Patterns from the Past's website got a upgraded!

New York 1014

Happy New Year!  

The upgrade of my website if finally done. I have enlarged images on the main pages and re-scanned over 1000 sewing patterns. Other patterns had their prices reduced.

Here is a coupon code to celebrate! The code: pftp2012  is good for 20% off your order of over $50.  This offer is valid for only the month of January.  

Thank you for your patience!    

Regards,  

Michelle Lee

owner

Patterns from the Past

Patterns from the Past Interviews

McCall's 7081

Every once in a while the owner of Patterns from the Past, Michelle Lee, gets her moment of fame. Here are a few blogs who have interviewed me for my thoughts on vintage patterns and how I started my business.

Dress a Day Blog

Threadbanger

Sew Retro Blog

Yes, I really liked the Wizard of Oz books. I spent many hours hunting down old Oz books in NYC (thank goodness for Books of Wonder). I still have a long shelf of them. I would like to thank my parents for bringing me to the Newport Mansions at an early age, and letting me see countless fashion exhibits at the MET.

Mad Men Sewing Contest

McCall's 5550 Pierre Cardin

The TV show Mad Men starts August 16th. Banana Republic held a casting call contest. When I was in San Francisco - the windows where full of Mad Men inspired clothing. The vintage sewing blog: Sew Retro is hosting a sewing contest based on the characters from the show. The prize will be a gift certificate for $25 worth of patterns from my company (Patterns from the Past) plus free shipping. You must be a member of Sew Retro to participate in the contest.

What you probably don't know is that I sold 7 patterns to the Mad Men Costume dept. in April. I can't tell you what I sold them until I see them on the air. Who where they sewing the patterns for?? The costume department usually purchases vintage clothing for the show - so I was thrilled to hear from them. I am a HUGE fan of the show. Stay tuned for more info!

Another Vintage Sewing Pattern Contest

Simplicity 7407

Contest Date: June 17- July 17, 2009

Subject: Vintage Sewing Contest for children

Contact: Sewing Mamas

for more details.

Prize: $20 spending money at Patterns from the Past

The contest is over. Please see the link above to find this sewing pattern.

Off to Costume Con 27!

Back into the past I go! This weekend I'm going to Costume Con 27 in Timonium, Maryland. On Saturday May 2, 2009, I will be lecturing on the history of sewing patterns at 9 AM and hosting a Hairspray party at the consuite at 4 PM.

What did I pack? I made a Simplicity 8329 - a Maleficent Costume from the 1987.

For the the Hairspray party I have clothing from the 1960s and a clown costume for the Historical Masquerade from the 1920s.

You can usually find this pattern for sale on ebay.

Vintage Sewing Pattern Contest!

Simplicity Designer's Pattern 8283

Patternreview.com is hosting a Vintage Sewing Pattern Contest.  First prize is a $100 gift certificate to my store, Patterns from the Past. 2nd prize is a $50 gift certificate to my store.  If you were planning to work on a vintage sewing project between between April 1 - 31, you should consider entering it in the contest!  You must use a vintage sewing pattern printed between 1920  - 1976,  not one of the new reproduction patterns.

I will offer a 15% discount at Patterns the Past during the contest.  The discount coupon code is contest.

Good luck with your projects!

Garrison House Days

Every year the 2nd grade classes from my town go to the local Garrison House. They dress up in "Colonial" style clothing. The girls wear mob caps and  dresses.  The boys wear loose shirts that are belted and tucked in their pants to pretend they are wearing knickers. The kids love this trip. It is amusing what the kids will wear to it.   This is one of the few field trips they remember.   It makes for amusing photos when you produce the 4th grade yearbook.  My daughter is on the far right in the picture below.  I love her toothless grin.

The parents volunteer to give  tours of the historical buildings and to work on colonial crafts with the classes. Many of the adults dress up with the kids.

I recently acquired this pattern and it reminded me of the time my kids went on this trip.  This pattern is from 1976.  The height of the bicentennial craze.  I remember being a kid in 1976.  There where a lot of people dressing up in colonial style clothing then.  "Little House on the Prairie" was  on TV.   As a historical costumer, I cringe at how they designed this dress.  It has a big zipper up the back.  This pattern isn't even marked as a costume.   Laura Ashley was in fashion.  Those where the days!

Simplicity 7776