If you wanted a new gown in Victorian days, you generally didn't just pop down to the department store and buy one. You visited your dressmaker if you could afford one; if you couldn't, you made it yourself. Hence, most fashion features in Victorian magazines were actually for patterns; many included the address from which you could order the patterns for the designs shown. Other articles, like those below, provided patterns and instructions for individual garments or accessories.

Dress Patterns (Peterson's, 1858)

Clothing Patterns (Peterson's Magazine, 1865)

Clothing Patterns (Peterson's, 1866)

Clothing Patterns (Peterson's, 1872)

Inexpensive Home Millinery, by Dora de Blacquière (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

Home Dressmaking, by Abeille (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

Kilting Your Flounces (Peterson's, 1879)

University Hoods and How to Make Them (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Winter Clothes and How to Make Them, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

How Dressing Gowns Are Made; How to Make a Gentleman's Dressing Gown (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Fashionable Bags and Their Uses, by B.C. Saward (Girl's Own Paper, 1888)

How to make a variety of fashionable bags.

Home Dressmaking, by Laura Lathrop (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

What to Do with a Wedding Gown (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

Tips on turning a wedding gown into a fashionable evening dress.

The Crimean Nightcap, by Cousin Lil (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Home Dressmaking Up to Date, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Home Millinery Up to Date, by Dora de Blaquière (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

How to Renovate a Vest (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

A Seamless Bodice, by Cousin Lil (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

Warm Sleeves that Cost Nothing, by J.E. Shepherd (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

Hand-Made Buttons (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

Gentleman's Dress Shirt Protector, by Cousin Lil (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)

Morning or Dressing Jackets in Flannel, Silk or Cashmere (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Collar of Steel Beads and Velvet (picture) (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

A Pretty Zouave Jacket (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Two Charming Evening Wraps (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Coal Glove for Sickroom, by Nona (Girl's Own Paper, 1902)

• See also Children's Clothing/Sewing for Children