Many years ago an older lady gave
me a pattern from the 1800s for a
winter coat for a doll. She said patterns
for adults were made the same. It was
a big piece of paper with a massive
amount of lines criss/crossing on it.
The only way I could think to make
a garment from it was to put it on a
light board or window, or use a really
thin piece of fabric over it and copy
each line on each piece of paper or fabric.
Then when all were cut out you'd have
a pattern like we use now..but you still
had to use your brain and make seam
lines and reduce or let out certain parts
of the pattern. Nothing like that was
included. Women way back then had
to THINK when they sewed.
And before they CUT too.
I do so LOVE our patterns we have today!