You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!

There are  a variety of things you can do with vintage sewing patterns.  One of the many uses of the sewing patterns is as a costumes for theatre.  Often the ones that make it onto the stage are not designed as costumes, but are clothing patterns.

I recently came across some dresses that reminded me of the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, a musical  based on the cartoons of Charles M. Schulz.  The show premiered in 1967.  Which would account for the drop waist dresses in the show.    It looks more realistic to me when you use period sewing patterns rather then a costume sewing pattern.  Even if the period is the 1960s.

Lucy is the height of 1960's fashion in a drop waist dress

So is Sally Brown

These are the dresses that reminded me of the cartoons and the musical.

Vogue 2235

Simplicity 6783

Simplicity 7848

Simplicity 8523

This is a costume pattern inspired by the comic. 

Simplicity 7506

Simplicity 7516

Vera Maxwell's Four Way Pattern

In my business you never know what you are going to find when you acquire a new lot of patterns.  I always wonder who the person was who had the patterns before me.  Did she sew for herself or for her family?  Where some of these patterns her moms or her friends? You often get an idea of the size of the person over time as the eras change - so do the styles and sizes of the patterns.

Inside a very plain envelope came a really cool surprise for me.

Not only was there a really great sewing pattern in it.

The envelope also included a magazine article about the sewing pattern from This Week Magazine from March 2, 1947.  Notice on the last image from the article there is a section torn out, I'm sure that was the coupon that was mailed in for the sewing pattern. It is great to see models wearing the pattern rather then just illustrations!   Here is another version of the same article with the coupon included 

Dr. Denton PJ's

Do you remember wearing Dr. Denton's as a kid?  I have been seeing a lot blanket sleepers for the whole family lately.

In the late 1980's  the Simplicity pattern company produced Dr. Denton brand sewing patterns.

Simplicity 8882

Simplicity 8886

Simplicity 8958

You can use the pattern to make one or two in the fabric of your choice!   Check the pattern out at Oldpatterns.com.

As Seen on TV!

Over the summer I was contacted by the costume department from the TV show: American Horror Story.

Simplicity 3316

I waited with baited breath to see if the pattern would show up in the first show.  Sure enough it did.  It was for Sarah Paulson's character Lana Winters.  The only thing they changed on the pattern was the back of the collar on the coat!  

The dress is very simple (only 4 pieces). The coat is only 2 main pieces, using a kimono sleeves. A kimono sleeve pattern doesn't use a set in sleeve and jacket and the sleeve are one large pattern piece.  I love square neckline with the cut out on the front of the dress.  It is wonderful that they kept the bow detail.

It is wonderful when the costume department uses vintage sewing patterns to get the correct era clothing.

Please check out my website (Patterns from the Past) for some more fun fashions from the 1960's and other eras!

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 Maternity

Simplicity 3309

In the Spring of 2009 my company was contacted by the costuming department for the TV show Mad Men. Season 3 had several pregnant characters. The designers contacted me for sewing patterns for day and evening maternity wear, and outfits. I know from reading up on the show, that they use a lot of original vintage outfits for their costume department - but who in the world would save their maternity clothing from the 1960's?

Simplicity 2977

I'm sure they mixed and matched elements from various patterns to put together their outfits. I am sure they also looked at image of Jackie Kennedy from when she was pregnant. What you don't see from the sewing patterns is construction details of the maternity patterns. Modern patterns have a stretch panel to help with the changing body shape of a pregnant woman. The maternity sewing patterns that I have from the 1960's use a series of ties and overlapping sections.

Vogue 5228/ Advance 3323

Here are some images of the patterns they purchased from my company. See if you can match them up with the Season 3 costumes!

Are you tired of the same old maternity designs, or lack of sewing patterns for maternity clothes? Check out the vintage ones at Patterns from the Past!

Butterick 2781

Butterick 5394

Simplicity 4641

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

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!

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

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.

Simplicity Designer's Patterns

Between 1949 and 1950 Simplicity produced a line of patterns. They started the same time as Vogue's Paris Originals Line. The patterns have an oversized envelope (8" X 11"). They where nice styles, but they are not VPO's.

Simplicity 8002 c. 1949


Simplicity 8104 c. 1949

This one is the closer to a Vogue style. Notice the pleating on the front of the skirt.

Vogue Paris Original Model - 1189 c. 1952 Dessès - Suit - pleats on the side of the skirt. Didn't someone try that on the Project Runway Post Office challenge with BAD results?

Simplicity 8293 c. 1950

After 1950, this line of patterns was discontinued. I have not seen these patterns in the vintage re-issues.