Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern | Past Patterns 8159
$24.00
This Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern recreates an elegant 1918 dress with optional sleeve styles, period waist detailing, and a graceful instep-length silhouette.
Skill Level: 3/5 Intermediate.
Best for sewists comfortable with multi-part garment assembly, period finishing details, and careful dress construction.
999 in stock
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On all US Orders over $50!
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern | Past Patterns 8159
$24.00
This Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern recreates an elegant 1918 dress with optional sleeve styles, period waist detailing, and a graceful instep-length silhouette.
Skill Level: 3/5 Intermediate.
Best for sewists comfortable with multi-part garment assembly, period finishing details, and careful dress 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 Sewing Pattern
This Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern was originally published by The McCall Pattern Company.
Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern recreates an elegant transitional fashion from the final years of the 1910s, when women’s dress still carried traces of earlier fullness while moving toward the straighter, more modern silhouette of the postwar years. Pattern 8159 was advertised in McCall’s Magazine in February 1918, where it was promoted as “A courier of Spring” and praised for its chic bustle effect.
On the original packaging, the garment was described as a “Ladies' Dress with Two-Piece Skirt; two styles of sleeve; instep length.” This design captures the refined line of late 1910s fashion while preserving decorative softness through its shaped waist treatment, long skirt, and graceful back interest.
Design Features of the Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Sewing Pattern
This pattern allows you to create two dress variations from one historically accurate set. The original design includes a two-piece skirt, optional long or short sleeves, and distinctive waist detailing that gives the dress its stylish period character. The instruction sheet also identifies the adjustable collar, plastron, ruffle treatment, and inside and outside belt components that shape the finished look.
- 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 Sewing Pattern reflects a fascinating moment in fashion history. Dresses from 1918 often balanced practicality with lingering elegance, combining narrower skirts with decorative details at the waist and back. This pattern’s bustle effect and softly arranged upper portions echo that transitional moment, when women’s clothing was becoming easier to wear while still retaining a sense of formality and refinement.
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 late 1910s 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 original construction notes identify pieces for the front and back of the waist, skirt sections, optional sleeves, collar, plastron, ruffles, and belt components. The booklet also includes material requirements, layout information, and period waistline finishing guidance to support historically informed construction.
The package includes a copy of the original artwork on the front cover. The instruction material also preserves the period construction notes supplied with the pattern. We include our Past Patterns guide to adjusting garments for bust fit. The patterns are hand-drawn and computer-printed to emulate the originals and arrive on 36" wide sheets.
Skill Level
Skill Level: 3/5
This pattern is best suited to an intermediate sewist. The overall silhouette is straightforward, but the two-piece skirt, optional sleeve treatments, waist finishing methods, and decorative period shaping require care and accuracy. A sewist with some experience in garment assembly and historical sewing methods should be comfortable completing it.
Printed Pattern Information
Our printed patterns are produced on 20 lb. white paper and packaged for storage and repeated use.
Looking for the digital version? The companion download listing is available here: Late 1910s Dress with Two-Piece Skirt Downloads.
Copyright Past Patterns 1979–2026. All rights reserved.
Additional information
| Weight | 10 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13 × 10 × 2 in |
Sizing Information
(Metric size sheet opens as a PDF in a new browser tab)
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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."
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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
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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.
