Dating Vintage Patterns ...Finding Your Era

I am beginning a list of vintage patterns to help myself and others date patterns we find.  Though it is often easy to determine the decade, even to date the pattern within a five years, it is often a challenge to determine the year.  So, as I find patterns or ads, I will add them to the list below to serve as a guide.

Though this list only has a few companies now, I hope to continue to make it more inclusive over time and include:

Advance                                      Marian Martin
Anne Adams                                McCall (McCall's)
Butterick                                      New York
Du Barry                                      Pictorial Review
Excella                                        Standard
Hollywood                                    Simplicity
Ladies' Home Journal                    Vogue

BUTTERICK

Butterick Ad - 1922

 
1910-1919

Butterick Delineator 3967 - Ladies' Coat - 1910
Butterick Delineator 3079 - Ladies' Coat - 1910
Butterick Delinator 4452 - Ladies' Dress - 1911 (February Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4462 - Ladies' Dress - 1911 (February Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4615 - Ladies' Waist - 1911 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4616 - Ladies' Skirt - 1911 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4638 - Ladies' Waist - 1911 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4639 - Ladies' Skirt - 1911 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4847 - Ladies' Waist - 1911 (August Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4848 - Ladies' Skirt - 1911 (August Ad)
Butterick Delinator 4871 - Ladies' Dress - 1911 (August Ad)
Butterick Delineator 5740 - Ladies' Dress - 1912 (November Magazine) 
Butterick Delinator 6114 - Ladies' Waist - 1913 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 6115 - Ladies' Skirt - 1913 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 6150 - Ladies' Waist - 1913 (May Ad)
Butterick Delinator 6151 - Ladies' Skirt - 1913 (May Ad)

1920-1929
Butterick Deltor 3422 - Ladies' Dress - 1921 (Ladies' Home Journal)
Butterick Deltor 3971 - Ladies' Dress - 1922 (Butterick Ad)
Butterick Deltor 3974 - Ladies' Blouse Jacket - 1922 (Butterick Ad)
Butterick Deltor 4007 - Ladies' Dress - 1922 (Butterick Ad)
Butterick Deltor 5686 - Junior Miss Dress - 1924 (December Ad)
Butterick Deltor 5702 - Ladies' Dress - 1924 (December Ad)
Butterick Deltor 6166 - Ladies's Dress w/Draped Jabot - circa 1925
Butterick Delineator 1778 - Ladies' Afternoon Dress - 1928
Butterick Delineator 1802 - Ladies' Afternoon Dress - 1928

Du Barry 5104 - Ladies' Coat - $0.15 - circa 1940
Du Barry 5268 - Ladies' Suit - $0.15 - circa 1941
Du Barry 5394 - Ladies' Dress - circa 1942
Du Barry 5606 - Ladies' Two-Piece Dress - $0.15 - circa 1943
Du Barry 5960 - Ladies' Pyjamas - circa 1944

McCALL - McCALL's

McCall Ad - 1937

1900-1919
McCall 1220 - Ladies' Skirt - 1907 (January Magazine)
McCall 1903 - Ladies' Jacket - 1908 (February Magazine)
McCall 1912 - Ladies' Skirt - 1908 (February Magazine)
McCall 2403 - Ladies' Jumper Dress - 1909 (February Magazine)
McCall 2558 - Ladies' Dress - 1909 (February Magazine)
McCall 3146 - Ladies' Gown - 1910 (Ad)
McCall 3535 - Ladies' Evening Coat - $0.15 - circa 1910
McCall 4244 - Ladies' Dress - $0.15 - circa 1911 (15 years)
McCall 7560 - Ladies' Skirt - 1917 (June Magazine)
McCall 7779 - Ladies' Middy Sailor Blouse - 1917 (June Magazine)
McCall 7805 - Ladies' Dress - 1917 (June Magazine) 

