The 1940 McCall Project

This page is dedicated to 'The 1940 McCall Project'. You may already know of my love for McCall patterns.  This has been growing steadily since I started sewing.  One year in particular, 1940 is my absolute favourite.  The styles from 1940 are so stylish, wearable and unique.  I want a wardrobe full of 1940 fashions!  Enter the 1940 McCall Project in which I will attempt to sew the entire catalogue of McCall patterns published in the year 1940!!  This is not a small undertaking. I think it will take me well over a decade to find them all and sew them but it's something I want to try and do.  No pressure but lots of fun.  I won't neglect other decades either but this will be my go-to-decade and pattern company for sewing.

How many patterns were produced in 1940?  Well, I've narrowed it down that the year starts with pattern number 3554 and ends somewhere between 4005 and 4007 (though I have found two with numbers 4043 and 4044).  That's just the main patterns.  McCall also produced a series of transfer patterns.  So, the grand total of 1940 McCall patterns is somewhere between 539 to 546 patterns!!!   I've managed to collect about a quarter of all the patterns so far.  You can view my entire collection on pinterest.

How You Can Help
I've had several people email me asking how they can help.  There's several ways:

1. If you see a 1940 McCall pattern for sale, let me know!  Email me at: myhappysewingplace[at]googlemail[dot]com.  I've been pretty good at tracking ebay and etsy but I always missing things!  I've got my eye on a few things at the moment but have to wait until my budget catches up...lol.  If you are a pattern seller, let me know if you have any upcoming 1940 McCall patterns.
2. Do you have a 1940 pattern in your stash?  Wanna swap patterns?  I've got some really great 30s, 40s and 50s patterns and am happy to swap patterns (plus you can make a copy of the 1940 pattern before the swap--so you get the best of both worlds!)
3. I also take presents.  hahahahaha.  If you find a 1940 pattern in your home and don't feel like you can give it the love it needs, don't hesistate to send it my way.  Just email me.
4. I'm also interested in links, photos of any fashion or pattern related item from the year 1940!  I hope to do a bit more delving into the year including looking at other pattern companies--so feel free to email me anything you think I might find interesting.
5. Lastly, I'm hoping to find some people who have themselves or whose family members worked at McCall's during this time period!  Send me your family stories!

Super excited to have The 1940 McCall Project featured in a Scottish newspaper in 2013!

Finished 1940 McCall Patterns:
Here are the patterns I have sewn up so far.  Check back on this page as it will keep growing!  Just click the link to go to the blog post....

Transfer Patterns:

McCall 741: The 'Scottish Christmas' Hat

McCall 764: The 'Birdie Blouse'

McCall 789: The 'House of the Seven Gables'

Main Patterns:

McCall 3554: The 'Black Cherry Blouse'

McCall 3560: The 'Birthday Dress'

McCall 3574: The 'Scottish Christmas Dress'

McCall 3580: The 'Weaving Destination Dress'

McCall 3581: The 'Scottish Windbreaker'

McCall 3588: The 'Town and Country Dress Suit'

McCall 3588: The 'Dragon Jacket'

McCall 3603: The 'Malaysian Sun Dress'

McCall 3606: The 'Collegiate Christmas Skirt'

 McCall 3615: The '1940 Sears Catalogue Replica Dress'

McCall 3619: The 'Swing Jacket'

McCall 3624: The 'Luck o'the Irish Dress'

McCall 3638: The 'Tea Dance Dress'

McCall 3640: The 'Pin-Up Swimsuit'

McCall 3641: The 'Rabbie Burns Dress'

McCall 3662: The 'Sew Bossy Top'

McCall 3678: The 'Famous Hooded Princess Dress'

McCall 3684: The 'Clackett Cantina Dress'

McCall 3686: The 'Fall for Cotton Dress'

McCall 3698: The 'Shrewsbury Dress'

McCall 3733: The 'Fleur Dress'

McCall 3744: The 'Summer Days Dress'

McCall 3769: The 'Lantern Army Jacket'

McCall 3792: The 'Vintage Pattern Pledge Dress'

McCall 3820: The 'Scottie Dress'

McCall 3834: The 'Windy Skirt'

McCall 3857: The 'Kathmandu Valley Blouse'

McCall 3865: The 'Bright Side Dress'

McCall 3893: The 'Film Noir Dress'

McCall 3908: The 'First Crepe of Summer Dress'

McCall 3939: The 'Hiatus Dress'

McCall 3953: The 'Tabula Rasa Dress'

McCall 3968: The 'Jumpin' the Shark Skirt'

McCall 3980: The 'Wish Upon a Star Nightgown'

McCall 4043: The 'Mysterious McCall'