, slim or fine as your garment requires when you make your own; I've even seen them as narrow as a seam allowance before. It's just a matter of folding a couple of squares of fabric or batting in half diagonally to make triangle-shaped parcels. Placing the long edge of these along the shoulder seams gives enough definition to the cut without looking like shoulder pads & keeps the shoulder/upper back strong & in proportion to the lower back, thus needing no lower back alteration either. It would also show off those lovely details on the bodice to their best advantage & balance out those larger buttons you want. Best wishes.

[@DixieDIY]

You're right. I think next time I'll try making some small pads out of quilt batting scraps and see how it looks.

[@joannecarroll5504]

@@DixieDIY good luck with it. Btw, you did a great job otherwise & the way you balanced the skirt out was very smart :)

[@sewingnibblerbits5641]

The 40’s style definitely suits you. Love the results on this dress and the buttons.

[@allisonpinkall577]

I love this dress omg I’m obsessed

[@qormi1000]

Great video. Love the music too. Thank you.

[@ClusterFrock]

That dress turned out super cute!

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks!

[@Mystika_Legends]

I love this dress

[@roadrunnercrazy]

It turned out super cute! Brilliant fix for the wonky skirt pattern. I'm impressed. 👍

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you! 😊

[@rebekkawacherhausenwichman236]

Looks great 👍 awesome trouble shooting! 😊

[@creepydoll2872]

I honestly think that adding the shoulder pads in (though you didn’t want them) and wearing a bullet bra would make you like the look of it better. It was intended to have strong shoulders and be worn with a different type of undergarment which is I why I think vintage style dresses can look a bit off without. Its no different than having to wear the correct undergarments for earlier costumes for everything to sit right. I only say this because I had to discover for myself with 1940s-50s dresses meant to be worn with one, it makes the overall fit look much better! And its not too dramatic looking.

[@mak3960]

That makes so much and I hadn’t even thought of that

[@creepydoll2872]

@@mak3960 Me neither until I started wearing bullet bras with my vintage clothing! The fit looks so much better and I don’t wear structural garments

[@meowyimeow]

The 40s silhouette really suits you 🖤

[@seamsuneven7824]

You had me laughing 😅! "Oops nothing to see here". GOOD job on forging ahead and your skirt looks soooo much nicer w/o the center seam and the pattern changes you made. Just found your channel, and will be subscribing. WELL DONE!

[@swanteal2355]

Lovely dress and it looks beautiful on you 😻 UK 2022 ❇️

[@sarag1158]

Thank you! I wasn't sure what to do about the shoulder pads. I'm glad it's been addressed. I'm not going for one-hundred percent accurate here.

[@dogbiscuit1171]

I love this dress, so flattering. Great job! What a beautiful fabric too, even if you found it a pain to work with....

[@LauraIngallsGunn]

This is such a darling dress. You shared some truly great tips. Thank you SEW very much for the shout out. I have made a few 1940's dresses and it was a "Meh" experience for me as well. Maybe red buttons would be fun. :)

[@DixieDIY]

Red buttons would really jazz it up. It's a wonderful fabric, I'm glad I got to use it! Thanks!

[@Samanthasnow]

It’s super cute! But I’m very much a 40s girl. Great job!

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you!

[@goldenlining]

Same here! The dress looks amazing!

[@elizabethaucoin6290]

Wow, really impressed with the expertise you bring and your resourcefulness. Inspiring!

[@thevictorianneedle]

I think the dress looks great on you! You did a great job!

[@DixieDIY]

Thank you so much! :)

[@skirtedgalleons]

I love it. I wish you could see yourself through a stranger's eyes, cuz you look great. And the 8 gore skirt is cool!

[@iunojones683]

You made a lovely garment. It should be noted that you should cut out the pages so that the edges are the edges of the triangles. If you compare the patterns as in the back of the packet you can see that the dots and text line up like they would if you cut it out and had the triangles flush (to make a diamond shape). It perhaps would help with the length/needing to make everything smaller. Thanks for making a video, was nice to see along with.

[@ericathefae]

This turned out hella cute

[@Marialla.]

It's a beautiful dress! I love the gores you made. I'm sure they're better than the original dress would have been! The Closet Historian has some videos showing how coordinated accessory sets (belt, shoes, hat, purse, gloves) can really take an outfit in different directions. Your dress would really take well to that, I can tell. Black, red, or white would all look good against that fabric! I hope you'll show us if you try that.

[@dianaott2662]

Very cute! Great job! Thank you for sharing! 🙋‍♀️👍🏻🥼👔👗🧥👖👕👚👘🛍🎒

[@JenGretaCart]

It came out well, and I'm wondering if you'd like it more with a narrow belt. And next time, the minimal shoulder pads suggested by Joanne Carrol!

[@carakiller2103]

Put your hair up and add a headscarf and the look will really come together. Great dress - exactly as it is.

[@starlightaura0063]

Great job

[@rebeccaharden2196]

I love the style. Not big on the fabric.

[@lisascenic]

I hope you’ve come to like this dress, because it really looks lovely on you!

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

You said you aren’t feeling the forties, but that isn’t a forties dress once you get rid of the shoulders and do an eighties hem length. You wouldn’t make a Regency dress with a waistline at the waist cause you preferred it, forties deserve the same historical rigor and respect. Also, wartime rationing meant plenty of crazy pattern matches. Vintage is historical sewing.

[@lynetteshorten6043]

I LOVED this dress on you. maybe it needs some type of 'lift' such as a black belt or black rickrack braid to the collar. That's what I do as one allover print does nothing for me.

[@en1909s9iah]

but it looks great! and super wearable for a casual day with a 40s feel!

[@DixieDIY]

thanks!

[@944gemma]

Well. I think the dress is very pretty. New sub here.

[@DixieDIY]

Thanks for subbing!

[@kathrynegan4510]

It looks good but I think a black belt would suit.

[@DixieDIY]

Agreed

[@CamthalionSpirit]

Dixie my friend. You have saved my bacon. I originally watched you’re video quite a while back. And then last month I bought this pattern when I stumbled across it on Pinterest (completely forgetting you also did this dress). I’ve now been fiddling with the stupid collar and lapels for AGES. Literally 4 days and cannot figure it out. Turns out I’m just an idiot. This pattern leaves something to be desired instruction wise

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Narnia, here you come!

[@simonecarvallhoartes2614]

Gostei do tutorial👍🧵

[@johnnymurphy3611]

Is that a slip or a lining?

[@sharonrussell7933]

Cute as a button

[@BlackPearlTea]

i like it but the buttons are too fancy for it

[@dalia2396]

Nuuuuh I came here because I didn't know how to attach the collar 😂