200 Ways to Alter a Dress

Comb Bound Book Republication

Originally Published - 1948!

Up for bid is another marvelous Dakota Prairie Treasures Comb Bound Book Republication™of our original "200 Ways to Alter a Dress" by Virginia Allen McIntire! Originally published in 1948!

"Ideas for Lengthening, Enlarging, New Necklines, Trimmings, Sleeve Tricks and Evening Dresses."

This HISTORIC item includes detailed instructions and line drawings on how the WWII Era ladies made-do and upgraded their wardrobe using clever alterations and lovely trims for the multitude of dress styles included within! (Original is NOT for sale)

What a money stretching idea book this is! Tried and true, unique and clever, practical and self-sufficient!

This item is a great resource for those who are WWII and Swing Era historical reenactment enthusiasts, stage and theatre costumers, students of historical clothing, fiber and textile arts, etc!

This is certainly a fine source of historically valuable techniques & inspiration for the creative needlework, fabric & thread artists who desire to study and create with tried-and-true professional seamstress alterations and trim making techniques! This is the perfect opportunity to purchase your own version of another wonderful arts & crafts instructional revealing our heritage from earlier America culture!

Three excerpts:

"Pretty and practical remodeling tricks to give you a larger wardrobe. Designed for every woman who wants more clothes."

"Any dress you plan to alter is basically like one of the three types shown - PLAIN, or FUSSY, or TAILORED. Your dress may be in any fabric or any color. Before you begin remodeling consider all the lines of your frock. You have a skirt which is straight, pleated, draped, or full cut. Sleeves may be long, short or missing altogether. The neckline can be high or low cut, and finished plain or collared in various ways. Whatever combination of lines and detail your dress has, you will find in the following pages a variety of lovely pleasing changes suitable to your dress as well as flattering to your face and figure."

"A HAPPY ENDING . . .

and we hope you've had a wonderful time looking at this idea book, and that you've found a host of new suggestions for brightening and lengthening the wearing age of your dresses.

We know this book will start you thinking of a dozen more remodeling tricks and that's just what is intended . . . to help you find ways to make your clothes more fun, more exciting, as pretty as you want them to be.

Keep this thesaurus of ideas near your sewing basket where you can thumb through it once in a while. It will recall to mind tricks  you want to use, suggest new ones for you to work out with your dresses as they begin to need refreshers in future. If you bring every dress in your clothes closet right up to date, you'll certainly have a larger wardrobe and enjoy wearing it much more.

Of course, this doesn't take the place of new dresses, but it will help keep the present ones shining longer in the light of your approval..."

Index 

Three Types of Dresses

Before you Cut - Remember

Choose Fabrics that are Friends

Choose Colors that are Harmonious

1 - To Lengthen Your Skirt

II - Make Your Dress Larger

III - When the Top of Your Dress is Good

IV - Sleeve Suggestions - Add or Subtract

V - New Necklines Give New Interest

VI - Flattering Fronts and Beautiful Backs

VII - Capes, Vests, Boleros - Spell Smartness

VIII - Trimming Tricks and Glamour

IX - Make Evening an Event

X - Evening Dresses Have Two Lives

What a historically educational and delightful tailor's practical instructional this is!

The ladies of earlier times put their hands to such marvelous work and now you can too! These are beautiful items and sure to delight you and yours! These instructions are very clear and easy to follow and yet the experience needle worker will be capable of altering as per individual needs and artistic whim. 

The antique and vintage fabrics, appliques, embellishments, tools, etc., can be found online quite readily. You just have to hunt a little bit! Or, of course, you can utilize contemporary tools and materials found at a nearby fabric, craft or hobby store…

The item you will receive is representative of the types of needlework expertise of earlier genteel & feminine American & European culture! If you're into nostalgia like I am you will have many hours of enjoyment recreating antique needlework items for yourself or others just the way your grandmothers did!