Anne Adams Mail Order Vintage Sewing Patterns

Anne Adams vintage sewing pattern

The single (front and back) instruction guide is called, Anne Adams Instructor.
Practical Chart for Dressmaking
ENVELOPE

Generic:  There’s an illustration of the garment to be constructed on the front page of the instructor sheet with smaller back views.  The instructor doesn’t provide a written description of the garment itself.

Note:  While the envelope is generic, often times the mail order pattern company indicated the pattern number and size for the recipient in the handwritten addressee information.

FRONT PAGE
Dressmaking and cutting instructions
• Seam allowance:  On unprinted patterns the seam allowance is stated in the black bar across the mid-section of the instruction sheet labeled:

IMPORTANT:  5/8-INCH SEAM ALLOWANCE (or whatever allowance is required).
On later versions of Anne Adams sewing patterns the seam allowance is indicated within the Dressmaking Instructions for Printed Patterns and on the back page of the instructor sheet. 

• General Instructions include definition and illustrations of marks used for cutting, marking and other finishing details:
V Notch-to match seams

Oo Large and small perforations.  Mark perforations of wrong side of fabric with tailor’s tacks or chalk.

OOO Indicates place of fold

oo Straight grain of fabric-see cutting guide for further instructions 

Shorten or lengthen by making tuck or slash at diamond perforations.

• General layout of dressmaking instructions

Instructions along with some detailed numbered illustrative depictions are laid out in broad step categories: 1, 2, and 3 ect, with more step by step detailing within each category. 

Also included are sizing and fabric requirement charts, a numbered and name parts identification guide and a detail cutting information section that clearly provided information on how to lay out pattern pieces, including ride and wrong sides. 

BACK PAGE

Practical Chart for Dressmaking

A full-page of added how-to sew information containing illustrations for every skill or technique outlined including: 

• Grain of fabric, popular seam finishes, tailor tacks, popular stitched, using bias binding, scalloping, shoulder Pads, making tailored buttons and other button finishes, belts, plackets, French tacking and loops
• How to take individual measurements
• How to make adjustments in pattern parts before cutting fabric.

On later printed pattern versions of Anne Adams patterns this sheet (Practical Chart for Dressmaking) is relabeled ad the Practical Dressmaking Hints for Printed Pattern.

While the Practical Dressmaking Hints for Printed Pattern doesn’t lay out many of the older sewing methods and techniques, nor contain as many illustrations, the Practical Dressmaking Hints for Printed Patterns does provide more information about proper seam stitching from basting and joining to pressing.  In addition, the seam allowance is restated. 

PATTERN PIECES
Are marked or unmarked.  Unmarked perforated patterns are clearly numbered and contain easy to read perforations.

Practical Dressmaking Hints for Printed Pattern