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

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.