I have a similar book that is a hardcover, and is an updated version of about 300 pages. It is also big on (remodeling) reusing fabric and altering worn and out-of-fashion clothing, not just for children, but for women too. The section for men is limited, supposing that all but the simplest garments require a tailor that would be beyond the skills of most housewives(which appear to be pretty formidable to modern eyes), but kind of a not-so-subtle tone throughout, that clothing for children and women should be of good quality, but make, alter, and mend so that men will have enough money, as the breadwinners after all, of good quality purchased clothing and the services of a tailor.
However since the book was first published during the Depression and cloth and notions were the most expensive factors in any new garment, the book makes a lot of sense, putting it in its proper time: the Depression and World War II. The book naturally favors quality wool, linen, and cotton, over untested synthetics and blends where fabric content wasn't broken down for the consumer. Patterns ran 10-50 cents usually, which was considered expensive unless the pattern would be reused and not too many alterations were required. The book encouraged sewers to use an old garment that fit as a beginning point to making a pattern and showed how to make different pattern pieces based on the original garment. Although people wanted to be fashionable as much as today, the book stressed that while movies and magazines were sources of ideas for making one's own clothing, a classic wardrobe, for wear year after year with small often removeable details for seasonal changes and bows to fashion was the all-important "Good Taste", not embracing every whim of Dame Fashion, was the proper way to go. A multi-season coat, good basic black dress, a suit, pared with multi-function blouses and skirts that could be mixed and matched with boleros, jackets, vests and belts or no for multiple looks were advised even for women who could afford servants. Cindy Abel -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jean Waddie Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 3:47 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] "Repurposing" fabric in the 1940s Suzi Clarke wrote: > At 03:06 05/10/2007, you wrote: >> Six years!?! It would have been out of style. At least, that's what I >> would have claimed! :-) >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:06 PM >> To: Historical Costume >> Subject: [h-cost] Re: "repurposed" fabric...repurposing in the 1940s >> >> Still the best book in my collection of sewing and fashion books is >> the 1940s home dressmakers' book by Pocket Books. This little dynamo >> of 100-odd pages from a time when a Pocket Book would still fit in a >> pocket shows a dozen different stitches, odd techniques, clever >> cheats, and gives descriptions that are superior to any I have read >> elsewhere. >> >> The highlight of the book, really, is how to make new things from old >> such as the chapter on how to turn your husband's old suit into a >> stylish new outfit for you. >> >> It demonstrates how to dis-assemble the suit and lay a new pattern >> over the old pieces and really is a very clever thing. >> >> My only qualm would be the kind of sentence that must have rung out >> across the world in 1946: >> >> "Darling, I am home from 6 long years in the military and I just >> cannot wait to get out of this uniform and into my good old..." > > > My mother remade my Dad's Royal Air Force uniforms into shorts and > shirts for my brother in the late 40's or early 50's. and my Dad was > still in the Air Force. > > Thing was, he got promoted to an officer, and all his uniforms had to > be replaced. So there was all this lovely Air Force blue wool going to > waste............................... > > I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how > to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And > I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and > new things made. > > Suzi > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume > Possibly my earliest memory is of unravelling a red wool jumper while watching Princess Anne's (first) wedding on television. I think I would have been about three years old. I remember the red wool - I don't remember anything about the wedding! Jean _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
