Has anyone seen this pattern? I mean, for sale, out in the wild? Mary P. was outbid — sniped, really — by just a smidgen when this was up for auction last week and she's been mourning it ever since. Leave a comment or drop an email if you have one you're willing to sell/trade.
I know it's hard to tell from the picture — and while we're here, can I just rant about sellers who show teeny-tiny pictures of patterns? A hint: if you can hold the actual object up to the computer screen, you can run the photo of it FULL SIZE, people — but it looks amazing. I'd love for Mary P. to find a copy so she can make it and send me the picture.
And in a fit of selflessness (because now you're all going to outbid me!) may I remind everyone again about eBay's Favorite Search feature? When a search comes up empty, save it, and then eBay will email you when your holy grail shows up again. At the very least, getting a dozen emails from eBay every day will test your desire for whatever the item is — I've canceled more than a few saved searches when I realized that my annoyance at dealing with the email was more than my desire for the item. (You can also get eBay searches through RSS, but I haven't done that yet. Probably should!) Saved searches are most useful when you save a very detailed search — looking for a pair of shoes or a pattern in a particular size, fabric in a particular color — so that you don't waste time looking at pages of stuff that's not quite right.
In fact, I think being able to do Boolean or regex searching is an indispensable skill in the post-eBay, post-Google age. I might just have to go volunteer to teach a couple how-to-search sessions at my son's school … although probably not using eBay as an example!
A Dress A Day 
i hate to be a pain in the ass, but isn’t EVERY auction lost, lost by just a smidgen? It’s the nature of the auction system that if you lose you always lose by a tiny amount (unless two other bidders take over in a bidding war).that always kills me when I hear “I lost it by only fifty cents!”, when the person who outbid you could have put a bid in for $50 over yours for all you know…that said, i always put in a few bucks over my highest bid just to avoid that ‘oh if i had only gone higher’ feeling–so if someone outbids me, it’s for much more than i would have been comfortable with.
LikeLike
That’s an interesting pattern. The button detail is very similar to a vintage Vogue Couturier pattern I have, which does not reveal just which couturier is might be (or when it was designed).there’s a photo here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaby/1546392390/(I'm afraid it’s another too-small one, due to me wanting to put some fabric in the shot too! I’m sorry!)Other than the buttons it’s actually quite different, and I’d guess mine is maybe a little older, so I’m clutching at straws here. Still, any info would be appreciated!
LikeLike
As a newish sewer, I have a question that I am not sure if you have addressed in previous posts. Are seam allowances included in vintage patterns? I recently came into a collection of 11 patterns from the 40s and 50s and quite frankly, I can’t tell from the instruction sheets. Some of the patterns are printed and some are not.Is this a dumb question? I feel like I should know!!And that pattern is stunning, by the way – I would LOVE to have that dress…in heavy raspberry silk twill with cut glass buttons.
LikeLike
That pattern is killer! Similar to a 50s Frank Starr Original that I have in kelly green matte satin.I sell patterns on Ebay occasionally. Full-size photos will a) be downsized automatically if using Ebay’s photo hosting or b) if self-hosting, take so much time to load that bidders may bail before seeing them. I include a 400-pixel-wide shot of the pattern front and a zoomed-in shot of the back-view line art on back.My peeve is pattern sellers who don’t include the pattern number or the bust measurement in the title, thereby rendering it nearly impossible to find without poring over pages of listings.
LikeLike
The shape is similar to a Vintage Vogue ™ that I have. I think it’s out of print though (and can’t find it on the vintage vogue website! argh!). Similar deep v neck, but no buttons! It might not be too hard to make it button up the front (or at least look like it buttons up the front!
LikeLike
Emily, to answer you about seam allowances, I would need to know who made the pattern and look it up in my reference books on 40’s and 50’s patterns. Back then the pattern companies were going out of their way to try to out-do each other in inovations.
LikeLike
I found at least one copy for sale in the wild — $225 US, bust size 30. (Oy!!!)Vogue Patterns # 1136, printed 1951, if that helps with your searches.http://www.rubylane.com/shops/toinettea/item/pat2262Happy Hunting,CMC
LikeLike
Emily, I have a lot of vintage patterns, and I’ve yet to run across one that didn’t actually state the seam allowance somewhere on the instruction sheet, although you may have to hunt for it; might be in the miscellaneous stuff at the very beginning, or in the layouts. Most of my 1930’s patterns are 3/8, but by the time you hit the mid to late 40’s 5/8 is pretty standard.
LikeLike
$225?! For a pattern? That’s just a wee bit out of line! Even for a rare one. You can buy a pretty fabulous DRESS from that era in great condition for that price.
LikeLike
Oh Lordy! What a fabulous Saturday find. Now I’m lusting after that little black full-skirted delight too. I sincerely hope that Mary finds her heart’s desire, because it is 100% luscious. I am hereby addicted to this blog, being a librarian who has for months been deliberating if she can get away with wearing her “other closet” to work. The rustle of crinoline in the library would be a joy forever. It’s fun to see the younger set (well heavens, I’m only 31) gawk when I step out in a full-skirted dress with a smart little jacket and hat. Great conversation starters, and I love when the little old ladies (and some little old men too) make a fuss over me and my clothes. Whee! Now I have more patterns and ideas to hunt and stalk and try to cobble together. Thanks for this blog!!
LikeLike
This is for the modified librarian and all the others who commented about the posted dress – I have seen this dress on ebay twice – the first time it was $75.00 and the second time I was sniped the last 2 seconds as Erin stated and the winner got it for a little over $36 which I think is a lot. I am almost 56 and have kind of lost some of my waistlline, but I LOVE this dress – I think it is the most beautiful one I have ever seen. I live in Alaska and don’t know where I would ever wear it but I WANT it!! Someday I hope to find the pattern. When/if I do I am more than willing to share it with anyone who loves it too. Mary
LikeLike
I think it’s a design from the House of Paquin–here’s a link to Wiki’s article on herhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_PaquinDon't know if this will help in research to find the pattern?
LikeLike
Well, let no good deed go unpunished. I had the–I thought–brilliant idea of checking the Vintage Pattern Lending Library for this pattern and, hours later, with breaks for dinner, part of a TV show, conversations with family members and cats, trying to order 3 patterns, including the one from a Spanish haute couture house that can be made into 125 different garments, (had one enough lives and time), I have given up. On ordering for myself, and on finding a copy of this pattern, though I was convinced early on that it wasn’t there. Sigh. I love this concept, and I know the work to keep this site going must be daunting: I would never attempt it. Copying patterns to preserve them and to share them is indeed a tremendous service. I just wish the site were easier to navigate. I was never sure whether I had seen all the patterns in a particular category. I will definitely be back to purchase copies of some of the patterns I saw…and I know I will see many more wonderful things while I am searching for them!And this Paquin dress IS stunning! It reminds me of a vintage vogue? Itself? I’m not sure. Love it and that ‘New Look.’
LikeLike