Clotilde 3116: 1950s Uncut Misses Sheath Dress Sz 36 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original, Late 1950s, Clotilde Pattern No. 3116 - Sleeveless Dress or Jumper and Blouse
Original Clotilde Pattern No. 3116, a misses' sleeveless dress or jumper and blouse dating to the late 1950s. A fitted, princess-seamed silhouette with a squared neckline can be sewn as a self-contained sheath dress or as a jumper meant to layer over a coordinating blouse. Factory Folded and Unused.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Clotilde No. 3116
- Year: While we have no confirmed date, the style points to the late 1950s.
- Garment: Sleeveless Dress or Jumper and Blouse
- Size: 36" Bust (pattern printed for sizes 10-20)
- Condition: Factory Folded and Unused
- Format: No envelope - issued as a mail-order pattern via the Chicago Tribune, as was standard for this format
Design
View 1 gives this pattern its core shape: a sleeveless bodice with a squared neckline, fitted through princess seams that carry cleanly from shoulder to hem for a smooth, close silhouette. Sewn up on its own, it makes a simple sheath dress; sewn slightly looser and paired with the coordinating blouse option, the same pattern becomes a jumper - a practical bit of built-in versatility typical of mail-order pattern services of the era.
A Moment in Fashion History
Newspaper mail-order patterns like this one, distributed through outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, brought affordable, up-to-date silhouettes to home sewers well beyond the reach of department store pattern counters. The fitted, princess-seamed sheath of the late 1950s - offered here with the option to convert into a jumper and blouse - reflects the same lean, tailored line that was quietly taking hold across the pattern industry as the decade wound down.
Illustration
The cutting-guide artwork has been digitally restored and enhanced by Judy Yates to highlight the original line art while preserving the character of this historic Clotilde mail-order pattern.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Pillbox and Polish - a growing collection tracing the bridge between 1950s structure and 1960s youth culture. Come take a look.
