Continuing on my series on making your own 1910s & WWI era wardrobe (with a focus on 1914-19), here are patterns for making your classic separates: blouses, skirts & suits.

The patterns I’ve included here are from pattern companies I’ve made items from, or have helped students or friends make items from, and can recommend on that basis.

I have not included pattern companies that I do not recommend, or pattern companies I have seen or tested in any way. I did not include patterns that are essentially modern blocks updated with a period aesthetic: I find that they rarely give the correct look.

Other posts in the series include:

• Undergarments
• Dresses, Coats & Jackets

Hope you find it helpful!

Blouses:

Multi Sized:  

• Scroop Patterns: Selina Blouse (1913-19).  A mid ‘teens blouse with detailed, fully-illustrated instructions.
• Wearing History: Edwardian 1910s blouse & guimpe: suitable for earlier 1910s impressions, and less up-to-date and fashionable later 1910s impressions.
• Wearing History: Elsie 1910s WWI blouse: a great mid-1910s blouse with period sewing instructions.
• Folkwear 1918 Armistice Blouse: I’m including this, but with caveats.  The more I look at this pattern, and compare it to period originals, the more it looks to me like the pattern was either based off a modern block, or altered to fit modern standards and fit, and isn’t really an accurate pattern.
• New Vintage Lady ‘Gibson Girl’ Blouse & Skirt:  A versatile 1910s pattern for bust sizes 40″-60″.  The blouse is suitable for 1914 onwards, but the skirt is a slimmer style from ca 1912.   I’ve linked to the paper pattern, but it’s also available as a PDF.

Single Sized:  

• Vintage Pattern Lending Library: 1915 blouse with ruffled cuff (38” bust)
• Vintage Pattern Lending Library: 1916 Russian blouse (38” bust)

Skirts:

Multi Sized:  

• Wearing History 1909-1914 Cordelia Skirt
• Scroop Patterns  Kilbirnie Skirt (1915-18).  Detailed instructions and it goes perfectly with the Selina Blouse.
• Wearing History ca. 1917 Evelyn Skirt
• New Vintage Lady ‘Gibson Girl’ Blouse & Skirt:  A versatile 1910s pattern for bust sizes 40″-60″.  The blouse is suitable for 1914 onwards, but the skirt is a slimmer style from ca 1912.

Single Sized:  

• Patterns of Time: 1914 Ladies Tunic Skirt (24” Waist)
• Eva Dress 1917 plaited skirt (24” waist)
• Vintage Pattern Lending Library: 1918 Skirt with Side Drapes (30” waist):
• Vintage Pattern Lending Library: 1918 Seven Gored Skirt (30” waist)  
• Vintage Pattern Lending Library: 1918 Ladies 2-piece skirt (26” waist)  
• Wearing History 1912 Pleated Skirt (26″ Waist)  (and the E-Pattern)

Suits:

Multi Sized:  

• Folkwear 1914 Metropolitan Suit:  I’ve included this pattern, and the other Folkwear suit pattern, because I know people who love them both, however, I’ve not tried them myself, and not all of the Folkwear patterns I’ve tried have been accurate to their period.
• Past Patterns 1914 Misses Sailor Suit
• Folkwear 1915 Travelling Suit  
• Wearing History 1916 Suit — Jacket — Skirt