1950s Vintage McCalls Sewing Pattern 5163 Toddler Girls Helen Lee Dress Size 4
Original 1959 McCall Pattern No. 5163 - Girls' Dress with Attached Petticoat
Original 1959 McCall Printed Pattern No. 5163, "Easy to Sew" and designed by Helen Lee, for a girls' dress with attached petticoat. The back-buttoned midriff dress gathers into a three-gore skirt, with a gathered net petticoat built right into the waistline seam so no separate slip is needed. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: McCall No. 5163
- Year: 1959
- Garment: Girls' Dress with Attached Petticoat
- Size: 4
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
McCall 5163 is designed by Helen Lee, with a back-buttoned midriff bodice seamed to a three-gore, gathered skirt that sweeps to 85 1/2" around the lower edge at Size 4. A gathered nylon net petticoat is built directly into the waistline seam - bound in the dress fabric - so the finished dress needs no separate slip underneath. Corded piping trims the front waistline seam, with a small collar, short set-in sleeves, and optional rick rack trim finishing the look. Ten pattern pieces are included, suggested in gingham, poplin, printed silk or cotton, linen, polished cotton, challis, or calico.
A Moment in Fashion History
Helen Lee was a well-known name in children's fashion design during this period, and McCall's "Easy to Sew" designation made her designs accessible to home sewers outfitting their own children. Building the petticoat directly into the dress - rather than requiring it as a separate purchase - was a clever, practical touch that let a single pattern deliver a full, party-ready silhouette on its own.
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 McCall pattern envelope.
