Supplement 326 - Model # 238 & 239
Two Lutterloh patterns originally from the 1970s
Hi there fellow Lutterloh enthusiasts. Isn't it nice that the Lutterloh company is reissuing some of their vintage patterns? Sometimes I already have the original pattern as is the case with these two. It turns out that these two patterns are originally from Supplement 155 from 1979.
While comparing the original patterns to the current ones I found some interesting differences. The first obvious difference is that the pattern for dress #239 was originally drafted for woven fabrics. Of course we all know that you can use a knit fabric for a pattern intended for wovens with some small adjustments. Fortunately Lutterloh has already redrafted this pattern with knit fabrics in mind. The numbers corresponding to the dots we plot out have been changed for this knit version. The shapes of the pattern pieces are essentially the same but the numbers are definitely not.
For the dress pattern #238 the differences are even greater. Below is a picture of the main pattern pieces viewed side by side. You can clearly see that the shapes of the pattern pieces are vastly different.
The original 1979 pattern is shaped at the waist rather than a straight cut from arm hole to hem. On the current version the waist darts are replaced by an inverted pleat below a yoke piece in the back. The shoulder darts are completely omitted. To me it looks like the overlap in front is slightly smaller too but I would have to draw this out to confirm. It's not likely I'll draw this pattern again since I've already got the original. I did find the differences noteworthy and I guess I just wondered if anyone else had noticed.
If anyone else makes this modern version of model#238 I'd sure like to see it. What woven fabrics would lend themselves to this pattern? I have to say I think I'll pass on this one. There are SO many other dress patterns, vintage and current, that call to me from the pages of my Lutterloh books.
Here's hoping you find just the right pattern in your Lutterloh collection to make your sewing rewarding! Bye for now.
Ann in Calif.
