A New Obsession: 1920's Children's & Babies Clothing

Oh Dear ~ Wood Genius says I have too many new obsessions..... But noooo ~ Besides, my obsessions are so much cheaper than his! For instance, it will take a LOT of eBaying, internetting, & specialty shopping to equal up to his one SINGLE purchase of an original vintage Morely wood stripper canoe.

Besides again, this is a very cool obsession!

Check it out, I am researching 1920's ( & 30's & 40's, but that would be a different post ~ ;-D ~) children & baby clothes, so that I can make some correct period clothing for my nieces or nephews, or even for those as-yet non-existant grandchildren. And while I am at it, I am also researching vintage aprons, because, well, I just LOVE them! Vintage aprons are like great-grandma's who let you help them make cookies & such, & smell of Sweet Honesty & make homemade soap & grow gardens & kill chickens & all.

Naturally, research takes actual imagery acquisitions... you know, so that proper references can be made, so that I can properly draft the patterns. Well, that's my story & I'm sticking to it!

Besides yet again, think of all the uses I can put these awesome ephemera to once my research has come to an end ~ I can frame them & hang them all over my sewing room walls for instant inspiration! ;-D
So here are some of the images that I have aquired thus far. I will add more as I get them.
The ones I am listing today come from a 1927 - 1928 Herrschner Needlwork Catalog.

I found some fabric at one of our local upholstery shops that I believe will be perfect for one of these little gentleman's pea coats.  It is a fine waled chevron tweed, in gray, brown & a sort of gold-ish undertone, made of what looks like a wool/cotton blend.  The fabric was a bit thinner than I would have cared for, except that it has a sort of light backer on it, as you would expect from upholstery yardage.  Which I think is going to be perfect, because then I won't have to line it for stiffness.  Naturally, I will still make silk liner for the inside of the coat.   

I also found some rather adorable small diamond design jaquard at the same upholstery store, again a very light (as far as upholstery goes, rather perfect for coating) weight, in gold on gold diamonds, with cream mixed in there as well.  I will use this for the little red smocked child's coat shown up in the corner.

  Aren't these old apron patterns just delightful!?  I have drafted several patterns based on the ones shown here, and I am just going to make them out of old percale sheeting.  I happen to have a few old pink 100% cotton percale sheets, which I believe are the correct color, I think I will probably bind them in either a vintage green or a vintage blue bias tape.  I don't know if I will be able to get them embroidered, however. 

I simply love these adorable baby bubbles, and I have a pattern from my "Grandmother's Hope Chest", by Martha Pullen, that I believe will work well for adapting to these sweet 1920's styles!!  I have yet to figure out what type of fabric they are referring to when they say "Indian Head", however.  If anyone knows, please do let me know.  

I also managed to find some batiste & a bit of lovely lawn at a little fabric shop in Bountiful Utah, which I intend to use for making several lace-embellished baby day gowns, complete with the pin-tucking & light embroidery work.  Again, I think some of the patterns in "Grandmother's Hope Chest" can be adapted to these daygown styles.  Just in case, however, I do have a nice vintage (1920's!!) daygown pattern coming from eBay, so I guess we'll see just how the two compare, and whether or not my adjustments give the right look.  I'm mostly worried about the yokes, as they look to have been separate from the rest of the gown, attached with entredeux to the fullness of the gown body.

Check out the awesome knee-length booties on this page (middle upper right hand)!! I believe I shall have to try to make some!  A matching sweater & close-fitting baby cloche shouldn't be too difficult, either.

These aprons in unbleached muslin should be quick & fun!  Quilt backer is cheap, too. 

I love the kimono type sleeves that these little dresses afford, it is an entirely different look from a raglan or  fitted  or gathered cap sleeve.  The pattern from this type of dress is often quite simple, with a front & a back placed on the fold, sleeves & fullness of the skirt all inclusive to the one pattern piece. Sizing can be a bit tricky, however, if you don't have a baby or toddler right handy.