Vintage Sewing Patterns

I have always enjoyed rummaging through sewing patterns and dreaming of what I could make with them. However, with thousands of patterns published over many years, it is next to impossible for any one person to make all the patterns. As a pattern seller, I come across many more patterns that the average sewer. Currently we have well over 7000 patterns listed in our store Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts with thousands more still to list. I find it especially interesting when I run across patterns that I made back in college and during my early married years that I had made for myself. Since I don't consider myself vintage, I get a twinge every time I see those patterns described as vintage. Well here for your study are two genuinely vintage patterns! Butterick Sewing Pattern 5388 is a great little girl's pajama pattern and Butterick Sewing Pattern 3957 is a man's pajama pattern. These are the oldest patterns to come into my possession up to this point in time. While I do try to collect and display vintage sewing notions to use and display, we sell sewing patterns and so have just listed these patterns up for sale.

These type of vintage patterns are so different than what we get now when we buy a pattern. The pattern tissues were not printed with any cutting lines or symbols but with holes and notches cut out of the pattern tissue. They were one size patterns. Butterick was the first pattern company to come out with an instruction sheet for making the garments, called a Deltor. Can you imagine trying to put together a pattern that has no markings or instructions especially if you are a new seamstress and just learning how to sew? I know of only one pattern company that does that at this point of time and that is Marfy patterns from Italy. They make seriously stylish garments and the pattern comes in a plain envelope without even a picture of the finished garment on the envelope much less any instructions or pattern markings either. Only a very accomplished seamstress would attempt their patterns at this point.

Over the last hundred years, patterns have gotten easier and easier to sew, less and less fitted and much more casual. Over the past weeks we have been listing older patterns and the difference between older patterns and newer ones is interesting. While the styles many times are classic and could be worn even currently without looking 'old-fachioned', the patterns help you to sew into the garment all those features that help keep you from looking like you are wearing something with that homemade look. I only wish I could find these types of patterns in my size range as apparently there weren't too many plus sized women around back then!

I have a dream of getting my old Singer machine that was made around when I was born into good working order, find some quality fabric from the 1950's and a pattern from the 50's in my size and make me a 'real' 50's garment! I suspect the hardest thing is going to be finding the pattern that fits me! But the joy is in the hunt!