Learn to Sew!

Black and White pen and ink drawing of two woment in the 1930s Day Dress. Cover illustration by artist Gretchen Shields. Woman on the left wears view B and woman on right is wearing View A. They are walking arm in arm along a boardwalk.
249 1930's Day Dress
Woman walking towards the camera out doors on a sun lit porch. There are tables in the foreground and chairs and a table in the background. She is wearing a mint green and lavender floral dress. Dress is View B. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
Two women standing in 1930s Day Dresses. Both are looking forward and standing in front of a white backdrop. Dress on left is a light salmon color. On right is a tan color. Botha re wearing view A. View A features round neck with collar points and peplum cleverly cut on the straight grain but with the slimming look of a bias cut.
Woman wearing the view B in a light mint green and lavender floral. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
Close up photo of woman in light mint green and lavendar dress. View B. Shows the button front closure and the flounced neckline. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
Photo of back cover with sizing chart. Description of the two views and fabric suggestions.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Black and White pen and ink drawing of two woment in the 1930s Day Dress. Cover illustration by artist Gretchen Shields. Woman on the left wears view B and woman on right is wearing View A. They are walking arm in arm along a boardwalk.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, 249 1930's Day Dress
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Woman walking towards the camera out doors on a sun lit porch. There are tables in the foreground and chairs and a table in the background. She is wearing a mint green and lavender floral dress. Dress is View B. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Two women standing in 1930s Day Dresses. Both are looking forward and standing in front of a white backdrop. Dress on left is a light salmon color. On right is a tan color. Botha re wearing view A. View A features round neck with collar points and peplum cleverly cut on the straight grain but with the slimming look of a bias cut.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Woman wearing the view B in a light mint green and lavender floral. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Close up photo of woman in light mint green and lavendar dress. View B. Shows the button front closure and the flounced neckline. View B is more casual, with buttoned front, flounce collar and sleeves, and eyelash pockets.
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Photo of back cover with sizing chart. Description of the two views and fabric suggestions.

249 1930's Day Dress

$29.00
$29.00
Sold out

Misses XS-3XL

Fashions towards the end of the 1930s combined the frugality of the lean Depression years with touches of Hollywood extravagance. Our sewing pattern is for a practical dress that uses fabric economically, yet still looks chic and trendy.

In the late 1930s, the glamorous and glittering distractions of Hollywood were a distraction from an often grim realities of everyday life.  As Americans began to pull out of the Great Depression, they watched and mimicked the fun and fancy ways of the wealthy the best they could.  World War II was yet to come and US citizens reveled in an upbeat, although naive, mood.   

View A, drafted from an original dress (circa 1939) features round neck with collar points and peplum cleverly cut on the straight grain but with the slimming look of a bias cut. It has a back zipper, dropped waistline, and short sleeves. The unpressed tucks in the front eliminate the need for bust darts and create a fashionable broad shouldered look of the period.

View B is our designer's variation of the original design. It has a more casual look, with buttoned front bodice, flounce collar and sleeves, back zipper and eyelash pockets with flounce pocket bands.

Both dresses have a slightly flared skirt that is very flattering.

The PDF pattern has instructions and files for copy shop (36” and A0), print at home (A4 and 8.5”x11”) and projector file.

Suggested fabrics: Rayon, medium-weight silk, microfiber, or other fabrics with drape. View B is particularly attractive in small-print fabrics with sheer flounces.

Yardage chart (.pdf)