Getting ready for a full year of 1920s Gatsby themed events means turning my sewing room into a 1920s fashion house. Flapper dresses, day dresses, house frocks, aprons, coats, and simple slips are all in the plans for this year. I might even make 1920s clothes for my husband.
The first step to making a twenties wardrobe is the sewing patterns. I searched the web and found the following 1920s vintage, reproduction and vintage-inspired sewing patterns for women. Additional clothing pattern makers are listed at the end.
Ladies, if you want to make the most authentic yet flattering 1920s dress for your body type, face shape and hair color, pick up a free copy of my 1920s Fashion for Your Body Type book.
Happy sewing!!!!
1920s Patterns – Women
These are some of our favorite 1920s patterns sold online. Scroll down for even more options:
1920s Vintage Patterns
Either original paper patterns or reproduced patterns into a digital (PDF) print at home pattern. Vintage 1920s patterns will create the most authentic designs, however they usually come with minimal instructions and only one size, per pattern (sold by bust size.) You can grade patterns up to down if you have some experience with the process. Fortunately most 1920s clothes are easy to grade with only a few pieces.
Old Patterns – Original paper patterns
Patterns from the Past – A large collection of vintage 1920s patterns, many in color!
eVintage Patterns – Reproduced booklets on how to makes has, aprons, and dresses. The One Hour Dress (1922), Pretty Frocks (1929), and Cloche Hats are my favorites. I use these for their simplicity, many variations and unlimited sizes. Read my One Hour Dress pattern sewing tips.
Vintage Pattern Library – Reproduced patterns from the ’20s, dresses , coats, aprons, knickers, blouses and skirts. Some PDFs to print at home.
So Vintage Patterns – Rare 1920s vintage patterns sell out fast.
Etsy.com – A wide range of vintage, reproduction and new patterns.
eBay.com – Search for 1920s patterns, flapper patterns, or Gatsby patterns.
Pattern Recall – German patterns reproduced into a PDF in English
My Vintage Wish (UK) – Reproduction vintage patterns in English and French
Lady Marlowe Patterns – Over 100 reproduced digital 1920s patterns
Bright Young Things VP – A growing collection of original patterns digitized and updated with clear markings
Repeated Originals (Australia) – Original patterns scanned and reproduced in a PDF file. Bust sizes in cm. Swimsuits, knickers, dresses, men’s and girls patterns.
Vintage Sewing Pattern Company (UK) – A new brand with a growing collection of vintage patterns for women and men
1920s Reproduction Pattern Makers
Reconstructing History – A little bit of everything, including corsets, men’s, and children. For the intermediate sewer.
Past Patterns – Dresses, skirts, blouses, slips, men’s and children’s patterns. Past Patterns has been making historical patterns longer than most companies.
Decades of Style – A small unique selection of women’s dresses, blouses, bags, capes, and aprons.
Eva Dress / Etsy Shop – Mostly beautiful dresses, blouses, a wedding dress and a garter belt.
Long A Go – Women’s dresses, slips, coats and cloche hats.
Folk Wear – 1927 Tea dress. Some of their other patterns may also work for ’20s.
Rocking Horse Farms – One mid ’20s handkerchief hem evening dress.
1919 “20 minute” Dress – Amazing, simple, almost no sewing, no pattern, dress you can make in 20 minutes.
Ageless Patterns or Amazon Dry Goods – Aggregate of several brands of reproduction dress patterns.
Women’s Wear of the 1920s – Book with 63 museum dresses, graded and ready to make in your size. For experienced sewers.
mrsdepew.com /Etsy Shop – Mostly dresses and hats. Plus vintage eBooks for more inspiration.
Patterns by Mrs Wendel – From original patterns, hand draw on paper to print in English and German
Wearing History – Has mostly 1930s patterns however the pants pattern and beach pajamas could also work for the late 1920s
ContrapuntPatterns (Spain) Take original patterns and scales them to your measurements. Instructions are minimal.
1920s Inspired Patterns
Burda patterns – (mostly free patterns) “These trending styles are a nod to Gatsby and Fitzgerald with a modern spin. In this collection, we see many straight silhouettes with dropped waistlines and godets. These dresses have great style and would make a perfect outfit that you could wear in summer as well as transition into fall. This collection also features distinctive designs for different body types.”
McCalls, Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick – The big 4 usually have a 1920s option either in the costume section or in modern clothing that only need minimal adjustments (look for drop waist dresses or slip dresses).
Plus Size 1920s Patterns
Plus size 1920s pattern are rare. Most women back than and today scale patterns to their measurements. Here are a few I found over 40 inch busts.
The One Hour Dress (1922), Pretty Frocks (1929), use a make you own pattern system based on your measurements.
One Hour Dress multi sized pattern – Print and cut to your bust size up to 50 inches
Ladies’ 1920s Dress #3046 – 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 Bust- A lovely daytime dress with optional embroidery
1920’s Flapper Dress size 42 Bust PDF pattern – An early 20s day dress
1928 Party Silk Dress Bust 42- A late 1920s party or evening dress
1928 Elegant Afternoon Dress with Bib Detail Bust 42
1920s drop waist / pleated skirt / bust 34 36 38 40 42- A nice afternoon dress with jacket
Reconstructing History– Has three late 1920s dress patterns (48 and 52 bust) plus swimwear, knickers, lingerie
Seamstress to Hire
Sew Vintage Seamstress – USA – She will use an authentic 1920s pattern, graded to your size and handmade
1920s Fashion Guides
Learn all about 1920s fashion history with over 50 women’s and men’s articles chock-full of pictures for inspiration.
The article on 1920s fabrics and colors will be helpful for sewing authentic clothing also recommendations on where to buy fabric.
Women’s Fashion Fabrics of the 1920s
1920s Accessories
Now that your costume is made, do you have the right shoes and accessories to go with it?
- Shop 1920s Style jewelry (cheap prices) and headbands.
- Shop 1920s Style Scarfs and wraps – A very important accessory for evening wear.
- Shop 1920s Style hats (cloche hats) these are mostly plain hats which are perfect for further decorating.
- Shop 1920s Style Shoes or read about the different styles of twenties shoes for women.
Pin this and check back for new patterns weekly
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
