Old sewing books

Dresmaking made easy

I've added a lot of "new" books lately my lists of old books (see top of page).  Take a look!

Look who I found!

So, do you remember this post which had this strange and rather terrifying picture?

Vogue's book of smart dressmaking

Well, I found the person those fingers belong to!  I'm not sure what to make of this picture.  I'd bet that most people (at least non-sewers) think of sewing as a "wholesome" pastime, but this cover pictures something quite different.  She is elegant, sexy and ... well, a bit wicked.  Like she might just tear a hole in you, like she did to that cover.  Then there is that strange object.  It looks like a glass bottle (filled with chalk, maybe?) with a red plastic cap and a long rod attached to it.  I can't think what it is for, and a cursory look through the book doesn't explain it.  What do you think?

Vogue dressmaking book

Another odd cover

This one is for my friend Pam.  Does this remind you of a certain person in grad school?  The one whose poor husband would follow her around carrying her books, and who typed all her papers.

McCall's step-by-step sewing book

Not your ordinary sewing book cover

I own a lot of sewing books  (please see my page on old sewing books), most of which have nice sensible covers that convey authority and reliability, good no nonsense books.  But a few are waaaayyy out in left field and I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.  Like this charming book from the 50s:

Sewing magic for teen-agers

I love her big head, tiny waist, and that tiny triangle of a bosom under her right arm.

This one is undated, maybe from the 60s?  I don't know about you, but this one really makes me want to grab my needle and stick a thimble on my head.  She appears at the head of each chapter to cheer you on, or maybe give you a jab with that needle.

Adventures in sewing

I know the war was hard on everyone, but was it really necessary for Vogue to change from this in 1936

Vogue's book of smart dressmaking

To this, in 1942

Vogue's book of smart dressmaking

What were they thinking?  It looks like Ms Vampirehands just ripped a hole in the cover of what would have been a fairly sedate book.  It's so black, it's so red, it's so fascist.  Hmm, when did the Germans seize Paris?

And here's my all time favorite.  I know I have seen this cover scores of times. I'm sure I shelved it dozens of times.  But it wasn't until just recently that I actually looked at it.  As my friend Steve would say, weird with a beard, man.  Here she is, Edwina Scissorhands!  The hand is bad enough, but what's with the open mouth?  Is she trying to tell us something?  She doesn't seem unhappy about having been "altered."  What do you think? 

Simplicity sewing book