LM139 - 1941-1947 WWII Red Cross Uniform and Ladies' skirted Suit Pattern by Laughing Moon Mercantile.
This jacket and skirt were created by the designer Mainbocher and is stylish worn either as a uniform or daywear. View A is a copy of the ARC Uniform worn during WWII. View B is the same suit without the uniform details. View A has a jacket (tunic) with upper stitch-down pleated pockets with buttoned flap, and large lower cargo pockets that have a bellows fold and a buttoned flap. The pocket bags can be omitted, as well as the flaps, as desired. The front of the jacket has one bust dart at the shoulder and one at the armhole. There are two additional bust and waist double ended darts. The jacket is single breasted with a fold over lapel and collar. The sleeves are two piece and end simply at the wrist. The shoulders are a little wider as was popular in the 1940s and are drafted to accommodate a 3/8" to ½" shoulder pad. There are shoulder straps, or epaulettes at the shoulders which button to the jacket at the collar side of the shoulder. The shoulder straps and the four pocket flaps button with 5/8" ARC buttons and the front closes with 4 ARCS 7/8" buttons. The center back seam ends just below the waist at a vent. The View B Jacket differs from the View A in that the shoulder straps are left off and the pockets are simple patch with a rounded bottom that have no flaps. The skirt is the same for both View A and B. The skirt is a six piece A-line with a waistband and side opening that buttons. The waistband closes with one button and the skirt closes with 3 buttons. The button closure can be replaced with a zipper for modern. Two hats are included: A Visor Hat and a Garrison Cap. The Visor Hat has a round crown and tip with a tip extension and a bill in the front. The Garrison Cap has a two-piece flat crown with an expandable tip to make the cap oblong. The cap has a flap all around it that can be folded down to cover the ears and back of the head.
Fabric: View A Fabric: Wool or wool blend, plain weave. Color light grey for summer uniform and oxford gray for winter. The uniform was also available in a solid (not striped) gray seersucker. View B Fabric: Any medium weight suiting material, such as wool, wool blend, linen, or cotton twill. Lining: Any lining weight material such as rayon, nylon, or silk, poly for modern. Interfacing: The original used a bottom weight cotton plain weave. Hair canvas or medium weight linen could also be used. The hats need a heavier weight interfacing, such as hair canvas or heavier if desired. Notions: View A, six or eight 5/8" buttons and four 7/8" buttons. View B, 4 buttons 5/8" to 1" as desired.
<div style="> Four buttons are needed for the skirt, 5/8" to 7/8". The buttons can be replaced by one 8 inch zipper. One pair of shoulder pads, from 3/8" to ½" thick. Visor Hat: The bill needs a stiff but flexible material to be cut out and inserted into the visor. You need to cut it from a piece about 8" x 5". Any stiff plastic material that can be cut will work like foam board. The Visor Cap also needs 3/4 yard petersham ribbon to finish the inside. There is additional information in thepattern about what is needed to complete the uniform and where to purchase it.
