Skip to main content

McCall's Sewing Catalogs from 1968


So Max's mom found for me some McCall's pattern catalogs from the late 60s. She knows I collect them and I was nearly hyperventilating over the fashions in these things.

There are a couple from this catalog that I am planning on plain knocking off, but I didn't include those because they were sort of background photos. Here are some of the best ones! From 2 McCall's catalogs: Spring 1968 and Summer 1968 and you could buy them for 60 cents apiece.

I wanted to share the most interesting photos.

It's true - I am obsessed with orange.



Dress silhouette look familiar? See previous blog post!



I actually almost thought this chick was me... in my shorter hair days of course.



 At this point in time, there was apparently a switch over in pattern sizing in the fashion/sewing industry. This catalog had had a big announcement about it. By these measurements, I am a size 12. Keep in mind sewing sizes are usually not equivalent to sizes of things you buy at the mall. There is also a sneaky thing that retailers do called "vanity sizing" nowadays, look that up if you're not familiar. Many manufacturers differ in sizing due to little to no sizing regulations in the United States. I heard that in the UK it was regulated, but I have no supporting evidence of that.




Ah yes, the clothing of my dreams come true with fashion design! Also, I like how this address is a Chicago address!

Dirndl skirts.


This print is fantastic.
A cute sewing machine ad.

Notice how it's a "Mao collar" at this time, not "Mandarin collar" as seen now.

Totally in love with this print on her dress!



A "romantic" look. Not really my cup of tea, but I wanted to include something different.
Look closely - this dress is a 3-armhole wrap around!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Latch Hook Rug Update

A little under a month ago I received all of my supplies to take on one of the biggest long-term projects I have ever taken on - a self-designed latch hook rug. I don't know why, but I am clearly nuts. So beginning today I am posting photos each month, (preferably on the 1st of each month) progress of this gigantic shag rug. See how I started it here (scroll down past posting of my $10 dress).  This is a photo of it today:  Yes, I used the candelabra for scale. Haha.   This rug is really soft and is fun to run your fingers through.  It doesn't look like much was accomplished, but though the number of packages we have gone through of pre-cut latch hook rug yarn already I have calculated that  we've used over 2500 strands for this ie.) 8 packages. I also just ordered 10 more packages of lime green since that's what I ran out of first and 6 more packages of straw yellow. There is still quite a bit to go, but you see the blue row square...

Shingo Sato and the Art of Transformational Reconstruction

So I got really excited on my break at work today when I got an email from Burda about a webinar they're doing on a pattern technique called "Transformational Reconstruction" developed by Japanese designer Shingo Sato. I hadn't even heard of Shingo Sato until today let alone his design technique but oddly, it's sort of the path I'm going down with my designs anyway as seen with the Sunrise Panel dress as well as the Petra Dress and the pattern making involved in those designs. What I did there is perhaps a "light" version of Sato's where the darts and shaping are hidden in the seam lines. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know that my design aesthetic focuses largely on color blocking, unusual seam lines, and a love of anything psychedelic. Note: All photos stolen from the internet. Sorry! I'm super-excited. Let me know if it's yours and I'll take it down.  Shingo Sato teaching.  More designs using...

Section 4: Sewing Basics/Reading a Commercial Pattern

I was actually going to skip over this post since I know that all of you already sew a bit, but then I realized that there are lots of great links and resources to use for sewing and decided I couldn't skip over all of that! I also might have a few things that I might be able to clear up on a commercial pattern for some of you - you never know. We're going to go over a retro pattern - Simplicity 6959 to be exact - because that's a commercial pattern I have used most recently and am familiar with. Much of the information I'll be going over is standard for any pattern so it doesn't matter which pattern you have. Interspersed will be links for sewing tips, tricks, techniques so don't worry if you already feel like you can read a commercial pattern perfectly - there are goodies for advanced sewists too! Alright, so here is Simplicity 6959 - The first thing you will want to look at with a commercial pattern is the back of the pattern packet. What s...