Linen Frocks Made to Measure

This advert is in my copy of The Needlewoman of May 1937, next to the picture of Mrs. Simpson in her corsets.  I love the style of dresses in the late 1930s and find it frustrating that the dress materials on offer today haven't got the lovely feel and drape of the old fashioned crepes.

Evidently I was born too late.  Not only was there a huge range of Irish linens available in the 1930s, but also this company had a dressmaking service.  I rather like the dress on the left, and am tempted to post the coupon asking for the Illustrated Frock Leaflet showing the choice of Ten New Paris Styles.

I think I'll start with the cheap option of a flowered dress print at elevenpence a yard, then creep slowly up the scale for the next dress and try the uncrushable crepe at one and a halfpenny.  It would have to be a very special occasion for me to fork out three shillings a yard for the "Never-Fade" Irish linen or the fadeless dress poplin.

I have been enjoying following Bonnie Hunter's adventures in Ireland.  If you haven't seen it already, you might be interested in her blog post today about her visit to the Irish Linen Centre and Museum in Lisburn. 

Wooden Legs for a Treadle Sewing Machine

The illustrations are from the October 1942 issue of Woodworker magazine.  I've seen pictures of treadles with wooden legs before and wondered why they hadn't got the standard iron legs.  Now I know why - over-enthusiasm in the DIY department.  Wooden legs were considered more modern and a way of increasing the value of the machine.  I can't believe they could ever have been as stable or as long lasting as the original iron legs.

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Home Journal 13th February 1937

This magazine jumped up at me in a second hand shop.  Original price 3d, and the newsagent had written the purchaser's name in the top right hand corner.  It is a precious little snapshot of life when the nation was anticipating the Coronation of George VI, due to take place on 12th May.  There was still time to embroider tray cloths and napkins for Coronation Day, so the book of iron-on patterns was given as a free gift.  And there was time to run up a new dress from the free pattern that was also included.

Wonder of wonders, all the patterns were still inside the magazine.  Mrs. Millard obviously didn't have time for all that sewing.  Do you think I should make that wonderful dress?

There is also another dress pattern inside marked October 1937, but I have no picture to go with it. Perhaps one day I will be very brave and make a mystery vintage dress.  Could be interesting.

Today's Light Reading

This was a surprise present from a friend a while ago.  He had found a couple of magazines at a car boot sale.  This was one of the them, the May 1937 issue of The Needlewoman.

On page 3 I found Mrs. Simpson in her corsets.

The shock was so much I needed a cup of hot sweet tea, but we were clean out of Mazawattee.