Category Archives: Costume History

The Cutter’s Practical Guide by W.D.F. Vincent

The Tailor & Cutter shears from the Cutter's Practical Guide

Is a series of books by W. D. F. Vincent that covered British tailor’s pattern drafting for all sorts of garments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The volumes changed slightly over time, so seeing different editions can show you some different pattern drafts. Check out the ones here, and the others out in the rest of the interwebs! Fildena http://valleyofthesunpharmacy.com/fildena/

This site has a bunch of them:

But besides the volumes that are here, there are more out there in the interwebs:

the Victorian Patterns Board has all of theirs listed by Volume on this page.

Hathi Trust link to nicer scan of the the University of California PDF of Cutter’s Guide volume on Children’s Clothing

Hathi Trust link to the University of California PDF of The Cutter’s practical guide to cutting and making shirts, undergarments, collars, and specialty clothing for various occupations

Very good scan of the Volume on Women’s Clothing

Archive.org copy of: Vincent’s systems of cutting all kinds of tailor-made garments : part 1 : dealing with the cutting of various styles of trousers, breeches, knickers, pantaloons, leggings and gaiters, and waistcoats 1903 by Vincent, W. D. F (William D. F.) 1860-1925

Siam Costumes has a bunch of these, as well as other tailoring, costume, and needlework copyright expired pdfs at “Cutter’s Guides” pages. Click on “Pattern Guides Female” and “Pattern Guides Male” to find loads of volumes of WDF Vincent’s Cutter’s Guide, including British Military Uniforms, Clerical Dress, Lounge & Sportswear, Livery, The cutters’ practical guide to the cutting of ladies’ garments, etc.

W D F Vincent “The Cutter’s Practical Guide” Part 10 – Waistcoats (3rd Edition)

Archive.org copy of 1890 volume on Women’s Garments

Wikisource 1890 volume on Women’s Garments

Wikisource 1898 Volume 1 on Juvenile & Youth Garments

Wikisource Partial edition of the 1902 volume on Military Dress

The Group, The Victorian Sweatshop Forum has a large number of the volumes available to registered members of the forum, so if you have a strong interest join and go to their Cutter’s Guide Files

The Tailor’s Handbook of Useful Information on Social, Literary, Historical, Practical and Scientific Subjects (also by W.D.F. Vincent) Silagra http://sellersvillepharmacy.com/silagra.php

About The Vincent Square (Tailor’s Ruler)

Also co-authored by W. D. F. Vincent: The sewing machine : an historical and practical exposition of the sewing machine from its inception to the present time : containing explanations showing the modern methods of garment making applied to all kinds of tailor-made garments c.1910, by Lyons, Lewis; Allen, T. W; Vincent, W. D. F. (William D. F.), 1860-1926; Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture. NcD

Google books has some other tailoring series:

The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting Shirts, Undergarments, Collars, Cuffs, Aprons… W.D.F. Vincent, c.1900

Scanned by Pat Lamprey for the Costumer’s Manifesto on 9/2/2006

Continue reading The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting Shirts, Undergarments, Collars, Cuffs, Aprons… W.D.F. Vincent, c.1900

The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting Livery Garments, W.D.F. Vincent, c1900

Scanned by Pat Lamprey for the Costumer’s Manifesto on 9/2/2006

The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting Livery Garments, W.D.F. Vincent, 1900s Scanned by Pat Lamprey for the Costumer’s Manifesto on 9/2/2006

The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting and making all kinds of British Military Uniforms, W.D.F. Vincent

Scanned by Pat Lamprey for the Costumer’s Manifesto on 9/2/2006

The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting and making all kinds of British Military Uniforms, W.D.F. Vincent