Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads | Past Patterns 8159
$12.00
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads recreates an elegant 1918 dress with two sleeve styles, shaped waist detailing, and multiple digital print formats.
Skill Level: 3/5 Intermediate.
Best for sewists comfortable with multi-part dress assembly, period finishing details, and careful historical garment construction.
999 in stock
Get Free Shipping
On all US Orders over $50!
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads | Past Patterns 8159
$12.00
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads recreates an elegant 1918 dress with two sleeve styles, shaped waist detailing, and multiple digital print formats.
Skill Level: 3/5 Intermediate.
Best for sewists comfortable with multi-part dress assembly, period finishing details, and careful historical garment construction.
999 in stock
Get Free Shipping
On all US Orders over $50!
All of our patterns tell a story.
Why Choose This Pattern?
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads brings this elegant 1918 McCall design to digital format for home printing, copy shop output, and projector-friendly sewing workflows.
This pattern was originally published by The McCall Pattern Company. Pattern 8159 was advertised in McCall’s Magazine in February 1918, where it was described as a fashionable spring design with a chic bustle effect. On the original packaging, the garment was identified as a “Ladies' Dress with Two-Piece Skirt; two styles of sleeve; instep length.”
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads reflects the graceful transitional styling of the late 1910s, when women’s fashions combined soft fullness and decorative drape with the cleaner lines that would soon define the next decade. This design includes a two-piece skirt, optional sleeve treatments, shaped waist detailing, and a refined instep-length silhouette suited to historical costuming, reenactment, theatrical wardrobe work, and period sewing study.
What You Receive with Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads
- 36" wide format: 2 pages
- 8.5"x11" (tiled) pattern set: 60 pages
- A4 (tiled) pattern set: 55 pages
- A0 (no split pieces): 3 pages
- 8.5"x11" instruction booklet: 6 pages
- A4 instruction booklet: 6 pages
The 36" wide and A0 files include no split pieces. These larger-format files can also be used in projector sewing workflows. For additional guidance, see our Projector Sewing Help page.
Design Features of Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads includes the original design details that give this garment its period character. The instruction material identifies the adjustable collar, plastron, optional long and short sleeves, ruffle treatment, and inside and outside belt components used to shape the finished dress.
- Two dress variations
- Two sleeve styles
- Two-piece skirt
- Instep-length silhouette
- Period-correct waist and belt detailing
- 12 pattern pieces
Historical Context
The Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads listing preserves a design from a pivotal moment in fashion history. Dresses of 1918 still carried traces of earlier fullness and decorative emphasis, especially at the waist and back, while moving toward more restrained and practical lines. This particular dress captures that balance beautifully, offering a silhouette that feels both refined and transitional.
Size Information
This pattern is designed to fit the size and shape of a late 1910s woman with a 34" bust, 24" waist, and 37" hips. This is the size currently offered for this package.
For resizing information, see our resizing guide.
Fabric and Materials
Materials required for this pattern include:
- 5 1/8 yards of 36" wide fabric
Saundra Altman, our founder and noted fashion historian, recommended fabrics such as crepe de Chine, silk, silk crepe, silk taffeta, satin, half-wool challis, wool serge, or cotton poplin for dresses of this type. Suitable period colors include navy blue, black, Copenhagen blue, dark brown, dark gray, Russian green, and purple.
Pattern Contents and Construction Notes
This pattern set includes 12 pieces and uses a 3/8" seam allowance. The instruction booklet preserves construction guidance for the front and back of the waist, skirt sections, optional sleeves, collar, plastron, ruffles, and belt components. It also includes layout information, material requirements, and period waist-line finishing guidance to support historically informed sewing.
The digital package includes the original artwork, the reproduced instruction material, and our Past Patterns guide to adjusting garments for bust fit. The pattern pieces are hand-drawn and computer printed to emulate the originals while remaining convenient for modern download use.
Skill Level
Skill Level: 3/5
This pattern is best suited to an intermediate sewist. The overall dress is not excessively complex, but the two-piece skirt, optional sleeve treatments, waist finishing methods, and period shaping details require accuracy and patience. Sewists with experience in garment construction and some familiarity with historical sewing methods should find it approachable.
Download Information
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads is a digital sewing pattern package. Files are provided in multiple print formats so you can choose the setup that best fits your sewing workflow, whether you prefer tiled home printing, copy shop output, or large-format projection preparation.
Prefer a printed version? The physical pattern is available here: Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern.
Copyright Past Patterns 1979–2026. All rights reserved.
Sizing Information
(Metric size sheet opens as a PDF in a new browser tab)
Preferred Vendors
Past Patterns works with vendors from all over the world to help us replicate the amazing articles of clothing. Now you can too!
Visit our preferred vendors page to order directly from some of our top recommended suppliers.
