Product Review

Originally published circa 1931, this book contains more than 30 draftings for creating authentic vintage 1930s garments including: three blouses, three skirts, four dresses, two evening dresses, bridge coat, evening coat, two long coats, one shorter coat, wrap coat, dressing gown, ladies nightdress, slip, and girls/childrens coats, dresses, knickers, leggings. The Haslam System consists of three major components needed to complete any of the beautiful vintage patterns: (1) Books of Draftings, (2) Foundation Drafting Book and (3) Haslam Chart. The 1920s and 1930s Books of Draftings already contain the foundation draftings necessary to make the garments and only require the Haslam Chart to complete (the separate Foundation Drafting Book is not necessary). Therefore, you only need (1) and (3) of the Haslam System components to make any of the garments in this book. **IMPORTANT:** If you have a Haslam Chart (similar to a dressmaking/tailor's square), you only need the book in this auction to create the patterns for the fashions shown. If you do not have a Haslam Chart, Bramcost Publications has published the Chart in a book titled "Haslam System of Dresscutting -- Vintage Pattern Making for 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s Fashions (Haslam Chart and Foundation Draftings)" that contains the other Haslam components needed to create the fashions. Using 14 body measurements, you first create your foundation pattern using the instructions at the beginning of the book and the Haslam Chart. The foundation pattern is your "base" pattern and is used to create the rest of your custom-fitted patterns for any of the garments using the instructions and diagrams in the book. There are more than 80 Books of Draftings in the Haslam System, with each book containing different draftings and fashion styles for pattern making. Sample fashions and illustration images are shown at the top of this page.