Hmm… I think I need to shake things up a bit with these weekly scans–it seems just about every inspiration post has been 40s-centric lately. Maybe next week I’ll scan some Edwardian images and share those instead! Variety is the spice of life, after all, right?
I hope I haven’t posted these scans before… that would be embarrassing, wouldn’t it? lol. I lately have gotten all fuzzy about what I have and haven’t posted (I blame my seasonal allergies for my spaciness), so hopefully no repeats today! These are scans of a 1940 Hollywood patterns booklet that I bought years and years ago; I think it was one of my first Ebay purchases as a teenager! Sadly it’s really starting to show it’s age and the paper is becoming really brittle. But at least I have scans to preserve these images and share with you too.
I love the skating costume and ski/snow ensemble! Wouldn’t it be so cute to wear a little circle skirt to go ice skating? The sporty jackets at the top are on my list of a project to tackle one day (though I sadly don’t have this exact pattern).
The ruffled pockets on the left-center dress are really unique, which makes me wonder just exactly how they are constructed! I also love the draping on the far left dress’s skirt. Very elegant.
I’ve been head-over-heels for the coat on the right ever since I got this booklet; it seems so flattering and it closes to the neck–great for keeping out the winter chill! The knife pleats on skirt of the left dress are a fantastic detail; something you don’t see a lot in modern fashion.
More coats and dresses… and girl’s dresses! I would love to get my hands on that pattern… just in case I need to sew for any little girls one day.
More day dresses for both the younger and older gals.
Blouses, pinafores and princess-line frocks. I’m not usually a huge fan of pinafore-style dresses (even though I made one earlier this year), but I really like the waist treatment on this; it seems like it would be quite flattering.
Elegant evening wear! I love the idea of the princess-line dress doubling as an over-coat of sorts to give another look to an evening gown; how fun!
Any details or particular dresses that are standing out to you? A couple of these have given me ideas for some possible winter sewing (I’ve got enough on my plate for the fall already!); especially the sporty/lumberjack style jacket… that has been on my to-sew list for years. Maybe 2010/2011 will be the one I finally get to it. I hope you enjoyed these scans! I shall be back tomorrow with an update about my Lady Grey project and some pointers on how to make those buttons…
Aren’t those ruffly pockets on the green dress fun? I’d love to see the pattern piece for them!
I love the lace bow combo on the dress in the bottom right of the second to last scan. So girly!
I’m with you on the jacket. I also like those knife pleats. That’s a really interesting idea. One thing that struck me in the Princess Seamed dresses, was that the seams start at the shoulder area not from the armhole. As someone who “should” wear Princess Seams, I rarely do because everything today starts at the armhole, and that just adds width.
Enjoyed the scans!
Mom
SO much loveliness! I adore ski ensembles. I got the pattern from eva dress: http://www.evadress.com/1263.html and I’ve been meaning to make that since last year! Perhaps I will get to it this year…har har. I also have a winter coat I am planning to make. I have the wool, but am trying to figure out what to line it with. I’d rather not line it with synthetic material. I’m using a “car coat” pattern from 1960 with a hood and toggle buttons! Perhaps a quilted lining?
Also about buying childrens clothing patterns, I totally do it. I just can’t help passing by the most adorable 1930s patterns for children, especially when they are extremely cheap. I have a couple that look just like little Shirley Temple frocks with matching undies! (I loved dresses with matching undies when I was little!
Well, at least I have several friends who are having babies, so maybe I will get an opportunity to make some cute little clothes sooner than I think!
Good luck on your winter sewing list! I really need to make one. Actually, I’d just like to have a good solid list of items for winter that I need. I wish there was a diagram or something in excell that could organize my wardrobe. Oh geez…I think about this way too much.
I’ve been eying that Eva Dress pattern for a long time–I think you’d look super cute sporting it this winter!
(Plus you get the kind of weather that calls for snowsuits!) I think a quilted lining would be lovely; or maybe even just underlining it with flannel (wool of course) and then an inner lining?
I have to tell you that I must think about sewing too much too–because I actually make an Excell sheet (or the OpenOffice equivalent) of my seasonal sewing goals. I just have columns for the pattern, description, fabrics, notions, notes on adjustments I made, etc. The hardest part is remembering to update it as I work on a project with my notes! But it’s come in super handy when I need to go back and reference something.
♥ Casey
I love the winter and evening wear
Oh, also, I nominated you for a blog award (I’m sure you get plenty already!):
The Hem M A Blog
I can’t believe that you had good enough taste as a teenager to buy such great patterns! When I was 19 I think I was still buying costume-y old ’60s dresses and funny patterns from the ’80s.
And I totally agree about the skater costumes . . . they look like things people would wear today! So cute.
I love the skating outfit. You’d have to wear several pairs of tights to avoid freezing!
I’m really enjoying your blog! I found it through your youtube videos for hair and makeup. I’ve tagged you in a post on my blog, I hope you can take a look
http://turntothemusic.blogspot.com/
Love looking at all these 40s style clothes. The dresses with pleats are great. I can’t pick a favorite. And I love the little girl dresses. Aren’t they sweet?
So pretty!! I’m particularly smitten with those adorable little girls’ frocks….I love the detailing and the seams….I hope to be able to add a few to our little one’s wardrobe once she is here and big enough. : ) Happy Monday Casey!
I love that 526 jacket pattern! I’m a coat fiend, which is ridiculous since I live on the Gulf Coast where it almost never gets cold.
I hear ya! I keep picking up coats and jackets at the thrift stores, which is insane since I don’t really ever need them in Florida! (I just bought the cutest tweed wool blazer last week at the thrift store… couldn’t pass it up for $2.50! Not that I need any more…) I just can’t say no to a good coat/jacket, I guess.
♥ Casey
I adore pattern 524- the well fitted trousers for Hiking or Skiing, they are so cute.
I have never made my own clothes but it is something I really want to do, I’ve never found a pattern I really crave though, how I would love those though!
lovely images! the evening dress’s are my favorite really like the black one its kinda cute and elegant!!
These are gorgeous! I am particularly drawn to the skating outfit— I was super into skating as a teen (and recently started taking my daughter to skate) and LOVE vintage skating styles. There is a children’s movie called “Blizzard” that is about a little skating girl in the early 1950s/late 1940s (although it was made just a few years ago) that is full of gorgeous vintage winter wear/skating ensembles. I just love all the little skirts and knitwear
While I love all of the scans from today, what I’m really wondering about is your scanner itself! Is it a printer-combo, or just a plain ol’ scanner? Everything always looks so crisp! I’ve been toying around with the idea of getting one but I’m not sure which kind is better…
Thank-you for sharing these!! The second is my favourite. Especially the ice-skating outfit…so cute!
-Andi x
I also love that princess seamline coat–but the mink wrap with tails? Not sure about that. My daughter was gifted one recently, and I still can’t bring myself to tough the little thing (with head and feetsies too, of course!)