Hey, I loved your sweet video, took me down memory lane with my jumpers full pleated skirts peter pan & sailor collars. Not to mention my pristine white Keds , mary-jane type shoes and my most precious SAM&LIBBY, leather ballerina flats, my favorite that I wore for years were my soft-pink colored ones!! Laura Ashley clothing,fabric and everything is so magical even today about 40 years later for me!👍☺️👏🤗
I know this video is several years old but I had to comment that I too have always been a Laura Ashley fan. I have a collection of patterns and also used to haunt the local shop!☺️❤️❤️With all the styles I have tried in my life I have always loved Laura Ashley.
Thank you for sharing these with us! Oh my Gosh! I made so many of them for me and my girlfriend. From 1984-1997. 9155, 2168, 9434, 2398, 2377, 2965, 4322, 4965 and my favorite 4824 romper. Brigitte in Tulsa Oklahoma age 66.
I loved seeing your video - so many dear memories! I lived in the UK for 20 years, near York, and there was a LA store! I dressed myself fully with Laura Ashley: pregnancy outfits, skirts, blouses, jackets, sweaters - all beautiful natural materials that lasted forever ! I also dressed our 4 girls in the pretty LA dresses - both bought and handmade! Now I have some of these outfits still for my granddaughters! And I still love them!
That portrait collar and basque front skirt were my dream --- and Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson made the known everywhere ! Thanks for sharing your collection.
We still have Laura Ashley retail shops in Japan. In the early 80s we decorated my daughter’s teen bedroom full on LA periwinkle blue and then in 1998, we decorated her son’s nursery in “Treasure Island” print, from wallpaper to crib fabrics and sheets. In the early 80s, I made her the LA prairie 2 piece dress pattern in those blue and white prints. In 1983 for my birthday, my daughter gave me the 1982 “the Laura Ashley book of home decorating.” What good memories for me! Thanks so much.
I am so jealous! I'd love to have a LA shop nearby. I had the periwinkle fleur-de-lis wallpaper in my kitchen back in the '80's. I think LA was what made me fall in love with periwinkle blue and white. That and all the ruffles -
Hi Jen, thanks so much for your fun video! As a teen in the 70s I made most of my best clothes by making my own patterns (similar to Gunne Sax) and loved linen, coarse silk, and heavy twill cotton in plain white, cream, neutrals, or sometimes soft, faded pastel shades or prints (washed in bleach then in strong tea to make them look old). I loved eyelet fabric and trim. I had never heard of Laura Ashley fabric until I married in '79. The whole fashion world during that time period was fascinated with antiques, old house styles, and rediscovering all things country. I loved it all. But didn't have the money for much of the fabric or buying pre-made clothes. Over the next twenty years my husband would treat me to Laura Ashley dresses and I still have many of them. I decorated most of my home using LA, and am sure I drove ny kids crazy with my love of all things LA! I have done a bit of travelling since my teen years and would always visit LA in every city. I can still remember the first one in historic Gastown in Vancouver, BC. My collection of LA patterns were lost in a house flood, sadly. Loved seeing yours and hearing all about your LA memories. Thank you! Stef W
Wanted to add, a lot of dresses, only made as a longer shirt length instead of a dress, would be ideal with leggings... such as the cute dress at 17:31, the dark floral with the dark belt would be perfect with black leggings, jeggings. I am no longer much into fancy dresses, nothing wrong with them but I'm older now and don't dress up much anymore. Also would use way less fabric. 😊
Thank you so much Stef! I love hearing about other people's love for LA and you sure have it! I loved Gunne Sax too, wore one of those dresses to my junior prom. What a husband! My husband and I laugh now - not long after we were married we went into the LA clothing shop near us and my husband pulled out the price tag on a blouse and loudly said "TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS???!!!" It was a small shop and I both wanted to smack him and crawl into the floor! Now I'm probably a worse cheapskate than he is! I'm so sorry all your patterns were lost! And great suggestions on shortening the dresses and adding leggings. Comfy too! ❤️
@@TodayinJensSewingRoom Lovely for a junior prom! Jessica McClintock was another - I recall using her lovely patterns also. Funny, my husband, did roughly the same, blurting out loudly "oh my shattered nerves" haha, love it. And oh how exciting to go into the shop, but so very sad never having enough to buy much. We didn't use credit cards, dang.😅 These days sadly only used items and only online with the shops all gone. We were very lucky to be able to sew! I have some fabric uncut, am thinking nighties would be nice. xx
That was a fun trip down memory lane. I never made any of her designs, but I did love them and I love the little floral prints - always have. So sad, the way she died. We could have enjoyed a lot more of her, but her kids and husband did a pretty good job of carrying on.
