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This Simplicty child's sailor suit pattern was in a size 3. I'm not sure to just what size it was made. Apparently up at least to size 6 years. It includes pieces for middy, skirt, pants, vestee and tie. The pants pictured on the pattern jacket was for two boys' outfits with long pants. Perhaps Simplicity thought they might sell better. Often the cover illustrations on such patterns would show one with long and the other in short pants. In this case both boys' illustrations are for long pants in a rather formal blue suit and an informal red suit. Presumably the pattern had instructions for making both long and short pants. These garments could make sailor outfits for boys and girls. There are matching girl's skirted outfits. The pattern was complete with instructions and pattern pieces.
Simplicity is a major U.S. company making sewing patterns and publishing books on sewing. The company's website has no historical information, but we have noticed Simplicity patterns in the 1930s. They may have begun even earlier. The company continues to operate today and may be the largest U.S. comoany currently selling patterns. The patterns are generally sold in sewing shops, but department stores also cairred patterns as well.
This Simplicty child's sailor suit pattern was in a size 3. I'm not sure to just what size it was made. Apparently up at least to size 6 years. It includes pieces for middy, skirt, pants, vestee and tie. The pants pictured on the pattern jacket was for two boys' outfits with long pants. Perhaps Simplicity thought they might sell better. Often the cover illustrations on such patterns would show one with long and the other in short pants. In this case both boys' illustrations are for long pants in a rather formal blue suit and an informal red suit. Presumably the pattern had instructions for making both long and short pants. These garments could make sailor outfits for boys and girls. There are matching girl's skirted outfits. The pattern was complete with instructions and pattern pieces. The middy blouses for boy and girls are identical. Notice the caps for the blue suits are the same except that the boy's cap does not have a red pom. This of course was a French style and French sailors did wear poms on their caps.
A reafer writes, "I found an example of a lady who had made the sailor suit for her son. This is her blog: 'My lil prince’s middy top is from the 1958 Simplicity 2402. His collar is also embellished with bias tape but in gingham. He’s only 5 but tall for his age so I used a size 6 pattern. It was good that the 1940s pattern was unprinted while the 1950s one was so it minimized my confusion when sewing these up since I cut the pieces together. The 1950s pattern also contained both girls and boys versions so I hope to sew the girls’ version for my princess when she’s 5 or 6 years old, only if she’s still willing to wear the stuff I sew. The princess was in one of her moods and not very willing to pose for photos, but the happy older brother was pretty enthusiastic about it so here’s his solo shot. To allow his gigantic head to go through, the vestee was designed to be attached to the neckline with buttons but instead of creating a buttonhole under his collar, I used snap buttons. I finished all seams with french seams and was happy with the technical construction of both pieces. However, I do think that the outfits look too much like uniforms.'"
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