Pattern Companies Combine!

Yes, I know that the fact that McCall's, Butterick and Vogue has combined with Kwik Sew. But for those that wanted a bit more enlightenment, here is a short piece about it: https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2012/02/09/mccalls-and-kwik-sew-join-forces At times people have asked the difference between the three 'main' companies and even though I sensed it, I couldn't give an easy coherent statement, but this article does. "The company is known for its quality and variety of pattern designs: Butterick specializes in classic designs; Vogue offers couture style; and McCall’s features designs for the contemporary sewer."

I know I haven't been writing as much lately, but this has been a hard year for me and something always gets left in the wayside. I am working hard though. One of the things I am trying to get done, is separate the patterns in my store, Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts, into smaller sub-categories to make it easier for each of you to find the type of pattern you are looking for. This is so instead of wading through almost 200 costume patterns, you can select what type you are looking for, since now Cosplay has its own category and men's patterns aren't mixed in with girls unless they were made that way. This is actually the section I am working on currently. I chose to do smaller categories first before biting off the Misses patterns which has over 5000 patterns in it. However, just because I'm not actively working in that section or others, doesn't mean some patterns aren't going into their proper sub-category as I work with patterns after one has been sold or I am making new listings. I hope this will be beneficial to all of you. I have seen some pattern sellers stores and they divided up their Misses patterns for instance, by sizes which means they have a category for every different size. It makes my eyes turn in circles to even look at the categories. I hope what I am doing makes sense to all of you and that it will help you when looking for a specific type pattern.

Because I don't really have enough going on in my life I decided I needed a hobby! LOL! Actually, what I needed was a hobby that I could reasonably be sure that I could finish it in an hour or less. As my strength dissipates, I am finding less and less time is being spent in my sewing room. I was blessed to be given all sorts of markers, paints, etc. and in my thrift store excursions over the last 2+ years, I have found stamps, papers, etc. I'm ready to go! Of course I still want to quilt, sew, and embroider. Here is a photo of my 'first card for a friend that lost her husband recently. Sort of messy I discovered when looking at the close-up of the photo! Well if I was perfect the first time, what is the point of trying? Now I know some of the problems to look out for. I even got to get a spiffy Gemini Junior for die cutting and embossing which is how I cut out the big butterfly. What a hand saver!

For those that don't follow me anywhere but here, here are some photos of my grandbaby Rosemary. The first with her Daddy who looks so pleased. And a more recent one where she looked a bit ready to give a speech so I helped her out! Her last photos came to me via actual photographs and my scanner isn't working right now so can't post any of those, but she is over 7 months now! Time flies and we should get to see them in July.

Embroidery Library Christmas in July Machine Embroidery

I know I am way behind on my posts here as I have been super busy adding listings to my pattern store and trying to get all my Christmas related patterns and craft items listed ASAP. However, Embroidery Library has just announced a Christmas in July sale with some fantastic items to make, including the above angel. Currently through July 25, 2017, she is on sale for $1.39. There are many other Christmas designs as well for $1.39 until that same date. So stop on in and pick out your favorites to get your Christmas sewing going!

What's NEW at Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts?

Starting today, August 13, 2015 at Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts, any US buyer that buys 2 or more sewing patterns will be automatically upgraded to Priority Mail. For a long time we have offered buyers of 5 or more patterns paid for will receive Priority Mail shipping, even if you buy 20+ patterns there will be no increase in shipping costs than the rate as if for 5 patterns. Now we are happy to give a upgrade in shipping to those customers buying 2-4 patterns. We appreciate your business and want you to come back and shop some more and tell your friends about us! Always fast shipping and a huge selection of over 8000 uncut sewing patterns. While the timing between First Class Mail and Priority Mail may not be huge and in some cases, there may be no time difference, we know that the sooner you get your patterns, the faster you can start your project before you lose your enthusiasm for doing it, thus perhaps less UFO piles!

If you have any questions about this new policy please ask. We wish we could do it for our international customers but with the increased costs of shipping that go up by several dollars per OUNCE, we just can't afford to do so. Currently we are helping subsidize the shipping costs for many international shipments when a pattern is extra heavy.

Sale at Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts

In celebration of September, National Sewing Month, Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts has all its patterns discounted 10% for the whole month. Except for a very rare pattern, all our patterns are uncut, unused, factory folded. No having to root through a pattern to hope all parts are there and in the right size. We have over 8000 sewing patterns currently in our store in all sorts of styles and sizes. Patterns for Men and babies, boys and girls, pajamas to wedding gowns. Come and visit
soon to see us and experience our outstanding customer service.

