Excerpts From the Past • 1951 McCall's Needlework

What shall we call this? Magazine....ehm...Wednesday? ;)

We made a spontaneous trip to an antique store yesterday, and found bunches of vintage goodies! Among the vast stash is this lovely magazine from 1951; McCall Needlework. It is full of patterns for everything you can think of - from sweaters to hats to potholders!

Just to warn you, there are something like 37 pictures in this post! You would think I didn't narrow it down at all, but in fact there are over 100 pages in total. So, dive in and enjoy! There are patterns for all of the items pictured, other than advertisements and sewing projects. The patterns are scattered throughout the pages, but they are in the same order as in the magazine.

If you want to see a much larger picture, right click on the photo and click "open image/link in new tab." You can then zoom in however close you want, for easy pattern-reading.

And if you made it this far, congratulations!!! ;) Do let me know if you make anything from the patterns - I'd love to see what you made!

Amidst salsa-making, and other sewing-time-stealing occupations, I'm trying to get Grandma's wedding blouse (and hopefully the skirt too) done in time for the HSM deadline, which is Monday. We'll see how that goes!

Thanks for bearing with my spontaneous blogging! :)

Excerpts From the Past • Clarks O.N.T. Fashions

As per request from Brigid, I'm sharing the 1930s Clarks Fashions book today! We picked up this magazine at an antique store for just a dollar or two, and it's an absolute gold mine! Pattern after pattern for nothing but lovely styles of hats, sweaters, dresses, gloves, and even purses!

There is a sad part of this story, however; (insert weeping violins) when we got home and looked at it, we discovered that there are a couple of pattern pages missing. It is very sad, but there is still plenty of goodness left in the magazine to make me happy.

Ironically enough, the lady who originally owned this magazine was named Esther! That's a fun coincidence, don't you think?

The patterns for the projects are towards the bottom of this post.

Unfortunately the pattern is missing for this gorgeous blouse. If you felt adventurous, you could probably make this blouse with no pattern! It looks simple enough.

Yes!! There is a pattern for this dress! Somehow I can't imagine crocheting a whole dress, but it's actually a rather neat idea. It's so beautiful!

(no pattern for blouse)

That jaunty hat looks fun to crochet, don't you think?

I'm starting to think I might want to make this "Russian Turban." It looks quite cute on the model!

Don't you just love that little coin purse?

Another lovely ensemble.

(no pattern for blouse)

Oh, how I wish I had the pattern for this blouse! It's such a beautiful, feminine design.

The first part of the pattern for this blouse is missing, but the second half is on the first pattern page that I have. It could perhaps be invented based on that!

Ah-ha! A knitted dress! Brigid, I expect to see you wearing this next week. 

It's not like she couldn't do it. 

:)

I also love that beret. Someday I will conquer knitting in the round, and when I do, this will be the first thing I make.

First I need to conquer just plain knitting...

I used this pattern for my crocheted collar. I stopped after the 13th round (omitting that extra front part) because I thought it would interfere with the design of my dress. It would be fun to make it as the pattern says, however, to go with a simple 1930s blouse.

More lovely accessories.

Ahh. This cape. I'm going to make it. It's just the thing to keep me warm without crushing my puffy '30s sleeves!

Now for the patterns! The partial pattern on the left is for the Striped Yoke Blouse.

I hope you enjoy using these patterns! Be sure to comment if you make any of them so I can see your lovely creations! :)