1940s Vintage Mail Order Sewing Pattern 8181 Very Easy Misses Dress Sz 31 Bust
Original Circa 1947 A-B-C Pattern No. 8181 - One-Piece Dress
Original Circa 1947 A-B-C Mail Order Pattern No. 8181, a one-piece dress cut from a single pattern piece, with a deep simple neckline, puffed sleeves, and a soft bow-tied drawstring waist. Size 13 (31" Bust). Complete Nice Condition; envelope shows wear from decades of handling, professionally repaired to keep it intact.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: A-B-C No. 8181
- Year: Circa 1947
- Garment: One-Piece Dress
- Size: 13 (31" Bust, 34" Hip)
- Condition: Complete Nice Condition
- Envelope Condition: Worn, Professionally Repaired
Design
This A-B-C frock is a genuine "simple as A-B-C" design: the entire dress is cut from a single pattern piece, with no separate bodice or skirt sections to match up. The neckline is deep and plain, the puffed sleeves are described on the envelope as "pert as can be and no bother to sew," and the dress draws in at the waist with a soft, bow-tied drawstring rather than a fitted seam. The envelope itself carried the company's own "1st Prize for Simplicity and Economy" seal.
A Moment in Fashion History
This is an unusually literal example of "extremely easy" construction: where most garment patterns work from several shaped pieces, this dress is genuinely built from just one. The soft drawstring waist in place of a fitted seam reflects a broader wartime and postwar interest in patterns that saved fabric, time, and cutting complexity without sacrificing a flattering silhouette.
Illustration
The cover illustration has been digitally restored and enhanced by Judy Yates to highlight the original fashion artwork while preserving the character and artistry of this historic A-B-C pattern envelope.
