Say Hello to June and Summer with Children's Fashion from 1932

For the wee lads and lassies are these sunny styles:

 328: A trouser suit for a young lad, with trousers, collar, tie, and cuffs contrasting with a shirt with tucks.

2723: A frock for a young girl, with a pretty collar and flowing pleats.

325: With fun details, this charming frock includes shorts.

330: Designed for girls on the grow, these pajamas have sophisticated style.

2720: A jumper with pleats on the sides and a pretty lace-trimmed blouse.

304: For the 'tween, this frock has wonderful style - princess seams zig-zag past the hips and release into inverted pleats.

310: With a high waistline, drop shoulders with puff sleeves, and a graceful flared skirt - this is sophisticated style!

A Salute to Boating Season!

The first Saturday of May is coming up soon and it's the official First Day of Boating. Port cities (like Seattle) usually have a parade of boats all tricked out with banners and pennants to celebrate the occasion. In honor of this annual event, I am beginning to post nautical-styled patterns in my shop. Here are just a few patterns for ladies and children, from the 1940s to the 1970s, to pique your interest:

Aye, aye, mates! Enjoy some timelessly great nautical fashion!

Before and After Hit Parade - 1930s Girl's Overalls - Retro Romper

Seamstress: Elizabeth
Pattern: Du Barry 2259B

Almost a year ago, Elizabeth sewed up this cute pair of overalls for her adorable and fashionable daughter. Dating from the late 1930s, it's classic cute sportswear!

The Result:: Created in a somewhat stretchy denim with eye-popping bright colors straight from the late 1960s - early 1970s, this pair of overalls is easy-care fashion that Felicity loved wearing! Didn't it turn out great? Of course, it doesn't hurt that Felicity makes such a superb model, right?

 

Check out Elizabeth's blog Peanut Butter Macrame to read all the details of her struggles with sizing this pattern for her growing daughter, as well as her current sewing accomplishments!

Vintage Newsprint - 1930s Child's Pattern Piece with Humor

Seamstresses often made adjustments to their patterns, making new pattern pieces from butcher paper or even more frequently, newspaper. Patterns cut from newspaper often were from the want ads, the society pages, and sometimes even the comics pages or the front page. Frequently they include advertisements for clothing or grocery store sales. It's always fun to see the latest gossip, food prices, and news of the day in these bits of vintage newspapers.

This pattern from 1939 is a little cutie-pie outfit of frock & bolero and had a hand-made pattern piece (probably a cuff) cut from newspaper.

 

Here is the piece, which included a one-panel comic of "Flapper Fanny", a comic of the 1920s and 1930s:

It is difficult to date this cartoon, although there is a date notation in the lower right hand corner "11-20". Between my research on Wikipedia and the YesterYear Once More blog (note the great fashion paperdoll & dresses from the 1920s and 1930s!), it looks most likely to be from November 20, 1939.

Scraps from the Past: Summer Jammies in Blue Seersucker

This adorable pattern for one-piece jammies from McCall and 1942 can be warm for winter or cool for summer. The original seamstress left a square of fabric that left no doubt she sewed up these pajamas for summer.

 

Here is the light-weight, soft seersucker in a bright blue that was left in the envelope. It's easy to picture, isn't it? And do you think it was for a boy? :)