Hannah Troy Designs for McCall Pattern Company

McCall's 5672 by Hannah Troy 1960©

Women have Hannah Troy to thank for figuring out that most women's figures were not the elongated ideal that most ready to wear was designed for. Instead, she observed, women tend to have shorter waists. She was the first to design for this shape and called it "Petite". This 1960 ad for Singer sewing machines (Woman's Day, December 1960) features a model in an Italian influenced bell skirt dress, McCall's 5672.

Hannah Troy designed a few dozen patterns for both Advance Pattern Company in the 1940's and for McCall Pattern Company in the 1950's and 1960's. Her designs are hard to find but worth every penny you will pay for that pattern because she designed for a good fit that would flatter any figure. 

Hannah Troy died at the ripe old age of 93 in 1993. Find patterns by Hannah Troy on the Vintage Pattern Wikia HERE.

Gifts to Make for Those Who Sew

It may seem too early to be thinking about Christmas, but lo and behold, Christmas is but 4 months away. For those of us who have always preferred to make something special to give rather than something store-bought, the time is nigh to get cracking on some of these DIY presents.

The October 1954 issue of Woman's Day Magazine featured the perfect DIY gifts to make for those who sew. And, if the growing number of sewing blogs is any indication, you may very well have quite a few on your list.

Whether your friends are seamstresses, quilters or needlework sewists, there are patterns for thoughtful gifts to make and give. You could even make one for yourself!

For those who do counted cross stitch or crewel work, this handy floss caddy keeps all the floss strands separate and free from tangling. 

Find more sewing aids to make and give this Holiday Season. Download instructions HERE.

The Mid - Century Japanese Kimono — Easy To Make Pattern from Woman's Day

From Woman's Day May 1956

Several years ago I met a woman who had served as a WAVE in occupied Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. She was a seamstress in Evansdale, Iowa, and due to her failing vision was purging her pattern collection and she called me. During our visit she made a trip to the spare bedroom and emerged with kimonos. A few were those she purchased while stationed in Japan in the 1940's. The rest were those that she had made herself. They were all beautiful and her fascination with the culture was evident in more than the kimonos. Her entire 1960's ranch style house was furnished in the spare, Zen-like manner and her sense of peace and presence reflected that philosophy.

The fascination with Japanese culture dates back to the 1850's when Commodore Perry ordered Japan, under threat, to open its harbors to trade with the West. The cultural tsunami that ensued has influenced generations of artists, writers and designers to this day. 

So it is no surprise that in 1956 Woman's Day Magazine published this easy to sew Kimono pattern for the whole family. I have reproduced it HERE for you to download and recreate for your family.

Paper Dolls with Real Clothes

Paper Dolls with Real Fabric Clothes Woman's Day August 1954

When I was a kid I played with paper dolls. I cut out Betsy McCall, pasted her to tagboard and dressed her with the fashions of the day... all in paper. Paper dolls, to my mind, left much more scope for the imagination (to quote Anne Shirley) than three dimensional dolls. And it was so much easier to design your own "garments" in two dimensions on paper. Add the little tabs and your doll is ready to go.

This 1954 Cut Out Dolly, from Woman's Day Magazine, includes Dolly and outfits made with fabric and photographed. Using each of the outfits as a guide, make your own fabric clothes for Dolly. This would be a wonderful Mother Daughter project, and with today's technology, you could print out photos of the two of you and make wardrobes that match. Download Dolly HERE. Prints on two 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper.

Dressing in vintage fashions is easy if you sew. Find vintage sewing patterns for mom and daughter at my Cynicalgirl shop on Goodsmiths and Etsy.

Bridal Veils from Woman's Day 1955

February 1955 Woman's Day Veils to Make

For the bride with a vintage flair, the available headpieces to complete the ensemble are not so easy to find in the ready-to-wear bridal shops. This 1955 article with charts and instructions for 8 headpieces with veils makes it easy to be vintage on your wedding day.

Lace Bonnet - photo by Ben Somoroff

Satin Band with Illusion photo by Ben Somoroff

Velvet Bow photo by Ben Somoroff

Satin Halos photo by Ben Somoroff

Pearl Embroidered Lace Cap photo by Ben Somoroff

Pleated Satin Cap photo by Ben Somoroff

Gathered Illusion Cap photo by Ben Somoroff

Velvet Disc photo by Ben Somoroff

Download instructions to make all 8 veils HERE. Prints on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. 

Find more Bridal veils, headpieces and wedding gown patterns on my CynicalGirl on Etsy shop.

Download this Bird Cage Fascinator pattern HERE.

And for your 1950's vintage finale - print out this pattern for Brides Blue Garter. Make it special. Make it yourself!