Scraps from the Past: Banish Winter Thoughts with a Pretty Cotton Summer Nightgown

Pattern: Simplicity 8198 from 1977 features lovely summer and winter nightgowns and robes, with slim and flattering A-line silhouettes.

The scrap: Tucked inside the pattern envelope was this soft, lightweight cotton print, a pretty and dainty floral in pinks. It appears to be the facing piece for view 1, the sleeveless short nightgown. I can envision it, and the lovely warm days one would wear it! Which is a cheery counterpoint to the snowy scene outside my window today.

Scraps from the Past: A 1950s Flannel Nightgown for Christmas

The pattern: Simplicity 4140

The scraps: Tucked into the pattern envelope for timeless nightgowns were two scraps, one a soft yellow flannel, and the other a cute flannel print of umbrellas. Written on the front of the envelope: Joanne Christmas 1952, Mother Easter 1953, Rena Louise Nov 1954. So the sewist made three nightgowns, two for winter and one for summer, and at least two as holiday gifts (Christmas and Easter). On the envelope back is more writing: (in red) Joanne view one yellow flannel white ruffles Christmas 1952. Also on the back, written in pencil: "R. L. Nov 1954" and "Mother Easter 1953". Now that is getting mileage from one pattern, and how handy that all three wear the same size!

It's pretty clear that Joanne got the yellow flannel nightgown. And I think it is safe to assume that Mother got the umbrella print flannel nightgown - umbrellas being a great spring theme. Alas, no scrap for Rena Louise!

Are you inspired to sew a flannel nightgown for Christmas?

1949 Angelic Advertisement for Laundry Soap

Wearing an angelic nightgown and a sheer flowing cape, the model in this advertisement for laundry soap from 1949 is totally dreamy. Now if I could only float on clouds...