Fashion Fabrics from 1940

hotrod_elf · Feb 13, 2008

As with every other lady that has posted on this thread. THANK YOU SO MUCH. It will be wonderful for getting ideas on the next project. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

kamikat · Feb 13, 2008

Thanks for bumping! It looks like many of today's quilting calicos could work.

goldwyn girl · Feb 13, 2008

I missed this the first time round, thanks for bumping it, I can look at vintage fabrics all day and then some, fabulous.

exquisitebones · Feb 13, 2008

tose are soooo lovely.

to bad like a PP said, you cant get rayons like that anymore

the only prints like that are in quilting cottons, and i have made a few skirts out of that stuff... its NOT fun to wear.

when you guys sew vintage, what fabrics do you use?
I am thinking I might jsut stick with hunting for vintage fabrics at thrift stores, cos I dont like how the new stuff feels

exquisitebones · Feb 13, 2008

also, we have a local GINAT fabric store, that has a decent selection of gabardine, has anyone used that.. do you like it?

fftopic: sorry for hijacking the thread, I am done now. :eusa_doh:

AmateisGal · Feb 13, 2008

Wow, this is great! And came at the perfect time since I'm doing research for my WW2 novel and need to know this stuff.

ShooShooBaby · Feb 13, 2008

exquisitebones said:
also, we have a local GINAT fabric store, that has a decent selection of gabardine, has anyone used that.. do you like it?

fftopic: sorry for hijacking the thread, I am done now. :eusa_doh:

what on earth is GINAT, and where is it??? (who am i kidding, i am NOT ready to sew with something as nice as gabardine!)

Miss Neecerie · Feb 13, 2008

maybe ...just maybe its Giant

ShooShooBaby · Feb 13, 2008

also, thanks for bumping the thread, snookie, and for posting the original scans!

i have a '44 montgomery wards catalog i'm dying to scan. if/when that ever happens, i'll post the fabric pages here!

ohairas · Feb 13, 2008

I have this cataloge, it is wonderful. I bought it just for the gwtw pages, it's quite the collector's item and goes sky high. Some awesome things in here. I love the shoe pages!!

How I'd LOVE to have that number 2 lilac calico for the war dress!!!

Thanks for posting Snookie!

I would scan some more too, but unfortunately, this, along with two of my other FAVE gwtw books are misplace right now. I cannot for the life of me remember what I did with them. I use them most often for reference, so I'm sure I toted them from room to room, ugh![huh]
Nikki

ShortClara · Feb 13, 2008

Wow - I might seriously hurt someone for a chance to get my hands on some of those prints! *le sigh!* They are divine! Why, oh why don't they make prints like that anymore?

Thank you so very much for posting!

RetroBabydoll · Feb 13, 2008

http://www.reprodepot.com/aungracandli.html
This fabric is pretty close. I hope to get some.

Idledame · Feb 14, 2008

Thank you so much for the fabric pictures Snookie. This is soooo helpful. If you find any from wartime, that would be interesting too. I know silk was not available because it was used for parachutes but how about cotton and wool? Were they available or rationed? I think Elaina is right about the 2 yard minimum or they just rounded it up to the next cent, because we only had a 1/2 penny until 1857. The wheat pennies had Lincoln on the front and were issued from 1909 until 1958-you still get them in your change occaisionally.

CanadaDoll · Feb 14, 2008

Would Toile be a good fabric for a dress? There's some pretty designs on ebay right now

exquisitebones · Feb 14, 2008

ShooShooBaby said:
what on earth is GINAT, and where is it??? (who am i kidding, i am NOT ready to sew with something as nice as gabardine!)

LOL sorry, I meant Giant, as in large. lol
but its, Fabric Depot.. on sandy.. I am sure you have been there. they ahve a nice little selection of gabardine!

exquisitebones · Feb 14, 2008

RetroBabydoll said:
http://www.reprodepot.com/aungracandli.html
This fabric is pretty close. I hope to get some.

Be careful, most of their fabric is broadcloth or woven cotton (like quilting cotton) and its not great for sewing clothes, WEll. maybe a shirt.. but I have a few skirtsout of it. adn it wrinkles terribly and does not drape well

ShooShooBaby · Feb 14, 2008

exquisitebones said:
LOL sorry, I meant Giant, as in large. lol
but its, Fabric Depot.. on sandy.. I am sure you have been there. they ahve a nice little selection of gabardine!

ah, yes, i have! i've never had a LOT of time to poke around though. they have killer sales!

NoirDame · Feb 14, 2008

Idledame said:
Thank you so much for the fabric pictures Snookie. This is soooo helpful. If you find any from wartime, that would be interesting too. I know silk was not available because it was used for parachutes but how about cotton and wool? Were they available or rationed? I think Elaina is right about the 2 yard minimum or they just rounded it up to the next cent, because we only had a 1/2 penny until 1857. The wheat pennies had Lincoln on the front and were issued from 1909 until 1958-you still get them in your change occaisionally.

Rayon is a wartime fabric.

Snookie · Feb 14, 2008

Wow, thanks everyone, for your Thank Yous! I scanned these last year while in fashion school - most of our projects were really strict, you had to design activewear or Young Missy dresses, but I got to do one collection of vintage repro (on paper only, not conceived). I scanned these and used the prints in my collection, I know I used a tropical palm tree print and the anchor print.

RetroBabydoll · Feb 14, 2008

exquisitebones said:
Be careful, most of their fabric is broadcloth or woven cotton (like quilting cotton) and its not great for sewing clothes, WEll. maybe a shirt.. but I have a few skirtsout of it. adn it wrinkles terribly and does not drape well

What's the best kind of fabric to use for sewing? I hope to start some outfits someday, but have never really made anything. I never thought that woven cotton would be different than other cotton types. Thank you for telling me because I never knew.

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