These books are wonderful I love them a great insight into sewing in the 1940's when times were hard, money and supplies sparse and rationed but imagination was unlimited. I just had to share them with you.
Isnt the inner cover a lovely design, ingeneous. Once inside the books there are endless patterns and ideas. Articles on darning and repairing. Getting wear out of wool jackets by unpicking the whole outfit and turning in inside out for more wear, have you ever heard of anything so bizzare, and even 1940's
recycling
My favourite parts are where they decorate their plain materials to create something unique using simple ribbons, and rick rack.
Just look at this collar made from rick rack braid, wouldnt it look lovely on a simple shift dress, and even plain covered button get a makeover.
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Here is a 1940's onesie, they called them cleaning overalls, very much like our "onesies" which were selling like hotcakes today in the shops when Christmas shopping. I do hope you liked these books as much as I do.
Thanks for sharing Louise. We can learn so much from that era.
ReplyDeletePlease share the names of your books. I inherited the book near the bottom from my mum.
ReplyDeleteHow silly of me to leave the titles off. One is The Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Dressmaking and the other is The Pictorial Guide to modern home needlecraft.
DeleteSo interesting! I love the 40s approach to using it all up, and reusing and redoing -- necessity the mother of invention, as always.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting! I love the 40s approach to using it all up, and reusing and redoing -- necessity the mother of invention, as always.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting! I wonder if anyone really did go ahead with taking apart their woollen clothing and reconstructing it inside out? That is some hard-core recycling!
ReplyDeleteI just cant get my head around that idea. But these books were published in wartime and needs must as the saying goes.
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