Singer Sewing Book

Mary Brooks Picken

University of California Libraries

Excerpt from The Secrets of Distinctive Dress: Harmonious, Becoming, and Beautiful Dress Its Value and How to Achieve ItThe search for happiness carries us as individuals into the country, the streets, the parks, the churches, the homes, the theaters, and to books and magazines.To know happiness we must appreciate beauty, and to appreciate beauty we must develop it within us.A great degree of happiness may be had from a study of dress and its requisites, for, as we study, observe, and apply, our inner selves will awaken to the artistic side of dress, and once awakened will develop to such an extent as to give us understanding and appreciation.This book comes to you not as a "Beauty Book," but as a study, and my earnest desire is that it will help you to see in dress beauty that you have not been able to find before.An artist must know the principles of art to enjoy art or to make a success of it, and so must every woman know the principles of dress and enjoy dress to be successfully clothed.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Secrets of Distinctive Dress: Harmonious, Becoming, and Beautiful Dress Its Value and How to Achieve It (Classic Reprint)

Arts & Photography

Decorative Arts & Design

Forgotten Books

Mary Brooks Picken, Director of Instruction at the the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, developed the easy-to-use sewing instructions for her infamous "one hour dress." WIDAS was the largest school of dressmaking and design in the 1920s and produced a number of home study courses to teach sewing and millinery skills. There are three One Hour Dress books -- two from 1924, one from 1925. 

This book, the first book issued in 1924, contains step-by-step detailed instructions for completing the one hour dress and instructions for 16 other variations on the original design. Ten steps complete the dress: taking your measurements, divide the material, cut out the belt and skirt, cut out the blouse, bind the neck and sleeves, join the blouse and skirt, complete the skirt, complete the blouse, make the belt, and finish the dress.

This method does not require a specific pattern, instead it is a "method of making." The author's 10-step method uses your own measurements for blouse length, skirt length, hip measurement and armhole measurement. These measurements are measured off on the fabric with clear instructions on where and when to cut. Fabric measurement suggestions are provided and detailed illustrations for each step are numbered in the text and have a corresponding number on the illustration so you can easily follow along. 

This 16 page book is easy-to-use to create fantastic flapper fashions. An infinite variety of dresses can be made based on the style you choose as well as fabrics, colors and decorative trims. Please see images at the top of this page for a sampling of dresses and instructions included in the book.

One Hour Dress -- 17 Easy-to-Sew Vintage Dress Designs From 1924 (Book 1)

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Crafts & Hobbies

Bramcost Publications

Mary Brooks Picken, Director of Instruction at the the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, developed the easy-to-use sewing instructions for her infamous "one hour dress." WIDAS was the largest school of dressmaking and design in the 1920s and produced a number of home study courses to teach sewing and millinery skills. There are three One Hour Dress books -- two from 1924, one from 1925. The two 1924 issues of this book contain different designs and different features. This book, the second of 1924, contains step-by-step detailed instructions for completing the one piece dress, two piece dress and a slenderizing one piece dress as well as instructions for 15 other variations on the original designs. A few simple steps complete the dress: taking your measurements, preparing the material, cutting the dress, making the dress, cutting and applying long sleeves. Instructions for the two piece dress include: dividing the material, cutting out the blouse, proportioning the skirt, making the blouse, making the skirt, joining the skirt and blouse, making the pockets and belt.The one hour dress sewing method does not require a specific pattern, instead it is a "method of making." The author's instructions use your own measurements for blouse length, skirt length, hip measurement and armhole measurement. These measurements are measured off on the fabric with clear instructions on where and when to cut. Fabric measurement suggestions are provided and detailed illustrations for each step are included in both text and line drawings so you can easily follow along. This 16 page book is easy-to-use to create fantastic flapper fashions with many of the dress styles still being in vogue today. An infinite variety of dresses can be made based on the style you choose as well as fabrics, colors and decorative trims. Please see images at the top of this page for a sampling of dresses and instructions included in the book.

One Hour Dress -- 17 Vintage 1924 Dress Designs with Detailed Instructions for Sewing (Book 2)

Mary Brooks Picken, Director of Instruction at the the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, developed the easy-to-use sewing instructions for her infamous "one hour dress." WIDAS was the largest school of dressmaking and design in the 1920s and produced a number of home study courses to teach sewing and millinery skills. There are three One Hour Dress books -- two from 1924, one from 1925. The 1925 issue of this book contains different designs than the 1924 books. Step-by-step detailed instructions for completing the one piece dress, two piece dress and a slenderizing one piece dress as well as instructions for 18 other variations on the original designs are included. A few simple steps complete the dress: taking your measurements, preparing the material, cutting the dress, making the dress, cutting and applying long sleeves. Instructions for the two piece dress include: dividing the material, cutting out the blouse, proportioning the skirt, making the blouse, making the skirt, joining the skirt and blouse, making the pockets and belt. The one hour dress sewing method does not require a specific pattern, instead it is a "method of making." The author's instructions use your own measurements for blouse length, skirt length, hip measurement and armhole measurement. These measurements are measured off on the fabric with clear instructions on where and when to cut. Fabric measurement suggestions are provided and detailed illustrations for each step are included in both text and line drawings so you can easily follow along. This 20 page book is easy-to-use to create fantastic flapper fashions with many of the dress styles still being in vogue today. An infinite variety of dresses can be made based on the style you choose as well as fabrics, colors and decorative trims. Please see images at the top of this page for a sampling of dresses and instructions included in the book.

One Hour Dress -- 21 Vintage 1925 Dress Designs with Detailed Instructions for Sewing

<p>Originally published in the 1950s, this fantastic vintage fashion and accessory sewing book includes more than 200 cutting chart patterns (also known as "drawn to measure" patterns) including skirts, blouses, dresses, boleros, jackets, coats, stoles, capes, scarves, lingerie, aprons, accessories, childrens clothing, home furnishings and gifts. All of the garments in this book are custom made from *your* measurements. Because cutting chart patterns use your own body measurements, they allow for individual irregularities to be accounted for so you can be sure the proportions are correct for your size and the garment will fit well. Using a cutting diagram also provides time- and fabric-saving shortcuts, perfect for beginning pattern makers and sewers. Sample cutting chart patterns can be seen in the last picture above.  The author, Mary Brooks Picken, is well known for her role as founder of the Women's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences and was the author of more than 90 books on needlework, sewing, textile arts and fashion. She taught Economics of Fashion at Columbia University and was one of the five founding directors of the Costume Institute. She was also the first woman to be named a trustee of the Fashion Institute of Technology. Mrs. Picken was an authority on dress, fabric, design, and sewing, so you know this book was well written by a master in the industry.Sewing Magic is perfect for beginning sewers because you can start with an easy pattern -- such as the eye glass case or shoe cover bag -- and work your way up to aprons, blouses and skirts. Each garment has clearly written instructions, measurements needed, detailed cutting charts, sewing instructions and a line drawing of the finished garment. Sample fashions and patterns are shown at the top of this page.</p>

Sewing Magic -- 225 Patterns for Sewing Vintage Fashions, Accessories, Household Decor and Gifts

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