What I Learned from this 1949 Dress Manual: Clothing for Moderns (a dramatic reading)

[@CaptaNovious]

I particularly enjoyed the perspective of me-the-buyer paying attention to not partaking in exploitation instead of just pointing the finger at "big companies". Consumer responsibility. I like it.

[@MiffoKarin]

This book honestly sounds like a goldmine for practical skills, even though it is very much a product of its time. I learned how to save fabric when cutting on my own by having just *barely* enough fabric and having to jigsaw those pattern pieces as close as possible. 😅

[@StephanieCanada]

I loved every moment of this!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@linr8260]

How I wish the few resources I've gotten about altering patterns ever tackled having a curved spine and a Prominent Behind! That whole section sounds like a goldmine. That aside this is a fascinating read! Your delivery only adds to it.

[@fearlessknits1]

OMG this is the hidden curriculum of my childhood. I'm 38 😂

[@molnotmole3428]

I wish I had this book when I was a kid because I would ask my mom why you had to do certain things & she would just say “because that’s how you are supposed to” it took KZbin & 40yrs to understand the difference between ironing & pressing.

[@stevezytveld6585]

"Discard the hopeless". Dear Lord - suddenly 1950's mental wards make more sense... That. That is one heck of a book. It is giving me flashbacks to the early 1980's "you're a woman now" pamphlets they gave out in grade 8 'health' class. Those pamphlets talked vaguely and gave me a 'well, my life is screwed now' vibes. These old sewing manuals are such a mixed bag of contradictions. High, high levels of technical knowledge. Glimmers of social progress, wedged between the life-altering levels of negative judgments directed at young women. All of these built-in 1940's social norms nakedly laid out, and we're in the position to have the language to label them. We're also happen to be in the position to know how the story turned out for the Grannies. They are a time capsule. And yes, that book help form the sewing habits of your family. A virtual, book-form, Sewing Auntie. I recently found a 1937 Simplicity sewing manual. It's appropriately thin for the time period so there's less social commentary, but what leaks through is fascinating. Absolutely no advice about pants - not even a mend and maintain your husband/son's wardrobe. There's the brief 'what not to wear section' that is, of course, entirely fair skinned women - not so much as an 'olive complexion'. And an ad for a women's college where you can learn to be a seamstress at home. When in doubt, sewing is a skill to fall back on in hard times. Which makes for a nice counterpoint to your 1940's 'don't take advantage of other people for the sake of your fashion' advice. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@indiabilly]

Hi! I see you in the comments of all my favourite youtubers to the point that I would probably force you to be my friend if we lived on the same continent xx

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@indiabilly Well, hello Tabitha, it is a pleasure to meet you over the interwebs. Where-a-bouts are you? I'm about to trace out a vintage pattern for 1950's cigarette pants. Slightly terrifying because the trouser geography still makes little sense to me. What's in your workroom?

[@Kittysews]

I really liked the part about economic pattern layout and think it would make a great idea for its own video, I'm always trying to reduce fabric waste but also terrible at planning it out, I learnt my sewing by tracing cabbagepatch clothes and sewing new ones, so I'm guilty of ignoring things like grain line or reducing my seam allowance, which isn't so helpful when sewing proper clothes and is usually those shortcuts that make my clothes not turn out😅

[@rd6203]

"Find someone more timid and make them comfortable." This tactic has a great many people convinced that I am a) friendly and b) outgoing. In reality, they were just hiding in my corner when I needed a distraction from my anxiety 😆

[@EmilySnee]

Yeeeep. This is why almost all my friends are introverts and are convinced I’m really extroverted (I’m just at pretending to be comfy in social situations 😅)

[@rd6203]

@@EmilySnee At least we know that it was sound advice that she was giving these girls 😊 With how blunt she was, I am mildly surprised that she didn't also advise that they plan some recovery time post-event. Socialization is so very taxing

[@elskersten-vandijk7227]

