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:
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