[h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
At 03:06 05/10/2007, you wrote: Six years!?! It would have been out of style. At least, that's what I would have claimed! :-) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:06 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] Re: repurposed fabric...repurposing in the 1940s Still the best book in my collection of sewing and fashion books is the 1940s home dressmakers' book by Pocket Books. This little dynamo of 100-odd pages from a time when a Pocket Book would still fit in a pocket shows a dozen different stitches, odd techniques, clever cheats, and gives descriptions that are superior to any I have read elsewhere. The highlight of the book, really, is how to make new things from old such as the chapter on how to turn your husband's old suit into a stylish new outfit for you. It demonstrates how to dis-assemble the suit and lay a new pattern over the old pieces and really is a very clever thing. My only qualm would be the kind of sentence that must have rung out across the world in 1946: Darling, I am home from 6 long years in the military and I just cannot wait to get out of this uniform and into my good old... My mother remade my Dad's Royal Air Force uniforms into shorts and shirts for my brother in the late 40's or early 50's. and my Dad was still in the Air Force. Thing was, he got promoted to an officer, and all his uniforms had to be replaced. So there was all this lovely Air Force blue wool going to waste... I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and new things made. Suzi ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
My mother remade my Dad's Royal Air Force uniforms into shorts and shirts for my brother in the late 40's or early 50's. and my Dad was still in the Air Force. Thing was, he got promoted to an officer, and all his uniforms had to be replaced. So there was all this lovely Air Force blue wool going to waste... I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and new things made. Suzi I just gave away the last bits of Air Force wool from my dad's uniforms. He retired in 1974. I remember my mother and I both having suits made from that wool. Melusine ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
Suzi Clarke wrote: At 03:06 05/10/2007, you wrote: Six years!?! It would have been out of style. At least, that's what I would have claimed! :-) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:06 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] Re: repurposed fabric...repurposing in the 1940s Still the best book in my collection of sewing and fashion books is the 1940s home dressmakers' book by Pocket Books. This little dynamo of 100-odd pages from a time when a Pocket Book would still fit in a pocket shows a dozen different stitches, odd techniques, clever cheats, and gives descriptions that are superior to any I have read elsewhere. The highlight of the book, really, is how to make new things from old such as the chapter on how to turn your husband's old suit into a stylish new outfit for you. It demonstrates how to dis-assemble the suit and lay a new pattern over the old pieces and really is a very clever thing. My only qualm would be the kind of sentence that must have rung out across the world in 1946: Darling, I am home from 6 long years in the military and I just cannot wait to get out of this uniform and into my good old... My mother remade my Dad's Royal Air Force uniforms into shorts and shirts for my brother in the late 40's or early 50's. and my Dad was still in the Air Force. Thing was, he got promoted to an officer, and all his uniforms had to be replaced. So there was all this lovely Air Force blue wool going to waste... I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and new things made. Suzi ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume Possibly my earliest memory is of unravelling a red wool jumper while watching Princess Anne's (first) wedding on television. I think I would have been about three years old. I remember the red wool - I don't remember anything about the wedding! Jean ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
I have a similar book that is a hardcover, and is an updated version of about 300 pages. It is also big on (remodeling) reusing fabric and altering worn and out-of-fashion clothing, not just for children, but for women too. The section for men is limited, supposing that all but the simplest garments require a tailor that would be beyond the skills of most housewives(which appear to be pretty formidable to modern eyes), but kind of a not-so-subtle tone throughout, that clothing for children and women should be of good quality, but make, alter, and mend so that men will have enough money, as the breadwinners after all, of good quality purchased clothing and the services of a tailor. However since the book was first published during the Depression and cloth and notions were the most expensive factors in any new garment, the book makes a lot of sense, putting it in its proper time: the Depression and World War II. The book naturally favors quality wool, linen, and cotton, over untested synthetics and blends where fabric content wasn't broken down for the consumer. Patterns ran 10-50 cents usually, which was considered expensive unless the pattern would be reused and not too many alterations were required. The book encouraged sewers to use an old garment that fit as a beginning point to making a pattern and showed how to make different pattern pieces based on the original garment. Although people wanted to be fashionable as much as today, the book stressed that while movies and magazines were sources of ideas for making one's own clothing, a classic wardrobe, for wear year after