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From the lens History of Sewing Patterns.

I'm so glad you stopped by! Please leave me a little note and let me know how you liked this lens about the history of sewing patterns. Tell me about your collection or just say "Howdy Bev".

  • Brenda May 22, 2012 @ 8:33 pm | delete
    I have quite a collection of vintage sewing patterns a few from the 1950's, one or two from 1940s and a lot from 1970's - 2000. However, I find that a lot of the older patterns don't have a date on them, especially Butterick and Vogue. Can you tell me why this is? And how to date them accurately??? Thanks!
  • BevsPaper May 23, 2012 @ 9:20 am | delete
    Most of the companies just didn't think about dating their patterns. Google a search for "how to date your sewing pattern". There is a wonderful explanation on what pattern numbers were published during specific years and some other hints on dating a sewing pattern. Sometimes the logo will be a clue.
  • Helene-Malmsio May 9, 2012 @ 11:49 pm | delete
    What a blast from the past this sewing pattern history lens is! I was intimidated for years by the complexity of dress patterns until one day I started sewing with a DIY course that had patterns - you could even modify and mix and match patterns/designs in this series, and ever after I have loved sewing with patterns! Some of these vintage designs are gorgeous - c'mon fashion designers, let's get really retrospective, back to the 50's!
  • CreativeArtist Apr 29, 2012 @ 12:08 am | delete
    I used to sew quite a bit as a teenager. Looking back at these early patterns, I can see why I thought I need a girdle as a teen, which now I can see, I really didn't need one.
  • LisaAuch Mar 23, 2012 @ 8:35 am | delete
    I studied dressmaking at college and this took me down memory lane as we had to make a project on the history, wish I had, had this page to hand...lol
  • veryirie Mar 8, 2012 @ 1:58 am | delete
    I have sewn from several vintage dress patterns over the years. It's always a challenge to alter the sizes because the measurements were so different then.
  • theraggededge Feb 18, 2012 @ 5:40 am | delete
    What a lovely informative page. I am feeling drawn back to dressmaking after giving myself a new sewing machine for Christmas. Been scouring eBay and noticed a lot of vintage patterns. Blessed :-)
  • Rena1900 Feb 9, 2012 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    It is a great site, very informative.
    However, do you know if there was any patterns for children clothing in 1900s????
  • BevsPaper Feb 9, 2012 @ 8:13 pm | delete
    I am sure that there were because by the 1900s sewing patterns were being made by many companies. Mr. Butterick started his business making patterns for men and boys clothing at the request of his wife.
  • scarlettohairy Feb 7, 2012 @ 9:51 pm | delete
    Howdy, Bev! Very nice selection of vintage patterns. It's nice to learn a bit more about them too.
  • coco Jan 5, 2012 @ 2:31 pm | delete
    Is that gal in the yellow dress on the Butterick pattern flipping a birdie?
  • howtosewadress Nov 5, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
    Some of the retro are keep coming back this days. It is essential to know all of them nowadays, for trending purposes. nice lens mate.
  • pacevedo1968 May 28, 2011 @ 1:58 pm | delete
    very nice lens, love it
  • Apr 25, 2011 @ 2:05 pm | delete
    Great job on this lens. Fascinating...I think I recognize one of the patterns from my mum's collection!
  • AbsoluteJeanius Apr 11, 2011 @ 9:37 pm | delete
    Great lens! I love sewing pattern illustrations.
  • Philippians468 Apr 3, 2011 @ 10:11 am | delete
    i never imagined the sewing patterns on a mouse pad! delightful! cheers
  • RetroMom Mar 27, 2011 @ 7:00 pm | delete
    You brought back some sweet memories for me, my mother made our clothes as kids and also make our Barbies clothes too.
  • charlino Mar 20, 2011 @ 12:09 pm | delete
    Wonderful idea for framing vintage sewing patterns for display.
  • BuckHawk Mar 17, 2011 @ 1:28 pm | delete
    So much fun to see all these patterns that I recognize from my old days! Guess that makes me vintage. Well, Happy St. Paddy's Day anyway!
  • Fitzcharming Feb 8, 2011 @ 3:21 am | delete
    This is a wonderful trip down memory lane. I used to sew my clothes as a teenager and loved flipping through the sewing catalogs at the fabric store. I imagined all the beautiful fashions I would make and look stunning in. It was fun.
  • Retro_Loco Feb 7, 2011 @ 11:52 pm | delete
    Very interesting lens! I've always like vintage sewing patterns, and I have a nice collection of them, myself. Fun to read about the history of patterns. I have a vintage sewing pattern module on my Vintage Aprons lens that I just lensrolled you to. You did a great job on this lens!! ~Vicki~
  • ClassyGals Jan 16, 2011 @ 1:58 pm | delete
    Beautifully done lens on sewing patterns. I especially like the 50s fashions, so pretty!
  • Senora_M Jan 15, 2011 @ 9:17 pm | delete
    This is such a cool lens! Glad I found it! I have quite a few patterns, but no vintage ones. I bet my mom has quite a few of them though! She's been sewing for forever!!
    blessed by a squid angel
  • awelldressedbullet Jan 5, 2011 @ 9:09 am | delete
    Hi Bev, as usual, your lens is informative, interesting and has great pictures, look, bottom line, it rocks!
  • windygig Dec 13, 2010 @ 5:17 pm | delete
    Bev, I think every single pattern here was in my mom's collection. She made my first dress winter coat (so I would be really gorgeous) by cutting up her own.
    She eventually learned not only to alter right in the pattern, but to make her own patterns. Memories and history! I love this lens. Unique idea.
  • Michey Dec 11, 2010 @ 1:30 pm | delete
    I like the history facts, very informational for me. Blessing for your lens
  • Sami4u Dec 2, 2010 @ 11:41 pm | delete
    Hi,

