1942 Make and Mend Booklet PDF Download

This WWII classic spans 50 pages and was published in 1942. It offers useful guidance on repairing apparel and utilizes contemporary designs from popular brands like Advance, Vogue, Du Barry, Hollywood, Butterwick, McCall, and Simplicity placed onto menswear to cope with rationing.

In 1942, sewers at home demonstrated thrift and ingenuity, using instructional magazines like Make and Mend to repurpose old clothes into new fashions. World War II was in full force, yet the closets of this era showed what victory looked like through creative transformation. Not only did this spare expense, but it also supported the war effort.

This wartime edition of 1942 Make and Mend magazine provided ample resources for the home sewer looking to contribute to the war effort. Detailed instructions for transforming men's office shirts into little girl's dresses, fabric scraps into hats, adult winter coats into children's trousers and a dress into a pinafore were featured, as well as how to crochet yarn into jewelry. Generous resources were found within the publication, enabling creative projects to be realized with frugality and patriotism.

This reminds me of a story my Grandma always tells about how her mom made her winter pants out of her father's wool winter coat. But the coat didn't have a lining so she remembers how rough the wool was on her skin after walking to school. I picture her as the kid from The Christmas Story all bundled up. My Great Grandma was definitely a thrifty home sewer!

Produced by the Spool Cotton Company, this 50-page magazine demonstrates the critical importance of material recycling during wartime and provides various ideas and detailed instructions to promote creativity. Not only is it an interesting look into how 1940s-era women used their ingenuity to support the war effort, it also provides insight into the fashion industry trends of that time.

This magazine is a must-read for any sewer or admirer of vintage fashion design; it offers fresh and inspiring perspectives on old garments, and its focus on sustainable style and repurposed material is timeless.