McCall 5809: 1940s Womens WWII Jumper & Blouse Sz 38 B Vintage Sewing Pattern
1944 McCall Printed Pattern No. 5809 - Jumper Dress and Blouse
1944 McCall Printed Pattern No. 5809 for a ladies' and misses' jumper dress with a coordinating blouse, offered in two views. The sleeveless jumper closes with a deep V button front and cinches at a seamed waist with a set-in belt, over a box-pleated skirt. The blouse features a front yoke with a soft tied bow collar, and can be made with long or short sleeves. Complete Nice Condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: McCall No. 5809
- Year: 1944
- Garment: Ladies'/Misses' Jumper Dress and Blouse
- Size: 20 (38" Bust, 32" Waist, 41" Hip)
- Condition: Complete Nice Condition
Design
View A pairs the jumper with a long-sleeve blouse, while View B shows the same jumper with a short-sleeve version - both built from the same 23-piece printed pattern. The jumper's deep-V, button-front bodice sits over a seamed waistline finished with a set-in belt, and the skirt is built from five box-pleated panels (front, side front, side back, back, and underlap) for a crisp, tailored fullness rather than simple gathers. The blouse's front yoke and tie create the soft bow at the neckline, with a continuous-lap sleeve band finishing either sleeve length. Worn together or the jumper alone over a separate blouse, the design offers a mix-and-match wardrobe piece from a single pattern investment.
A Moment in Fashion History
By 1944, jumper-and-blouse combinations like this one were a practical mainstay of wartime dressing - a single jumper could be restyled across a week simply by swapping which blouse went underneath, stretching a limited fabric ration further than a one-piece dress could. McCall's printed pattern format (patented, and licensed to no other company until the patent expired in the 1940s) also made this an especially easy pattern to cut accurately at home, at a moment when home sewing itself was doing double duty as both economy and self-reliance.
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.
Connections
This pattern is part of our ongoing exhibit, Women of WWII - a growing collection celebrating the resourcefulness and everyday style of wartime home sewing. Come take a look.
