All The Wyld Things: Sewing and Pattern Drafting Books

Monday, February 15, 2010

Sewing and Pattern Drafting Books

Last week I found a Winifred Aldrich book on Metric Pattern Drafting for Men's Wear on Ebay selling for AUD16 dollars and won a bid on it. At Dymocks I paid for my Women's Wear one for AUD 75! I thought it was a bargain for 16 dollars. But I had to go and pick it up from the seller at Brighton Carboot Market, which is South West from where we live. Saved me about AUD12 in postage. So Wyld Man and I rushed there from church in order to meet Jim the seller before 12 noon, which was when they close shop. While I was there, he took out some more books on sewing and pattern drafting. And I got them all. Sigh.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Aldrich's book on Menswear"]

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It's the 1990 edition.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Overgarment block"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Classic Shirt Block"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Draft for a sports jacket"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafting collars and revers"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for boxer shorts and undies"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Easy fitting classic suit block"]

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I can't wait to draft something for Wyld Man! He needs a new cassock for serving at mass.

This second book I picked up there was a real treasure.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Successful Dressmaking by Ellen and Marietta Resek"]

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There is no date of publication, but it looks like it was written in the 40's or early 50's.

Although the book is titled "Successful Dressmaking", it has a big section on just pattern drafting, which got me really excited.

It actually made a reference to Harriet Peppin, her book Modern Pattern Design being the definitive drafting book published in 1942. You can read the entire book at VintageSewing.info.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A reference to Harriet Peppin"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A draft for a bodice block"]

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I liked the simplicity of it. However, the armhole curve wasn't detailed-it just said "Curve armhole".

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sleeve draft"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Skirt draft"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Shorts draft"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="How to draft facings"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Even a section on children's wear"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A list of contents"]

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I paid AUD 20 for it. It was well worth it, because its more than 60 years old, in excellent condition for it's age. The binding was tight, and the dust jacket in very good condition for a book that old. It was also published in Adelaide, which Wyld Man noted was unusual.

My next find-

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Principles of Dressmaking by Doris Lewis"]

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This book was published in Adelaide as well by the Education Department by the Government publisher in 1945.

It also has a big section on pattern drafting.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Publication information"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="How to take measurements"]

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[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Basic Bodice"]

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This book has actually made drafts of the basic bodice for different body shapes.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for the underdeveloped figure"]