The Used Bookstore Mystery

While out exploring a nearby town with my parents last weekend, my mom saw a used bookstore across the street and dragged us inside. Typically I am not a fan of digging through used books, because I get discouraged when I don't find what I'm looking for and because of that smell that all used bookstores have lingering. But right as I was saying "Okay mom, let's go" my eyes fell on a simple black binder lying under an old fashion sketching book. I opened the binder, and was amazed at what I saw.

It was a notebook--a patternmaking notebook--of a fashion design student named "Barbara Larson." No dates are found on any of the pages, but I can only guess from the style of binder that it is from the 70s or 80s. All of the notes are handwritten and detail how to construct everything from pleats to a Peter Pan collar. There are even miniature patterns cut out and pinned on the adjoining pages.

Even though I no longer plan on pursuing an education in design, I had to purchase the notebook. How much was it? A mere $5.

The question of who Barbara Larson is still remains a mystery. The owner of the store explained how she bought it at an estate sale, so maybe that means Larson is no longer alive? I have found various Larson's through Google, but none seem to be at all associated with the world of fashion. Did she really love designing? Did she pursue this love? Was this just a night class she enrolled in to learn how to sew clothes for her family?

This binder keeps my brain flowing with theories, but one may never know.