1920 Woman's Institute Woolen Materials & Tailored Plackets Sewing Course Book 12

Overview

This is an original 1920 correspondence course lesson from the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences, one of America's best-known home study schools for sewing and dressmaking during the early twentieth century.

Written by Mary Brooks Picken, this lesson teaches the selection, care, and preparation of wool fabrics, along with professional methods for constructing tailored plackets used in skirts, jackets, and other garments.

Topics Covered

• Selecting quality wool fabrics
• Types of woolen materials and their uses
• Wool fabric reference tables
• Fabric widths and period prices
• Preparing wool by shrinking and sponging
• Pressing wool fabrics
• Removing shine from wool garments
• Tailored placket construction
• Habit-back plackets
• Inverted-pleat plackets
• Welt-seam plackets

Edition Details

• Course Number: 12
• Title: Woolen Materials and Tailored Plackets
• Edition: 1920
• Original Copyright: 1916
• Author: Mary Brooks Picken
• Publisher: Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
• Department: Tailoring
• Format: Softcover correspondence lesson
• Size: Approximately 5½ × 8½ inches

Edition Notes

Our research collection includes the 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 editions of this lesson. Comparison shows that the 1920 edition retains the same lesson organization, illustrations, and instructional content found in the surrounding editions, suggesting the Woman's Institute considered this material current for several years before making substantial revisions.

Condition

• Original vintage publication
• Very Nice Condition
• Complete
• Please review all photographs for detailed condition.

About Mary Brooks Picken

Mary Brooks Picken (1886–1981) was one of the most influential sewing educators of the twentieth century. She authored numerous books on sewing and dressmaking, helped develop the Woman's Institute correspondence courses, and later wrote educational publications for Singer.

Why Collect Woman's Institute Lessons?

The Woman's Institute correspondence courses document the evolution of sewing education, textile knowledge, tailoring, and women's home study during the early twentieth century. Original lessons are valued by collectors, costume historians, textile researchers, reenactors, and vintage sewing enthusiasts.

This lesson is especially useful for its detailed wool fabric reference tables, textile illustrations, and professional tailoring techniques that remain valuable to students of historical garment construction.