Copies Complete

[atherleisure]

I finished copying the patterns I borrowed and returned them this week.



At the one extreme, the two McCall's patterns had never been unfolded. At the other extreme, the 1950's pattern with the red dress (Simplicity 1726) was missing everything except for the skirt, the button placket, and the cummerbund. Simplicity 2738 had been cut but had all the pieces. Simplicity 3831 was missing the bodice and one of the skirt panels but had the bolero bodice. Simplicity 1353 was missing the belt and the left skirt front, both easy to sort out since the right skirt front was there. I don't remember exactly what was missing from Simplicity 3857, but I think one of the sets of sleeves was missing.

In some ways this was interesting because all of these belonged to the same woman. All these patterns must have appealed to her, and more than once the bodice had adjustments pinned into the pattern. She must have been a bit short-waisted too.

Comments

[marianme]

I wonder if there were pattern pieces still pinned to pieces of fabric in a box somewhere. At least, I try to keep the pattern envelope in the same box if I do that. But there have been floater pattern pieces that just show up sometimes that are not attached to fabric nor envelope. Like they've been travelling around the stash and UFOs.

[danabren]

Exactly this. I still find random pattern pieces laying around in the oddest places.

[atherleisure]

Who knows? I expect they just weren't put back in the envelopes as the garments were made. He said that his mother made nearly all of her clothes, and knowing something of the circumstances he grew up in, I don't think she's likely to have started a bunch of things and then not finished them. I'm wondering if the two uncut McCall's patterns were purchased to make together and then never made because the event passed or another child was on the way (she had nine between the early 1940's and 1960).

[mala_14]

So interesting! And those are some great patterns. It's neat that they belonged to the same person, but obviously for a fairly long span of time.

[atherleisure]

I particularly like the 1940's patterns. I think I want to do the white one in white with a blue or green bolero instead of red. I've probably got enough blue wool left over from a dress I made last year or the year before. I like it that's it's inspired by Greek dress; it says so on the pattern.

[mala_14]

Oh how cool that it says that! Blue and white seems extra appropriate for that.