Ladies Home Journal 3281: 1920s Uncut Girls Dress Size 14 Vintage Sewing Pattern
Original circa 1923 Ladies' Home Journal Pattern No. 3281 - Girls' and Misses' Long-Waisted Dress
Original circa 1923 Ladies' Home Journal Pattern No. 3281 for a girls' and misses' long-waisted dress, opening on the shoulders and slipped over the head, with or without a separate collar. Drop shoulders lead into a one-piece full-length sleeve that gathers to a sleeveband and can be shortened. The one-piece skirt is straight and gathered. Factory Folded.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Ladies' Home Journal No. 3281
- Year: Circa 1923–1924, documented Ladies' Home Journal Fashion Quarterly (Spring 1923) and Home Pattern 1924 catalog appearances
- Garment: Girls' and Misses' Long-Waisted Dress
- Size: 14 (32" Breast)
- Condition: Factory Folded
Design
Pattern 3281 opens on the shoulders and slips over the head, with the option of a separate front-and-back collar. Drop shoulders keep the fit easy, and the one-piece full-length sleeve gathers to a sleeveband, with a marked perforation line for a shorter length. A sash may be drawn through slashed side openings (View A) or simply tied around the waist over the dress (View B). The one-piece skirt is straight and gathered to the waist. Seven pattern pieces in all, offered across an unusually wide size range from girls' 8 through misses' 16.
A Moment in Fashion History
Pattern 3281 appeared in the Spring 1923 issue of The Ladies' Home Journal Fashion Quarterly, in a spread titled "Smart Frocks for the Junior," where the size-16 version was shown finished with an embroidery transfer, No. 15074. The pattern was still being offered a year later in the company's 1924 catalog, a testament to its versatility across the girls'- to-misses' size range.
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 Ladies' Home Journal pattern envelope.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Ladies Home Journal New Old Stock - view our entire Ladies Home Journal for a rare glimpse of how sewing patterns were designed and marketed for the whole family. Come take a look.
