40s Tea Dress & Accessories

Bust: 30” (76.2cm)
Waist: 26” (66cm)
Hips: 33” (83.9cm)

Finished Back Length from Base of Neck to Hem of,
Dress: 44 ½” (113.1cm)
WIDTH AROUND LOWER EDGE OF DRESS ABOUT 3 ½ yds. for size 16
1 ½” (FINISHED) HEM ALLOWED

Use the size chart above to find your closest modern-day size equivalent in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the USA or Canada, using your bust measurement in inches or centimetres.

How to Measure Your Bust

1. Wear a well-fitting bra.
2. Wrap a measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust.
3. Keep the tape level across your back and comfortably snug, without pulling it tight.
4. Record your measurement in inches or centimetres and compare it with our size chart.

For the best fit, always choose your pattern size based on your body measurements, not your usual shop size. Always check your bust measurement before ordering!

For more information about how pattern sizes can slightly vary between brands and decade, how to measure yourself, what is ease etc,  please visit our Vintage Sizing Explained.

NOTIONS Slide fastener; seam binding: 1 ¼” width (No. 7) ribbon (optional); 1 ½” width (No. 2) rib bon; 1 " width frilling (option al), OR, 2 ornamental clips optional); feather boning for sash; 2 spools matching thread (100 yds., each); 1 spool contrast 50 yds.); snap fasteners; hooks and eyes; shields.

MATERIAL ALLOWED
WITHOUT NAP OR UP OR DOWN DESIGN, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
NOTE: - Additional material is required when: - material is not pre-shrunk - for matching stripes – for extra seam allowance when material ravels.
DRESS WITH LONG SLEEVES
39” material, 4 1/8 yds.
54” material, 2 ¾ yds.
CONTRASTING GIRDLE – 3/8 yd. of 35” velveteen 35” or 39” material.
GIRDLE INTERFACING – 1 yd. of 24” canvas or ¼ yd. of 35” muslin.
LACING FOR GIRDLE – 1 yd. of ½” width ribbon (No. 2).
DRESS WITH SHORT SLEEVES
35” material, 4 ¼ yds.
39” material, 3 ¾ yds.
CONTRASTING COLLAR AND VESTEE – 5/8 yd. of 35” material or ½ yd. of 39” material.
RIBBON BOW FOR VESTEE – ½ yd. of ½” width ribbon (No. 2).
FABRIC SASH – 5/8 yd. of 39” material
RIBBON SASH
6” width, 2 3/8 yds.
FEATHER BONING FOR SASH – 3/8 yd.
BOW FOR NECK EDGE WITH FRILLING – ¾ yd. of 1 ¼” width ribbon (No. 7).
PURCHASED FRILLING
1 ½” width, 5/8 yd.
DRESS WITH LONG OR SHORT SLEEVES
SLEEVE STIFFENING
39” taffeta or 44” organdy, ¼ yd.
9” SLIDE FASTENER IS USED FOR SIDE OPENING.

¾” ALLOWED FOR UNDERARM SEAMS
½” ALLOWED FOR ALL OTHER EDGES

Yards to Centimeter

 Inches to Millimeters/Centimeter

Roll Width (Inches to Centimeters)

Seam Allowances

SUGGESTED FABRICS DRESS WITH LONG SLEEVES - Plain or Printed: Flat crepe, novelty silks, moss crepe, cotton crepe, spun rayons, sheer wool, wool jersey. GIRDLE: Velveteen, linen, pique, bengaline.
DRESS WITH SHORT SLEEVES - Plain or Printed: Cottons, spun rayons, flat crepe, novelty silks, moss crepe, canton crepe. COLLAR AND VESTEE: Pique, line, silk crepe, bengaline, SASH: Taffeta, silk crepe.
See our Fabric Partners

Intermediate

After purchase, you will receive an email with a link to simply download at home, formatted for A0 (print-shop copy), 8.5"x11" and A4 printing. This digital download will print actual size full-scale pattern pieces.