Please help me date this wedding dress pattern

igotbuttons

igotbuttons

Registered Guest
Hello all! I'd like to list this pattern on eBay but, as a newbie, I'm not sure of the age. I'd be happy with a decade...you know, 40's, 50's, etc. I was thinking 50's but the ladies have short hair...was that in style then? Who knows, could be 60's! It is Butterick Printed Pattern number 5627. Bust 32; Size 14. Original cost 75 cents. I can't find a date on the envelope nor the instructions sheet and since it's not been cut (wow!) I'm afraid to unfold the pieces and not be able to fold them back up again and fit them back into the envelope! Thanks for any help you guys can give me!!!


butt5627front.jpg
 
There are pattern people around here but they just don't seem to be around right now. VintageFashionLibrary is the leading pattern dealer and she might be able to be more specific. Stylistically, I would say it is mid 1950s because of the short waved hair, Juliet cap and dress style. Short hair was in fashion in the 1950s. I think Butterick patterns are sometimes dated on the instruction sheet - I can't remember. I know McCall's patterns are always dated and Vogues are sometimes dates....Buttericks I am not sure but take a look on the instruction sheet.
 
very pretty! early to mid-fifties. if memory serves me correctly, the pattern companies changed sizes around 1956 and a size 14 would be for a 34 bust.

carol
 
My mom got married in 1950 and her wedding dress was VERY similar. She even was wearing that same "Juliette" cap that she told me was very popular at the time. I'd go with 1949 - early 50s
Connie
 
Hi! I've been sick this past week, so I haven't been around as much as usual. Sorry!

That particular pattern was first published in 1951.

It's better not to unfold the pattern pieces if it is still in factory folds (FF). A pattern in FF is obviously complete (not missing pieces), which is important to people who sew with the patterns, and collectors seem to especially like patterns in FF because the condition is so much better.

Jonathan is right that some companies sometimes put copyright dates on the instruction sheets. McCall's always dated the patterns on the envelope flap (on the outside), and Simplicity began putting a date on the instruction sheet in 1943. The other companies *sometimes* included a copyright date on the outside of the envelope or on the instruction sheet, so you just have to check and see.

:)

Laura
 
Thanks so much for that information, Laura! I didn't list it yet but now that I have even MORE information I hope my investment in this "FF" condition pattern helps me when I do get it listed.

Honestly, I checked all over the envelope & the flap....all over the instruction sheet and my last resort was to check some of the pattern pieces.

The pieces fit quite snugly in the envelope and when I pulled them out I did open them just a bit to get a good picture of them w/ the instructions sheet. As I sat there pondering whether I wanted to open them up and look all I could think of was me sitting there trying to refold them up and slip them back into the envelope. I got a mental image of myself trying to fold up a map again and decided to ask the experts! ;)

Thanks again, you're a life saver and I'm not going to miss the workshop!!

Patti
 
I don't think I've ever seen a copyright date on pattern pieces, even on modern patterns, so there's really no need to check them for a date. If you don't see a date on the envelope or on the instruction sheet, the pattern is probably undated and you have to go by pattern number and/or fashion styles to date it.

Good luck with your auction! It's an attractive pattern, so it should sell for you. :)

Laura
 
I have dozens of vintage butterick patterns and have never seen a date on either the envelope or instruction sheet. I try to date them by comparing them to similar patterns made by Simplicity or McCalls as most of these are dated.

Laura, how were you able to date pattern to 1951? Do you have the counter book?

carol
 
Nope, it's my cheat sheet. :D There are two books in the <i>Blueprints of Fashion</i> series - one for the 1940s and one for the 1950s - and each includes an appendix chart to date patterns by company & pattern number. It's fabulous and so easy! :)

I'm certain I've seen dated Butterick patterns, but I can't remember the time period off the top of my head. I'm pretty sure they were dated on the envelope, not the instruction sheet. I'll keep my eyes out for some examples...

Laura
 
I pulled out my books as well :) Say, a bit off topic, but do you know if there are any plans for a 30's "blueprints of fashion" in the works? There should be!
 
I don't know if the author is planning any other books. Pure guess - I would say no. The '40s book was published in 1997, and the '50s book was published in 1999. So it has been six years since the second book was published.

As a side note, I would not recommend using the Blueprints of Fashion pricing guide. Perhaps it is just a factor of the books being so old, but I don't see patterns selling as low as he estimates...And there are so many factors that go into pricing individual patterns, a generalization like that is hard, anyway.

I've been working for about a year and a half on my own "article" about 1930s pattern history and dating, but it has been on hold for the past six months or so. I say "article" in quotation marks because I don't know how long it is going to end up being. Ideally I would like it to be book length. I still plan to finish it, but I don't have a date. "Real life" has been getting in the way!

Laura
 
Hooray! I look forward to it.

Yeah, the prices make me laugh in the book- and not in a good way. Can you imagine 30's patterns going between $3-$5?! HA! Maybe at an estate sale somewhere in the midwest...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top