Archive for June, 2010

A Pattern Cutting Show!
June 28th, 2010 | Link

From the Women’s News section of the Reading Eagle, Tuesday, February 2nd, 1971: an ad for the Dot Pattern System:

Newspaper ad for class on the Dot Pattern Method

Um… wow. $1 for a 90 minute demonstration, and husbands admitted free? Awesome!

I had no idea Google was archiving newspapers like this. Check out the article “Fashion Disillusioned Jacques Kaplan Working on ‘Water Floor’ for the Home”, or the “You’re Sew Right” advice column, or “Jean Adams’ Teen Forum” on the same page.

Dot Pattern System Deluxe
June 27th, 2010 | Link

When I visited my parents last, my mom loaned me The Dot Pattern System Deluxe, a pattern drafting system from 1969. The way it works is that you take your personal bust and hip measurements and then use a special tape measure to scale the pattern from the binder to your own size, by sticking one end of the tape through a cross on the pattern page and then making marks for each dot at the specified distance. So this:

Schematic drawing for pattern 7101

turns into this:

Fashion drawing for pattern 7101

Talk about a maxi dress!

There are over a hundred patterns in the book,covering just about any type of garment you might want to make. House dress? Check:

Fashion drawing for a-line house dress with zipper and patch pockets

Office wear – or is this a cocktail dress? Either way, check:

Fashion drawing of plaid, panelled a-line dress with back belt

Jumpsuits? Sure…

Belted jumpsuits with flaired legs, bubble tops and wide lapels

And I’m not even sure what this ensemble would be called – but you can make one:

Slightly flaired green and white vertical striped pants with pink flowers - and matching bra

Some of the coats are actually cute – though it’s the styling on this one that I love. Over the knee red rain boots?

Red and white harlequin-diamond-patterned double-breasted a-line coat - and thigh-high red boots

and that hat!

Double-breasted a-line purple coat with matching gloves and striped white/purple hat

Practically, you’re also covered for your wedding:

Wedding dress

and what follows:

Maternity smock dress or tunic with side pleats

There are even patterns for your man:

Men's belted shirt or jacket with huge patch pockets and collar

and of course the kids (creepy, creepy kids):

Girls pleated play dresses

I actually like those two coats, and I might attempt one at some point. Or maybe something simpler to start – I could really use a house dress…

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About

My name is Shannon Hale. This blog is on indefinite hiatus, but it contains archives of the last 10 years of posts about bookbinding, knitting, sewing. and other random things in my life.

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