Just a quick reminder that the giveaway for a copy of the BurdaStyle sewing handbook ends tomorrow, so if you haven’t thrown your cloche into the ring yet, head over to this post to enter.
The lucky winner will be drawn at random tomorrow, January 15th! I’m insanely jealous that I can’t enter – I’ve been eyeing it up every time I visit the bookstore.
Giveaway Policy
In related news, I’ve got quite a few giveaways lined up for you but I want to space them out so they don’t overpower the sewing. If you’re running a giveaway and want to mention it on WeSewRetro, please contact me before you post so I can get it on the schedule. I’ve been pretty flexible with this lately because it’s a bit of a departure from years past, but from this point forward the policy is in effect.
Help a Reader Out
I’ve had an email from a reader in Washington, D.C. who needs a little help from you vintage patternistas out there…
I’m looking for a pattern or sample design for a boy’s suit (1920′s or 1930′s) featuring short pants, and a jacket or smock type top, and a cap. We recently adopted a 6 yo boy and he is being baptised. I would like to use a bolt of silk that has been in my family for some time to make this little suit. The fabric is silk shantung, and part of it was used for my wedding gown. The silk has been kept preserved with the wedding gown.Right now, I’m looking at styles — thinking of a slightly rounded collar, single breasted, fabric floppy tie in a light blue. Pant length to the top of the knee, knee socks.Would you know where I could find a pattern and/or a recommendation for a seamstress?
Sounds like a beautiful project, doesn’t it? Drop some info in the comments if you have any suggestions or email me if you’d like me to pass your contact details along to the reader privately.
This post was written by...
Katherine – who has written 85 posts on WeSewRetro.com.
I'm the editor at WeSewRetro so don't hesitate to get in touch with any problems or questions. In addition to keeping the good ship WeSewRetro afloat, I run a pattern store called ZipZapKap, do an amateurish but enthusiastic job of raising a toddler, teach university professors how to dominate a computer by day and study for a masters in literature at night. My daily coffee consumption would kill a small horse.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
look for Eton suit patterns on ebay. That’s what she is looking for – at least it sounds that way to me – and they are usually inexpensive because children’s patterns in general and boy’s patterns specifically are less desirable than women’s patterns. Here are a few I found so far:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1930-vintage-pattern-Flapper-ETON-SUIT-SHIRT-Size-2-/140226712389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20a629d345#ht_500wt_901
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Simplicity-Boys-Eton-Suit-Perfect-Easter-Size-1-/220919152314?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336fcebeba#ht_3168wt_902
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cute-1920s-Boys-Suit-Knickers-Size-3-/270890635480?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f125710d8
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Size-2-Boys-Sharp-1940-New-York-PREPPY-Short-Suit-Jacket-Pattern-/250957972008?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6e42c228#ht_2705wt_886
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BUTTERICK-DELTOR-5940-LITTLE-BOYS-SUIT-PATENTED-1919-/350108631711?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518419c29f#ht_500wt_1135
I would also search Etsy.com I would search for 40s boys pattern and it should give you lots of options.
Tia
Go look for heirloom sewing patterns. There are several sites that sell them, they’d be *printed*, which if you’ve never worked with non-printed patterns before can be important, and you can find the size you need easier.
Past Patterns has a repro of a 1920s boys’ outfit, McCall 2323:
http://www.pastpatterns.com/2323.html
You can see it on the wiki here:
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/McCall_2323
And an earlier version (?) on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/88268464/antique-boys-bolero-suit-mccall-pattern