For the past few months, I’ve been collecting (?) sites which have out-of-copyright sewing instructions, millinery courses, fashion design and drawing, and the like. A fair number were used in grammar and high schools before the 1940’s. Most have drafting instructions. One was written by a professional ladies tailor. Where should these sites properly be entered so the members can see how vintage clothes, hats and restyled garments were done “way back when.” Please let me know if you members would be interested in the sources. I do give high marks to a site that uses .pdf. Cordially, Nehmah
Here is one source: “http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/HumanEcol” Click on “All Sewn Up….” then browse. Sorry, I blew another link. N

Aug 27, 2009, 08.20 PM by nehmah

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9 Posts

  • Morticia_large

    Aug 28, 2009, 01.31 PMby ana555

    i am very interested! i have researched books. they are very hard to find and expensive. if the information is all on web sites, so much the better. i found a good reprinter on ebay but each book is at least $15 a piece and up. and personaly i want to buy every one she sells. what is great about those books is they are very informative. like you said nehmah, they were used in schools. i am sorry for rambling, but i am very excited! i thought that i would have to start saving to buy all the books. one thing i have noticed is that fashion recycles itself so those old techniques are really current again. i didn’t pay any attention to fashion until i started to sew. i was surprised. but i did live in jeans and t’s. i am sure the links will work soon nehmah! thanks for the all the research, i know i am very gratefull. ( i almost have my girls vintage dress done, i will post it soon) ana555

    1 Reply
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    Aug 28, 2009, 03.23 PMby nehmah

    Hi Ana555, Don’t feel badly re: computer literacy. I have been on this site almost 2 years and still get the links screwed up. However, if I post an address with “http://…………………” then just copy everything inside of the quote marks. Most sites now use the links box where you fill in the blank. Much easier. Cordially, Nehmah BTW, I will try to drop you a PM or write on your wall whenever I list any other sites. N

    1 Reply
    • Morticia_thumb

      Aug 28, 2009, 06.22 PMby ana555

      i did exactly what the burda people said to do for a link. maybe they think i need more typing pratice. thanks for taking the time to send any other sites you find. i can’t wait to read them all!
      ana555

  • Dsc00199_large

    Aug 28, 2009, 07.05 PMby julietta

    Thanks so much for sharing. As Ana says everything is coming back and those old books are just so beautifully done with all the illustrations. I’m also very interested in links like that and would be very grateful when you share whatever you find.

  • Fe9065e81821554e62d2add7e57fb5da998fc6c9_large

    Aug 31, 2009, 05.04 AMby jerwin

    Jane Fale’s "Dressmaking"http://books.google.com/books?id=XcRLAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=jane+fales#v=onepage&q=&f=false looks decent. However, many books refer to material that’s not yet online, or require the use of specialized scales and curves. (The curves are the hard part— although you can sometimes find plans in the patent office. Scales were a remedy for innumeracy, so a modicum of sense and a calculator serve nicely.)

    Many other books are"really advertisements":http://books.google.com/books?id=Tqimbul_qxkC&dq=dress+cutter+coat+tailor+bros+ladies&lr=&as_brr=1&source=gbs_navlinks_s for “ready made patterns” which have not lasted, or manage to leave out the made to measure bits

    And of course, many of the online books are a hundred years behind the time.

    2 Replies
    • Morticia_thumb

      Aug 31, 2009, 01.55 PMby ana555

      i checked out the link that you posted and downloaded “patternmaking” by agnes hanna. even though the book is 87 years old the basis of the draft is very relavent. i take the instructions as learning the abc’s, then taking the info and singing the abc’s the way i want to. the great part about your link is that google stated on like a preface to the download that their company(google) is making an effort to preserve books for future generations. i think that is great. THANK YOU for posting jerwin. i really appreciate it. ana555

    • 990745-073_thumb

      Aug 31, 2009, 03.03 PMby nehmah

      Hello Jerwin, Even though the books are out-of-date, the human body still has the same configuration. The garments from the late 1800s to middle 1900s fit so well, in part, because of the way a pattern was made. We really don’t need the the most up-to-date software, and most of us cannot afford a $400+ price tag for the basic programs. I found a photograph of one author’s tool, that I believe can be reproduced by hand. There are many potential designers on this site who need a bit of help, and this may be what will do it. After all is said, what can it harm to see how it used to be done? Cordially, Nehmah

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    Aug 31, 2009, 06.21 AMby judeb

    I really like this idea, maybe BS could come up with a page that useful links to digital reference books and the like could be posted. I particularly like http://www.vintagesewing.info/index.html which I originally got from a BS members creation (can’t remember who’s sorry). I was taught from old books and though many of them may be outdated in some ways I think they are still valuable reference points.

  • Bored_polar_bear_large

    Aug 31, 2009, 03.34 PMby 20beverly08

    Wow, what a treasure chest for sewers! Great idea!

  • Fe9065e81821554e62d2add7e57fb5da998fc6c9_large

    Sep 24, 2009, 06.57 AMby jerwin

    All very out of date. But useful for costumers.

    Americana —Tailoring

  • 990745-073_large

    Sep 24, 2009, 02.00 PMby nehmah

    Hello Jerwin, Thanks for another link. It isn’t really out-of-date; there are just so many ways to draft patterns that will fit the human body. Most of the hand-sewing techniques are still used in custom tailoring and dressmaking. Until I began looking into how patterns were originally “made”, I would have ignored these books. Not any longer. I just found a book that gives the exact construction details required to make a military-issue Highland kilt, sporran, jacket, and spats. It was printed in 1893-1898. The entire "book of instructions for garments of all sorts, men only, runs to 12 volumes. Cordially, Nehmah

    1 Reply
    • 990745-073_thumb

      Sep 24, 2009, 05.38 PMby nehmah

      Correction, the above books also have buys and teens pattern instructions. Now, when was the last time you saw anything that was just for teen males? Nehmah

  • 1ea8f961776a5fe83ce32501b0f5b0b7d32f5d9d_large

    Sep 24, 2009, 08.35 PMby oscarthegrouch108

    nehmah, what a wealth of information! thank you, Thank you!

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