1920-1929
McCall 2065 - Ladies' Skirt - 1921 (October Ad)
McCall 2365 - Ladies' Dress - 1921 (October Ad)
McCall 2370 - Ladies' Suit-Coat - 1921 (October Ad)
McCall 2365 - Ladies' Dress - 1921 (October Ad)
McCall 2387 - Ladies' Dress - 1921 (November Ad)
McCall 2394 - Ladies' Dress - 1921 (November Ad)
McCall 2825 - Ladies' Gown - 1922 (Ladies' Home Journal - Sept.)
McCall 3664 - Ladies' Dress - circa 1922 "The New McCall Pattern"
McCall 4322 - Ladies' Dress - circa 1922
McCall 4387 - Ladies' Dress - 1926 (Magazine)
McCall 4404 - Ladies' Dress - 1926 (Magazine)
McCall 4443 - Ladies' Two-Piece Frock - 1926 (Magazine)
McCall 4461 - Ladies' Ensemble - 1926 (Magazine)
McCall 5048 - Ladies' Patou Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5050 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5069 - Ladies' Premet Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5161 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5170 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5179 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5194 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5344 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5365 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5373 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5411 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5432 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5447 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5546 - Ladies' Apron - $0.25 - 1928 (Color Cover)
McCall 5048 - Ladies' Patou Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5050 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5069 - Ladies' Premet Dress - 1927 (Magazine)
McCall 5161 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5170 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5179 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5194 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5344 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5365 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5373 - Ladies' Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5411 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5432 - Ladies' Worth Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5447 - Ladies' Evening Dress - 1928 (Magazine)
McCall 5461 - Ladies' Evening Dress & Jacket - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5524 - Ladies' Dress - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5552 - Ladies' Dress - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5622 - Ladies' Jacket - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5674 - Ladies' Dress - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5744 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5757 - Ladies' Drop Waist Dress - 1929 (Magazine)
McCall 5766 - Ladies' Afternoon Dress - 1929 (Magazine)

1930-1939
McCall 6044 Ladies' Trousers, Jacket & Bathing Suit - 1930 (Mag.)
McCall 6069 Ladies' Beach Ensemble - 1930 (Magazine)
McCall 6080 Ladies' Bibbed Skirt for the Beach - 1930 (Magazine)
McCall 7273 - Ladies' Blouse - circa 1933
McCall 8247 - Ladies' Dress - $0.45 - circa 1935
McCall 8377 - Ladies' Dress - 1935 (Magazine)
McCall 8388 - Ladies' Dress - 1935 (Magazine)
McCall 8394 - Ladies' Pleated Dress - 1935 (Magazine)
McCall 8400 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1935 (Magazine)
McCall 8866 - Ladies' Dress - 1936 (Magazine)
McCall 8870 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1936 (Magazine)
McCall 8883 - Ladies' Tunic Evening Gown - 19365 (Magazine)
McCall 8904 - Ladies' Dress - 1936 (Magazine)
McCall 8922 - Ladies' Jacket and Skirt - 1936 (Magazine)
McCall 9054 - Ladies' Gown - 1937 (McCall Ad)
McCall 9056 - Ladies' Gown - 1937 (McCall Ad)
McCall 9131 - Ladies' Summer Dress - 1937 (Magazine)
McCall 9160 - Ladies' Blouse - 1937 (June Magazine)
McCall 9162 - Ladies' Play Clothes - 1937 (Magazine)
McCall 9279 - Ladies' Gown - 1937 (June Magazine)

1940-1949 
McCall 3736 - Ladies' Dress and Bolero Pattern - 1940 (Ad)
McCall 3743 - Ladies' Dress and Bolero Pattern - 1940 (Ad)
McCall 3783 - Ladies' Gown Pattern - 1940 (Ad)
McCall 4561 - Junier Misses' Dress - 1942
McCall 4621 - Ladies' Culotte Jumper Dress - 1942
McCall 6089 - Junior Misses' Ranch Pants - $0.45 - 1945
McCall 6288 - Ladies' Blouse - $0.35 - 1945
McCall 6299 - Ladies' Skirt - $0.35 - 1945
McCall 7342 - Ladie's Blouse with Extended Shoulder - $0.35 - 1948
McCall 7243 - Ladies' Skirt - $0.35 - 1948
McCall 7600 - Ladies' Dress - circa 1949
McCall 7760 - Ladies' Suit - circa 1949

