1940s Haslam Dresscutting No. 20 – Wartime Make Do & Mend Designs

Haslam Illustrated Book of Drafting No. 20 is a fascinating 1940s rationing-era collection, showing how stylish clothing could be created while making economical use of fabric and existing garments.

The book includes drafting instructions for dresses, tailored suits and coats, together with selected maternity and children’s styles. Particularly interesting are the Renovation designs, created for re-cutting and adapting existing clothes into new garments — a practical approach closely associated with wartime Make Do and Mend.

These designs make No. 20 an especially interesting record of 1940s home dressmaking, where good tailoring and thoughtful design had to work alongside wartime restrictions and limited materials.

The designs are created using the Haslam System of Dresscutting, allowing you to draft your chosen garment to your own measurements rather than working from a standard-sized sewing pattern.

To use the designs you will need the Haslam Foundation Drafting Instructions and Drafting Boards. These are used to prepare your personal foundation before adapting it with the drafting instructions for your chosen design.

Available as a downloadable PDF or printed booklet.

New to Haslam? The Foundation Instructions & Drafting Boards are also available together as a complete starting set.

Choose How You Receive Your Order!
You can either: Order the printed version and have it mailed right to your door, perfect
for adding to your sewing collection. or opt for the PDF download if you’d like to get
started right away! The choice is yours.