Quests for elusive sewing patterns

Restoring and preserving vintage sewing patterns

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Looking for a challenge? Here you go! The entries on the page come from members looking for a particular vintage sewing pattern. Unfortunately, they don't know who made it or what the pattern number is -- and they don't have a photo. So our mission is to track down the pattern from a written description -- and believe it or not, many of these do get found.

If you find a likely candidate while browsing on the web, please tell us the web address where you saw it and we'll check it out. If you think you have the pattern in your own collection, please send us a photo. You'll get pattern points if you donate it, but just knowing the pattern number would be a tremendous help.

Pattern Quest #9 -- The Mystery Unprinted Pattern

Can you ID this 1940s two-piece dress or suit pattern?

René found our site a short time ago and has an excellent challenge for us -- especially those of you 1940s pattern lovers! (She's also delighted to find a community where such challenges are considered fun....)

So here's the challenge -- a bundle of unprinted pattern pieces with no envelope and no instructions. René would love to identify the pattern - and see what the finished outfit looks like. Normally with an unprinted pattern that would be next to impossible, but happily this outfit has distinctive styling -- and scalloped edges -- so it'll be a piece of cake, right? :-)

The top pieces B-F are shown above (along with piece K on the far left). Piece A is missing, but we're assuming the long scalloped piece is the front edge and back neck facing -- which would make A the front panel. So -- you've got a collarless jacket or top with a scalloped front closure and scalloped flared hem.

The next five pieces are H-L for the skirt. Not quite sure if this would be a six- or eight- gore style -- or why there would be a shaped waistband with a relatively long top. Of course it's possible these aren't from the same pattern, but we'll start with the theory that they all belong together.

What else can we tell you? Obviously there's no copyright date, but the style just screams 1940s. And because the pieces are marked with letters, we can eliminate some pattern companies entirely (see sidebar).

As long as we're looking, let's see if we can come up with a copy of the envelope, instructions, and the missing pieces so this beauty can be restored to use....

Posted 20 Mar 2010

Pattern pieces round-up

A missing (front panel?)
B front and back neck facing
C front inset
D back
E side back
F sleeve
G missing
H skirt
I skirt
J skirt
K waistband?
L skirt

NOT by these companies or brand names:

American Weekly
Anne Adams
Butterick
McCall
New York
Prominent Designer
Vogue

How can you help?
I think this is the pattern:

(enter web address or type your message)

Your email address
(optional for sightings)

Additional info on Pattern Quest #9

Lisa got right on this puzzler and sent a link her friend Julia -- a sewing genius. We haven't met Julia but we love her already. While you guys were sleeping, Julia was figuring out how all those pattern pieces go together so we can see what it is. Here's what she said:

I printed out the page and taped the tiny pieces together (all their notches are readily visible and easy to match), and the front panel is the large scalloped piece - the piece opens out nearly 180 degrees on the non-scalloped edge, and becomes the front. The missing piece is either a scalloped collar flap for the back of the neck (which is currently smooth finished), a welt strip, or a patch pocket (likely also scalloped).

There are two waistbands provided: K and L, and the waistband is a mock waistband with the band in the front and a simple finished edge with darts in the back. You can tell by where the notches are. This could be neatly updated for current comfort by making the back panels slightly larger at the high hip and waist, and adding hidden elastic for about 1" of comfort expansion.

The waistband options are one scalloped once on each side, and one just shaped. A nice waistband would be included, even if the jacket was long, with the idea that sometimes ladies took off their jackets, even on Sundays, and put an apron over their best attire to clear the table and wash up after meals (or potlucks, or socials, or what-have you.)

I've added some pictures I took of the little taped garment I made (about the size of a large Polly Pocket), and my sketches of what the garment art probably looks like.

Julia, we are truly not worthy. No wonder Lisa calls you the sewing genius! Thank you so much!

And for the rest of you -- now that Julia's done the hard part, it's time to get serious. With those sketches, pinning down this pattern is even more possible. Someone out there must have counter catalogs a few minutes to spare! Let us know what you find....

Pattern Quest #8 -- Yves St. Laurent dress pattern

Vogue 1646 Designer dress pattern quest resolved

Jana was looking for this pattern -- a favorite she made back in 1977 or 1978 and wanted again. She couldn't remember the pattern number, but she did remember the brightly colored rickrack trim featured on the envelope.

It took almost a year for it to turn up, and Jana spotted it before we did. But we're delighted to know she finally has her favorite pattern of all time!

Jana sent her thanks to everyone who's been helping her look. She also sent a photo so we could see the pattern, which turned out to be Vogue Paris Original 1646.

Posted 14 May 2009

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