Sunday, September 05, 2010

The Middy

by Tom Bonamici



"For out of door sports like tennis, golf, etc., loose fitting garments which will give free play to all the parts of the body are very necessary. The middy with unconfined waist line makes a very appropriate garment for this purpose. The middy is especially popular at the summer resort, but it is hardly suitable for wear in a business office."

- School Sewing Based On Home Problems, Robinson, 1916


I never gave too much thought to the middy, but I just picked up a perfectly fitting US Navy-issue middy in a thrift store. It's a solid dark navy, without any trim - I think it'll be wearable. Anything made out of a dense, mid-weight wool has my attention, so I can handle the big flappy collar. It's a great garment for ladies and gents alike.







Thanks to Lizzie Adams Bramlett for the historical Middy pattern images. For a full essay on the history of the Middy, please visit FuzzyLizzie.

5 comments:

Lizzie said...

A link to my photo essay on the Middy, the source of three of the images you used.

Lesli Larson said...

Lizzie--

Please repost link to your essay. I'll add to post and add credit line. Apologies for the omission.

Lizzie said...

Thanks Lesli.

http://fuzzylizzie.com/middy.html

virginia said...

i gave the pattern away many years ago, but the middy collar was the first collar construction i struggled with, at the sewing machine.

Anonymous said...

Hi - does anyone have a pattern to make a middy???
Thanks,
Lesley