Yup 5058 I made in almost the exact blue fabric...buttonholes were a challenge, but it turned out well. Bought a classic white cotton blouse when I lived in London. My sister-in-law (to be) bought a beautiful white cotton dress there for her wedding when they visited. Loved seeing all the patterns...think I made that romper too, much later. Your cute pink dress, so lovely. Thank you for sharing !
Hi Jen, good to see you again. Wow that is some collection, I didn’t even know Laura Ashley made patterns. Their shops have all fairly recently closed now so they are no more but I used to love wandering through the home furnishing section (and secretly gasping at the price of their cushions😁).
I know what you mean about gasping - when I was editing this video, my husband and I were talking about the LA shops in Indianapolis when we lived there years ago. Around 1986-87 or so, we were in the retail clothing store one afternoon- no idea why or how I managed to drag him into the shop, should've known better - and I looked at the price tag on a dress. My husband blurted out (for everyone to hear) "TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!???" I wanted to fall into the floor and disappear, I was so embarrassed! The shop wasn't very big to begin with and here I am standing with my southern Indiana husband who thinks even $20 is too much for a dress. We laugh and laugh about that now, but boy I wanted to kill him. He still won't buy anything new, only thrifted. But he's gotten over his shock at the prices I've paid for clothing over the years. Honestly, I think the last time I spent any real $ on clothes was $40 for a dress for a trip. That was definitely a splurge - I'm too cheap. He's either a wonderful or terrible influence, I haven't decided yet -
Memories yes I love Laura Ashley also. I have made several of her patterns. I started sewing them when they first came out. Then she made girls patterns so me and my girls had Easter dresses one year in her patterns and a small cotton print with the white collar. Christmas that year was red corduroy jumpers and the white blouses with Sleeves! One pattern I have ,I made for my sister is a wrap dress that can be wore front wrap or back wrap. Lots of ruffles and fabric. I dreamed of gathering for days, but it was worth it. Thanks!
I made a Laura Ashley prairie skirt for my daughter when she was in high school c. 1986-87. I think SHE made 2398 for her high school graduation. I also made her a Laura Ashley night gown similar to 3323 when she was in college. Thanks for taking us down memory lane!
I also loved Laura Ashley so much. I wallpapered my daughters room in her wallpaper and made drapes in same design with rushing on the leading edge. It was a blue, like the color of your top your wearing , with small white flowers. Made a duvet in a peach for her bed. So fun.
This was so wonderful to watch, such memories. There were stores by my home that I always went to and was so sad when they closed. I've always done window treatments and thought her styles were the highest quality. The fabrics, always loved them and the sheets, it goes on and on. I did make a couple dresses and the romper in a chintz cabbage rose print and wore it to death, thought I was all that. So comfortable and I felt great wearing it. Such fun, Thanks!!!!
And indeed you were all that, Kathleen! My house was so littered with chintz cabbage roses - my husband was a saint for putting up with so much girly fluff. And that jumper with the tie pockets - such a classic. I was sad when the shops closed too. I was over the moon when I read that thing about Vogue's prediction that her styles were coming back. I really think they are, after looking through the current "big 4" catalogs.
Hi Jen ,your honeymoon outfit was so lovely . Thanks for showing some of your older makes ,they are all really nice and because each garment has a story behind it made it very interesting. Take care x
The 1989 4322 McCalls makes me think of the Bridges of Madison county dress!! Yes..I was born in 1959...and all the romance of those years..thank you...to have the dress that reminds me of the beautiful dress Meryell wore in the movie on date nightm and to loos the weight for it..lol....I saw it here and my mind went to it..I have an Ashley teapot...first post ..new sub..lovely channel!! Thank YOU,
Yay to another 1959-er! I only saw Bridges once with my best friend at the theater when it came out - I remember she kept talking the whole time and I kept thinking "Chari! We're in a theater not watching a video!" That makes me laugh now - thanks for the memory! A teapot? I am green with envy. And welcome, I'm so glad you're here!
