I'm still catching up in documenting all my 1940 McCall makes--this one, McCall 4043, was my very first one! Now this pattern is absolutely mysterious:
You see, this pattern should be from 1941 not 1940. I can't for the life of me figure it out. The cover envelope clearly says the copyright date is 1940. But every other nearby pattern number is from 1941. I've tracked down the following:
- McCall 4010, copyright 1941
- McCall 4013, copyright 1941
- McCall 4019, copyright 1941 (?)
- McCall 4030, copyright ?
- McCall 4033, copyright 1941
- McCall 4037, copyright 1941
- McCall 4046, copyright 1941
Isn't that bizarre? I'm wondering if 1) this is a printing error, or 2) if this was a special release pattern that came out earlier than the other patterns (resort collection?). It's not in any of the 1940 McCall magazines or style booklets. I think it's probably in the February 1941 magazine. Which just makes me wonder how many other copyright 1940 patterns are not in the number sequence?? This is the only one I've found so far...
This was a great and easy pattern to sew up. This was my first time sewing a McCall pattern from 1940--and I ended up grading this up a little too much. So the armholes are a bit too big. Otherwise the fit is pretty good. Luckily, it's never quite warm enough in Scotland to wear a sleeveless dress! It's a wrap dress that closes with two buttons at the back. I made it with some heavier-weight fabric that I got from Ikea.
Here's a close-up of the fabric and my first lapped seam:
The dress has two patch pockets sewn on the front with a button closure and a kick pleat in the skirt front:
This is one of the few sleeveless sundresses that was released by McCall in 1940. I just saw the pattern envelope image of McCall 3603 on the Vintage Pattern Wiki. This is the other wrap dress from the year 1940 (which I can't wait to find and sew up).
We took these photos in the Falkland Palace Gardens, isn't it a beautiful place?
I'm curious to learn more about this pattern. Does anyone have one of the early 1940s McCall patterns in the 4000 number range? I'm curious about the number and the copyright date!
I don't know about you but I can't wait to get started with some summer sewing (C'mon summer weather)!
