News — Vintage Patterns

 This 1934 Simplicity tea dress style has what looks like a very slimming, cling-y skirt with geometric insets at each side. The reality is, the skirt is more of a boxy A-line style than what is depicted.  Check out this generic rendering of a 1930's A-line skirt.  I elongated the skirt length to parallel the example here.     Why is it this way?  Sometimes pattern art is more idealized than the actual outcome of the garment made from it.  Here, Simplicity instructs to cut the skirt pieces on the straight of grain as both skirt front and back are...

From extreme isolationism to a newly industrialized nation, Japan was quickly becoming a modern society and a rising world power by the early 1900’s.  Western taste in fashion reflected the traditional dress of this ‘new-come nation’ and Butterick offered this Japanese kimono style for the home sewer (circa 1923):  As shown at far right, an option is given implying more of a peignoir style of lounge wear, very popular of this time.  Also by Butterick, this is a peignoir style also referred to as a kimono (or Pullman Robe)! Although these are both single size, hand-drafted patterns, they have both been...

A little tour of this pattern as it is among the fist of my E-Pattern offerings (more on that next week as the collection grows!) and also just because it is fabulous!  I recently included a turban pattern to go with it so it went from being a 9-piece pattern to a 10-piece on that note! While this single-size pattern (for 38" bust) is hand-drafted for the dress or gown, the more recently added turban is digitally drafted and full instructions are included to create it within the dress construction details. A note about the dress, as shown it is...

A single-size pattern I drafted some time ago and did not yet make available (until now)! A 1940's panties & slip pattern in size 40" bust, 34" waist and 43" hip in which the single panties piece means the pair is cut in one with front and back, so there is no side seam.   The waistline of the panties is fitted down via pleats at front, the top edge is finished with a self-straight facing creating a casing in which a buttonhole opening for elastic insertion (across the back edge only) is created.     The gored slip is fitted...

Now available in sizes 32" to 46" bust, is Vogue's 1949 Ensemble.  Originally meant as lounge wear, the tunic and trousers could TOTALLY be worn as a casual outfit by today's standards!     The sash which ties around the waist and knots at left front was originally referred to as a 'gridle' and I chose to re-name the 'coat' a 'tunic' for Vogue being inconsistent with how they name that part of the ensemble in the original pattern. Per the text to describe the style, 'The flared lower section of tunic joins double-breasted top at waistline and has notched...