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:

turns into this:

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:

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

Jumpsuits? Sure…

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

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

and that hat!

Practically, you’re also covered for your wedding:

and what follows:

There are even patterns for your man:

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

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…