1930s Inspired Pleated Dress for 16" Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls

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I recently purchased a doll clothes pattern that was released in 1931.  I could not believe the vague instructions that came with it.  It was literally 4 steps, with a tiny diagram of each piece and how it is put together.  I felt like it was missing instructions.  I guess I’m just used to the step-by-step instructions with photos or diagrams that we see nowadays.

  It didn’t even say how to stitch the collar, and there is no neckband.  Also, the back is one piece that is to be slit from the top to about 1/3 down to make the opening.  So I did some digging and found some interesting facts.  Apparently in the 1930s, due to the Great Depression, pattern companies had to cut prices.  Some were cut from 45 cents to 15 cents, thus cutting costs by having less printed instructions (1).  Also, fabric had to be used sparingly.  The following is an excerpt from “Doll News” on ufdc.org:

 Their clothes were made with new, factory friendly techniques which traded fine sewing for faster finishing. Speed was key, since many items were made by homeworkers who were compensated on a piecework basis. Most of the time there were no buttons at the back. Garments were closed instead with tiny gold safety pins. Styles were kept simple for the same reasons, and organdy became a popular choice for fabric because its stiffness made it easier to sew quickly. (2)

The collars were usually stitched to the inside of the dress and then flipped back outward over an unfinished seam.  I became very intrigued with these vintage patterns, and how they sewed clothes back then.  So I decided to draft the pattern both as the original 1930s pattern instructed, and also how we would construct doll clothing now. You can choose which version to use, or use both!
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1. Sessions, Debbie. 1930s Sewing Pattern History & Pattern Review. Vintage Dancer. [Online] March 22, 2017. [Cited: May 04, 2020.] https://vintagedancer.com/1930s/1930s-sewing-pattern-history/.

2. United Federation of Doll Clubs, Inc. [Online] 2014. [Cited: May 03, 2020.] http://ufdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/sum14-pattern-patsy.pdf.

Materials

·       Main Fabric: 3/8 yard

·       Contrast Fabric: Remnant (8x9”)

·       Bloomers Fabric: 1/4 yard

·       Closure of your choice: snaps (sz 2/0), Velcro, buttons, or small safety pin

·       1/4” or 1/8” elastic

·       Piping for collar