The Roaring 20s and Swinging 60s

Bios
Credits
Cultural Appropriation
Curator Walkthrough
Dreams and Discontent
Educational Material
Enter
Intro
Jazz and Twenties Black Glamour
Mode and Modernity
Music Mania
Obsession with Youth
One Hour Dress
Plus Pattern Project
Process
Timeline
Twenties Nostalgia
Vintage Style

Plus Pattern Project

Plus Pattern

EXHIBITIONEXTRASABOUT

Intro Twenties Nostalgia Dreams and Discontent Obsession with Youth Music Mania Cultural Appropriation Mode and Modernity

Timeline Curator Walkthrough Jazz and Twenties Black Glamour One Hour Dress Vintage Style, not Vintage Values The Plus Pattern Project Educational Material

Student Bios Credits Process

We are pleased to offer five free downloadable sewing patterns for your use!

These PDF patterns were carefully taken from antique 1920s dresses that were kindly loaned to our team for this purpose. These original dresses are all between a modern US size 10 and size 26 (busts 38-54” or 96-137cm), and we hope that providing their patterns will help to show that plus-size bodies were fashionable in the Twenties too!

Post your finished make on social media and tag it #RoaringAndSwinging so we know that you’re out there loving it!

Notes:
- Most of these patterns do not include seam allowances. You must add them yourself.
- Each pattern comes with a brief construction guide that describes what the original seam allowances were, as well as descriptions and images of finishing and details. However, they may not be suitable for beginner use as they do not include step-by-step instructions.
- These patterns are not graded for multiple sizes.
- All patterns are provided as PDFs and can be printed out and taped together. Alternatively, all patterns are provided on 1” grids and can be drafted onto paper separately.

Patterns & sizes:

The Devoré Dress
1924-6 slate-blue burnout silk velvet overdress & black silk slip
48” (122cm) hip (bust is free)

[Download The Devoré Dress files from Google Drive]

The Refashioned Dress
1925-7 navy acetate knit day dress (altered in the 1960s)
38” (96cm) bust, 40-44” (101.5-112cm) hip

[Download The Refashioned Dress files from Google Drive]

The Welmade Dress
1926-8 brown wool day dress
42” (106.5cm) bust, 44” (112cm) hip

[Download The Welmade Dress files from Google Drive]

The Noon-Day Dress
1927-8 white cotton wash dress
54” (137cm) bust, 56” (142cm) hip

[Download The Noon-Day Dress files from Google Drive]

The Sleek Dress
1928-9 black silk chiffon evening dress
40” (101.5cm) bust, 44” (112cm) hip

[Download The Sleek Dress files from Google Drive]

Many thanks to those who loaned the dresses:
Gina White (@thehouseofwhyte)
Sophia Khan (@sophia__khan)
Lauren Marks (@markslauren)
Kenna Libes (@kenna_sews)

Patterning team:
Kenna Libes (@kenna_sews)
Becca Carr (@basically.becca)
Sophia Khan (@sophia__khan)

#RoaringAndSwinging Makes