Simplicity Designer's Patterns

Between 1949 and 1950 Simplicity produced a line of patterns. They started the same time as Vogue's Paris Originals Line. The patterns have an oversized envelope (8" X 11"). They where nice styles, but they are not VPO's.

Simplicity 8002 c. 1949


Simplicity 8104 c. 1949

This one is the closer to a Vogue style. Notice the pleating on the front of the skirt.

Vogue Paris Original Model - 1189 c. 1952 Dessès - Suit - pleats on the side of the skirt. Didn't someone try that on the Project Runway Post Office challenge with BAD results?

Simplicity 8293 c. 1950

After 1950, this line of patterns was discontinued. I have not seen these patterns in the vintage re-issues.

Anyone for Tea?

I will be hosting a 1950's tea party at Costume Con 26 in San Jose, CA and giving a talk about the history of sewing patterns.

This brings up the question - what do you wear to tea? I can't wear gloves, because I'm serving. I need an apron of course. You need nifty music and good cookies.

Vogue 9156 c. 1957

Hat, or no hat?

Anne Adams 4834



Vogue 9260c. 1957



Vogue Special Design 4565 c. 1955

Vogue 4004 c. 1959

Happy Birthday Mr. Rogers!

In honor of Mr. Roger's 80th birthday - March 20th, 2008 is "sweater day". I grew up watching Mr. Rogers. I loved the shows music and the puppets. I was great "seeing" him on the cartoon Arthur. Wear your sweater proudly today! I will wear my zip up one today. So much for spring in New England :(

Happy Birthday my neighbor!

If you want to find any more information on the men's knitting books shown above, please check them out here.

Mondrian Memories

One of the most memorable clothing exhibits I saw the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983. I clearly remember seeing the "Mondrian" day dress of 1965 there.

I am sure that there was a Vogue sewing pattern with a similar design. Here are two "copy cat" versions of that pattern from 1965-66.

 

McCall's 8131 circa 1965: High waisted dress w/ bateau neckline

 

Simplicity 6400 circa 1966: - slim dress with jewel neckline

Simplicity 6432

McCall's 8154

There are dresses like that out there today - look at:

Diane von Furstenberg 'Mondrian' Shift Dress

Do you want to make the pattern into your own fashion?

If you are looking for these patterns for sale try www.ebay.com  or  the vintage pattern wiki

Double Breasted Coat Mania

Not one but two teen idols wore double breasted coats for the Macy's Parade! I really liked Jordin's coat, but Ashley's had WAY too many buttons for me!

If I was going to sing on a float - here is what I would wear.

McCall's 9490

I think this coat has a great Lauren Bacall look to it. Here she wears a lot of buttons, but I think they are better placed.

or

If you wanted less buttons - maybe this one would work.

Simplicity 4022

Jordin Sparks looked adorable

Simplicity 5381

I like Simplicity 5381 - it has that Audrey Hepburn look to it - maybe they would let me have a breakfast at Tiffany's?

Still need some other ideas to keep warm? Try these on for size.

Vogue 3488

Butterick 3438

Butterick 5554

Princesss Diana Wedding Gown Pattern

Prince William and Kate Middleton will be married at the end of April. Let's take a moment to look at Will's mom's famous gown.

There are a few celebrity weddings people remember. Princess Diana's was up there for a Top Ten event for the 1980s. That classic scoop neckline.

That full skirt with a train that went on forever, not to mention those sleeves!

Do you want to make that dress for your wedding? Try McCall's 9452 circa 1985. This pattern comes with or without a train (not as long as Di's). Many dresses from the mid-80's have some of these elements in it, either the scoop neck, the puffy sleeves or the ruffle neckline.

Good luck in creating the dress of your dreams!

Trick or Treat - Vintage Halloween Costumes

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love sewing costumes for my kids and seeing all the creative costumes out there. Let's go in a time machine to Halloween of the past.

Here is Pictorial Review 1935 - for a 6 year old child. Description: Girls' Fariy Costume. Butterfly wings add charm to this delightful costume. The long waisted bodice has an oval neck, and may be work with or with ruffles at armholes. A 3 piece tunic, open in front, is arranged on the 2 piece gathered skirt and both are joined to the bodice. Circa 1925.

Let's skip to the 1940s to look at McCall 792 - A dance costume for tap dancing, Gipsy [sic.] and Italian Costumes for a 16 year old girl.

One of my favorite costume patterns is probably not a costume - but a dress. This one really reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. This pattern was printed in 1951 - which is the same year that Disney produced their animated Alice in Wonderland. I'm guessing this is not a coincidence. This is Simplicity 3701 for a 10 year old girl. Printed 1951. 1 piece dress and pinafore.

Here is an authentic Peter Pan costume produced by the Advanced pattern company.  It is very likely that this pattern was produced the year the movie was release (1953).  This is an unprinted tissue pattern.  Notice the Disney logo.  Pattern information: Advance 709.  Just too cute!  In the 1980 - 90's Disney worked with the Simplicity pattern company to produce a line of costume patterns.

More designs from the 1950s: Butterick 6550. Set of Costumes: Uncle Sam, George Washington, Ring Master, Full Dress.

I happen to love these flower fairies. Simplicity 4863 for a 10 year budding ballerina

For those of you who want a truly throw away costume. You could make one out of large pieces of crepe paper. I've seen similar books dating back to the 1920s. This is the 1960s edition of the boo: Easy to Make Colorful Costumes of Dennison Crepe Paper. You have to be really good at cutting to make these. Some of them still require sewing - some costumes you can tape together.

If you want to throw a 1920s Halloween party. I have included an invitation from the book My Book of Parties by Madeline Snyder. This book was printed in 1929.

Here is what my kids where for Halloween. My daughter the demon. Yes, I sewed her dress.

My son as Harry Potter. The Hogwarts robe is my college robe hemmed up. The scarf was knitted by my mom years ago when my daughter was Hermione.

Who was Butterwick?

Every once in a while I get an order for a Butterwick pattern. Who was Butterwick, and when did they produce patterns? The Butterick Pattern Company. Has been around since the 1860s. Are people not seeing the company name right, or are we hearing it wrong? I see listings on ebay for Butterwick patterns with the name of the company clearly spelled Butterick. Everyone can't be typing it incorrectly. Can someone show me a pattern with it spelled this way? Or is it we are just not used to that name and try to pronounce it another way?

Here are some images from the company over time. I don't see any W'd do you?

The Delinator November 1895
publication of the Butterick Publishing Co.

Butterick 1313
Turn of the century sewing pattern from the Butterick Publishing Co.




The New Dressmaker
Published 1921 by the Butterick Publishing Company




Butterick 9922 - 19teen's peplums
Butterick Pattern




The Condensed Butterick Sewing and Dressmaking Book
Published 1944 Th Butterick Company Inc.




Butterick 7053
Zipper Front Robe and Brunch coat -
1950s - Butterick Company, Inc.




May 1970 - Young American Creates
Butterick Fashion News



Butterick 6514
Sailor dress
Butterick the Fashion one

This blog was brought to you by a fan of the Butterick Pattern Company - not Butterwick - whoever he or she is.

A Survey From the Past

I found this survey in a pattern from the 1930s.

Anne Adams 1755

Anne Adams Pattern Company is long gone. This pattern is in mint condition - never used. What would you do? Would you fill it out? Where would you mail it to? They wanted to know how the pattern worked for you!