@@TodayinJensSewingRoom Thanks for your sweet words..it is a little different but similar...when in the mood...rent it...lol...xo. Loved finding you...
Love love Laura Ashley cried when she died.have some old dress and wedding catalogs i remember it was first time i ever read the word eglentine and moss for colors not the same since her passing. You can find similar pattern at candle om the hill and commons sense patterns some really fun apron patterns the photos are pretty go look
Oh same, can't love them all but I still appreciate that LA kind of started that whole "statement sleeve" thing back then. She was such an innovator when it comes to feminine style and classic designs.
McCall's 7981!! Oh the memories! I made that when I was around 22 out of Laura Ashley lavender print fabric. I also owned so many of those patterns that you showed. So funny to remember all of those pretty fashions. Thanks for sharing !
Brought back memories of Martha Pullen and her PBS show. I know most of her patterns are for children, but what fun seeing all the Victorian-esque techniques.
Oh man, Martha Pullen. She used to come on right before or after Nancy, I think - I watched Nancy every day! It's amazing how many things we learned from her back then. Then there was Martha sitting there in her attic doing all those fancy-schmancy things and even though I had little girls, I had no time to do all that intricate stuff she showed!
Ooooo what a great collection! You love Laura Ashley designs the way I love Betsy Johnson designs ❤️ I also wore a lot of those prairie skirts, with the camisoles, and loved that look in the early 80s. I didn’t so a lot of Laura Ashley designs. But one that I did sew was a wrap dress, McCall’s 6121 That was either from the late 70s or early 80s. Oh I loved that dress so much. So feminine. That is so awesome that you still have your dress that you sewed! Thank you for sharing this, it was very fun.
I thought of you when I was doing this - about Betsey Johnson. It makes sense that you liked her more, since you have a more designer flair whereas I tend to hug much more closely to classic design. You like those little things that make it just a little different - I stick more to the safe stuff. You take chances! And of course everything you makes shows that off beautifully. I'm going in search of that wrap dress now. Someone else mentioned it and now I have to have it! 😂❤️
I graduated high school in 1983, so this was quite a walk down memory lane! Like you said, the style details are timeless. The 5316 from 2006 could easily be in the current catalog with that shirring detail and the flutter short sleeve or longer sleeve with gathered flounce at the wrist! Swoon! 😍 I love the colorful floral prints of the dresses you showed at the end of the video!
The #8492, I have! And, one of mine, not one you have, when one of our daughters described the style she wanted for her wedding dress, I ran and got that pattern, and she froo-froo'd it up a bit...layers of lace over the armhole instead of a sleeve, etc, and made her wedding dress from that pattern. The skirt was very long, with many petticoats! I loved it! Thanks for showing all your lovely Laura Ashley collection! I want to see the next one of those that you make!
That was a fun walk down memory lane! I remember making my daughter a dress with those tie pockets. Those are some beautiful thrifted dresses! Thank you for sharing 😊
That was so much fun. What a collection you have and love seeing it all. Pattern 4824 I think became the go to dress and romper of the 80’s. As soon as I saw it I remember it being everywhere and yes that tie pocket was on everything. Thanks again for your post.
Hello...you showed up on my RU-vid this morning along with Laura Ashley videos...I discovered her in 1984 while on honeymoon...came home with clothes and found the patterns in my local fabric store...my husband did not want me to purchase every pattern...I with my mother's help sewed for myself and my daughter...sent our photographs to England for the family contest and we came in third...my daughter who was 4 years old was so proud and could not wait until we went to England for her 5th birthday...I see the odd pattern to buy...but it is not the same in the McCall pattern book...it must have something to do with the selling of the company...how do you buy the old patterns or her fabric and books...England's not shipping...but thanks you for your interest...I have added you to favourites...thank you for sharing and for your expertise
Thanks Suzie - I just watched a short documentary on Laura Ashley here on YT. I seem to have gotten a lot of new comments on that video I did - maybe she was in the news recently? Anyway - that's fantastic about winning the contest! Third place is something! I find the odd pattern in thrift stores, but if I want something specific I go to Etsy or eBay. I'm always on the hunt. Those finds are the treasures!
