Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: The Walkaway Dress: Yea or Nay?

I say yay, but I think I'm in the minority her...

2011-01-28T18:55:26.307-05:00

I say yay, but I think I'm in the minority here. I hope you don't mind I just liked here in my <a href="http://patchworkunderground.com/blog/2011/01/the-walk-away-dress-butterick-6015> last post </a>.

Hi there! Just stumbled onto your blog. I know thi...

2011-01-26T22:43:49.618-05:00

Hi there! Just stumbled onto your blog. I know this pattern has issues but am surprised at all the nays! I made it but have since found many other versions and would like to try again changing the neckline. I've since made a blouse as well. You can see my dress here, along with the blouse in the links there~
http://www.thescarlettrosegarden.com/2009/04/were-off-to-see-wizard.html

I'm stalking your archives and 2 things: 1.) Y...

2010-08-08T17:03:55.433-04:00

I'm stalking your archives and 2 things: 1.) Your blog is the best thing ever and 2.) I made the Walkaway last winter in grey wool with black bias binding. I love it! I wasn't sure how the heaviness of the wool would work but it has worked very well. The heaviness just seems to make it more drapey and swingy, which is nice. I did have to shorten it like 9 inches or something crazy like that because I hate tea length too and I'm 5'3".

Sorry you hate the walk away dress... I was turned...

2010-07-23T05:00:57.254-04:00

Sorry you hate the walk away dress... I was turned off at first but for .99 cents I couldn't resist it is now my favorite dress..and yes it fits a little funny, but I've gotten so many compliments from men and women alike. I am a size 12 and it looks awesome on me...but to each its own... However I am also on the look out for the saturday morning dress at a lower price. Here is a link I found on etsy if you are still interested. I also so a scan of the walk away dress for a little girl and I'd like to make on for my daughter. Great Blog... new follower... can't wait to read more

Etsy link

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51650616/1950s-butterick-walk-away-dress-pattern

I disagree that the walkaway dress doesn't wor...

2010-04-28T08:31:44.932-04:00

I disagree that the walkaway dress doesn't work for a curvy girl! I am VERY voluptuous and love my walkaway dress! It conceals a big butt, accentuates a bigger waistline and is easy to sew. Keep in mind, this is a dress from 1952. When it was designed, it was intended to be worn with the proper foundation garments: a girdle, a supportive bra and a crinoline. Without the proper foundation garments, it obviously won't look right!

I carefully altered the walkaway for a full bust a...

2010-01-09T04:08:12.470-05:00

I carefully altered the walkaway for a full bust and narrow back. I basically built a belt into the waist area and it closes with a cummerbund buckle. Hate the dress. I wear it plenty as a housedress, it is cool and comfortable and twirly, but it doesn't sit right under my arms. Also the front "sheath" panel always looks shorter than the rest of the dress. I might make another one or two for housedresses, but I'd never wear it anywhere further away than my backyard. I really really wanted this to be a holy grail of a dress, but it wasn't meant to be.

I have the B6836 that wraps to the front and the r...

2009-12-28T15:31:49.796-05:00

I have the B6836 that wraps to the front and the repro Walkaway. Also a few other mail order versions. I think 6836 has the most potential for wearability.

In the autobiography "Our Hearts Were Young a...

2009-12-17T17:54:54.504-05:00

In the autobiography "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" about a trip to Europe in the 1920s, Cornelia Otis skinner writes about a dress that could possibly be an ancestress. The Google books clip is here: http://books.google.com/books?id=MUUp2Eu1CQQC&lpg=PP1&ots=m0FJgm67Es&dq=our%20hearts%20were%20young%20and%20gay%20dress&pg=PA205#v=onepage&q=dress&f=false

I found a very cool ebay listing for a walkaway va...

2009-11-25T13:17:33.419-05:00

I found a very cool ebay listing for a walkaway variant:
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOVELY-VTG-1950s-WRAP-FRONT-DRESS-Sewing-Pattern-14-32_W0QQitemZ360210773009QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item53de3c3411#ht_2847wt_948

Thought it would be an interesting thing to see. I definitely think it's a cooler pattern.

I also made the walkaway, it looked so pretty on t...

2009-11-24T20:34:08.166-05:00

I also made the walkaway, it looked so pretty on the packet. My dress was just horrible, so u.g.l.y!!! There was just no way to fix it and make it any better. But i might try making the Saturday morning dress, it looks a bit less like a hospital gown. Great discussion!!

I love the look of the pattern but in concept only...

2009-10-20T16:14:02.256-04:00

I love the look of the pattern but in concept only. I think it might look good on a young girl who wasn't too full in the bust. Or it might need to be made with a tight fitted corset to keep the lines crisp. Otherwise I am afraid it would look off balanced. The second pattern has a much more tailored yet anyone could wear it look.

FYI I made the walkaway dress and had the same pro...

2009-09-23T16:49:43.905-04:00

FYI
I made the walkaway dress and had the same problem. It just doesn't fit well and I thought that the bias tape around the edges would be far easier than any other kind of finishing but my G-d.
The waist line is too low, the shoulders too wide as is the skirt. I've a sneaking suspicion that it was meant to the work with a crinoline skirt underneath as the fullness (especially in larger sizes) is no good.

