E-PATTERN 1932 Evening Gown E6983
E6983; 1932 Evening Dress
5-piece advanced pattern, design originally by McCall. This is an evening dress of 'contemporary sophistication' with what is cited in McCall Fashion Bi-Monthly, July-August 1932, as a 'back décolletage boldly cut out and intricately strapped' and 'out and out use of contrast'. The shoulder is widened extravagantly almost as a cap sleeve via extension cut of the waist (bodice).
The waist is cut on the bias and while the original design's four-piece skirt was cut on the straight of grain, I have also offered a bias-cut version in the cutting guide.
SUGGETED FABRICS ARE: Piqué, chiffon, lace, heavy sheers, rough crêpe, or silk organdy.
At the commencement of this year's (2026) Couture Week, there has been a timely revival of detail about this design that has come my way!
Sarah Sheehan contacted me about the draft I created to generate this pattern when I did not win the bid for the original in 1998.
See Sarah Sheehan's exciting mystery around this design, as published in her blog, Pattern Vault.
3/8" seams are given.
E-Patterns should (but are not guaranteed to) save you from shipping costs and shipping time.
This E-Pattern will print on 45 sheets of Letter or A4-size paper. Full instructions are in this download to help you do everything you need on your home printer, if you wish.
Sizes:
Size set A fits 14-20 (32" to 38" bust, 26" to 32" waist, 35" to 41" hip).
Size set B fits 20-42 (38" to 42" bust, 30" to 34" waist, 41" to 45" hip).
PATTERN NOT IN YOUR SIZE? Upon request, I am happy to furnish an additional schematic showing where to adjust the pattern pieces with instructions on how to re-size the pattern.
