Vintage for Children

Vintage patterns and styles have caught my eye lately.  The big 4 pattern companies have a number of vintage reissues but so far I have not tried one.  Recently I found a vintage child’s dress pattern at a rummage sale which I bought it for 25 cents.  

Scrutinizing the pattern instructions I found the copyright date which is 1945.  

Here is a photo of the pattern envelope. 

See Jane run!   

This is my first vintage pattern and I was not expecting the pattern pieces to be blank.  That threw me for a loop initially, but once I pulled out all the pieces and pressed them flat plus some actual reading of the instruction page the notations became clear.

2 large circles  = straight grain line

3 large circles = place on fold

notches = match same as current patterns

medium and small circles = dots, mark and match same as current patterns

For some reason the way the pattern pieces are noted by a letter made via small pinholes  made me laugh.  Here is an example for the front bodice “B”

On the first part of the instruction page there is a short paragraph advertising the “Simplicity Sewing Book”  for 15 cents, which is the same as the price of this pattern.

The pattern is a child’s size 4, and as far as I can tell, it is about the same as a modern child’s size 4.  I used some turquoise cotton I had on the shelf, and the white section is a substantial cotton pique that I think I have had for over 10 years.   There is enough to make a dress or two and I am not sure what I am saving it for.  

Finished dress.   The scalloped front is so cute - I think I will use that detail on some other dresses this summer.  It could be adapted around a neckline or hem.  I have done that in the past by making a template on some stiff paper - try using a kitchen glass or something like that to get the perfect scallops in a snap.  Then the template can be put across the bottom of a dress pattern to make both the hem and facing.

For my first vintage pattern, a child’s dress was fun.  The grown up vintage styles take a lot of fabric!  Think Mad Men or I Love Lucy.   Vintage Dress pattern Vogue 1043 is on my desk and hopefully fabric inspiration will strike.  Now all I need is an occasion to wear it.