Pattern Books from the 1950s

As the year comes to a close, it seems like a good time to dip back in to the pattern book collection I got at an auction in the spring.

The 1950s brought color photos to the pattern books, and new, colorful trends to traditional doilies and linens. Modern furniture took the spotlight, and some new, man-made fibers appeared.  (You can click on the images to see them larger.)

“Modern Mode” tablecloth, 1952. Pink crocheted panels inserted into gray linen strips.
“Isn’t It a Lovely?” dress, 1957. To be knit in Sanforlan or nylon yarn.
“Lacy Cardigan,” 1957. To be knit in either baby yarn or nylon.
Floral doilies, 1950.
Collector dolls, 1951.
Doily Bouquet booklet, 1950.
Pansy luncheon set, 1949.
“Pineapple Frosting” bedspread, 1952.
Crochet cotton thread colors, 1950.
“Tweedy Two-some”, 1957.
“Candy Cane” afghan, 1954.
“Checkmate” afghan, 1954.
“Satin Stripe” afghan, 1954.

My favorite among them is this book, 1001 decorating Ideas, Book 10.  (It is undated but WorldCat.org estimates 1953.)

1001 Decorating Ideas. Undated, but circa 1953.

According to this book, there is no household problem that can’t be solved with a plethora of trim.

The colors of the fabrics remain the same; the trim color changes to match the wall color and carpet.

If your problem is two small windows, disguise that corner with giant drapes, with plenty of trimmings!

Use trim around the edge of a table or on a countertop!

Use trim for a banister! Forget those troublesome safety rules!

You’ll always feel cheery in a well-trimmed skirt!

Need a gift for a child? Just stitch up a toy poodle!

It turns out this book was published by the Consolidated Trimming Corporation.

Conso Trims, circa 1953.

I was able to find a little information about Conso (from a website whose reliability seems a little iffy so I won’t link it here) — it was still in business in 1995, but I couldn’t find anything after that.

The book has several pages of the steps to make drapes and slipcovers, as well as general decorating advice.  Here is a snippet from William Pahlmann, A.I.D.:

Any woman worth a new set of slipcovers, for example, should keep a scrapbook of decoration of all types….I’d suggest a scrapbook on living rooms, one on bedrooms, one on combination living and dining rooms.  I’d even have one on bathrooms, closets, porches, playrooms and terraces.

…Keep a scrapbook in the form of manila paper folders and keep the clippings loose.  As you read more of the better home furnishing magazines, you will probably discard some of the first clips.

And from “Color and You” by Mary L. Brandt, A.I.D.:

One of the most important rules of good decorating is to have color-related rooms.  If one room or hall is visible from another, their predominant colors should go together…A home with one room of green walls, another of rose, another of blue will tend to look disconnected, cluttered and small.

In trying to find an exact date of this publication, I researched those two authors.  William Pahlman has a Wikipedia page; Mary L. Brandt, unsurprisingly, does not. (In a recent episode of the Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast, I learned that only 19% of articles on Wikipedia are about women  If you don’t have time to listen to this 30-minute episode, you can read the transcript at that link.)

Mary L. Brandt wrote a lengthy book about home decorating, and she was well enough known that the Parsons School of Design set up a lecture series in her memory, so I will be researching further and doing a post about her.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these great mid-century illustrations!

Category : Crocheting, Household Textiles, Interior Decorating, Knitting, Old Books
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