Misses Sizes XS - 3XL
This dress comes from the 1940's when square shoulders, narrow hips, and skirts that ended just below the knee were the height of fashion. Fabric rationing had lead to the use of darts, pleats, tucks, and small gathers to create interest on dresses, rather than full skirts and sleeves. Our dress is based off an original hand-sewn dress from the late-1940s, when fabric had become a little more available, and when dresses were still word to do daily work as well as to go out on the town. This dress has an interesting bodice construction, with shoulder and waist pleats and darts, and a shawl-collar. Skirt darts create a flattering look while adding plenty of ease in the hip area. Elbow-length sleeves with cuffs make this nearly a year-round dress. An invisible side zipper closes the dress.
Suggested Fabrics: Light to medium weight woven fabrics with good drape such as cotton batiste and lawn, rayon challis, wool crepe, wool gauze, silk noil or silk crepe.
Sizing and Yardage Chart (pdf)
One small correction in older print version: In the Waistband Facing section, instructions should read: Match edge of facing to bodice at waist, matching notches and side seams, with right side of facing to wrong side of bodice. Stitch facing through all layers from waistband side, using previously stitched waist seam as a guide. The bodice seam will be sandwiched between the Waistband and Waistband Facing. Fold over unstitched edge of Waistband facing by 3/8” (9.5mm) to the wrong side and press.