While researching 1920s clothing a couple of years ago, I purchased this book full of great information to help me sew historic clothing and plan Becoming History presentations.
In her book, Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion, and Fun, Barickman revived the works of one of America’s first home economists, Mary Brooks Pickens.
MARY BROOKS PICKENS 1920s NEWSLETTERS
In 1916, Pickens opened The Women’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences, while also establishing correspondence courses.
Teaching dressmaking, millinery, cooking, fashion design, beauty and homemaking, she caught the attention of women around the world.
With enrollment near 300,000, her school was the largest in history dedicated to women.
Publishing over 100 books, Pickens: taught at Columbia University, was the first woman to be named a trustee of the Fashion Institute of Technology, and was one of the five original directors of the Costume Institute, now part of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. – Vintage Notions, Barickman, p9
VINTAGE NOTIONS BOOK REPRINTS OF PICKEN’S NEWSLETTERS
This book is organized seasonally – each chapter represents a month of the year – because our lives are keenly connected to the change of seasons, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. – Vintage Notions, Barickman, p9
With envelopes throughout the book to stash our own inspirations of fabrics, recipes, and whatnots, the remaining pages are full of period renderings, recipes, fashion advice, and sewing directions reprinted from Picken’s 1920s newsletters.
Including her own whimsical thoughts and advice, Amy Barickman provides full immersion into the 1920s into the 1930s as she brings to life Pickens’ original writings.
Charmingly adorning the pages are the representations of fabrics and rick rack from the era.
On a practical note, the final pages of the book contain a glossary of stitches for the many projects throughout the book.
ANTICIPATION
Although I’ve so far used this book for getting in the mood for our 1920s Becoming History presentations, they absolutely narrowed down my research into the styles and underpinnings (or not!) of the era.
Looking forward to recreating some of the projects, I’ve made note of my favorites. Stay tuned!