Right? I can't remember where I got that but I do know it was some thrift store. It just has so many of those little details that LA was famous for. Beautiful!
Yes I just saw it a couple of days ago and Laura Ashley has been on my mind since. I have a few of the patterns and a catalog. The show was very interesting.
Hi Jen, I am new to your channel. We must’ve been made from the same mold. I was drooling over your patterns. I love all of Laura Ashley everything. I can’t wait for the drop waist dresses from the 80’s.
I am always over the moon when I find someone with my same taste - provides fodder for tons of chatting! When I looked through all these patterns, I realised that I'm not waiting for those dropped waists to return. I'm doing what I like now. I want to remake a bunch of those dresses!
I LOVE Laura Ashley designs. I know I have made some over the years because I remember those pockets with the bows. I didn't know McCalls still had Laura Ashley patterns, I will have to check that out. I remember making myself a dropped waist dress for a wedding. I loved it but when I saw a picture of myself in it is realized it really didn't suit me, I was too straight up and down. You have some great patterns there!
Well there are plenty of curvy styles for both of us these days - I'm off today to Joanns to pick up those patterns I listed. And I hope to use that bow pocket in some future makes. Thanks Jennett!
I had so many of those early patterns! Don't know whatever happened with them. Probably got rid of them as styles changed 😕. And now, with cottagecore influence, I'm kicking myself!
I have been a huge Laura Ashley fan for so many years I can't remember. I loved her prints...the tiny prints were my favorite. They were always to expensive for me, so I would find other fabrics that mimicked her prints. Never the same, but that was what I could afford. I wrote down several of the pattern numbers you showed as I still like the styles, so I will be on the hunt for them. I really haven't liked many of her prints as of late. My understanding was that the company was sold and the new owners sort of kept with her styles, but the patterns became really big and really big doesn't look good on the middle age body! I did make the strapless dress for a cruise I went on many years ago and it was so pretty. I was much slimmer then, size 8, so it looked nice. Couldn't do that now though. Would need a jacket for sure! I'm glad to meet up with a Laura Ashley fan. I am new to your channel and really like it as we are in the approx. age group so it is easier to relate to you than so many of the younger sewists on RU-vid. I really enjoy and find inspiring your excitement about what you do. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thank you Peggy! I know what you mean about the styles. I never bought the prints either, just others that copied the style. I do the same with Liberty fabrics, although one day maybe I'll splurge and get a yard. I do have some decorator sample books of LA, though. It's about as close as I ever get! I bet your cruise dress was beautiful!
Hi love your collection of Laura Ashley love the conceptualization of home decor in the whole dressing vibe and there’s such a big difference between country cottage in Prairie it’s really definitive when you look at it and examine like Ralph Lauren really went into the very prairie look good but also a very structured kind of tweed jacket over prairie blouse and skirt it was really sumptuous back in the day so the cottage country cottage English garden look is very different from that in my perspective and another designer to look for that I suppose quite American is gunny sacks but I think Danny sex was a response to
Isn't cottage core = English cottage garden from 1980-90? I see a lot of similarities. Yep, prairie is decidedly American pioneer inspired. Give me English cottage any day!
Hi. Hello. Howdy from TX. Thank you for sharing. I do like some of her designs on Laura Ashley. However, some of her styles do not flatter my figures but I still like looking at her designs. Thanks again.
Hi Connie, I'm glad you enjoyed seeing this Laura Ashley collection. I know what you mean about some styles not flattering - that's how I felt about the ones from the early 2000's with the high empire waistlines. But I always love looking. I think that's the great thing about Laura Ashley designs, you don't have to like them all to appreciate them.
I loved looking at your collection. Sadly here in England the Laura Ashley patterns haven’t been available to us for decades. I would love to know how the tie pocket is made.