National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month! I'd like to invite you to our store, Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts to shop for your sewing pattern needs. We have been listing like crazy the last couple of months and have close to 7800 different patterns in all styles and sizes listed at this point. We have a great selection of costume patterns for the upcoming Halloween and also patterns for church Christmas pageants and choir robes. Yesterday I was busy restocking our Women's Plus size patterns and if you check in the Unisex Pattern category of our patterns you will find even some larger extended size patterns if needed.

We work hard to maintain a large selection of patterns so our customers have a broad choice all in one spot. I also enjoy comparing patterns from current times to those in the past. Some are uncannily the same and others show styles that come around every couple of decades. I've noticed that peplums are coming back in style and the latest Threads Magazine, issue 163, ran an article on designing and adding a peplum to your garment. Peplums were very popular in the 1980's and we have many patterns that feature peplums that you could use for inspiration and a pattern itself, only watch out for the shoulders on these garments! Nothing better than to mix and match pattern pieces and come up with a great outfit. My favorite summer dress is a combination of a Vogue jumper and Simplicity flutter sleeves.

Shop with us any time!

The Royal Wedding Prince William and Catherine Middleton

The Royal Wedding of Miss Catherine Middleton to Prince William of the United Kingdom was a glorious affair. Now you too can have a wedding fit for a princess through the power of Butterick sewing patterns. Butterick Sewing Pattern has produced patterns of replicas of the dresses worn at the wedding by the bride, her maid of honor and the flower girls. Butterick 5731 or P249 is similar to the dress Miss Middleton wore only with a much shorter cut on train, as most brides aren't going to be able to book Westminster Abbey for their event! The maid of honor dress that Philippa Middleton (Pippa) wore looks basically the same in Butterick 5710 or P250 as do the flower girl dress in Butterick 5705 or P248. The maid of honor dress can also be used for a wedding dress itself with it's short cuton train, or as a formal or in the shorter version a party dress. All sizes and styles are currently available for the Royal Wedding dress patterns in our store, Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts.

Even if a royal wedding isn't in the cards for you, we do have over 7000 uncut, unused sewing patterns in every size and style. Shop with us any time and tell your sewing friends about our store. Thanks for visiting.

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!

Charitable Donations

We have heard many nice comments about our donating 10% of this months sales to feed the hungry. Since we started this business, we have always donated a portion of our proceeds to charity, but have never really mentioned it other than when we collected for the Japan tsunami relief. While money for us is always tight, we are fully aware of how blessed we are. We would like to be a help to others that don't even have adequate shelter or food. How nice it would be if we as sewers could lend our support to others that theirs and their whole families lives depend on their sewing. Does anyone know of a sewing related charity that assists our sewing sisters (and brothers) in third world countries that we can take on as a permanent monthly donation and help to them? Thinking particularly of women that by starting their own sewing business are able to support their family. Would love to hear some great ideas or have links sent to us. Thank you and our best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Finally!

After many months delay, we have finally moved as of the 1st of July. I love having all the room in our new house, but still have many boxes to unpack and put away (mostly books). I had to focus in on getting the bathrooms, kitchen and office in working order and then was finally able to start setting up my new sewing room. It is twice the size of my old one with a nice large closet. My cutting table is made from an old square grand piano circa the Civil War with the piano 'guts' taken out. My hubby the piano restorer (this one wasn't good enough to fix), set it up for me with a cut out space that my thread cart slides in and out. My sewing machine looks out over and past a huge walnut tree and into my in-law's back yard and woods. Since I'm on the second floor of the house, it feels like I'm in a treehouse.

Somehow prior to the actual move, I collected several more boxes and bags of fabric and quilting items, some donated and some purchased. Things are stashed neatly on the shelves for now, but some day I really will need to root through all the various boxes and get them organized and pull things that will never be used.

I have started my first sewing project, a simple crinkle cotton skirt. The fabric was $1/yard at Walmart and it survived prewashing, so I have high hopes for it. It is also in line with the SWAP sewing I have been planning to do. It is an olive green color which I normally wouldn't pick, but the green picks up the leaf colors in some of the tops I have. Even though it is a simple project, I of course, got side-lined by an arthritis flare-up brought on by way too much scrubbing of the old house to put it up for sale. And I definetly need some new clothes as I've been dropping over 5 pounds a month for awhile and things are loose!!!

Now that the move is done I'm hoping to start getting our ebay store restocked with a lot more patterns and sewing books. Visit us any time at Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts.