Stash of Edwardian Patterns
With all the fervor surrounding the centennial celebrations of the Titanic sinking, statehoods for Arizona & New Mexico, the Girl Scouts and LL Bean, and many other Edwardian events, I wanted to put together a list of clothing patterns available.
Please note that this list is certainly not exhaustive. I only want to give a good starting place for those seeking to re-create fashions from the years 1900 into the 19-Teens.
If you know of others, please share them in the comments so we can all benefit.
All links lead to the main pattern company sites. Feel free to Google and/or order from your favorite pattern supplier or the pattern company itself.
Past Patterns – generally well drafted with sources listed and other period information (Some of the Past Patterns you see in the above photo are discontinued and are really hard to find.)
Past Patterns Corset Covers & Drawers
# 106 1901-08 Straight-Fronted Edwardian Corset
#107 Two Edwardian Combinations
#108 Four Edwardian Corset Covers
#112 Turn of the Century Reception Gown
#400 Edwardian Tailored Shirtwaists
#404 Edwardian Gibson Tucked Blouse
#406 Edwardian Tucked and Side Closed Waist
Attic Copies (published by Past Patterns) – traced from original diagrams so only 1 size available; includes the minimal instructions from the originals; recommended only for confident and/or advanced sewers
(Click on the name link above to go to the Past Patterns webpage listing all the Attic Copy patterns. They are numerous so take a gander at all the offerings.)
Attic Copy Ladies Dress 1911-1914 #8211
Truly Victorian – well designed and generally easy to follow. Please tell Heather I sent you!
TVE01 – Edwardian Corset
Laughing Moon – JoAnn’s patterns are always well done and full of additional information
Laughing Moon 1912 pattern
#104 1909-1913 Day or Evening Dress
Sense & Sensibility – Please tell Jennie I sent you! Relatively easy patterns designed for the modern sewer.
S&S 1910 Tea Gown Pattern
Folkwear – decent patterns that produce period-esque garments
Folkwear Edwardian Underthings
#265 1912-13 Afternoon Tea Dress
Promenade Patterns – only three published patterns; recommended for experienced sewers
Promenade Patterns 1910-14 Dress
1910-14 Gown for Dancing or Dinner
1912 Evening Gown for Dinner or the Theater
Ageless Patterns – for those truly advanced; little or no sewing instructions; most traced straight off period diagrams (with seam allowances added) and produced ‘as is’ with period sizing (Listed below are only the ones seen in the photo at top; she has over 800 patterns to sift through. Whoa!)
Ageless Patterns #1362
#1353 1912 Checked Silk Blouse
#1361 1912 Gray Wool Skirt w/Buttons & Trim
#1362 1912 Yellow Silk Evening Dress
#1363 1912 White Batiste Princesse Slip
#1371 1912 Black Silk Corset Cover w/Frills
#1374 1912 Brown Wool Dress w/White Inserts
#1378 1912 Taffeta Skirt w/Ruffles
Rocking Horse Farm – ok patterns; you’ll find the occasional missing markings or mismatched edges
Rocking Horse Farm Edwardian Coat Suit
Simplicity – one of the Big 4
Simplicity Titanic-inspired Dress
#8399 Titanic-inspired costume – republished for the anniversary
#7157 1900-1925 Princess Slips – out of print but found on eBay and Etsy and other sites
#5905 1900-1910 Petticoat and Corset Covers – out of print, but search
#5943 Edwardian Tea Dresses – also out of print but Google it
Wingeo - fair line of patterns; cover sketches are basic, patterns themselves are ok but mockups required; great shapes to start with
(Website is HORRIBLE to navigate. Click HERE to get to the 20th Century pattern page and HERE for the entire list of patterns with prices.)
Wingeo Double Breasted Jacket
#407 Victorian/Edwardian Yoked Waist
#410 1910-15 Double-Breasted Jacket
Nehelenia Patterns – a European pattern designer & store
Nehelenia 1913 Ball Gown
#NP E304 1913 Ball Gown (only available in size 32″ bust) (cover artwork seems promising of a delightful gown!)