Marilyn I will try and see if I can pull out that pattern piece and maybe put it into a pdf that you can download. I have zero idea as to how to do it, but I'll do my best.
What a lovely trip back in time. I love your ‘going away’ outfit, do they still have those? Really liked Laura Ashley clothes back then, just couldn’t afford them. Why on earth didn’t I sew them?🤣 👗🌸🌺
Good question Carole - do brides still do the "going away" outfit? I love vintage stuff too and I just figured that I should have one. I think in families who pay attention to tradition and "how it's done," probably they do. And now you know why I have all those patterns - no way could I have afforded the clothing! 🤣
You don’t mention the amount of fabric it takes to make a Laura Ashley dress until the 2000s patterns, but that’s one thing I really remember about the Laura Ashley dress patterns when I worked at Hancock Fabrics back in 1985 and 1986.
Hello! if there is any way to get pictures of the 2430 pattern and instructions it would be greatly appreciated! I've been trying to find it but it doesn't seem like anyone is selling their copy. I fell in love with the pattern and really want to make the dress for myself! Thank you for your time.
Hi Kez - some of these patterns can be hard to find. I'd advise you to keep checking Etsy and eBay - new vintage patterns are popping up all the time. You can create a search on eBay that will alert you when something you want is listed - I'd start there. Hope you can find it!
They are beautiful! I love them so much. I’m sad to say I don’t look personally well in that much femininity. I just have to usually do the toned down version. What a great trunk show though.
My best friend marvels at how I can sew. I marvel at how she can garden and cook. She wouldn't be caught dead in something frilly or feminine and she's still always looks stylish. Seems like I'm always admiring her shoes or her purse. Our differences certainly make the world go around.
Well I'm hoping to get out that piece and possibly make a pdf that can be downloaded. No idea how to do that yet - but I think I can figure it out and do it (and avoid all the copyright problems!). I'll keep you posted!
After viewing this I immediately went on eBay. Purchased a pattern for 5.50. Thought that was a deal. That is such a good idea. Good luck. And I still have that romper. Haven’t worn in years. Now it’s back in style.
The 1975 nightgown would make a great dress. Very cute. I love the 80s styles. The high empire waist is not for me either. I doubt I even bought many of those patterns and certainly did not make any. Beautiful collection.
Thanks Claudia, I totally agree about the 1975 dress. I've even fiddled with it to make the pattern fit but haven't yet done a muslin. Those 80's styles, they'll never get old for me either -
I've been looking at current clothing catalogs (like Talbots) and pattern catalogs and it does seem like the styles are returning. Long tiered skirts, ruffles at the bottoms of midi length dresses, etc. In eyelet fabrics, small flower prints, gathered loose fitting, etc. It seems to be the case that if you wait long enough, all styles return. I've seen a lot of 60's styles coming back too, like shift dresses and tent dresses. I remember wearing these as a young teen. The peasant style dresses too. we had to dress up to go to school back then, no pants allowed. Now, all I see the girls wearing are awful torn jeans and bare midriff tops. I'm a sub teacher. I keep waiting for these awful clothes to go out of style, but they haven't yet. Some look like their clothes are going to fall off any minute, or they wouldn't make it thru a wash cycle. They'd look so beautiful if they were dressed properly. There's supposed to be a dress code, but it's not enforced.
You know, I think that (sadly) we are all at the mercy of what's available in the stores. If you can only shop at a discount store, you're going to only be able to get discounted clothes - which means the clothing that is most cheaply made. Muddy colors, shorter t-shirts, tighter fit, boxier shapes. All that is efficient and gets the most bang for the buck when it comes to materials and what manufacturers are willing to spend. I look at girls sometimes and think 'that's just not a good look on her.' (Elle Woods - Legally Blonde). But I've also come to remember that maybe it's all they could find. Thank goodness we can sew! I remember the days of no pants and no jeans. I had an argument with a vice principal once and got sent home because I insisted my pants were chambray and not jeans. Jeans are denim. He disagreed. I still maintain that he was wrong! Especially in a school where most of the students lived and worked on farms!
