The Department of Human Ecology (when did it stop being Home Ec, I wonder?) at the University of Wisconsin has put a collection of three dozen sewing and hatmaking books online.
The publication dates range from the 1890s to 1944. My favorites so far are How to Make and Trim Your Own Hats by Vee Walker Powell (ducky illustrations, see above), and a little 1918 wartime tome called Thrift Clothing, with instructions on cutting down adult garments to make children's clothes.
Unfortunately, the site is set up so that you have to view the books page by page. The University has no problem with you printing them off, either, but gee it would sure be nice if they offered those convenient little pdf's to download.
That poor woman in the illustration has no nose.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find! I'm goign to be studying these for a long time, I can tell!
ReplyDeleteWho needs a nose when you have such a chic hat?
ReplyDeleteGuess what they call Home Ec at Forgottonia U? Diatetics, Fashion Merchandising, & Hospitality. Pity the poor secretary--*koff*, excuse me, administrative office associate--who has to answer the phone!
ReplyDeleteThey look a little like the nurses' caps of that era - how chic is that!
ReplyDeleteJust noticed the nose was missing. LOL
ReplyDeleteHome ec is now CC Skills -- Consumer and Career Skills, at least at our school. My sis teaches the same type classes and it is called something else there. I'm sharing the link with her.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeletecheers Sue