FAQ's
(Frequently asked questions)
Why are both Trowsers and Trousers listed on site?
Over the last 200 years, much like the human body, our style of language has changed. For vintage patterns, we attempt to use the language of the day where possible.
Can you grade (edit) a Vintage Revival pattern for my size?
please contact us with the specific pattern number and the specifications you require. We have staff available for this for an additional fee.
What sizes do Past Patterns patterns come in?
Our patterns, with some exceptions, are manufactured in sizes 8 through 26 for women and sizes 34 through 54 for men. Most patterns are multi-sized. For a complete listing of measurements in inches see the size chart.
Do you have vintage patterns (manufactured prior to 1950) that you want to sell?
we are always on the lookout for original, American designed, vintage patterns especially for categories outside of current items. We are interested if you have 1 pattern or 1000 patterns. Give us a call to discuss.
Why is my pattern size different from my off the rack dress size?
We use the U. S. Board of Standard Measurements to size our patterns. The ready made clothing manufacturers have their own set of sizes developed from their own statistics. For a complete listing of measurements in inches see the size chart.
How are the patterns packaged?
We package our patterns in two forms: Bond Paper and Tissue. Except for the Tissue patterns, each is slipped into a reusable plastic sleeve. Many contain documentation in the form of Historical Notes or the printer ie., Butterick. Because the patterns are printed in house to order, they can take from three to seven days. Tissue patterns, which are printed out of house, are available to ship immediately.
What does a Corset Kit contain in addition to the Corset pattern?
In addition to the pattern, the kits contain everything you need to make the corset except the thread. The kits contain, according to their type, fabric and lining, stays, clasp or busk board, back lacing, tape for finishing the edges, trim lace, ribbon, leather, tin stock, waist tape, punch and setter, eyelets, marking pencils, cording, reed and a loop turner.
Need a pattern in your language?
we can translate our instructions into just about any language
Have an old and incomplete Past Patterns item. What can I do?
The answer depends on if the pattern is still in production or not. If it is, please mail us the old pattern and we will ship you a copy of the latest pattern for a minimal fee along with normal shipping charges. If the item is no longer in production, we would need to know exactly what you have to determine the best course of action to help you.
What is the difference between a Past Patterns original pattern and a Vintage Revival pattern?
The Past Patterns originals were designed in house and based upon the research, disassembly and time of Saundra Ros Altman. These designs come from finds all over the United States reaching from San Diego, California to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. She created the initial patterns, the sizing charts and the instruction content. Many of the these patterns are multi-sized or are available in various sizes. For the most part, these designs are done taking into account the modern human body's shape, height and weight. The Vintage Revival patterns are traces or copies of an old, mass produced pattern; the first mass produced patterns came out in the 1850s. For the most part, you get exactly what came in the original package; in some cases, Saundra has appended historical notes to the instructions. The Vintage Revivals patterns, being copies of the originals, generally only come in one size and are based upon the size and shape of the human body from the era the pattern came from.
What software do you use to create patterns?
We utilize PW Studio for our designs. Isabelle Lott, a contributor over the years to Past Patterns, is the owner of the company and will be happy to answer an software related questions you have. Her software is available for licensing.
What measurements do I need to know to order a Corset Kit?
The bust and back length. The back length is measured from the prominent bone at the base of the neck to the natural waistline.
Where can I see the appropriate clothing fabrics for the 18th and 19th centuries?
You can see 1740 through 1940 fabrics in a book titled "Textile Designs" by Susan Meller and Joost Elffers. The subtitle states, "Two Hundred Years of European and American Patterns for Printed Fabric by Motif, Style, Color, Layout and Period and 1,823 Illustration in Color." What they don't say is that 90% of the swatches pictured are life size. The ISBN is 0-8109-3853-7. A second book is Wearable Prints, 1740-1860, History, Materials, and Mechanics by Susan W. Greene. The ISBN is 978-1-60635-124-6. Great books! Order it from your local library that has interlibrary loan capability if you cannot afford the price. There are now many sources for appropriate fabric through the Internet.
Where can I find antique patterns to purchase?
On the Internet try: "Patterns from the Past."
Need a pattern tomorrow?
we do offer expedited domestic shipping for extra fees. We can also expeditie international shipments but delivery dates overseas cannot be promised.
Becoming a Wholesalers of our patterns
We offer Wholesalers significant discounts that will allow both your and our businesses to flourish.
Why don't we sell PDFs of our patterns - First due to piracy. We have spent over 40 years creating and tracing these patterns along with researching them. We print and ship all of our patterns ourselves. If we started sending out PDFs, in no time, copies of our Intellectual Property would be all over the internet and we would be out of business. Second, some of our patterns are constantly being updated. We want our clients to get the BEST POSSIBLE version of our products.
