I have benefited in more ways than I can count from my collection of antique sewing manuals, booklets, and catalogs. Many excellent skills have been all but lost and forgotten in the last two generations, making these books a treasure trove for the die-hard seamstress. I am delighted to be able to share from my collection of copyright-free antique works, and I’ll add more eBooks as there is time to do the scanning and formatting!
1938 Fall/Winter Chicago Mail Order Catalog
This 100-page catalog is chock-full of goodies from 1938, including ladies’ dresses, outerwear, undergarments, men’s and children’s clothing, gloves, hats, shoes, children’s toys, numerous items for the home, and much more! Half the pages are in full color, giving a fantastic glimpse into what was popular at the end of the 1930s during the “swing” era. This catalog is an invaluable resource for identifying period garments and shoes and also comes in handy for doll and toy collectors! Because of the sheer number of high-quality color images, this is a large download–about 85 megabytes. Do make sure you’re on a high-speed connection before attempting to retrieve the file.
$5.95
Sample Pages
Beneath the unassuming cover awaits a treasure trove of sewing knowledge! This wonderful book was created to instruct girls in basic to advanced sewing, beginning with simple hand stitches, then advancing through projects that increase in difficulty–from simple hems and repairs to aprons, a nightgown, underthings, a middy dress, and more. This book is a fantastic tool to use with a daughter or granddaughter, going through the chapters together and learning skills step-by-step. If you’ve never been able to find a beginning sewing class suitable for young girls who are new to the needle, this is the place to start! For the fashion historian and historical costumer, this is a valuable source of period correct stitchery and pattern silhouettes. (120 pages total with beautiful, clear illustrations throughout)
$9.95
Sample Pages
This catalog features some of the most exquisite artwork I’ve seen from this time period–each page is a delight. While men’s clothing is the primary focus, there are women on every page, so you also get to see women’s clothing and accessories for spring and summer of 1916. There are fun fashion tips to read on most pages, along with more detailed guidelines on the last page for the well-dressed gent. I love it! (23 pages total with full color cover)
$3.95
Sample Page
This is a March, 1920, newspaper tabloid insert filled with the latest fashions for ladies and girls (for patterns that would become available in April 1920). This is right before the dawn of the “flapper” era with its shorter skirts and bobbed hairstyles. In a way, this represents the last gasp of the 19-teens with its long, flowing skirts and abundant hair (there’s even an ad on the back page for “Danderine” shampoo that shows very long hair). You get eight oversized pages of detailed fashion illustrations and descriptions, including a wide center piece in color. [A helpful note: The tabloid is numbered to page ten but doesn't have a page 2 or a page 3 -- the back side of the front page is numbered 4! No clue why the pages are thus misnumbered, but the tabloid is intact.]
$3.95
Sample Page
This is a wonderful resource for tackling a multitude of fitting problems and includes many photo illustrations as well as detailed instructions for a perfect fit. (30 pages total)
$3.95
Sample Page
Gift Certificates!
Not sure what to give the sewing enthusiast on your list? We now offer gift certificates! You can choose any amount (simply fill in the blank in the cart during checkout), and our software will generate a unique code just for your recipient. You’ll receive a download link to print a physical certificate if you’d rather put something into a card, or you can simply e-mail your recipient the code. It’s as simple as pie! Click the button below to add a gift certificate to your cart!
