Folkwear 249 1930s Day Dress

Buy the 249 1930s Day Dress sewing pattern from Folkwear. As the US began to come out of the Great Depression, Americans watched and mimicked the fun and fancy ways of the wealthy as best they could. WWII was yet to come, and Americans revelled in an upbeat, though naive, mood. Fashions towards the end of the decade combined the frugality of the lean Depression years with touches of Hollywood extravagance. This practical dress uses fabric economically, yet still looks chic.

View A, drafted from an original dress (circa 1939), features a round neck with collar points and a peplum cleverly cut on the straight grain but with the look of a bias cut. It has a back zipper, dropped waistline, and short sleeves. The unpressed tucks in the front eliminate the need for bust darts and create the fashionable broad shouldered look of the period.

View B has a buttoned front bodice, flounce collar and sleeves, back zipper, and eyelash pockets with flounce pocket bands.

Both dresses have a slightly flared skirt.

This sewing pattern is available to buy in the following formats:

– PDF (available to download immediately after purchase). What is a PDF?

– PDF pattern + Printed A0 copy shop (We print out the A0 pattern sheets, but you’ll need to download the digital instructions, as we don’t print these. The PDF files will be emailed immediately after purchase, and the A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day). What is Copy Shop?

Note if purchasing copy shop printing: One pattern piece is divided across two A0 sheets. The A0 sheets will need to be joined with no overlap. 

Suggested fabrics: Fabrics with drape, such as rayon, medium-weight silk, microfibre. View B is particularly attractive in small print cottons with sheer flounces. Note the dress with a peplum is not recommended for directional designs or napped fabrics. If you select either of these, cut the peplum on the crosswise grain or split and seam the peplum so the pattern of the peplum matches that of the dress.

Fabric requirements: 

View A: 45" (115 cm) wide fabric: 3 5/8 - 4 5/8 yd (3.3 - 4.2 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 2 5/8 - 3 1/2 yd (2.4 - 3.1 m).

View B - all one fabric: 45" (115 cm) wide fabric: 3 5/8 - 4 5/8 yd (3.3 - 4.2 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 yd (2.5 - 3.4 m).

View B - dress fabric: 45" (115 cm) wide fabric: 2 5/8 - 3 3/8 yd (2.4 - 3.1 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 2 - 2 3/4 yd (1.9 - 2.5 m).

View B - contrast fabric (collar, sleeves, pocket flounces): 45" (115 cm) wide fabric: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 yd (1.1 - 1.4 m) // 60″ (150 cm) wide fabric: 7/8 - 1 1/8 yd (0.8 - 1.1 m).

Sizing: XS – 3XL (approx. UK 4/6 – 28/30, based on our standardised size chart). Please also check the designer’s size chart and finished garment measurements.

Notions: Interfacing; zipper, 24" (61 cm) for XS-L or 26" (66 cm) for XL-3XL; hook and eye for top of zipper; 1/2" (13 mm) shoulder pads for View A; 5/8" (16 mm) buttons for View B, 4 for XS-S, 6 for M-L, 8 for XL-3XL // Optional: kit for narrow belt and buckle.

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; US letter/A4 print-at-home pattern (73 pages); 36″ wide copy shop pattern (1 sheet); A0 copy shop pattern (4 sheets) // Layers: Yes // Projector file: Yes.

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