Merry Hull - 1940's Fashion Accessories - Free Pattern

 1940's Merry Hull Fashion Forward Accessories

Merry Hull is best remembered for inventing a modified gusset for the fingers and thumb in women's gloves. It was revolutionary and allowed the hand and fingers to move with ease.

She was also instrumental in creating what we now take for granted.... matching accessories. This 1940's Merry Hull pattern, first appeared in This Week magazine as a mail order pattern. It is reproduced for you here to recreate the bolero, handbag/muff, belt and hat. Download here.

1950's Aunt Jemima Face Apron Pattern

In 1955, ads for a series of mail order "Face" or "Girl" aprons appeared in Newspapers across the US. This "Mammy" or Aunt Jemima face apron was available through Laura Wheeler and Alice Brooks pattern companies. For twenty-five cents you could have this pattern delivered directly to your door.

1950's Aunt Jemima Apron Pattern

Get this 1955 apron pattern for free.

What strikes me as curious is that the same face apron was also issued but with a fair skinned "Girl" represented in the newspaper ad. 1955 was the year Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to vacate her seat in the front of the bus in Montgomery Alabama, which was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Odd that these images, which are such blatant stereotypes, would be so available.

Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University

But the "Jim Crow Mammy" image had been in use since the 1800's as a commercial identity for selling a vast array of household goods from baking soda to coffee to dishes and linens. It was in the late 1940's when Quaker Oats enlisted their third Aunt Jemima, an image that would become a American Icon. The more recent figure of Aunt Jemima is a much altered figure from the earlier version and certainly less racist.

We may consider the images of the "Dutch Girl" less racist but still represents a stereotype image.  So how about downloading this simple "Santa Face" Apron Pattern to celebrate the holidays.

1940's Prims Clothespin Caddy Pattern

The Prym sewing notions company traces back to the 16th century where it is the oldest family business in Germany. Hans Prym immigrated to America and in 1924 he established Prims, a sewing notions manufacturing firm as an autonomous offshoot of the historic Prym family business in Germany.  The Long Island plant expanded quickly and soon moved to a larger plant in Dayville, Connecticut. During World War II it's specialized machinery was applied to machine shop production of defense products. Today Pryms Consumer USA products include Prym Sewing, Dritz and others.

I have uncovered several patterns that originated from the Home Economics Department or the Educational Bureau of William Prym, Inc, as this one does. Probably dating around the late 40's because the company first introduced the "Cover-Your-Own" buttons, snaps and buttons after 1946. This little gem is a whimsical take on a once useful accessory. And what a creative way to sell buckles and buttons. 

I don't know how these patterns got into peoples hands. Were they high school Home-Ec projects? I have searched newspaper archives and they do not appear to have been mail order. I have several packages of the buttons and buckles and none have any offers for patterns. I did see an advertisement for a sewing fair that had representatives present from many companies including Singer and Prims. They were doing demonstrations of their products and perhaps that is where they originated? The mystery continues.

For a pattern and instructions to make this nostalgic clothespin caddy click HERE.