I just remembered I have an old sewing book, I looked it up and it's from 1967 - it's called "Met Naald en Draad Paraat" (Dutch, translates roughly to "At the ready with needle and thread") by Ida de Leeuw van Rees. It's mostly a technical manual on garment construction and patterning, and the information is excellent. There is, however, a short section on "the woman and her appearance" at the end of the book which focused on personal hygiene ("shave thy legs") and skincare ("curb thy enthusiasms for makeup"), which opens by stating "not only the right clothing, but especially a well-groomed appearance typify the woman, and it is this combination that often benefits the way she carries herself, as well as her entire being and promotes her vitality and lust for life". I mean, I will say I tend to feel a bit more alive when I slap on some lipstick so... Maybe..? Currently schlubbing about in my joggers though and I can't say I'm lacking my entire being, as such.

[@botanicantics5909]

I have my grandma's or great grandma's "Party Encyclopedia" from 1960. A surprisingly small book based on its title, its 96 pages are packed with 53 pages of drinks, and such food recipes as "ham rafts", "tongue treat", "hot ripe olives", and "treasure roll". Also there's a whole chapter on party themes including the Gay Nineties Party (they mean 1890s), an Auto party for the purchase of a new car, and a number of racist ones I am not going to mention. There is some genuinely good advice like how much to serve per guest, and a number of basic toasts to memorize.

[@HulloItsIcySews]

I have some old sewing manuals from the 80s which I used to learn to sew - but unfortunately nothing about how to analyse your own style! What a great book! And the bits about thinking about how YOU as a consumer affect the people making the garment was amazing! And a book from the 1940s talking about skin colour? Wow! Thank you for sharing!

[@zanili]

This is book sounds amazing ! While things must be taken with a grain of salt it seems very complete and useful

[@inthewindago]

This book sounds like a must read. It’s dated in many aspects. But if you read it with a modern perspective on its advice. It seems quite useful. I’d love to have a copy of it. If only to admit how far we’ve come. And how similar we still are. Lol

[@asilverfoxintasmania9940]

While some of the ideals are outdated, there is some really good advice in that book. The alterations section sounds like its worth trying to track down alone! Thank you for your dramatic reading of this!

[@indiabilly]

I have been waiting for a few days thinking that it’s nearly time for Ms Snee to entertain me and I am not disappointed, I do love your content and wish there were 4 Emily’s or possibly 30 to cover the intervening period xx

[@mygreenfroggy]

I do have this book (I collect old sewing books, too) and I so desperately want a recording of you snarkily reading it. This cracks me up!

[@grimnirnacht]

Funny and interesting. Thank you for sharing

[@joannasnee3871]

About the pattern layout. Although there was a money issue, I'm not sure that was the primary driver here. I think it was the challenge! There was a gleam in the eye, and a pride in the voice when she read the pattern fabric requirements, '31/2 yards? don't need that, 3 yards of this, please!'

[@racheledmondson4003]

Haha great stuff! Really glad to see the word collifogaling make an appearance too. All bets are off on the spelling. Has anyone ever seen this word written down? 😀

[@BYBabbra]

What a brilliant book, a snapshot of the past but still practical in some sense. Not sure about the "sissy" question! The fact that I make clothes or that I prefer a skirt to trousers puts me in what category!!! Lets not dwell on it. All in all very interesting, thank you.

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

I wonder whether the bit about boys doing their own mending was removed at an editor's insistence, and they overlooked the chapter opening.

[@jackiejames4551]

Some of the advice sounds pretty good, but that "Discard the hopeless" remark is truly frightening on so many levels. However, I enjoyed your delivery style throughout the video. Spot on!

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

"Discard the hopeless" sounds pretty brutal, but when applied to things (NOT people) it can make a lot of sense. It's basically an extremely blunt way of saying "Consider whether something is worth the effort, and if not, cut your losses." Some things can't be mended without a disportionate input of time or effort. Some sewing projects just aren't going to end satisfactorily. Some clothes really aren't ever going to fit you again.

[@jackiejames4551]

@@rachelboersma-plug9482 this is true. I've just recently done a closet purge and gotten rid of several large bags of clothes that no longer fit. Also now that I'm fully retired, there are some things I'm just never gonna wear again.

