Shirtwaist Blouse No. 955 | Vintage Hairpin Lace Crochet Pattern PDF
Shirtwaist Blouse No. 955, a hairpin lace shirtwaist blouse pattern, transforms long Hairpin Lace strips into a fitted, short-sleeved blouse with a small collar, center-front button opening, and belt. This Heritage Edition preserves the corrected complete source and explains the construction logic for today’s maker.
Original Sizing
Vintage Size 16 only. Do not assume equivalence with a modern Size 16.
Original Materials
Bear Brand or Bucilla French Zephyr, 4 balls; Bucilla Adjustable Hairpin Lace Loom Article 3947; steel crochet hook No. 7; white 6-inch crochet hook No. 3; one 2-inch glass buckle; four 1/2-inch glass buttons.
Gauge
9 loops = 1 inch.
Construction & Technique
Long and short strips are interlaced to form sleeves, body, front opening, neckline, and collar. The source uses eight 378-loop strips, four 174-loop strips, three 180-loop strips, plus additional 188-, 142-, and 132-loop strips.
Modern Maker’s Notes
Make a numbered strip chart first. This pattern rewards organization more than speed.
Mark shoulder and underarm boundaries before joining.
Keep strip orientation consistent. The historical instructions warn against veering.
Choose buttons after the edging is complete. Button-loop size should determine button diameter.
Let the body rest before placing the belt. Hairpin Lace can relax vertically.
Then & Now
Style with high-waisted trousers, a long bias skirt, or wear open over a camisole as a cropped lace jacket.
Digital Download
Digital PDF only.
Printing Guidance
Print at 100% / Actual Size.
Hairpin Lace Shirtwaist Blouse Pattern: Working With The Heritage Edition
For Shirtwaist Blouse No. 955, the strip inventory, underarm and shoulder markers, and 9-loops-per-inch gauge all work together to keep the tailored shirtwaist shape. Because vintage yarn names, loom settings, hook numbering, and sizing conventions may differ from present-day practice, begin with the original source and make a controlled swatch before committing to the full project.
In addition, compare the blocked sample with the original measurements and construction sequence rather than relying only on a modern yarn label. Hairpin Lace responds strongly to loop width, center-stitch tension, joining tension, and fiber memory. Therefore, small material differences can become more visible after several strips have been joined.
Continue Exploring Hairpin Lace
For technique background, loom terminology, vintage tools, and related archive resources, visit the Hairpin Lace & Maltese Lace Crochet Guide. You can also browse the wider Dazespast Archive for restored garments, accessories, home projects, and technique collections.
Modern Yarn Reference
When comparing a discontinued vintage yarn with a current substitute, the Craft Yarn Council Standard Yarn Weight System is a useful modern reference for yarn categories, typical crochet gauges, and hook ranges. However, those categories are guidelines. For historical Hairpin Lace, the original measurements and your own blocked swatch remain the final authority.
Before You Begin
First, read the complete historical source. Next, identify each strip, loop count, loom width, joining instruction, and finishing step. Then make and block a sample with your chosen yarn. Finally, record loom width, loop gauge, yarn behavior, and substitutions so later sections remain consistent.
