Boxtops for McCall's Sewing Patterns c. 1970s

What kind of cereal would have a mail in form for a sewing pattern?  Would it be aimed at an adult, like Raisin Bran or maybe Alpha-Bits?

How many boxtops did you have to save to get these patterns?  Some are "Pounds Thinner Patterns" which are designed to make you look taller or thinner.

McCall' Post Patterns

They also included standard dress and pants patterns.

McCall's Post Pattern H

If you didn't want to eat cereal to get free sewing patterns you could use Baggies plastic bags and Punch laundry detergent to get some different sewing patterns.

McCall's B-4

Did you order any of these patterns?  What cereal eat to get them?  Have you made these patterns? Are they groovy enough to wear today?  I think they are a better prize then what you get in the cereal now!

British Sewing Patterns During WW2

Time: the late 1940's early 50's.  The world is at war.  How did it effect sewing patterns in England?

I had the opportunity to obtain several British WW2 era sewing patterns.  They reminded me of Pevensie kids in the recent Narnia Movies.

What did the pattern companies do to support the war effort?  They dropped color printing.

Vogue 2456

I have patterns that are printed in the US at the same time.  They are using color.

Butterick 4140

Vogue 2445

Vogue dropped diagrams, pattern sizing, and descriptions from the back for the pattern envelope.

Vogue children's pattern late 1940s early 1950s

McCall's, who had a patent on printing on their pattern tissue paper  used pre-cut pattern paper.  The printed tissue sewing pattern was fairly new at the time.  In the US - McCall's still printed on their tissue paper patterns, and so did Simplicity.  TheUS Butterick patterns I have from those years are still using pre-cut tissue paper patterns.

The patterns were taxed.

Vogue 2163

Butterick reminded people of the civilian clothing restriction orders.

Butterick 4630

The designed used limited fabric.  These patterns were present in both the US and British market.  Everyone was conserving fabric. 

The paper that the patterns are printed on (at least the patterns I have) are of good quality for the pattern tissue and the instruction paper, perhaps this is a difference between British paper and US paper. I have quite a few instructions sheets from that era printed in the US, who have seen better days.

I enjoy the images, history and stories that come to me with each package of patterns that come my way.  I  enjoyed going through the  wardrobe to see this different world.

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!

Can't refuse reuse!

In the past few years I have had discussions with Girl Scouts in my town about doing her Gold Award around having our town not use plastic bags. Another young Girl Scout asked me to sign a pledge to not use plastic shopping bags. Both girls got me thinking about all the bags I use for shopping. It took a few months, but I finally gave up my new bag addiction. I have a bunch of bags that fit nicely in my purse. I drive the store owners crazy by providing my own bags. The supermarkets are more used to the bags. I am happy to report that I got through black friday without acquiring a single new bag. I have very few plastic bags in the house to re-use, and none to throw out. It really took an effort at first, now it is 2nd nature. I think I've gotten my daughter in the habit too.

Here is group in England (morsbags) supporting the use of reusable cloth bags.

Do you want to make some of your own shopping bags to use up your fabric stash? Try some of these vintage patterns!

Simplicity 6912

This one would look great in vinyl or a durable canvas. You do not have to add the pom-poms unless you want.

McCall's 5630

This pattern shows you a interesting way to make a tote bag that looks like pants. I thought it would tell you how to cut off jeans or a skirt to make it into a purse. No, this pattern has you cut out the pattern and make the purse from scratch. They are nice and don't have you insert the zipper.

Last year, for my son's holiday fair, I created purses made from old jeans. They where based on instructions from Threadbangers. I was told they where not a hit. Not enough bling. I have a great messenger bag made out a chino pants. It holds all my cub scout items, and it looks great with my uniform.

This year I made purses out of Men's ties. I have been told there where a hit. I have not had luck selling them on etsy. I love working with the different colored ties, the problem is due to their shape the inside of the purse is larger then the flap.