Pattern of the Week: Darling 50s Summer Ensemble for a Girl

Everything about this McCall pattern from 1951 for growing preschoolers makes it special.  I simply love this matching ensemble of short sun dress, bloomers, and bolero, decorated with cute little poodles or rosebuds for that special touch. Such smoochy cuteness!

McCall 1616

Some of the charming details include:

• faced bodice
• sweetheart camisole neckline
• gathered dirndl skirt with scalloped trim of your choice
• back button closing
• scalloped edges on the bolero
• your choice of hand-embroidered poodles or petite rosebuds

Check out the details of the adorable poodle transfer:

The tiny rosebuds on simple vines make a delicate and dainty motif:

Pattern of the Week: Sizzling Summer Style from 1951

I am a bit late, but not too late, to post my pattern of the week! This week's eyesome pattern is from 1951 and Woman's Day magazine. Superbly versatile, the pattern features a flared skirt and three different summer blouses, each an attraction on its own.

Woman's Day 5010

What makes this pattern special?

• The skirt features a soft deep pleat at each front side, with adjacent small soft short pleats, full-length front button closing, and a contoured self-fabric buckled belt.
• The halter neck blouse is dart-fitted, with a decollete V-neckline and front button closing.
• The off-shoulder blouse is also dart-fitted, with a double flange collar framing the off-shoulder neckline.
• The wrap blouse has a surplice closing with tie extensions and a wide decollete V-neckline.

For ease of viewing, here are the garments as illustrated in the instructions:

A bargain at any price!

Pattern of the Week: Sweet Hostess Aprons

The return of the apron in the past decade is something of a phenomenon, and rightly so. :) 

Today's featured pattern is  McCall 1279 from the 1940s. With both half apron and full apron versions, the apron is distinctive and feminine. Whether you call it a hostess apron, tea apron, or party apron, this apron features beautiful details that allow a hostess to accent her pretty party dress rather than hide it behind a utility apron. 

McCall 1279

Note these details:

- Wide straps attached to front waistband that cross to form a bib and then taper and curve to button at back neckline

- Skirt with rounded hemline and gathered self-flounce (love that flounce detail!)

- Optional embroidered rose motif, embroidered eyelet ruffles, bias-binding & ribbon bows 

In recognition of the popularity of this attractive apron, you can find it hand-sewn and for sale in many places on the Internet, for example a truly vintage version at the Etsy shop, Color Me Vintage:

And newly sewn at It's Better Hand Made:

Pattern of the Week: 1930s Ensemble Simply Shines

Although it sold within a week of posting it, I am still going to put the spotlight on this divine 2-piece dress with matching coat from 1936, Simplicity 2215!

Note the superb details:

Dress blouse features a dart-fitted bodice, with notched peak lapel collar, button-accented diagonal front insets with underlap (the underlap is sewn under one side and the other side fastens to it with snaps) that form weskit-style points, and fixed belts that buckle in back.

Dress skirt has slight flare and a top-stitched center front double inverted pleat.

Coat is flared in 3/4 length, with top-stitched center back inverted pleat, diagonal welt pockets, long sleeves softly pleat at shoulders, and a high revers wing collar. Fully lined, of course.

Sigh. First class fashion.

Pattern of the Week: Beautiful Mid-1930s Formal Gown for Girls

I list new patterns almost every day in my Etsy shop, Midvale Cottage. While I enjoy just about each and every pattern for one reason or another, there are usually a few stand-outs, really wonderful patterns with details that make them special. So I decided it would be fun call out one of these each week. 

My featured pattern of the week (week being loosely defined here as within the last 7 days :)) is this beauty, a formal gown for girls from 1936.

McCall 8949

Designed for organdy, silk, and taffeta, this is truly a demure and elegant formal gown for a grown-up girl. The eye-catching aspect? The curved shaped yokes that extend over shoulders to form cap sleeves, with front button closing extension. You can opt to trim with ruffles at neckline and yoke edges or add a peter pan collar. You can choose to leave the gown with cap sleeves or add modified raglan short puff sleeves. The bias flared skirt with straight princess seams in 2 lengths is lovely and is set off with a wide sash tie belt. Altogether it is a very special gown indeed.