McCall's 6834 - Men's Jacket and Swim Trunks - $0.75 - 1963

PICTORIAL REVIEW 

Pictorial Review Ad - 1918

1900-1919
Pictorial Review 1454 - Maid's Apron, Collar and Cuffs 1907
Pictorial Review 4640 - Ladies' Dress 1910
Pictorial Review 6719 - Summer Bathing Suit 1915
Pictorial Review 7015 - Ladies' Dress 1916
Pictorial Review 7604 - Ladies' Dress 1918
Pictorial Review 7639 - Ladies' Dress 1918
Pictorial Review 7737 - Ladies' Skirt 1918
Pictorial Review 7751 - Ladies' Dress 1918
Pictorial Review 1044 - Bathing Suit circa 1919

1920-1929
Pictorial Review 9971 - Ladies' Dress 1922 (Good Housekeeping Ad)
Pictorial Review 1073 - Ladies' Dress 1922 (Good Housekeeping Ad)
Pictorial Review 1107 - Ladies' Blouse 1922 (Good Housekeeping Ad)
Pictorial Review 1216 - Ladies' Gown 1922 (Ladies Home Journal Sept)
Pictorial Review 1463 - Ladies' Dress circa 1923
Pictorial Review 2429 - Ladies' Dress circa 1924
Pictorial Review 2675 - Ladies' Dress circa 1924
Pictorial Review 5633 - Ladies' Evening Gown 1925 ($0.50)
Pictorial Review 5729 - Ladies' Dress Circa 1925
Rictorial Review 5851 - Ladies' Coat Circa 1925

1930-1939
Pictorial Review 4891 - Ladies' Coat - 1930 (November Ad)
Pictorial Review 5226 - Ladies' Coat - 1930 (November Ad)
Pictorial Review 5406 - Ladies' Dress - 1930 (November Ad) (Printed)
Pictorial Review 5420 - Ladies' Dress - 1930 (November Ad)
Pictorial Review 7094 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1934 (May Magazine)
Pictorial Review 7147 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1934 (May Magazine)
Pictorial Review 7256 - Ladies' Evening Gown - 1934

If you have patterns you would like to add to help make this list more useful, please list them in a comment or email me.

Thanks and ...

Happy Sewing! 

Sewing Inspiration - Flappers and a Little Reality Check ... the 1920's

I think you've seen from past posts that I love the fashion of the late Edwardian and Bell Epoque eras. However, I also know that my sewing skills are not yet up to some of the intricacies these fashions requires. And, I'm not sure I'm ready to wear a corset yet. :) Fast forwarding a few years, I land in the 1920's, time of the flapper, of simpler silhouettes, higher hemlines, greater freedom of movement and the "One Hour Dress."

I'm not sure I'll ever make a wearable dress in one hour, but I do believe that I can make something lovely inspired by this era given a few more hours. Here is one look I would love recreate.

Clara Bow in the 1920's - Check out the great boots.

I'm sure you can find this photo all over the net but I happened to find it on the San Francisco Podcast, Sparkle Tack.

Anna Pavlova in a Garden in the 1920's.

Girls just want to have fun! I love the variations in the details, fabrics and necklines. And, check out the hats. The photo comes from a post on Flatrock.org with the unfortunate title: "Condemned to Be Virgins: The 2,000,000 Women Robbed by the War." I like mine better.

Pictorial Review from Summer 1925. These styles are so simple and sleek with small details and wonderful fabrics. I don't think these are "One Hour" dresses but I could see myself making one in three or four hours. I think I have a pattern or two similar to these. I'll take a look and post photos when I find them.

If you are tempted to try the 'One Hour Dress", please check out the SewMarm's video tutorial. Here is the link to part one of the six part tutorial.

You should also look at Dragonfly Formals' take on the one hour dress. She has three examples which show how you can put your personal touch on the dress. Her use of beads really lift the designs and seem to fit perfectly with the era.

Ok, before signing off, I just had to indulge in a little eye candy:

This beautiful dress has the simple lines I've been talking about but the beautiful beadwork makes it a bit magical. I found this photo on a blog called 100 Years of Fashion.

Here's one more beauty, this one by Norman Hartnell (1924). It's beadwork and embroidery have an Asian influence. This may be more of an 100 Hour Dress.

Have you sewn anything of or inspired by this era. I would love to see you creations and hear your adventures. Feel free to send your links and photos.

Happy Sewing!