    A sprinkling of Angel Dust for Christmas :)
  • shajo Nov 13, 2010 @ 8:46 pm | delete
    Very interesting history about patterns. I really enjoyed this lens :)
  • OhMe Oct 17, 2010 @ 7:05 am | delete
    How did I miss this one? I enjoyed reading the history of Sewing Patterns and as you know, I am sitting on boxes of them that belonged to my Mother In Law. I will be back to study this some more. Thanks for the info.
  • Craftyville Oct 13, 2010 @ 12:42 pm | delete
    I really enjoyed reading your lens, thank you for sharing.
  • Beautiful-Bridal Sep 27, 2010 @ 3:12 pm | delete
    Butterick, Simplicity, McCalls, all a part of our own unique American culture. Nice lens!
  • WordCustard Sep 17, 2010 @ 4:36 am | delete
    Vintage fashions are so much a part of history, and often the styles are gorgeous too, so it's easy to see why people would want to buy vintage sewing patterns. I enjoyed this look at their history.
  • GrowWear Sep 15, 2010 @ 10:59 pm | delete
    My paternal grandmother did a lot of sewing. I used to enjoy looking through her patterns. These images sure do take me back. :)
  • tssfacts Aug 31, 2010 @ 7:57 am | delete
    What a wonderful article. I remember some of these patterns from the 60's. I even sewn a few myself. I lost a lot of my patterns in the many moves of my life. I sometimes go looking for them and realize that I don't have them anymore.
  • Kayte Findlay Nov 2, 2009 @ 4:20 pm | delete
    I recently dowsized and had to get rid of all my old patterns.... Now.. all the pattern books in the shops have changed and I cant get anything that is remotely what I like- I am older and looking for a sundress pattern on a 3" band around the top wide straps and A Line from the yoke pierce . like gold now cant buy them from books available. I miss the old patterns terribly
  • Heather426 Jun 8, 2009 @ 7:29 pm | delete
    I have spent hours in the fabric stores looking at patterns and used to have quite a few. But I'm down to about 3 shoe boxes worth that I use to work off of and change everything around to my liking. Very fun lens!
  • CherylK May 11, 2009 @ 7:06 am | delete
    My mom taught me to sew. She really did sew almost every piece of clothing that my sisters and I wore. I have been sewing since I was a teenager. This lens has brought back so many nice memories. You've done a wonderful job with it.
  • Jimmie May 11, 2009 @ 2:13 am | delete
    My mom sewed, so we always had patterns like these around the house. A great primer on the history of patterns.

    I hereby bless this lens.
  • ElizabethJeanAllen Apr 7, 2009 @ 9:25 am | delete
    I still have some patterns from the 1960's. My grandmother and mother both sewed. I do some but I'm mostly into making quilts and crafts
    Thanks for sharing
    Lizzy
  • Tiddledeewinks Mar 31, 2009 @ 7:09 pm | delete
    I first started sewing in high school, and I took a clothing and textiles course. It was fun to look through the big Simplicity, McCalls and Butterick catalogs they brought in for us.

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BevsPaper

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