Simplicity Pattern Company

• A Brief History

Hi.. I thought you might like some information on the Simplicity Pattern Company's history and some help with the dating based on the envelope designs and a few other facts.   The pattern numbers were reissued so just a pattern number will not help you get just the right date. For example the 1000 series was used in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s too.  So using that info along with the envelope design is the best way to go.

Simplicity began selling patterns in 1927 and continues to sell patterns today. Joseph Shapiro formed Simplicity because he wanted to make affordable patterns and his were only 15 cents rather than the others of the day which ran 35 cents to $2.00.  

 The first envelopes were smaller and made of brown paper with a line drawing illustration.

The pattern was one large tissue sheet that was layed out on the fabric and cut along with the fabric. They were not printed but cutting lines were shown by perforations in the tissue. Soon Simplicity changed to a little larger envelope and a little more sophisticated illustration but still not in color.  These usually had three choices of style so that you could get the most variety from one pattern.

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Here is an example of an early 30s with color added to the small envelope

In about 1934 Simplicity began to print the envelopes we see today that measure about 6x9 inches.  The instructions at that time were called "The Primer" and had illustrations and lots of directions to make construction easier.

In 1939 some Simplicity  patterns were offered with printed pieces,  They had a gray bar down the side saying that it was a printed pattern. I don't have one of these to show you. 

The price of printed piece patterns increased to 25 cents while the unprinted patterns remained at 15 cents.

  In 1940 they began to date the pattern envelope on the bottom front and later in the 1940s the date went to the back side of the instruction sheet. 

In 1941 the envelope changed again and the printed pattern logo went from a gray bar to a black one with yellow printing.

In 1942 unprinted patterns added a slogan and received a typeface change, but the price was still 15 cents for the unprinted patterns. 

In 1944 the printed patterns  typeface changed again .  The word "PRINTED"  was now in red. 

Later that year the price jumped to 25 cents for both kinds of patterns.

In 1949 Simplicity added a designer large format envelope (about 8 x 10)and these were really lovely designs and more expensive than the smaller envelope designs

1951 brought the addition of a double black bar above the price .

Which went to a single bar in 1953.

I have used up my limit of pictures but the envelope with the fine red line about one inch in from the left side began in 1957... I  hope this is helpful . I hope you've found this guide useful. If you have, please take the time to vote for the guide. If you have any questions not answered in the guide or suggestions for other guides (I love writing them!), please click on my username in the top right hand corner to send me a message.