Simplicity 1978: 1950s Sweet Toddler Girls Dress Size 3 Vintage Sewing Pattern
Circa 1957 Simplicity Pattern No. 1978 - Child's One-Piece Dress and Jacket
Circa 1957 Simplicity Pattern No. 1978 for a child's sleeveless dress and matching cardigan-type jacket, size 3. The dress has a square neckline, a full softly pleated skirt, and a button-back opening. The collarless jacket has short kimono sleeves and contrasting band trim. View 1's dress and jacket are made in contrasting fabrics, with bias and bow trim on the dress and dress-fabric trim on the jacket. View 2 adds a contrast yoke, skirt band, and jacket trim, all outlined with lace edging. Complete and in nice condition.
Quick Facts
- Pattern Number: Simplicity No. 1978
- Year: Circa 1957
- Garment: Child's One-Piece Dress and Jacket
- Size: 3 (Chest 22", Waist 20.5")
- Condition: Complete Nice Condition
- Envelope Condition: Worn
Design
Simplicity 1978 pairs a sleeveless dress with a matching cardigan-type jacket from fourteen pattern pieces. The dress has a square neckline, a full, softly pleated skirt, and a button-back opening; the collarless jacket adds short kimono sleeves and contrasting band trim. View 1 makes the dress and jacket in contrasting fabrics, with bias and bow trim on the dress and jacket trim cut from the dress fabric. View 2 goes further with a contrast yoke, skirt band, and jacket trim, every edge finished with lace edging. Suggested fabrics for both views include cottons, rayons, and synthetics - calico, percale, gingham, dotted swiss, organdy, voile, taffeta, cotton-blends, and nylon.
A Moment in Fashion History
A dress-and-jacket set like this one reflects the late-1950s taste for coordinated children's outfits that could go from playtime to a dressier occasion with the jacket added or removed. The full, pleated skirt and contrast trim options gave a single pattern real range without asking a home sewist to piece together separate garments.
Connections
This pattern is part of our 1950s Simplicity children's collection - a growing selection of vintage kids' sewing patterns from the decade. Come take a look.
