What do you think?

I have had a thought. Vintage German pattern magazines are few and far between, and expensive if you can find them but the patterns contained within are marvelous.

Would any of you be interested if I were to turn one, pattern sheet and all, into a pdf?

The pattern sheets included with these vintage magazines (if you're lucky enough to get one intact) are very similar to Burda Style pattern sheets, only the pattern is usually given in just one size.

There would be only very basic instructions in German but the pdf would provide all of the patterns for one edition on a pattern sheet.

It would be challenging, but worth it for the hard to find fashions. What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Modes et Travaux ~ December, 1949

Today for your eye candy super happy fun time I have pictures of the very best that  Modes et Travaux had to offer in fashion, sewing, and hand work in December of 1949.

I was elated to win this edition on ebay because the cover is a beautiful sketch of a creation by none other then Christian Dior.

A white evening gown by Dior with the illustration by Artist Pierre Mourgue.

Does it get any better? Does it? Nope. Ah this dress, the stuff of dreams. I immediately set out to find photographs of it, and I'm still not sure I have the same dress but here is a photo of a Dior gown from 1949:

Lillian Bassman, Fantasy on the dance floor, Barbara Mullen, dress by Christian Dior, Paris, 1949. photo courtesy Phillips de Pury & Company

There isn't anything in the actual magazine about the design on the cover (what?!) so moving on we can see the lovely full-page advertisements that the magazine starts out with.

Thursday Treats

I just thought I'd share a bit of the newest jewel in my collection, from the December 1950 Modes et Travaux Magazine.

I've been busy working on a custom dress for a client (Yay, I have clients now!) so most of my creative juices have gone towards making that project perfect. That, and before the fabric arrived to work on the aforementioned, I was putting the finishing touches on my overalls from Anne Adams 4536. More to come on that later when I can wrangle my photographer (husband) to lend his assistance.

Most of this magazine is about chistmas gifts, perfume, and sewing and knitting projects. In French. Heaven.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Does Anyone Speak German? I'm working on a lovely vintage pattern from a 1930's German pattern magazine and the instructions are always such a hurdle. 

I'm using  Google translate but my biggest stumbling block is the beautiful old script that German used to be written in. I have a hard time figuring out exactly what to type into Google translate so I only have bits and pieces of the instructions figured out.

You can click on the photo to enlarge the text.

If you can help, 
I'll be eternally grateful! I'd even love to have short little tips like which characters to type up in place of the older German ones.

This is a fun, new kind of challenge for me. It's like a puzzle, and I get pretty, pretty lingerie out of it!

German Pattern Paper Peril.

Making a look from a vintage German pattern magazine can seem like a very daunting task, especially if you don't speak German (Don't blame me for my ignorance, blame Colorado public schools.) My Mad French skills are useless so instead I used my mad google skills to find a few useful articles written by those who have been in my shoes and lived to tell the tale.

Don't be scared, I managed to do it and it didn't hurt one bit!

December 1936, Hilter is newly to power and German fashion is light-hearted and optimistic looking.

First you'll need to choose the look that you wish to recreate from your pattern magazine. The size is what comes in important here. Usually, the bust size will be printed either underneath the pattern number featured with the drawing, or it will be above the instructions on your pattern sheet. The patterns are only printed in one size so you may need to size up or down after you've traced your pieces.

 I chose a very simple bra with only 4 pattern pieces to work with. It was a good start and didn't require any special skill or technique.