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February 11, 2006

So You Want to Sew! And Why Not?

I'm treading on Erin's toes a little by posting this instead of sending it to her to post (Hi, Erin!), but I don't think she'll mind.

I just bought Adele P. Margolis's terrific-looking sewing guide, The Dressmaking Book, which was published in 1967. Here's the fantastic back-cover copy, which I can only hope she wasn't responsible for:

What woman has not yearned to make herself as attractive as possible? What woman has not sought some means of expressing her creative talents? What woman doesn't love to feel she has made a great saving on some item, be it fur coat or bargain basement trinket? Where but in home sewing can she achieve all three--beauty, creativity, frugality?

Ah, the past. I raise a glass to the thought of my achieving these virtues by reading this book!

Posted by Rose at February 11, 2006 01:50 PM

Comments

I love it! I have that book ...

Posted by: Erin at February 12, 2006 12:05 PM

Oh, I don't know--have you looked at the text inside the book? I don't have that title, but I do own a couple of Mrs. Margolis's other books, and I'd say that the passage above sounds very much like something she'd write. And the copy on the back of her _How to Make Clothes That Fit and Flatter_ is taken verbatim from the introduction.

Might I inquire how you came by this coveted treasure?

Posted by: I. at February 12, 2006 07:18 PM

I stand corrected -- I read the book yesterday, and the text from the blurb is, in fact, the opening text from the book. She's that enthusiastic throughout. It turns out to be endearing instead of annoying.

I got it on ebay, for not much money. There are also copies at abebooks.com

Posted by: Rose at February 13, 2006 12:00 AM

I have a sewing book published in 1947 that I inherited from my grandmother. Some of the chatter in the book is hilarious but charming. Gotta love that!

Posted by: elaine at February 26, 2006 10:18 PM

Where can I get Adele P. Margolis
' books?

Posted by: Amy Nugent at May 6, 2007 07:23 PM

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