Pattern Resources From Books
Patterns of Fashion 2: 1860 – 1940 by Janet Arnold – sketches and pattern diagrams taken from original garments printed on grids for easy enlarging; FABULOUS resource!
Period Costume for Stage & Screen: 1800-1909 by Jean Hunnisett – many basic and foundational patterns on grids
The Voice of Fashion (1900-1905) and The Edwardian Modiste (1905-1909) both published by Frances Grimble – pattern diagrams from period sources that need to be drafted out with a specific ruler system (included in each book); a wide variety of garments to fill your costume closet! Love these!
For those inclined to only go off pattern diagrams or other original sources, here are a few resources I found online.
- Vintage Pattern Lending Library (full size patterns can be “rented” or purchased)
- The American System of Dressmaking (1912) - entire dressmaking book to view & download
Please let me know if this list helps your search for sewing patterns. And please support these small businesses and independent pattern producers so they will continue to draft patterns for our sewing projects.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Great review. Thanks for great resources.
Perfect timing! I just finished my dress for the Jane Austen Evening and bought fabric for my first Teens dress (navy and white striped linen, for an afternoon tea dress). This post is so helpful!
I went through my patterns the other day and pulled out
butterick 4092 1914 skirts (B4091 1914 blouses looked too new for titanic)
B3765 is Corset covers.
Simplicity 5905 is corset covers and petticoat. Petticoat shape may be a bit old.
Oh! You’re right about those Butterick ones. I totally forgot them and have them in my stash. They seems to be a mash-up of early 1900s (with that poufy bodice front) and mid-Teens with those straight sleeves. The skirts are very 1912-ish.
Thanks for posting them!
I really liked the book “American System of Dressmaking”. I could really use that for my everyday sewing needs and inspriation when doing costuming. Thanks for the great resource
This is a great list, Thanks so much for posting! But in my ‘research’ (mostly photos) for centennial stuff, I find that Arizona and New Mexico might be a little more ‘outdated’ than fashion on the Titanic. The last two contiguous states were kinda ‘back-woodsy’, and even today we’re somewhat overlooked, so older styles (earlier 1900′s, very late 90′s) might have been in common use.
I’d agree with you on the slightly out-of-date fashion. I grew up in New Mexico and have a variety of photos from the turn of the Century. There’s also tons in my hometown museum. From what I’ve seen the fashions are fairly current, maybe only a couple years behind “high” fashion, but isn’t most everyday people nowadays? And yes, one would probably still see c. 1900-02 styles.
Enjoy the pattern list!
How fun! My daughter LOVES to sew! I will have to introduce her to your site!
Jennifer, what a fun post. I like The Rocky Horse Farm look.It would be fun to dress up for a 19th century typed party.
Great! Thanks for pulling these together in one place
I just pulled out my Simplicity 8399 and found I have no instructions any idea how I might get those without repurchasing the pattern?
Try contacting Simplicity and let them know your pattern envelope was missing the instructions.
Thank you for this well ordered, era specific, hands on pattern availability website. I LOVE THIS. I have been searching for modest clothing, and recently got hooked on 1890sish clothing and you have such a plethora of items. I plan to spend a lot of time on this site. Please know all the work you have done is APPRECIATED!
You are welcome Kimberley!
I sew and also “Re purpose” premade pieces. I keep my eye out for long velvet tank dresses and those lovely fancy tunics and over dresses from India that have tons of beads,sequins ,all set on sheer net. .You can layer the net tops over the tank dresses… add wide waist shashes and presto an decent fancy “teens” dinner dress with little or no sewing.
I know several people who use this idea. I admire them greatly as I’ve not yet discovered the knack of it myself.
If anyone is interested in Ageless Patterns, I’d recommend buying them via Patterns of Time. In addition to their site, they have an Amazon storefront which is how I buy mine. I’ve had nothing but issues ordering directly through Ageless. She doesn’t have your usual online shopping cart system and you either have to email/call with your credit card info or mail her a money order.
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