Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Sewing - A Slip-On Apron from 1921


From A Complete Course in Dressmaking by Isabel de Nyse Conover, Lesson II - a volume that goes into lyrical raptures over aprons and housedresses.  The directions for drafting the pattern and sewing this slipover apron, bias-bound, start on p 32 and go on in unnecessarily fulsome detail for another dozen pages, but for anyone who has sewn before, it's a pretty easy project.  The pdf  also contains instructions for a half-apron and a kimono-sleeved housedress, and can be downloaded from the Antique Pattern Library, as can the rest of the course (scroll down). Lingerie is in Lesson III.

2 comments:

Bunnykins said...

I just took a quick peek, but think the alteration to make a better fitting kimono sleeve is worth having a look at if you sew. Not so boxy and cut so the sleeve falls closer to the body. Even though this is old, it's really worthwhile to anyone who wants to learn to sew. Instructions in 'how to sew' books and patterns in general just don't teach newbies how to handle fabric or finish seams. My favs are still those WWII patterns that use every scrap of cloth through clever cutting.
Thanks for this!

Sam said...

I agree with Bunnykins - far too few of the "how to" books put out now do not understand fabric all that well. Nor do they explain the need to match a grain line (other wise all your work is wasted since the garment will never fit properly). I do love the WWII patterns where fabric is used well and not creating tons of waste. I almost never follow the modern pattern cutting instructions.