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.

1958 Singer Measurement Chart - Fitting for Vintage Sewing

In 1956 the Pattern Industry issued new standards for pattern sizing. In 1958 the Singer Sewing Machine Company distributed this free chart for determining your perfect pattern size.

Standard sizing has changed since then, and many believe it is time for yet another change in what is considered standard sizing. But until then, here is a wonderful guide put out by The Simplicity, McCall's and Butterick Pattern Companies ©1996 to guide your pattern purchase.