[@kaytemnorwood]

That book can take away my extra buttons from my cold dead hands. 😂

[@elineeugenie5224]

'what is the sense of going to a tea when you know you'll be bored?' oh my life

[@EmilySnee]

Right? I am VERY bad at getting myself to go to social events that I know will bore me 😂😂

[@elineeugenie5224]

@@EmilySnee and still, we go... 😅

[@lingolift5917]

It is definitely very interesting. Some things are quite dated, but some of the advice seems pretty universal.

[@Eyamori]

At 16:36 why do the CC entirely skip over the word being explained? People who use CC want to know ~everything~ being said .. I'm people [Ps. Love your content]

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Thank you

[@michellecornum5856]

Love the reading of this.

[@TreScotts1Fan]

Absolutely hilarious.

[@joannasnee3871]

Ahhh! Clothing for Morons! Wow, brilliant job, Em. Context is all, I think, something we payed no attention to when we mocked this book mercilessly as teenagers , whilst winding up your poor, harassed grandmother. I think this was a course manual, probably 'inherited' from a leaving student, at the NTC. (National Training College) . This time, just post war, it was still a fairly new thing for women to go off to college, lead independent lives and persue a career. It was also the time when there was a lot of pressure from some quarters ( including fashion promoters ( New Look etc)) for women to stop wearing practical clothing, doing useful and practical jobs and Get Back to the Home! Despite some heavy judgemental language and assumptions, this book is definitely saying NO! to that. Your grandma was a peculiar mixture of the ' proper' and the progressive rebellious, and this book seems like that also.

[@emilyrln]

Do I want to know what makes a cheap fabric "too sleazy" for a dress? 😂 Also that bit about half-price remnants hits too close to home lol.

[@MsHedgehog]

..that book may actually be the the written version of the swedish unwritten cultural rules. I am very confused now 😅 And I do include the cut throat parts, maybe especially them even I really want to find and by it for the dressmaking aspects

[@lizb7271]

On the one hand I do appreciate the idea of discussing one's own participation of the exploitation of people in the garment industry, but I kind of feel that emphasises the personal rather than the systemic. A consumer can try to make better decisions, but gathering information to make those decisions is time consuming and overwhelming, and that assumes that the information given is even accurate. Capitalism incentivises companies to make things in exploitative ways, claim it isn't, then charge more because of that lie and pocket the difference.

[@inthewindago]

Yes but one can learn to recognise quality construction and fabrics. How to find more timeless staple pieces. That can be worn for years, or decades. Find things that can be repaired and altered to extend longevity. Even if the company making it is lying a bought how it was constructed. Having fewer item in ones wardrobe, that won’t be replaced frequently. Means you won’t be buying and supporting the junk manufacturers. You’ll actually be encouraging the good ones. Also supporting a local seamstress or tailor. Or learning the skill of sewing yourself. Also I highly recommend taking all your favourite skirts to a seamstress. To see if they can put pockets into the side seams! A nice big pocket, in a flared skirt. Can hold more than you think. Without looking like you have a pocket at all!! I can get a beer bottle in all of mine, and you can’t even tell! Lol Edit: I wrote this before the video had got to that subject in the book. I’m sorry I just basically repeated what the book said. Lol But I stand by my advice on getting big pockets put into your clothes!!

[@cypriennezed5640]

LOL "Clothing for Morons" 😆

[@CherriesJubilee]

About %80 percent of the project is done at the ironing board...

[@elskersten-vandijk7227]

So interesting! Sewing advice: excellent. Otherwise, what a mixed bag of thought-provoking, progressive, and backward, judgmental views 😅

[@nixhixx]

Extroverts are told to sit down and shut up ALL THE TIME. Treated as if we're all fucking ogres.

[@rd6203]

To be fair, you can be quite overwhelming and occasionally terrifying 😅

[@nixhixx]

@@rd6203 No. Because I'm not a fucking dick.