I want to make it again but with significant alterations.

Also the underskirt does ride up especially when I'm wearing tights. It was such a disappointment.

It was funny to see your post today. My local Fab...

2009-09-12T13:58:08.353-04:00

It was funny to see your post today. My local Fabric Store has Butterick patterns on sale this week, and I thought it would be a great time to stock up on patterns. As I was going through their patterns I noticed the Walkaway Repro pattern, and considered it but to me it looks a lot like an apron. Nothing I would consider glamourous or that I would want to wear.

Hate it! Never understood the mania.

2009-09-05T02:48:48.743-04:00

Hate it! Never understood the mania.

Hi, this blog is fun! I made the repro Walkaway f...

2009-09-02T19:36:48.336-04:00

Hi, this blog is fun!

I made the repro Walkaway for my pre-teen daughter ( she picked the pattern ) and she loves it, so twirly and easy to put on.

Had to adjust for a girl shape though, and it was good enough for her, no problem.

Lisa A in AZ

I think the black & white version has some mer...

2009-08-27T01:38:10.361-04:00

I think the black & white version has some merit, but it looks a little tricky - to me that means it's got some problems. But maybe this gets into the drawing of the dress on the pattern envelope. No one has a waist that small, no matter what the optical illusion!

I agree about the walkaway dress. I'm not a f...

2009-08-25T09:17:19.001-04:00

I agree about the walkaway dress. I'm not a fan of the neckline being cut off at the widest part of your arms. The neckline also doesn't look very flattering for the busty among us. The Saturday morning is much better in both respects. I want to picnic in that dress!

Even more than for most patterns, choice of fabric...

2009-08-25T08:15:01.862-04:00

Even more than for most patterns, choice of fabric and trim would be essential to pull off such a style. I think we can trust you with that :-).

However I don't think you should get hypnotized by the apparent differences between the walkaway and the sat am... most likely what you're seeing is a difference in -illustration- due to the time difference between the two, not a real difference in pattern. Take a look at the sewretro blog and count the number of times where someone asks 'did you alter the skirt to be narrower' only to be answered 'not at all, the envelope makes it look much fuller'... I think most of what you'd get from the contemporary version is reliable sizing, rather than guessing in the vintage versions.

You'll find an example here... http://www.cra...

2009-08-24T22:32:15.064-04:00

You'll find an example here...

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=119224.0

I would say that it isn't for everyone, and the design would be problematic, were a stiff breeze to come along, but it is definitely a pattern for easy self-expression...

Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone! E...

2009-08-24T12:15:45.551-04:00

Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone!

EmilyKate, I like your idea to start a campaign to bring back the Saturday Morning dress! As long as they didn't mess it up by screwing around with the sizing. :)

A lovely reader e-mailed me with the offer to borrow her Saturday Morning dress pattern. I'm so excited! I'll have to grade it up a few sizes, but I don't think it should be too difficult.

Carolyn, I love a challenge, so now I just might have to make the walkaway too! As an experient . . .

sarah, that halter version is pretty awesome! I like how there's one version that's a wiggle dress/overskirt combo like we've been discussing here.

I love the saturday morning dress! All the more si...

2009-08-24T03:19:41.891-04:00

I love the saturday morning dress! All the more since to me the walkaway dress has always seemed to be worn with the back on the front; it must have to do with the way the waist is enlighted: I simply don't like it that way. Plus I wonder if the pannel on the front wouldn't fly away and let people see what's under your skirt... So it's a big Nay to me, althought I quite fancy her little sister the 'whirl away dress': http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Butterick_5368
The saturday morning one has such lovely details that I wonder why they didn't repro this one instead. Less famous but gorgeous!

Totally agree with Sadie - I'd love to see som...

2009-08-24T00:58:29.207-04:00

Totally agree with Sadie - I'd love to see someone actually seriously compare them. Sadie, have you ever just laid the two out to try and figure out what they changed (if anything?)

Also wondering how it would look if both skirts were full!

It would be interesting if someone made both the v...

2009-08-23T23:19:18.725-04:00

It would be interesting if someone made both the vintage and repro versions and commented on any differences, don't you think? (I have both, but the vintage one is too small-I bought it anyway at an estate sale for nothing.) I have a repro version of the dress, and no matter what I have tried, it doesn't flatter me at ALL. Hoping to re-purpose the fabric someday!

I'm with you about the walkaway dress. It'...

2009-08-23T22:26:49.377-04:00

I'm with you about the walkaway dress. It's so overrated. How does it stay on if you're moving while wearing it? It seems like something like that would fall off or shift into some awkward exposing position...

Crazy for the Sat Morning dress! It's the cur...

2009-08-23T20:04:02.132-04:00

Crazy for the Sat Morning dress! It's the curved waistline that does it for me--so much more interesting to look at than a simple empire waist. I like the idea of the Walkaway, which I own but haven't sewn up, but know already that the extended shoulder would need some serious adjusting for me--that's where the pattern falls apart, and sadly, I see the same issue on the Sat Morning dress... If only I had narrower shoulders!