The Domestic English Woman's Magazine

A Pattern Supplement to The English Woman's Domestic Magazine

In the 19th century, supplements, or free giveaway pages were often included in magazines and newspapers. The English Woman's Domestic Magazine, was a magazine with articles on topics that appealed to women, fashion and crafts made up a large part of the content. During the Victorian era, many women still made their own clothes, or if they could afford it, had a dressmaker sew their clothes for them. In the first half of the 1800's off the rack clothing was unheard of. Patterns were not as readily available as today, and often not available in different sizes.

A giveaway pattern in the magazine would have been an incentive to buy the magazine. The image above shows a supplement from the English Woman's Domestic Magazine. The pattern pieces are laid out on a sheet of paper, that is printed on the other side with embroidery and sewing ideas. There is no date printed on the supplement, and so I am not sure what year it is, however the style of the bodice suggests the mid 19thC.

The two panels of printing above are cut from the supplement page, and are the only directions given for assembling the garment. How times have changed, and how patterns for dressmaking have changed to suit the needs of the modern sewer.