Mary Brooks Picken, Director of Instruction at the the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences, developed the easy-to-use sewing instructions for her infamous "one hour dress." WIDAS was the largest school of dressmaking and design in the 1920s and produced a number of home study courses to teach sewing and millinery skills. There are three One Hour Dress books -- two from 1924, one from 1925.
The 1925 issue of this book contains different designs than the 1924 books. Step-by-step detailed instructions for completing the one piece dress, two piece dress and a slenderizing one piece dress as well as instructions for 18 other variations on the original designs are included. A few simple steps complete the dress: taking your measurements, preparing the material, cutting the dress, making the dress, cutting and applying long sleeves.
Instructions for the two piece dress include: dividing the material, cutting out the blouse, proportioning the skirt, making the blouse, making the skirt, joining the skirt and blouse, making the pockets and belt.
The one hour dress sewing method does not require a specific pattern, instead it is a "method of making." The author's instructions use your own measurements for blouse length, skirt length, hip measurement and armhole measurement. These measurements are measured off on the fabric with clear instructions on where and when to cut. Fabric measurement suggestions are provided and detailed illustrations for each step are included in both text and line drawings so you can easily follow along.
This 20 page book is easy-to-use to create fantastic flapper fashions with many of the dress styles still being in vogue today. An infinite variety of dresses can be made based on the style you choose as well as fabrics, colors and decorative trims. Please see images at the top of this page for a sampling of dresses and instructions included in the book.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Find,
This review is from: One Hour Dress -- 21 Vintage 1925 Dress Designs with Detailed Instructions for Sewing (Paperback)
I am so glad I purchased this book. While the instructions are written, rather than visual, the book is incredibly easy to follow and the designs are fabulous. I have already sewn four of the designs. The format is fantastic, starting with simple instructions that get progressively harder but never too hard. Perfect for even the novice sewer looking for vintage designs.
(The publication house/seller is also incredibly helpful.)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
More of a pamphlet, but still informational,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: One Hour Dress -- 21 Vintage 1925 Dress Designs with Detailed Instructions for Sewing (Paperback)
It's more of a pamphlet, but it really is super informational about how to make the 20 dresses. It's just not what I was expecting. But, overall it was a neat book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice reproduction, context missing,
By Lady Kalessia (Laura) "Historical Costumer" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: One Hour Dress -- 21 Vintage 1925 Dress Designs with Detailed Instructions for Sewing (Paperback)
As others have said, this is a slim little book at just 20 pages, and it's certainly not the most heavily illustrated thing I've ever seen. That said, it's a clear and legible copy of an original work from the 1920's, and if you read some of my more recent reviews you'll understand why I gave an extra star just for that.
However, if you're hoping to jump right in and actually make a one-hour dress, there are only two things that are missing. One, is context about the types of fabrics suggested for this style of dress. I can't imagine making this up in anything stiff like taffeta, but the preferred fabrics are a bit of a mystery without a glossary of 1920's terms. Second, you need a "length" of fabric, and nowhere is it specified how you determine what a "length" is. A standard measurement? Your shoulder-to-floor measurement? I'm going with the latter, and I'll tell you how it goes.
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