Monday, April 13, 2009

Official American Red Cross Pattern No. 60 - Men's Pajamas



September 1, 1917.  This one was produced by Pictorial Review.

The Red Cross seems to have allowed all the pattern companies to produce patterns for them.  Thus far we've seen the Matinee Blouse published by Home Pattern Company, the comfort kit by May Manton (though this may not be an Official ARC pattern), a taped hospital shirt by McCalls, and drawers by Butterick.

All the patterns sold for ten cents.

According to Priscilla War Work Book, Comforts for Soldiers and Sailors (available in facsimile from IvaRose):
Patterns and materials may be procured from most retail dry-goods stores, or through the nearest Red Cross Chapter.  Simply ask for "Red Cross Pattern" for the garments you desire to make.
On the same page, recommended fabrics for the pajamas are:

 ...cotton oxford (cheviot) or equivalent. Seersucker "Bates" or equivalent. Outing flannel: "Amoskeag 1921"...or equivalent.  Gray recommended.
The pattern envelope recommends outing flannel in light or dark stripes.  Grey hospital pajamas is such a depressing thought.

4 comments:

Shay said...

That "Doctor or Nurse Outfit" from the Priscilla book looks like chemical warfare gear.

andrea.at.the.blue.door said...

Yes, that's definitely a spooky photograph, it reminds me of either either HAZMAT or KKK.

Quail said...

I'm wondering why there are so many pockets. Nice detailing though.

andrea.at.the.blue.door said...

I wondered myself about the need for three pockets. If things went according to plan, soldiers would have been given special comfort kits that could be tied to their beds to hold pipe, tobacco, playing cards, letter paper, pencil, etc., so you wouldn't think the wearer would need to carry around much more than a handkerchief. I do have a men's pajamas pattern from the 1940's which also features three pockets, so it's not entirely unheard of.

I like the nice tall collar on this pajama jacket because I hate having a draft on my neck when I'm trying to sleep.