year with small often removeable details for seasonal changes and bows to fashion was the all-important Good Taste, not embracing every whim of Dame Fashion, was the proper way to go. A multi-season coat, good basic black dress, a suit, pared with multi-function blouses and skirts that could be mixed and matched with boleros, jackets, vests and belts or no for multiple looks were advised even for women who could afford servants. Cindy Abel -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jean Waddie Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 3:47 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s Suzi Clarke wrote: At 03:06 05/10/2007, you wrote: Six years!?! It would have been out of style. At least, that's what I would have claimed! :-) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:06 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] Re: repurposed fabric...repurposing in the 1940s Still the best book in my collection of sewing and fashion books is the 1940s home dressmakers' book by Pocket Books. This little dynamo of 100-odd pages from a time when a Pocket Book would still fit in a pocket shows a dozen different stitches, odd techniques, clever cheats, and gives descriptions that are superior to any I have read elsewhere. The highlight of the book, really, is how to make new things from old such as the chapter on how to turn your husband's old suit into a stylish new outfit for you. It demonstrates how to dis-assemble the suit and lay a new pattern over the old pieces and really is a very clever thing. My only qualm would be the kind of sentence that must have rung out across the world in 1946: Darling, I am home from 6 long years in the military and I just cannot wait to get out of this uniform and into my good old... My mother remade my Dad's Royal Air Force uniforms into shorts and shirts for my brother in the late 40's or early 50's. and my Dad was still in the Air Force. Thing was, he got promoted to an officer, and all his uniforms had to be replaced. So there was all this lovely Air Force blue wool going to waste... I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and new things made. Suzi ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume Possibly my earliest memory is of unravelling a red wool jumper while watching Princess Anne's (first) wedding on television. I think I would have been about three years old. I remember the red wool - I don't remember anything about the wedding! Jean ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
Lots of snippage The highlight of the book, really, is how to make new things from old such as the chapter on how to turn your husband's old suit into a stylish new outfit for you. It demonstrates how to dis-assemble the suit and lay a new pattern over the old pieces and really is a very clever thing. I collect the odd sewing book, and have a lovely wartime book on how to make do and mend clothes that have moth holes, have shrunk etc. And I remember wool knit jumpers being unravelled, the wool washed, and new Possibly my earliest memory is of unravelling a red wool jumper while watching Princess Anne's (first) wedding on television. I think I would have been about three years old. I remember the red wool - I don't remember anything about the wedding! Totally O.T. That was the day my now husband proposed to me for the first time! Long and silly story should follow, but won't. Suffice it to say we've been married over 30 years! Suzi ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
In a message dated 10/5/2007 4:48:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Still the best book in my collection of sewing and fashion books is the 1940s home dressmakers' book by Pocket Books. This little dynamo of 100-odd pages from a time when a Pocket Book would still fit in a pocket shows a dozen different stitches, odd techniques, clever cheats, and gives descriptions that are superior to any I have read elsewhere. ** I found a period 40's commercial pattern for sleeves to cut from contrasting fabrics and replace old fashioned sleeves or worn out sleeves of old dresses. These were very clever and also had belts and bags to make out of the new fabric so the sleeves didn't look like an add onthough most of the sleeve were cut in one with yokes or some other bits that crept decoratively into the bodice and looked like they belonged there in the 1st place. Like I said... they were very clever. I used one in a new costume I was making for a stage production of a war-time radio broadcast. The dress was a mint green with a print of white and coffee colored leaves. I cut the sleeves of a grosgrain in the coffee color and scattered spherical copper beads on them. Looked great! ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
I just gave away the last bits of Air Force wool from my dad's uniforms. He retired in 1974. I remember my mother and I both having suits made from that wool. Melusine Jeeze, I hope you kept the patches and insignia, I have boxes of the things. One day, one day... -C. This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] Repurposing fabric in the 1940s
I just gave away the last bits of Air Force wool from my dad's uniforms. He retired in 1974. I remember my mother and I both having suits made from that wool. Melusine Jeeze, I hope you kept the patches and insignia, I have boxes of the things. One day, one day... -C. No, what I had was just the fabric. The patches and his actual uniforms were in his storage unit when the facility burned. He and my step-mother were full-time RV'ing, so they and the animals were fine, but they lost everything that wasn't in the motorhome, including family heirlooms. Melusine ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
