Diana’s Patch - Sewing Patterns for Soft Sculpture Dolls, Vintage Dolls and Doll Supplies

 Available on  Etsy   and  eBay ..  For a limited time, get it for 50% off on Etsy. 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:

The History of Cabbage Patch Kids In 1976, Xavier Roberts first started making soft sculpture dolls and displayed them at a craft shop where he worked.   As the idea of adoption came along, combined with his unique sculpting style and imagination, the dolls became very popular.   He couldn’t keep up with the custom orders he received, so he recruited his mother and sisters for help.