Vintage Sewing - A Handbag to Match Your Suit from 1943

 From Woman and Home, February, 1943.  Another way to "make do" on the UK home front. Left-click to enlarge.

Vintage Sewing: Some Muslin Lingerie from 1910

 

From Harper's Handy-book for Girls, a project considered suitable for girls (especially those who might someday have to sew their own undergarments).  The book can be found online.  

Sewing - Dolls' Dressmaking from 1950

From the May, 1950 issue of Woman's Day magazine, three pages on making dresses for two different doll sizes.  There are no patterns offered - p3 has instructions on how to cut pieces using the doll body as a guide.  Left-click to enlarge.

 

Vintage Sewing - A Dog Coat from 1976

 Another project from last week's Woman's Day Book of Gifts to Make.  This made-to-measure coat will ensure Fideaux stays warm this month.  The book can be borrowed at the Open Library.

Vintage Sewing - Plastic Bibs from 1950

 

From Crafts for Everyone by Louis Newkirk, a set of bibs to be made from that new-fangled plastic fabric that was all the rage just after the war.

Instructions can be found at the Internet Archive - unfortunately, this is one of those books that has to be checked out by the hour, but an account is free.

Vintage Sewing - a Summer Hat and Bag from Placemats, 1952

 

A summer set from Good Housekeeping magazine, August 1952 - a sort of pixie had and handbag to make from woven straw placemats.  Left-click to enlarge, or go to the Internet Archive to download the entire magazine.

I'm not sure, myself, if I would try to wear these unless I were still under twenty-one. They'd look cute on a little girl, though.

EDITED TO ADD:  Blogfriend Sam is correct, there is just a hint of The Handmaid's Tale about this. Ick.

Vintage Makeovers - A Silk Scarf Blouse from 1947

 

From the "Found Money" series in Woman's Day, June 1947.  Rationing was over, but returning service personnel were bringing back souvenirs from Europe and the Pacific that could be put to good use replenishing your wardrobe.  

Vintage Sewing - A Child's Duffle Coat from 1955

 

From the August issue (well, the UK used to be quite cold during the summer) of Britannia and Eve, a duffle coat that assumes an awful lot of tailoring knowledge on the part of the maker.  Clothing rationing ended in 1949, but this is the sort of pattern that might be created from the good bits of an old blanket or an older family member's coat.  Left-click to enlarge.

Other Crafts - Ribbon Trimmings from 1925

Instructions on how to make frills, plaits, roses, rosebuds, daisies, and any number of other trimmings beloved by early 20th century seamstresses.  Free download from the Internet Archive. 

Vintage Sewing - A Beach Bag from 1950

To make and enjoy during these last few weeks of summer, from Crafts for Everyone, by Louis V. Newkirk; a waterproof beach bag to sew from Koroseal, alas no longer available.  Oilcloth or a recycled shower curtain would work, though.

Newkirk was a highly prolific arts and craft author during and right after WWII.  This book is available as a one-hour loan from Internet Archive (free but you will need to open an account).

Vintage Sewing - A Very British Sunsuit from 1955

 

A rather tricky-looking and covered-up sunsuit from Britannia and Eve, May 1955.  Left-click to enlarge.

Vintage Upcycling - Slipper Socks from 1947

 

From the October, 1947 issue of Woman's Day - their monthly column "How To Be A Girl" offered projects as well as etiquette and dating advice. Here are three different styles to make from felt and old socks. 

Left-click to enlarge.

Vintage Home Crafts - A Clothespin Bag from 1940

 Another sewing project from Ruth Wyeth Spears, Home Decorating with Fabric and Thread. Available at Open Library on a one-hour basis.

Hallowe'en Crafts - The Costume Book, By Joseph Leeming

 

With October 31st just over a month away, here is a book from 1939 that offers a number of costume ideas - although they may be of limited use today, as making Elizabethan knee breeches from golf knickers does rather depend on a ready supply of golf knickers. However, there are hundreds of line drawing and some very basic patterns to help out.

The Costume Book can be borrowed in one-hour increments from archive.org.

Vintage Sewing - Summer Outfits, 1920s

 

Downloaded from Pinterest and the link is lost, but here are two ideas for summer, a peasant blouse and a peignoir (although saut-de-lit sounds more descriptive). In French, but the diagrams should be easy to follow.

From the 1920-22 time-period and the French magazine Les Modes De La Femme.

Summer Sewing - A Corset Cover from 1910

 

A frilly but cool muslin corset cover from the Harper's Handy Book for Girls, with four pages of instructions (and a pair of drawers to match). Make it of seersucker and you won't even have to iron it.

Available as a free download from the Internet Archive. 

Sewing - A Rag Baby from Ruth Wyeth Spears

 

From Home Decoration with Fabric and Thread, published 1940.  The book, with quite a few attractive projects including a stocking cat that I've posted before, can be borrowed online at the Internet Archive.

Vintage Sewing - Remodeling a Dress into Toddler's Rompers, 1951

 

From the Australian Home Journal, October 1951, instructions and a diagram to help you turn the skirt of that "old print frock" into a charming pair of play rompers for your toddler.

The Internet Archive has an almost complete run, issues from 1949-1952. It's download-able, but be warned, the file is pretty big.  

Vintage Sewing - three English Nighties from 1955

 

From now-defunct English magazine Britannia and Eve, March 1955, a diagram and instructions to draft three styles of nighties and a pair of matching "shorties."  The other two pages can be found on my Flickr account here and here.

Sewing - A Braided Hot Mat from 1941

 

From Let's Make a Gift, by Ruth Wyeth Spears, and I can see this as a use for old t-shirts.  The book can be read at Hathi Trust but if it can be downloaded I have yet to figure out how.